Combination of low body mass index and serum albumin level is associated with chronic kidney disease progression: the chronic kidney disease-research of outcomes in treatment and epidemiology (CKD-ROUTE) study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between protein-energy wasting and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is unknown. In the present prospective cohort study, we evaluated the hypothesis that a combination of low body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin level is associated with rapid CKD progression. METHODS: The study cohort comprised 728 predialysis Japanese patients with CKD (stages 2-5) enrolled from 2010 to 2011. Patients were categorized into four groups according to their serum albumin levels and BMI: group 1, low serum albumin level (<4 g/dL) and low BMI (<23.5 kg/m2); group 2, high serum albumin level (≥4 g/dL) and low BMI; group 3, low serum albumin level and high BMI (≥23.5 kg/m2); and group 4, high serum albumin level and high BMI. The primary outcome was a 30 % decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or start of dialysis within 2 years. The secondary outcome was an annual GFR decline (mL/min/1.73 m2/year). RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis adjusted for baseline characteristics (reference, group 4) showed that only group 1 was associated with a significant risk of CKD progression, with adjusted odds ratio of 3.51 [95 % confidence interval (CI) (1.63, 7.56)]. A multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for baseline characteristics showed a significant difference in annual eGFR decline between groups 1 and 4 [coefficients ß (standard error) -2.62 (0.75), p = 0.001]. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that combined effects of low BMI (<23.5 kg/m2) and serum albumin level (<4 g/dL) are associated with CKD progression.

Association of serum chloride level with mortality and cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease: the CKD-ROUTE study.

BACKGROUND: Electrolyte abnormalities, particularly dysnatremia, are independent predictors of adverse outcome in individuals with and without renal failure. However, the association of serum chloride level (Cl-) with mortality or risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 923 pre-dialysis CKD G2-G5 patients among the participants of the CKD Research of Outcomes in Treatment and Epidemiology (CKD-ROUTE) study, who newly visited 16 nephrology centers. The primary outcome was a composite of overall death and CV events, and the secondary outcome was overall death. Data were analyzed using the Cox hazards model with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: Median Cl- was 106.0 mEq/L at enrollment [quartile (Q) 1: ≤103.9, n =  207; Q2: 104.0-105.9, n =  207; Q3: 106.0-108.0, n =  289; Q4: ≥108.1, n = 220]. During a median follow-up of 33 months, there were 98 CV events, 66 deaths, and 154 composite outcomes. The hazard ratio (HR) for the composite outcome was higher for Q1 than Q3 [HR 1.72; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.08-2.72; P =  0.022]. As a continuous variable in a subset of patients whose Cl- was ≤106.0 mEq/L, higher Cl- was associated with lower risk of the composite outcome (HR 0.93; 95 % CI 0.87-0.99; P = 0.023). HR for all-cause mortality was also higher for Q1 than Q3 (HR 2.48; 95 % CI 1.22-5.03; P =  0.012). CONCLUSION: Low Cl- was associated with increased mortality and risk of CV events in pre-dialysis CKD patients. Cl- may be an additional prognostic indicator in CKD.

Urinary phosphorus excretion per creatinine clearance as a prognostic marker for progression of chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Whether phosphate itself has nephrotoxicity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is controversial, although phosphate excretion into urine may cause tubular damage in rat models. To evaluate actual phosphate load on each nephron, we examined the association between 24-h urinary phosphorus excretion per creatinine clearance (24-h U-P/CCr), a newly proposed index that is a surrogate for nephron load, and CKD progression in patients with CKD. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study. To avoid potential confounders for protein intake, only patients on our educational program for CKD with a fixed diet regimen and aged 20 years or older were included. The observation period was 3 years. Primary outcomes were CKD progression defined as a composite of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or 50 % reduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate. Patients were stratified by quartiles of 24-h U-P/CCr levels as Quartiles 1-4. The association was examined in three models: unadjusted (Model 1), adjusted for risk factors for CKD progression (Model 2), and factors that affect renal phosphate handling (Model 3). RESULTS: A total of 191 patients met the eligibility criteria. Patients with higher 24-h U-P/CCr showed a higher risk for the composite outcomes. The hazard ratios [95 % confidence interval] for 24-h U-P/CCr levels in Quartile 2, 3, and 4, respectively, versus Quartile 1 were 2.56 (1.15-6.24), 7.53 (3.63-17.62), and 12.17 (5.82-28.64) in Model 1; 1.66 (0.63-4.97), 3.57 (1.25-11.71), and 5.34 (1.41-22.32) in Model 2; and 3.07 (0.97-11.85), 7.52 (2.13-32.69), and 7.89 (1.74-44.33) in Model 3. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that higher phosphorus excretion per creatinine clearance was associated with CKD progression.

[13-year history of scleroderma complicated by renal crisis and thrombotic microangiopathy treated with plasma exchange: A case report].

A 77-year-old man with a 13-year history of systemic sclerosis (SSc) was admitted to our hospital with fever, appetite loss, and disorientation. The patient was well 2 days prior to the admission and had been taking a low dose of a steroid and vasodilators over the previous 10 years. In regular clinic visits, his blood pressure was normotensive and serum creatinine (Cr) was within the normal range. On admission, hypertension (blood pressure 214/105 mmHg), proteinuria, and hypercreatinemia (3.6 mg/dL) led to the diagnosis of sclerotic renal crisis (SRC). Thrombocytopenia (5.4 × 10(4)/µL), erythrocyte fragmentation, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase were suggestive of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The immediate initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy and plasma exchange (PE) rapidly improved the disorientation and thrombocytopenia. It is notable that SRC might occur in patients with a 13-year history of SSc. PE should be considered as a treatment option for SRC complicated by TMA.

Late-onset scleroderma renal crisis induced by tacrolimus and prednisolone: a case report.

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is a rare complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc) but can be severe enough to require temporary or permanent renal replacement therapy. Moderate to high dose corticosteroid use is recognized as a major risk factor for SRC. Furthermore, there have been reports of thrombotic microangiopathy precipitated by cyclosporine in patients with SSc. In this article, we report a patient with SRC induced by tacrolimus and corticosteroids. The aim of this work is to call attention to the risk of tacrolimus use in patients with SSc.

Severe hyperparathyroidism in a pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patient treated with a very low protein diet.

The present report describes a case of a 64-year-old pre-dialysis woman with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5, who developed severe hyperparathyroidism. This patient had been on a very low protein diet (VLPD) to delay the progression of CKD and the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT). Her serum calcium levels were high-normal to slightly high during this time. However, her serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels increased from 400 to 1160 pg/ml rapidly over a period of 3 months. Serum 1,25-(OH)2D levels were low, and ultrasound of the neck showed three markedly enlarged parathyroid glands exceeding 2 cm. Parathyroidectomy was performed, and all glands showed nodular hyperplasia, which indicated severe secondary hyperparathyroidism leading to tertiary. Severe secondary hyperparathyroidism requiring surgical intervention is usually observed in patients with long-term RRT and is relatively rare in the pre-dialysis patient. In this case, extension of the pre-dialysis period by VLPD may have predisposed this patient to develop severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. Thus, careful monitoring of calcium, phosphorus, and PTH may be necessary in patients treated with VLPD even before renal replacement therapy. Furthermore, initiation of dialysis should not be excessively delayed by strict protein restriction dietary therapy.