Analysis of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios as inflammatory biomarkers in chronic kidney disease: impact of parathyroidectomy / Análise das relações neutrófilo/linfócito e plaqueta/linfócito como marcadores inflamatórios na doença renal crônica: impacto da paratireoidectomia

Abstract Introduction: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is one of the causes for inflammation in CKD. We assessed the impact of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) and platelet-to-lymphocyte (P/L) ratios in SHPT patients. Methods: A total of 118 patients [hemodialysis (HD, n = 81), and transplant recipients (TX, n = 37)] undergoing PTX between 2015 and 2021 were analyzed. Results: There was a significant reduction in calcium and PTH levels in both groups, in addition to an increase in vitamin D. In the HD group, PTX did not alter N/L and P/L ratios. In the TX group, there was a reduction in N/L and P/L ratios followed by a significant increase in total lymphocyte count. Conclusion: N/L and P/L ratios are not reliable biomarkers of inflammation in SHPT patients undergoing PTX. Uremia, which induces a state of chronic inflammation in dialysis patients, and the use of immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients are some of the confounding factors that prevent the use of this tool in clinical practice.

Resumo Introdução: O hiperparatireoidismo secundário (HPTS) é uma das causas de inflamação na DRC. Avaliamos o impacto da paratireoidectomia (PTX) nas relações neutrófilo/linfócito (N/L) e plaqueta/linfócito (P/L) em pacientes com HPTS. Métodos: Foram analisados 118 pacientes [hemodiálise (HD, n = 81) e transplantados (TX, n = 37)] submetidos à PTX entre 2015 e 2021. Resultados: Houve redução significativa de cálcio e PTH nos dois grupos, além de elevação de vitamina D. No grupo HD, a PTX não mudou as relações N/L e P/L. Já no grupo TX, houve redução nas relações N/L e P/L acompanhadas de elevação significativa do número de linfócitos totais. Conclusão: As relações N/L e P/L não são marcadores fidedignos de inflamação em pacientes com HPTS submetidos à PTX. A uremia, que induz um estado de inflamação crônica em pacientes dialíticos, e o uso de imunossupressão em pacientes transplantados renais são alguns dos fatores de confusão que impedem o uso dessa ferramenta na prática clínica.

Analysis of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios as inflammatory biomarkers in chronic kidney disease: impact of parathyroidectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is one of the causes for inflammation in CKD. We assessed the impact of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) and platelet-to-lymphocyte (P/L) ratios in SHPT patients. METHODS: A total of 118 patients [hemodialysis (HD, n = 81), and transplant recipients (TX, n = 37)] undergoing PTX between 2015 and 2021 were analyzed. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in calcium and PTH levels in both groups, in addition to an increase in vitamin D. In the HD group, PTX did not alter N/L and P/L ratios. In the TX group, there was a reduction in N/L and P/L ratios followed by a significant increase in total lymphocyte count. CONCLUSION: N/L and P/L ratios are not reliable biomarkers of inflammation in SHPT patients undergoing PTX. Uremia, which induces a state of chronic inflammation in dialysis patients, and the use of immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients are some of the confounding factors that prevent the use of this tool in clinical practice.

Overview of renal osteodystrophy in Brazil: a cross-sectional study / Visão geral da osteodistrofia renal no Brasil: um estudo transversal

Abstract Introduction: The epidemiologic profile of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) is changing over time and cross-sectional studies provide essential information to improve care and health policies. The Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO) is a prospective, nationalmulticenter cohort that includes patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing bone biopsy. REBRABO aims to provide clinical information on ROD. The main objective of this subanalysis was to describe the profile of ROD, including clinically relevant associations. Methods: From Aug/2015 to Dec/2021, 511 patients with CKD who performed bone biopsy were included in the REBRABO platform. Patients with no bone biopsy report (N = 40), GFR > 90 mL/min (N = 28), without asigned consent (N = 24), bone fragments inadequate for diagnosis (N = 23), bone biopsy indicated by a specialty other than nephrology (N = 6), and < 18 years old (N = 4) were excluded. Clinical-demographic data (e.g., age, sex, ethnicity, CKD etiology, dialysis vintage, comorbidities, symptoms, and complications related to ROD), laboratory (e.g., serum levels of total calcium, phosphate, parathormone, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and hemoglobin), and ROD (e.g., histological diagnosis) were analyzed. Results: Data from 386 individuals were considered in this subanalysis of REBRABO. Mean age was 52 (42-60) years; 198 (51%) were male; 315 (82%) were on hemodialysis. Osteitis fibrosa (OF) [163 (42%)], adynamic bone disease (ABD) [96 (25%)] and mixed uremic osteodystrophy (MUO) [83 (21%)] were the most frequent diagnosis of ROD in our sample; 203 (54%) had the diagnosis of osteoporosis, 82 (56%) vascular calcification; 138 (36%) bone aluminum accumulation, and 137 (36%) iron intoxication; patients with high turnover were prone to present a higher frequency of symptoms. Conclusions: A high proportion of patients were diagnosed with OF and ABD, as well as osteoporosis, vascular calcification and clinical symptoms.

Resumo Introdução: O perfil epidemiológico da osteodistrofia renal (OR) está mudando com o tempo e estudos transversais fornecem informações essenciais para melhorar cuidados e políticas de saúde. O Registro Brasileiro de Biópsia Óssea (REBRABO) é uma coorte nacional multicêntrica prospectiva que inclui pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC) submetidos à biópsia óssea. O REBRABO visa fornecer informações clínicas sobre OR. O principal objetivo desta subanálise foi descrever o perfil da OR, incluindo associações clinicamente relevantes. Métodos: De Ago/2015 a Dez/2021, 511 pacientes com DRC que realizaram biópsia óssea foram incluídos na plataforma REBRABO. Excluíram-se os pacientes sem laudo de biópsia óssea (N = 40), TFG > 90 mL/min (N = 28), sem consentimento assinado (N = 24), fragmentos ósseos inadequados para diagnóstico (N = 23), biópsia óssea indicada por especialidade que não a nefrologia (N = 6), e < 18 anos de idade (N = 4). Foram analisados dados clínico-demográficos (por exemplo, idade, sexo, etnia, etiologia da DRC, tempo da diálise, comorbidades, sintomas e complicações relacionadas à OR), laboratoriais (níveis séricos de cálcio total, fosfato, paratormônio, fosfatase alcalina, 25-hidroxivitamina D e hemoglobina), e OR (diagnóstico histológico). Resultados: Dados de 386 indivíduos foram considerados nesta subanálise do REBRABO. A idade média foi 52 (42-60) anos; 198 (51%) eram homens; 315 (82%) estavam em hemodiálise. Osteíte fibrosa (OF) [163 (42%)], doença óssea adinâmica (DOA) [96 (25%)] e osteodistrofia urêmica mista (OUM) [83 (21%)] foram os diagnósticos mais frequentes de OR na amostra; 203 (54%) apresentaram diagnóstico de osteoporose, 82 (56%) calcificação vascular; 138 (36%) acúmulo ósseo de alumínio, e 137 (36%) intoxicação por ferro; pacientes com remodelação óssea aumentada eram propensos a apresentar maior frequencia de sintomas. Conclusões: Uma alta proporção de pacientes foi diagnosticada com OF e DOA, assim como osteoporose, calcificação vascular e sintomas clínicos.

Overview of renal osteodystrophy in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The epidemiologic profile of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) is changing over time and cross-sectional studies provide essential information to improve care and health policies. The Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO) is a prospective, nationalmulticenter cohort that includes patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing bone biopsy. REBRABO aims to provide clinical information on ROD. The main objective of this subanalysis was to describe the profile of ROD, including clinically relevant associations. METHODS: From Aug/2015 to Dec/2021, 511 patients with CKD who performed bone biopsy were included in the REBRABO platform. Patients with no bone biopsy report (N = 40), GFR > 90 mL/min (N = 28), without asigned consent (N = 24), bone fragments inadequate for diagnosis (N = 23), bone biopsy indicated by a specialty other than nephrology (N = 6), and < 18 years old (N = 4) were excluded. Clinical-demographic data (e.g., age, sex, ethnicity, CKD etiology, dialysis vintage, comorbidities, symptoms, and complications related to ROD), laboratory (e.g., serum levels of total calcium, phosphate, parathormone, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and hemoglobin), and ROD (e.g., histological diagnosis) were analyzed. RESULTS: Data from 386 individuals were considered in this subanalysis of REBRABO. Mean age was 52 (42-60) years; 198 (51%) were male; 315 (82%) were on hemodialysis. Osteitis fibrosa (OF) [163 (42%)], adynamic bone disease (ABD) [96 (25%)] and mixed uremic osteodystrophy (MUO) [83 (21%)] were the most frequent diagnosis of ROD in our sample; 203 (54%) had the diagnosis of osteoporosis, 82 (56%) vascular calcification; 138 (36%) bone aluminum accumulation, and 137 (36%) iron intoxication; patients with high turnover were prone to present a higher frequency of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of patients were diagnosed with OF and ABD, as well as osteoporosis, vascular calcification and clinical symptoms.

Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-containing antiretrovirals maintains low bone formation rate, but increases osteoid volume on bone histomorphometry

Bone mineral density (BMD) loss is a known complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and its treatment, particularly with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-containing antiretroviral regimens. Although renal proximal tubular dysfunction and phosphaturia is common with TDF, it is unknown whether BMD loss results from inadequate mineralization. We evaluated change in BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bone histomorphometry by tetracycline double-labeled transiliac crest biopsies in young men living with HIV before (n = 20) and 12 months after (n = 16) initiating TDF/lamivudine/efavirenz. We examined relationships between calciotropic hormones, urinary phosphate excretion, pro-inflammatory and pro-resorptive cytokines, and bone remodeling-related proteins with changes in BMD and histomorphometry. Mean age was 29.6 ± 5.5 years, with mean CD4 + T cell count of 473 ± 196 cells/mm3 . At baseline, decreased bone formation rate and increased mineralization lag time were identified in 16 (80%) and 12 (60%) patients, respectively. After 12 months, we detected a 2% to 3% decrease in lumbar spine and hip BMD by DXA. By histomorphometry, we observed no change in bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) and trabecular parameters, but rather, increases in cortical thickness, osteoid volume, and osteoblast and osteoclast surfaces. We did not observe significant worsening of renal phosphate excretion or mineralization parameters. Increases in PTH correlated with decreased BMD but not histomorphometric parameters. Overall, these data suggest abnormalities in bone formation and mineralization occur with HIV infection and are evident at early stages. With TDF-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART), there is an increase in bone remodeling, reflected by increased osteoblast and osteoclast surfaces, but a persistence in mineralization defect, resulting in increased osteoid volume

Stent coronário de liga cobalto-cromo concebido no Brasil: achados histológicos preliminares em modelo experimental porcino / Cobalt-chromium coronary stent conceived in Brazil: preliminary histologic findings in an experimental porcine model

Introdução: Este estudo objetiva avaliar em modelo experimental porcino um novo e pioneiro stent tubular de liga cobalto-cromo e de hastes finas, de concepção brasileira. Objetiva também relatar a experiência inicial de um centro de validação pré-clínica de dispositivos endovasculares instalado no País. Método: No total, 12 porcos domésticos foram submetidos a implante coronário de um novo stent de liga cobalto-cromo não-farmacológico (Scitech Produtos Médicos Ltda.). O stent possuía desenho em anéis corrugados com células curtas (aumento da homogeneidade da cobertura metálica), hastes finas (75μm) e ângulo inter-hastes idealizado para otimizar a força radial. A ligação interanel foi feita por meio de links curtos em formato sinusóide e espessura muito fina (65μm), com espaço circunferencial de 6 mm de diâmetro para acesso a ramo lateral. Dois outros animais receberam stents convencionais de controle para comparação (Driver®, Medtronic Inc., e Matrix®, Sahajanand Medical Technologies). Após um mês, os stents implantados foram retirados para análise microscópica. Resultados: Tanto o stent-teste como os stents comerciais de controle apresentaram hiperplasia neo-intimal discreta a moderada aos 30 dias, com obstrução neo-intimal de 30,0 + 12,2% e 22,4 + 16,5%, respectivamente. Todos os stents, no grupo stentteste e no grupo controle, encontravam-se com alto grau de endotelização, com discreto infiltrado inflamatório e persistência de fibrina discreta ou ausente. Conclusões: Esses achados sugerem que, do ponto de vista da resposta vascular ao implante, o novo stent apresentou desempenho semelhante ao de outros stents não-farmacológicos atualmente em uso comercial.

Background: This study aims to evaluate, in an experimental porcine model, a new and pioneer cobalt-chromium thin-strut coronary stent conceived in Brazil. Also, it aims to report the initial experience of a Brazilian center for pre-clinical validation of endovascular devices. Method: The new bare Cobalt-Chromium stent (Scitech Produtos Médicos Ltda) was implanted in the coronary arteries of twelve domestic pigs. The stent was designed in short rings (for increased homogeneity of vessel scaffolding), thin struts (75 μm) and inter-strut angle engineered to optimize the radial strength. The inter-ring connection was made by a short and very thin link (65 μm) in a curved format, with a circumferential diameter of 6 mm for side branch access. Another two animals received conventional bare metal stents as controls (Driver®, Medtronic Inc., e Matrix®, Sahajanand Medical Technologies). After one month, the implanted stents were excised for microscopic analysis. Results: Both the test-stent and the control commercial stents had mild to moderate neointimal hyperplasia at 30 days, with a neointimal percent obstruction of 30.0 ± 12.2% and 22.4 ± 16.5%, respectively. All stents, in the test-stent and the control groups, had a high degree of endothelialization with a mild inflammatory reaction and absent or mild persistence of fibrin. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that, as regards to the vascular reaction to the implant, the new stent presents a similar performance compared to other bare metal stents currently available for commercial use.