Red cell distribution width is an inflammatory predictor marker of contrast induced nephropathy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is an inflammatory biomarker reported in complete blood cell (CBC) counts. High RDW defines a proinflammatory state. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important and common complication in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treated patients. The current study was conducted to evaluate the role of RDW as a simple predictive inflammatory marker of CIN in PCI treated patients. The current prospective study enrolled 126 PCI treated patients. Laboratory investigations included CBC, liver function test, (HbA1C), lipid profile and serological tests. Serum urea and creatinine levels were obtained at baseline and 48 to 72 hours after PCI procedure, used to categorize for CIN. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease were present in 39 (31%), 44 (34.9%), and 23 (18.3%) patients, respectively. Of the studied patients, only 19 (15.1%) patients developed CIN. The hemoglobin level was significantly higher in the non-CIN group (13.49 ± 1.63 vs. CIN group 12.56 ± 1.62 mg/dl; p= 0.02). RDW was significantly higher among CIN group than non-CIN group (16.20 ± 2.60 vs. 13.83 ± 2.19 % (p < 0.001). Delta creatinine (% change in creatinine level after 48 hour) was significantly higher in patients with CIN (59.17 ± 28.89 vs. non-CIN 33.62 ± 9.76; p < 0.001). Predictors for CIN in patients who underwent PCI were old age high RDW high delta creatinine and amount of dye. At cut off > 14.5%, RDW had 79% sensitivity, 70% specificity and 71.3% overall accuracy at AUC of 0.76. In conclusion, RDW may be simple and immediately available inflammatory biomarker and predictor for development of CIN in patients undergoing PCI.

Low-dose oral cholecalciferol is associated with higher numbers of Helios(+) and total Tregs than oral calcitriol in renal allograft recipients: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a cornerstone of graft acceptance. High numbers of Tregs are associated with better long-term graft survival. Recently, Vitamin D was suggested as an immunomodulator, in addition to its classical role in calcium metabolism. Vitamin D modulates Tregs and might, thereby, promote graft acceptance and long-term graft survival. METHODS: One hundred twenty-three renal allograft recipients attending either Heidelberg nephrology or Giessen internal medicine clinic were enrolled in this cross- sectional study. Sixteen healthy controls were studied in addition. Sixty-nine patients were receiving no vitamin D, 38 calcitriol, and 16 cholecalciferol supplementations. We evaluated whether there was a difference in the absolute numbers of Helios(+), Helios(-), CTLA-4(+), IFNg(+), and total Tregs among the patient groups. RESULTS: Cholecalciferol supplementation was associated with higher absolute numbers of Helios(+), CTLA-4(+), and total Tregs than calcitriol (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, p = 0.001 respectively). Helios(+) Tregs were also higher in cholecalciferol than no vitamin D supplementation patients (p = 0.001), whereas CTLA-4(+) and total Tregs were similar in both groups (p = NS). Helios(+), Helios(-), CTLA-4(+), IFNg(+), and total Tregs were similar in the cholecalciferol and healthy control groups (p = NS). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that cholecalciferol, even when administered at low dosages, has a stabilizing effect on Tregs (particularly the Helios + subset), in contrast to calcitriol which showed neither a stabilizing nor a proliferation-inducing effect on the same cell population.