Kidney Biopsy Findings Among Patients With Diabetes in the Cleveland Clinic Kidney Biopsy Epidemiology Project.

Rationale & Objectives: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, often leading to kidney failure. The absence of well-defined factors prevents distinguishing DKD from non-diabetic kidney disease (non-DKD; alternative primary diagnosis identified on kidney biopsy). Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants: This study assessed 1,242 patients with a history of diabetes from the Cleveland Clinic Kidney Biopsy Epidemiology Project between January 2015 and September 2021. Exposure: Proteinuria, retinopathy, A1c levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Outcomes: Non-DKD, defined as an alternative primary diagnosis identified on kidney biopsy other than DKD. Analytical Approach: Multivariate logistic regression model with backward elimination method. Results: At the time of biopsy, the median (IQR) age was 63 (53-71 years) years, and 58.8% were men. The median hemoglobin A1c value was 6.7% (6.0%-8.1%), and the median serum creatinine level was 2.5 (1.6-3.9 mg/dL) mg/dL. Among 1,242 patients, 462 (37.2%) had DKD alone, and 780 (62.8%) had non-DKD. Among those with non-DKD, the most common diagnoses were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (24%), global glomerulosclerosis otherwise not specified (13%), acute tubular necrosis (9%), IgA nephropathy (8%), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis (7%), and membranous nephropathy (5%). Factors associated with having non-DKD on biopsy were having no retinopathy (vs retinopathy) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.98; 95% CI, 2.69-5.90), lower A1c levels (<7% vs ≥7%) (aOR, 3.08; 95% CI, 2.16-4.39), higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (≥60 vs <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) (aOR, 2.39; 95% CI 1.28-4.45), microalbuminuria (<300 vs macroalbuminuria ≥300 [mg/g]) (aOR; 2.94; 95% CI, 1.84-4.72), and lower protein-creatinine ratio on random urine sample (<3 vs ≥3 mg/mg) (aOR; 1.80; 95% CI, 1.24-2.61). Limitations: Selection bias of clinically indicated biopsies, not protocol biopsies, which likely represent a ceiling (maximum) for non-DKD. Conclusions: Among patients with diabetes undergoing kidney biopsy, 63% have findings in addition to DKD on biopsy. We identified clinical parameters associated with non-DKD in the setting of diabetes. This provides valuable information for clinicians when kidney biopsy should be considered among patients with diabetes to capture all etiologies of proteinuria and kidney dysfunction.

Our study aimed to better understand when to perform kidney biopsies in patients with diabetes. Often, nephrologists diagnose diabetes-related kidney disease based on clinical parameters without a biopsy. We sought to look at what the spectrum of kidney biopsy findings were in patients with a clinical history of diabetes to see how many patients had diabetic kidney disease or other findings. Given the advent of several new medications that treat and slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease, we also sought to see what clinical factors were more likely to suggest a finding of nondiabetic kidney disease on biopsy to help guide clinicians when to biopsy in this population.

Validating the anatomical landmark technique for bedside tunneled central venous catheter placement in the medical intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: A non-tunneled dialysis catheter (nTDC) is often the vascular access of choice to initiate dialysis in an intensive care unit (ICU). In the absence of contraindications, if a patient remains dialysis dependent beyond 2-weeks, the options are either to replace the nTDC with another nTDC or convert to a tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC). As a standard of care, TDCs are placed under fluoroscopic guidance. OBJECTIVES: To determine if TDCs and other tunneled central venous catheters (tCVC) can be placed safely using anatomical landmark techniques without the use of fluoroscopy. RESEARCH DESIGN: Subjects that met a predetermined selection criteria underwent placement of tunneled catheters with the use of the anatomical landmark technique. We looked at various outcomes to determine the safety and effectiveness of this technique. SUBJECTS: One hundred eleven TDCs and other tCVCs were placed using the anatomical landmark technique in the intensive care unit. RESULTS: All but one (110/111) of the catheters placed had recommended tip placement confirmed by at least one blinded physician. Major complications encountered were bleeding (two cases), pneumothorax (one case), and line associated blood stream infection (one case). We did find a higher-than-expected rate of "unnecessary procedures" with 18/111 lines placed in patients who did not survive beyond 7 days after placement of the catheter. CONCLUSIONS: Using the anatomical landmark technique for bedside tunneled catheter placement can be an effective approach in the right population.

Is open-capsule proton pump inhibitor associated with faster healing time for marginal ulceration after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass?

BACKGROUND: Marginal ulceration (MU) is a significant cause of morbidity after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the primary treatment. Prior limited data suggest that open-capsule PPIs (OC-PPIs) improve MU healing compared with intact-capsule PPIs (IC-PPIs), necessitating further validation. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare healing times of MU after RYGB when treated with OC-PPIs versus IC-PPIs. SETTING: Tertiary academic center, United States. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with prior RYGB diagnosed with MU from 2012 to 2022. Patients requiring mechanical closure without documented healing and without clear PPI prescriptions were excluded. The primary outcome was time to ulcer healing. Log-rank testing and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses were performed to compare MU healing times when treated with OC-PPIs versus IC-PPIs. Subgroup analyses further characterized ulcer healing times based on type and dosage of PPI used. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients were included for final analysis (38 received OC-PPIs and 70 received IC-PPIs). Treatment with OC-PPIs significantly decreased MU healing time compared with IC-PPIs (146.18 versus 226.14 d; p = .018). However, when stratified by PPI potency, the positive effect of opening the capsule lost significance. CONCLUSION: In this study, OC-PPIs significantly improved MU healing times compared with IC-PPIs in RYGB patients, consistent with prior data. However, on subgroup analysis comparing therapy with similar PPI potency, the MU healing time did not differ with respect to administration method. These results highlight the need for a prospective randomized trial to compare the true effect of administration method.

Ileal conduit to small intestine fistula following extensive abdominopelvic resection and radiation for metastatic colon cancer.

A woman in her mid-60s presented with decreased output from urostomy, which was an opening from the neobladder (ileal conduit). Presentation was preceded by a 6-month history of alternating faecaluria and increased colostomy output. Laboratory studies were notable for normal anion gap metabolic acidosis. Creatinine level of the colostomy output was 17.7 mg/dL, a finding indicative of the presence of urine in the sample. CT enterography and X-ray loopogram confirmed neobladder to small intestine fistula.Neobladder creation is commonly performed in patients with bladder cancer requiring resection. Fistulas between the neobladder and intestine are observed in fewer than 2.7% of cases. The patient's history of extensive abdominopelvic resection, colostomy creation and radiation likely contributed to fistula development. We highlight the need for a high index of suspicion for a fistula in a patient with a neobladder experiencing recurrent urinary tract infections or a high colostomy output concurrently with low neobladder output.