Relationship between Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Uremic Pruritis in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Uremic pruritus (UP) is one of the most distressing symptoms in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a biochemical condition with high prevalence in HD patients. The present multicentric study aimed to assess the relationship between UP and SCH in HD patients. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study included 328 HD patients. All patients were submitted to careful history through clinical examination and standard laboratory assessment. Pruritis was evaluated using the pruritis visual analog scale (VAS). Patients were diagnosed with SCH if they had TSH levels above the upper limit of the normal reference range in association with normal free thyroxine (FT4) levels. RESULTS: Among the studied patients, there were 196 patients (59.8 %) with UP. Comparison between patients with UP and patients without revealed that patients in the former group had significantly longer HD duration (median (IQR): 47.5 (27.0-72.5) versus 36.0 (23.0-50.5) months, p < 0.001) and lower Kt/v (median (IQR): 1.4 (1.09-1.7) versus 1.54 (1.12-1.91), p = 0.009). Moreover, they had significantly higher ferritin (median (IQR): 653.0 (526.0-800.0) versus 628.0 (470.8- 716.0) ng/mL), hsCRP (median (IQR): 12.0 (8.0-14.0) versus 8.0 (6.0-9.0) mg/dL, p < 0.001) and TSH levels (median (IQR): 4.34 (1.98-5.2) versus 3.34 (1.9-4.85) µIU/ml) with a significantly higher frequency of SCH (45.9 % versus 28.8 %, p = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis identified hemodialysis duration (OR (95%) CI): 1.02 (1.009-1.028), p < 0.001), ferritin levels (OR (95% CI): 1.002 (1.001-1.003), p < 0.001), and SCH (OR (95% CI): 0.54 (0.32-0.89), p = 0.016) as significant predictors of UP. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested a possible link between SCH and the development of UP in HD patients.

Relation between erythropoietin resistance and metabolic syndrome in hemodialysis patients: A multicentric propensity score matched analysis.

Erythropoietin (EPO) resistance is frequently reported in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common biochemical condition that comprises central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. The present study aimed to assess the relation between MetS and EPO resistance in HD patients. The present multicentric study included 150 patients with EPO resistance and 150 patients without EPO resistance. Short-acting EPO resistance was diagnosed if the erythropoietin resistance index is ≥1.0 IU/kg/gHb. Comparison between patients with EPO resistance and patients without resistance revealed that the former group had significantly higher body mass index, lower hemoglobin levels, lower albumin levels, higher ferritin levels, and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels. In addition, patients in the EPO resistance group had significantly higher frequency of MetS (75.3% vs 38.0%, p < 0.001) and higher number of MetS components (2.7 ± 1.3 vs 1.8 ± 1.6, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified lower albumin levels (OR (95% CI): 0.072 (0.016-0.313), p < 0.001), higher ferritin levels (OR (95% CI): 1.05 (1.033-1.066), p< 0.001), higher hsCRP levels (OR (95% CI): 1.041 (1.007-1.077), p = 0.018), and MetS (OR (95% CI): 36.68 (2.893-465.05), p = 0.005) as predictors of EPO resistance in the studied patients. The present study identified MetS as a predictor of EPO resistance in HD patients. Other predictors include serum ferritin, hsCRP, and albumin levels.

Outcome and characteristics of COVID-19 patients associated with stroke: a multicenter hospital-based study in Egypt.

Background:  Nearly 55 percent of patients are said to be affected by the neurological effects of COVID-19. COVID-19 was shown to be related with stroke in 0.9 to 5% of people. It's critical to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke. The goal of this study was to look at the outcomes and characteristics of patients who had an acute ischemic stroke due to covid-19 infection. Results:  The participants in this study were 399 people who had had a stroke. COVID-19 positivity was confirmed in 77 cases, while COVID-19 negativity was confirmed in 322. In the COVID-19 and control groups, the average age of the patients was 65.4 ± 10.2 and 65.3 ± 11.8, respectively. The Covid-19 and control groups had a mean stroke onset of 5.2 ± 2.1 and 5.7 ± 3.8 h, respectively (P = 0.12). There was a high in-hospital mortality rate among patients with COVID-19 with a rate of 11.7% compared to 4.04% among the control group (P = 0.02). At discharge, the number of patients with mRS > 2 was higher (P = 0.001) among the COVID-19. There was a correlation between the mean levels of D-Dimer (r = 0.668, P < 0.001), the severity of COVID-19 (r = 0.802, P < 0.001), and mRS > 2. Conclusion: Despite receiving equal acute care as non-COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 patients had more severe strokes and had worse outcomes. This includes a high chance of death while in the hospital as well as a significant level of disability. Neurologists should use timely and effective therapies, particularly for patients who are at a higher risk of having a stroke. This includes elderly patients, patients with severe COVID-19, patients with high levels of D-Dimer, and those with high NIHSS.