Spontaneous rupture of bladder diverticulum with pseudo renal failure:A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous or non-traumatic bladder rupture is rare but can be life-threatening. Bladder rupture caused by a diverticulum is extremely rare, with only a few case reports in medical literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 32-year-old woman admitted to hospital complaints of abdominal pain, oliguria and ascites with no history of trauma. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated serum urea nitrogen(UN) level of 33.5 mmol/l and an elevated creatinine levels of 528 umol/l. X-ray cystography confirmed the rupture of a bladder diverticulum. Subsequent transurethral catheterization led to a prompt increase in urinary output, and serum creatinine level returned to 40 umol/l within 48 h. The patient was successfully treated with laparoscopic diverticulectomy. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for urinary bladder rupture in cases presenting with acute lower abdominal pain, urinary difficulties, and oliguria. When acute renal failure, complicated ascites, and an elevated peritoneal fluid creatinine or potassium level exceeding serum levels are observed, intraperitoneal urine leakage should be suspected without delay. This case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in managing this rare but serious condition.

Evaluation of neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) after emergency gastrointestinal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The overall incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in neonates undergoing emergency gastrointestinal surgery is yet to be determined. The study aims are to analyze our experience in emergency gastrointestinal surgery for neonates and to evaluate the incidence of AKI. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of neonates undergoing emergency gastrointestinal surgery between June 31, 2018 and May 10, 2022 (N = 329). The primary outcome was the overall incidence of AKI. The diagnostic AKI was based on the Modified Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definition of neonatal AKI. The secondary outcomes, including the postoperative length of hospital stay (PLOS), 24-h mortality, in-hospital mortality, and total in-hospital cost, were analyzed. The risk factors associated with the development of postoperative AKI were also analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative AKI was 9.1% (30/329). No significant differences were detected in the 24-h mortality and in-hospital mortality between the two cohorts. In the final model, patients undergoing mechanical ventilation before surgery, vasopressor support, surgical duration, intraoperative oliguria and preoperative lowest serum creatinine (SCr), were independently associated with AKI. CONCLUSION: Our study found that patients undergoing mechanical ventilation before surgery, vasopressor support, surgical duration, intraoperative oliguria and preoperative lowest SCr were independently associated with postoperative AKI in neonates who accepted emergency gastrointestinal surgeries.

Association between intraoperative oliguria and postoperative acute kidney injury in non-cardiac surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between intraoperative oliguria and the risk of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. METHODS: The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched up to August 2022 for studies in adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, where the association between intraoperative urine output and the risk of postoperative AKI was assessed. Both randomised and non-randomised studies were eligible for inclusion. Study selection and risk of bias assessment were independently performed by two investigators. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. We performed meta-analysis of the reported multivariate adjusted odds ratios for the association between intraoperative oliguria (defined as urine output < 0.5 mL/kg/hr) and the risk of postoperative AKI using the inverse-variance method with random effects models. We conducted sensitivity analyses using varying definitions of oliguria as well as by pooling unadjusted odds ratios to establish the robustness of the primary meta-analysis. We also conducted subgroup analyses according to surgery type and definition of AKI to explore potential sources of clinical or methodological heterogeneity. RESULTS: Eleven studies (total 49,252 patients from 11 observational studies including a post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial) met the selection criteria. Seven of these studies contributed data from a total 17,148 patients to the primary meta-analysis. Intraoperative oliguria was associated with a significantly elevated risk of postoperative AKI (pooled adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-2.23, p < 0.0001, 8 studies). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the primary meta-analysis. There was no evidence of any significant subgroup differences according to surgery type or definition of AKI. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a significant association between intraoperative oliguria and the risk of postoperative AKI, regardless of the definitions of oliguria or AKI used. Further prospective and multi-centre studies using standardised definitions of intraoperative oliguria are required to define the thresholds of oliguria and establish strategies to minimise the risk of AKI.

Early Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Non-Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage who Undergo Catheter Angiography: Incidence, Associated Risk Factors and Impact on Outcome.

OBJECTIVES: After subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), potential renal insults are numerous but the burden of early acute kidney injury (AKI) is unclear. We determined its incidence, rate of persistence, risk factors, and impact on patients' outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with non-traumatic SAH were retrospectively included if they underwent catheter angiography within the 48 h after their admission to the intensive care unit. Early AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) criteria, analyzed from the time of catheter angiography. Early AKI was considered as persistent if the KDIGO stage did not decrease between the 48th and the 60th hour. RESULTS: Among 499 consecutive patients, early AKI (mostly oliguria) occurred in 132 (26%): stage 1, 2 and 3 in 72 (14%), 44 (9%), and 16 (3%) patients, respectively. It persisted in 36% of cases. Early AKI occurred more likely when SAH was severe or renal function was impaired at hospital admission: adjusted odds ratio of 2.76 [95% 1.77-4.30] and 3.32 [1.17-9.46], respectively. ICU and hospital lengths of stay were longer in patients who developed early AKI than in patients who did not: 16 [9-29] versus 12 [4-24] days (p = 0.0003) and 21 [14-43] versus 16 [11-32] days (p = 0.007), respectively. There was an independent link between early AKI and renal outcome (n = 274 in the model) but not with hospital mortality (n = 453). CONCLUSIONS: One quarter of our population developed early AKI, mostly oliguria. It persisted beyond the 48th hour in one third of cases. The associated risk factors we identified were non-modifiable.

Latin American registry of renal involvement in COVID-19 disease. The relevance of assessing proteinuria throughout the clinical course.

The Latin American Society of Nephrology and Hypertension conducted a prospective cohort, multinational registry of Latin American patients with kidney impairment associated to COVID-19 infection with the objective to describe the characteristics of acute kidney disease under these circumstances. The study was carried out through open invitation in order to describe the characteristics of the disease in the region. Eight-hundred and seventy patients from 12 countries were included. Median age was 63 years (54-74), most of patients were male (68.4%) and with diverse comorbidities (87.2%). Acute kidney injury (AKI) was hospital-acquired in 64.7% and non-oliguric in 59.9%. Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) due to COVID-19 and volume depletion were the main factors contributing to AKI (59.2% and 35.7% respectively). Kidney replacement therapy was started in 46.2%. Non-recovery of renal function was observed in 65.3%. 71.5% of patients were admitted to ICU and 72.2% underwent mechanical ventilation. Proteinuria at admission was present in 62.4% of patients and proteinuria during hospital-stay occurred in 37.5%. Those patients with proteinuria at admission had higher burden of comorbidities, higher baseline sCr, and MODS was severe. On the other hand, patients with de novo proteinuria had lower incidence of comorbidities and near normal sCr at admission, but showed adverse course of disease. COVID-19 MODS was the main cause of AKI in both groups. All-cause mortality of the general population was 57.4%, and it was associated to age, sepsis as cause of AKI, severity of condition at admission, oliguria, mechanical ventilation, non-recovery of renal function, in-hospital complications and hospital stay. In conclusion, our study contributes to a better knowledge of this condition and highlights the relevance of the detection of proteinuria throughout the clinical course.

Role of intraoperative oliguria in risk stratification for postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing colorectal surgery with an enhanced recovery protocol: A propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for colorectal cancer resection recommends balanced perioperative fluid therapy. According to recent guidelines, zero-balance fluid therapy is recommended in low-risk patients, and immediate correction of low urine output during surgery is discouraged. However, several reports have indicated an association of intraoperative oliguria with postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). We investigated the impact of intraoperative oliguria in the colorectal ERAS setting on the incidence of postoperative AKI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2017 to August 2019, a total of 453 patients underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection with the ERAS protocol. Among them, 125 patients met the criteria for oliguria and were propensity score (PS) matched to 328 patients without intraoperative oliguria. After PS matching had been performed, 125 patients from each group were selected and the incidences of AKI were compared between the two groups. Postoperative kidney function and surgical outcomes were also evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of AKI was significantly higher in the intraoperative oliguria group than in the non-intraoperative oliguria group (26.4% vs. 11.2%, respectively, P = 0.002). Also, the eGFR reduction on postoperative day 0 was significantly greater in the intraoperative oliguria than non-intraoperative oliguria group (-9.02 vs. -1.24 mL/min/1.73 m2 respectively, P < 0.001). In addition, the surgical complication rate was higher in the intraoperative oliguria group than in the non-intraoperative oliguria group (18.4% vs. 9.6%, respectively, P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the proven benefits of perioperative care with the ERAS protocol, caution is required in patients with intraoperative oliguria to prevent postoperative AKI. Further studies regarding appropriate management of intraoperative oliguria in association with long-term prognosis are needed in the colorectal ERAS setting.

Importance of intraoperative oliguria during major abdominal surgery: findings of the Restrictive versus Liberal Fluid Therapy in Major Abdominal Surgery trial.

BACKGROUND: The association between intraoperative oliguria during major abdominal surgery and the subsequent development of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) remains poorly defined. We hypothesised that, in such patients, intraoperative oliguria would be an independent predictor of subsequent AKI. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of data from the Restrictive versus Liberal Fluid Therapy in Major Abdominal Surgery (RELIEF) trial of conservative vs liberal fluid therapy during and after major abdominal surgery. We used χ2, logistic regression, and fractional polynomials to study the association between intraoperative oliguria defined as a urinary output <0.5 ml kg-1 h-1 and the development of postoperative AKI defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes consensus criteria. RESULTS: We included 2444 of 2983 patients from the RELIEF trial in this study. A total of 889 patients (36%) met oliguric criteria intraoperatively. Oliguria occurred in 35% of those without AKI, and 44%, 48%, and 45% of those who developed postoperative AKI Stages 1-3, respectively (P<0.001 for trend). Intraoperative oliguria was associated with an increased risk of AKI, risk ratio: 1.38 (95% confidence interval: 1.14-1.44; P<0.001), but greater intensity of oliguria (urine output <0.3 ml kg-1 h-1) did not increase this risk further. Most patients with oliguria did not develop AKI; the positive predictive value of oliguria was 25.5%, and the negative predictive value was 81.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative oliguria, defined as urine output <0.5 ml kg-1 h-1, was relatively common and was associated with postoperative AKI. However, the predictive utility of oliguria for AKI was low, whilst its absence had a good predictive value for an AKI-free postoperative course. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01424150.

Absceso masivo esplénico secundario a diseminación hematógena de Clostridium glycolium / Massive splenic abscess secondary to haematogenous dissemination of Clostridium glycolium

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Factors affecting serum concentration of vancomycin in critically ill oliguric pediatric patients receiving continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration.

Vancomycin is known to be unintentionally eliminated by continuous renal replacement therapy, and the protein bound fraction of vancomycin is also known to be different in adults and children. However, there are only a few studies investigating the relationship between the dose of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) parameters and serum concentration of vancomycin in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to determine clinical and demographic parameters that significantly affect serum vancomycin concentrations. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary university children's hospital. Data from oliguric patients who underwent CVVHDF and vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring were collected. The correlation between factors affecting serum concentration of vancomycin was analyzed using mixed effect model. A total of 177 serum samples undergoing vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring were analyzed. The median age of study participants was 2.23 (interquartile range, 0.3-11.84) years, and 126 (71.19%) were male patients. Serum concentration of vancomycin decreased significantly as the effluent flow rate (EFR; P < 0.001), dialysate flow rate (DFR; P = 0.009), replacement fluid flow rate (RFFR; P = 0.008), the proportion of RFFR in the sum of DFR and RFFR (P = 0.025), and residual urine output increased. The adjusted R2 of the multivariate regression model was 0.874 (P < 0.001) and the equation was as follows: Vancomycin trough level (mg/L) = (0.283 × daily dose of vancomycin [mg/kg/d]) + (365.139 / EFR [mL/h/kg])-(15.842 × residual urine output [mL/h/kg]). This study demonstrated that the serum concentration of vancomycin was associated with EFR, DFR, RFFR, the proportion of RFFR, and residual urine output in oliguric pediatric patients receiving CVVHDF.

Síndrome del espejo asociado a infección por parvovirus B19: la madre refleja lo que le ocurre al feto / Mirror syndrome associated with parvovirus B19 infection: the mother refl ects what occurs in the foetus

Presentamos un caso de un síndrome del espejo causado por infección por parvovirus B19 que se resolvió espontáneamente. El síndrome del espejo es una patología muy poco frecuente, asociada a diferentes causas de hidrops fetal. Se caracteriza por hidrops fetal, edemas maternos y placentomegalia en diferentes grados de manifestación. Realizamos la revisión de 11 casos descritos previamente en la literatura (AU)

We report a case of mirror syndrome caused by parvovirus B19, which resolved spontaneously. Mirror syndrome is a rare condition, associated with different causes of foetal hydrops. The syndrome is characterised by a triad of foetal hydrops, generalized maternal oedema, and placentomegaly of differing severity. We review 11 cases previously reported in the literature (AU)

Meningitis por Listeria monocytogenes en paciente inmunocompetente / Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in immunocompetent patient

Listeria monocytogenes es un patógeno de origen alimentario que suele producir gastroenteritis, procesos febriles, sepsis y meningitis. Afecta característicamente a neonatos, embarazadas, ancianos e inmunocomprometidos, con una epidemiología controvertida y poco conocida. Se presenta un caso de meningitis y síndrome de secreción inadecuada de hormona antidiurética secundario en paciente inmunocompetente (AU)

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that usually cause gastroenteritis, fever, sepsis and meningitis, which characteristically affects immunocompromised, newborns, pregnant women and elderly people, with controversial and unknown epidemiology. We report a case of meningitis and secondary inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone syndrome in immunocompetent patient (AU)

The effect of urinary and arterial blood pH on the progression of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis and oliguria.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between urinary and arterial blood pH and the progression of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients with sepsis or SIRS and oliguria. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective observational study was performed on critically ill adults in a tertiary intensive care unit in Melbourne, Australia. Urinary and arterial blood pH were measured at 12 hourly intervals for 60h for patients with sepsis or SIRS, oliguria and who were at high risk of acute kidney injury. Patient RIFLE class at baseline and 60h were assessed for an association to urinary and arterial blood pH. Secondarily, change in peak serum creatinine from baseline over 5 days was assessed for an association to mean urinary and arterial blood pH in the first 48h of the study. Finally, relevant patient demographic and physiological variables were assessed for an association to change in peak serum creatinine from baseline over 5 days. RESULTS: 44 patients were included in the study; 13 did not survive to hospital discharge. Baseline arterial blood pH was associated with baseline RIFLE class but not RIFLE class at 60h. Urinary pH was not associated with RIFLE class at baseline or 60h. There was no association between mean urinary or arterial blood pH in the first 48h and change in peak serum creatinine from baseline over 5 days. None of the patient and demographic and physiological variables showed an association to change in peak serum creatinine from baseline in the 5-day study period. CONCLUSION: Urinary and arterial blood pH were not associated with the progression of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients with sepsis or SIRS and at risk of acute kidney injury.

Targeting Oliguria Reversal in Goal-Directed Hemodynamic Management Does Not Reduce Renal Dysfunction in Perioperative and Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether resuscitation protocols to achieve and maintain urine output above a predefined threshold-including oliguria reversal as a target--prevent acute renal failure (ARF). METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using studies found by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, and references in relevant reviews and articles. We included all studies that compared "conventional fluid management" (CFM) with "goal-directed therapy" (GDT) using cardiac output, urine output, or oxygen delivery parameters and reported the occurrence of ARF in critically ill or surgical patients. We divided studies into groups with and without oliguria reversal as a target for hemodynamic optimization. We calculated the combined odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: We based our analyses on 28 studies. In the overall analysis, GDT resulted in less ARF than CFM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.44-0.76; P < 0.001; I = 34.3%; n = 28). GDT without oliguria reversal as a target resulted in less ARF (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.34-0.61; P < 0.001; I = 7.1%; n = 7) when compared with CFM with oliguria reversal as a target. The studies comparing GDT with CFM in which the reversal of oliguria was targeted in both or in neither group did not provide enough evidence to conclude a superiority of GDT (targeting oliguria reversal in both protocols: OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.36-1.10; P = 0.09; I = 48.6%; n = 9, and in neither protocol: OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.37-1.16; P = 0.14; I = 20.2%; n = 12). CONCLUSIONS: Current literature favors targeting circulatory optimization by GDT without targeting oliguria reversal to prevent ARF. Future studies are needed to investigate the hypothesis that targeting oliguria reversal does not prevent ARF in critically ill and surgical patients.

[Urinary stones and bowel diseases: Systematic review]. / Lithiases urinaires et pathologies digestives : une revue de la littérature.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to explain the relationship between urinary stones and bowel disease. METHODS: A systematic review was performed on Medline, Embase and Cochrane using following keywords: urinary stones; urolithiasis; bowel; enteric and digestive. The literature selection was based on evidence and practical considerations. RESULTS: Fifty-three articles were selected. Three types of urolthiasis are mainly involved in digestive pathologies: calcium oxalate stones, uric acid and ammonium acid urate stones. Bowel pathologies responsible for stone disease are divided into small bowel diseases, colonic lesions and lack of an oxalate degrading bacteria (Oxalobacter formigenes) in the intestinal flora. Resulting in a decreased urine output, pH, hyperoxaluria, hypocitraturia or a hypomagnesurie. Blood and urinary explorations are the basis of diagnostic management. CONCLUSION: Bowel diseases can be responsible for urolthiasis. Understanding of the mechanisms, and metabolic evaluations can prevent recurrences. Increase fluid intake associated with specific supplementation and diet are the key of the treatment.

Reduction of Tubular Flow Rate as a Mechanism of Oliguria in the Early Phase of Endotoxemia Revealed by Intravital Imaging.

Urine output is widely used as a criterion for the diagnosis of AKI. Although several potential mechanisms of septic AKI have been identified, regulation of urine flow after glomerular filtration has not been evaluated. This study evaluated changes in urine flow in mice with septic AKI. The intratubular urine flow rate was monitored in real time by intravital imaging using two-photon laser microscopy. The tubular flow rate, as measured by freely filtered dye (FITC-inulin or Lucifer yellow), time-dependently declined after LPS injection. At 2 hours, the tubular flow rate was slower in mice injected with LPS than in mice injected with saline, whereas BP and GFR were similar in the two groups. Importantly, fluorophore-conjugated LPS selectively accumulated in the proximal tubules that showed reduced tubular flow at 2 hours and luminal obstruction with cell swelling at 24 hours. Delipidation of LPS or deletion of Toll-like receptor 4 in mice abolished these effects, whereas neutralization of TNF-α had little effect on LPS-induced tubular flow retention. Rapid intravenous fluid resuscitation within 6 hours improved the tubular flow rate only when accompanied by the dilation of obstructed proximal tubules with accumulated LPS. These findings suggest that LPS reduces the intratubular urine flow rate during early phases of endotoxemia through a Toll-like receptor 4-dependent mechanism, and that the efficacy of fluid resuscitation may depend on the response of tubules with LPS accumulation.

Interdialytic weight gain in oligoanuric children and adolescents on chronic hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the clinical impact of interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) on oligoanuric children undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD). METHODS: We retrospectively assessed IDWG, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and its changes (ΔLVMI), pre-HD systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), residual urine output, Kt/V, the frequency of intradialytic symptoms, normalized protein catabolic rate, and the 3-month change in the dry weight of 16 hemodialyzed oligoanuric patients with a median age of 14.8 years (range 5.0-17.9). RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between IDWG and median LVMI (r 0.55, p = 0.026), which was 27.3 g/m(2.7) (22.5-37.6) in the patients with a median IDWG of <4 %, and 44.3 g/m(2.7) (28.2-68.7) in those with a median IDWG of >4 % (p = 0.003). None of the four patients with an IDWG of <4 % showed left ventricular hypertrophy, compared with 10 of the 12 patients (83.3 %) with an IDWG of >4 % (p = 0.003); the former also had a better median ΔLVMI (-33.5 % vs -13.0 %; p = 0.02) and a lower median DBP sds (0.24 vs 1.72, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant correlation between IDWG and LVMI in pediatric oligoanuric patients on chronic HD: those with an IDWG of >4 % are at a higher risk of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Novel prediction score including pre- and intraoperative parameters best predicts acute kidney injury after liver surgery.

BACKGROUND: A recently published score predicts the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after liver resection based on preoperative parameters (chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and alanine-aminotransferase levels). By inclusion of additional intraoperative parameters we aimed to develop a new prediction model. METHODS: A series of 549 consecutive patients were enrolled. The preoperative score and intraoperative parameters (blood transfusion, hepaticojejunostomy, oliguria, cirrhosis, diuretics, colloids, and catecholamine) were included in a multivariate logistic regression model. We added the strongest predictors that improved prediction of AKI compared to the existing score. An internal validation by fivefold cross validation was performed, followed by a decision curve analysis to evaluate unnecessary special care unit admissions. RESULTS: Blood transfusions, hepaticojejunostomy, and oliguria were the strongest intraoperative predictors of AKI after liver resection. The new score ranges from 0 to 64 points predicting postoperative AKI with a probability of 3.5­95 %. Calibration was good in both models (15 % predicted risk vs. 15 % observed risk). The fivefold cross-validation indicated good accuracy of the new model (AUC 0.79 (95 % CI 0.73­0.84)). Discrimination was substantially higher in the new model (AUCnew 0.81 (95 % CI 0.76­0.86) versus AUCpreoperative 0.60 (95 % CI 0.52­0.69), p < 0.001). The new score could reduce up to 84 unnecessary special care unit admissions per 100 patients depending on the decision threshold. CONCLUSIONS: By combining three intraoperative parameters with the existing preoperative risk score, a new prediction model was developed that more accurately predicts postoperative AKI. It may reduce unnecessary admissions to the special care unit and support management of patients at higher risk.

The nature and discriminatory value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Different molecular forms of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) have recently been discovered. We aimed to explore the nature, source and discriminatory value of urinary NGAL in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. METHODS: We simultaneously measured plasma NGAL (pNGAL), urinary NGAL (uNGAL), and estimated monomeric and homodimeric uNGAL contribution using Western blotting-validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays [uNGAL(E1) and uNGAL(E2)] and their calculated ratio in 102 patients with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and oliguria, and/or a creatinine rise of >25 µmol/L. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated that, despite correlating well (r = 0.988), uNGAL and uNGAL(E1) were clinically distinct, lacking both accuracy and precision (bias: 266.23; 95% CI 82.03-450.44 ng/mg creatinine; limits of agreement: -1,573.86 to 2,106.32 ng/mg creatinine). At best, urinary forms of NGAL are fair (area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC] ≤0.799) predictors of renal or patient outcome; most perform significantly worse. The 44 patients with a primarily monomeric source of uNGAL had higher pNGAL (118.5 ng/ml vs. 72.5 ng/ml; p < 0.001), remaining significant following Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSIONS: uNGAL is not a useful predictor of outcome in this ICU population. uNGAL patterns may predict distinct clinical phenotypes. The nature and source of uNGAL are complex and challenge the utility of NGAL as a uniform biomarker.

Prediction of fluid responsiveness in severe preeclamptic patients with oliguria.

PURPOSE: Because severe preeclampsia (SP) may be associated with acute pulmonary oedema, fluid responsiveness needs to be accurately predicted. Passive leg raising (PLR) predicts fluid responsiveness. PLR has never been reported during pregnancy. Our first aim was to determine the percentage of SP patients with oliguria increasing their stroke volume after fluid challenge. Our second aim was to assess the accuracy of PLR to predict fluid responsiveness in those patients. METHODS: Patients with SP were prospectively included in the study. In the subgroup developing oliguria, transthoracic echocardiography was performed at baseline, during PLR and after a 500 ml fluid infusion over 15 min. Fluid responders were defined by a 15 % increase of stroke volume index. Five consecutive measurements were averaged for all parameters. RESULTS: Twenty-three (56 %) out of 41 patients with SP developed oliguria, 12 (52 %) out of these 23 responded to fluid challenge. During PLR, an increase of the velocity time integral of subaortic blood flow (ΔVTI) above 12 % predicted the response with a sensitivity and specificity of 75 [95 % confident interval (CI): 0.42-0.95] and 100 % (95 % CI: 0.72-1.00), respectively. An algorithm combining ΔVTI and the baseline value of VTI predicted fluid responsiveness with a sensitivity and specificity of 100 % (95 % CI: 0.74-1.00) and (95 % CI: 0.75-1.00). Urine output and respiratory variations of inferior vena cava diameter did not predict fluid responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Only 52 % of oliguric patients were responders. PLR accurately predicts fluid responsiveness in the specific setting of SP. This noninvasive test should be tested in future algorithms for the management of SP.