Discontinuation of Hemodialysis After 8 Years in Favor of Toprak's Kidney Care in a Patient with End-Stage Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND End-stage kidney disease patients who need hemodialysis for more than 3 months are less likely to be able to discontinue dialysis. Patient care, however, can play a role in improving kidney function. In this study, we showed that even a patient on hemodialysis for 8 years can discontinue or reduce the number of weekly dialysis sessions through kidney care. Here, we report the effect of patient care on the ability to cease dialysis or reduce dialysis sessions, discuss such cessation or reduction in chronic hemodialysis patients, and describe proper follow-up procedure for a patient whose dialysis has been discontinued or reduced. CASE REPORT Here, we present a 77-year-old man who had undergone hemodialysis 3 times weekly for 75 months, after which dialysis sessions were gradually decreased and terminated within 21 months while undergoing Toprak's Kidney Care, a kidney care program. The patient went without dialysis for 10 months. Then, hemodialysis was started once weekly for 46 months, as the glomerular filtration rate values decreased significantly. Following this period, he underwent hemodialysis 3 times weekly for 19 months. During these follow-up periods, 2 hospitalizations were required due to pneumonia and atrial fibrillation. There were no major adverse cardiac events. The patient is still in our follow-up care. CONCLUSIONS Gradual termination of an 8-year period of hemodialysis through a kidney care program without kidney transplantation is very rare. In end-stage kidney disease patients with adequate urination, kidney care should be considered to terminate hemodialysis or reduce the weekly dialysis sessions.

Discontinuing Hemodialysis with Patient Care and a Successful 9-Year Follow-up in a Patient Presumed to have End-Stage Kidney Disease Scheduled to Lifelong Hemodialysis: A Case Report.

End-stage kidney disease patients who require hemodialysis for more than 3 months have a small chance of leaving dialysis unless they have a kidney transplant. Educating the patient about lifestyle changes can play a major role in improving kidney function. Therefore, we created a patient education program according to our nephrology experiences. Herein, we show an end-stage kidney disease patient who underwent hemodialysis for 6 months. Afterwards, dialysis was terminated with patient care, and the patient was then followed up for 9 years without dialysis. To date, there have been no reports regarding the termination of long-term dialysis with a kidney care program and the ensuing 9-year follow-up without renal replacement therapy.

Is there a gender gap in secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in Turkey?

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that women receive fewer preventive recommendations regarding pharmacological treatment, lifestyle modifications, and cardiac rehabilitation compared with men who have a similar risk profile. This study was an investigation of the impact of gender on cardiovascular risk profile and secondary prevention measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Turkish population. METHODS: Statistical analyses were based on the European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE)-IV cross-sectional survey data obtained from 17 centers in Turkey. Male and female patients, aged 18 to 80 years, who were hospitalized for a first or recurrent coronary event (coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary intervention, acute myocardial infarction, or acute myocardial ischemia) were eligible. RESULTS: A total of 88 (19.7%) females and 358 males (80.3%) were included. At the time of the index event, the females were significantly older (p=0.003) and had received less formal education (p<0.001). Non-smoking status (p<0.001) and higher levels of depression and anxiety (both p<0.001) were more common in the female patients. At the time of the interview, conducted between 6 and 36 months after the index event, central obesity (p<0.001) and obesity (p=0.004) were significantly more common in females. LDL-C, HDL-C or HbA1c levels did not differ significantly between genders. The fasting blood glucose level was significantly higher (p=0.003) and hypertension was more common in females (p=0.001). There was no significant difference in an increase in physical activity or weight loss after the index event between genders, and there was no significant difference between genders regarding continuity of antiplatelet, statin, beta blocker or ACEi/ARB II receptor blocker usage (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Achievement of ideal body weight, fasting blood glucose and blood pressure targets was lower in women despite similar reported medication use. This highlights the importance of the implementation of lifestyle measures and adherence to medications in women.

Testosterone replacement therapy and cardiovascular events.

A low testosterone level and hypogonadism are associated with cardiovascular disease. Aging, chronic health problems, and obesity are all associated with a low testosterone level as well as the presence and severity of cardiovascular disease. Testosterone is increasingly prescribed for patients with clinical hypogonadism and a low testosterone level. The information we have is still contradictory regarding testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and its association with adverse cardiovascular events. Older patients and patients who are susceptible to cardiovascular diseases could be at risk with a testosterone prescription. This is a review of the literature to discuss the cardiovascular safety of TRT.

[EUROASPIRE-IV: European Society of Cardiology study of lifestyle, risk factors, and treatment approaches in patients with coronary artery disease: Data from Turkey]. / EUROASPIRE-IV: Avrupa Kardiyoloji Dernegi'nin koroner arter hastalarinda yasam tarzi, risk faktörleri ve tedavi yaklasimi üzerine çalismasi: Türkiye verileri.

OBJECTIVE: Data from EUROASPIRE-IV Turkey report investigating risk factors and adherence to guidelines in patients hospitalized for coronary artery disease are presented and results are compared with those of EUROASPIRE-III Turkey and EUROASPIRE-IV Europe. METHODS: Study was performed in 24 European countries, including Turkey (17 centers). Patients (18-80 years old) hospitalized for coronary (index) event during preceding 3 years were identified from hospital records and interviewed ≥6 months later. Patient information regarding index event was acquired from hospital records. Anamnesis was obtained during the interview, and physical examination and laboratory analyses were performed. RESULTS: Median age at the index coronary event was 58.8 years, and it was significantly decreased compared with last EUROASPIRE-III study (60.5 years), which was conducted at the same centers 6 years earlier (p=0.017). Of all patients, 19.3% were under 50 years of age and mean age was lower than that of EUROASPIRE-IV Europe (62.5 years). Comparing EUROASPIRE-IV Turkey with EUROASPIRE-III Turkey, rate of smokers increased to 25.5% from 23.1% (p=0.499), obesity increased to 40.7% from 35.5% (p=0.211), total cholesterol level increased to 49.6% from 48.3% (p=0.767), and diabetes rate increased to 39.7% from 33.6% (p=0.139), however none of the differences reached a level of statistical significance. Only 11.7% of the smokers quit after coronary event. Rates for these factors were lower in EUROASPIRE-IV Europe (16% for smoking, 37.6% for obesity, and 26.8% for diabetes). CONCLUSION: EUROASPIRE-IV Turkey data revealed that secondary prevention was unsatisfactory and had progressed unfavorably compared with last EUROASPIRE study, some risk factors were more uncontrolled than overall European average, and coronary artery events at young age remain an important problem.

Evaluation of the informed consent procedure for total knee arthroplasty patients in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the ethical aspects of informed consent process of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients in Turkey. METHODS: The study included 50 patients undergoing TKA in Gazi Mustafa Kemal State Hospital Orthopedics Clinic. A face to face survey was conducted to determine the ethical appropriateness of the main components of informed consent process such as; disclosure of material information about the disease and alternative treatment options, understanding the disclosed information, comprehending the written consent form and voluntariness in deciding. RESULTS: The survey revealed that all TKA patients signed informed consent form, 80% of the participants received material information about their disease, 62% were disclosed information about TKA operation, 56% read (in personal or with the assistance of a relative) the written informed consent form, 28% received information regarding possible complications of TKA and 85% were not given any information about the alternative treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Informed consent process in TKA patients have flourished compared to previous years, but still there are some aspects in need of improvement. Using short and understandable language, developing multi-media sources and involving patients to informed consent form development process would contribute to the process.

Relationship between endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular risk factors. The relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, ED and the presence, extent and severity of CAD, was evaluated in patients with and without angiographically defined CAD in our study. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty patients with CAD and 20 subjects with normal coronary arteries were included. Endothelial function was evaluated by endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation (NMD) measurements, using brachial artery Doppler ultrasonography (USG). Cardiovascular risk factors were identified. The extent and severity of CAD was determined via vessel and modified Gensini scores. RESULTS: FMD% and NMD% were significantly decreased in the CAD(+) group compared with the CAD(-) group (p=0.0001). In the CAD(+) group, the cut-off values of FMD% and NMD% in distinguishing between single-vessel and multi-vessel diseases were 8.5% (sensitivity: 95%, specificity: 62%) and 13.6% (sensitivity: 91%, specificity: 62%), respectively. Additionally, a modified Gensini score was significantly correlated with both FMD and NMD (r=-0.825, r=-0.778, respectively; p=0.0001) in the CAD(+) group. CONCLUSION: ED was more prevalent in the CAD(+) group, and the degree of ED correlated well with the extent and severity of CAD.

How to estimate left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a structural remodeling of the heart developing as a response to volume and/or pressure overload. Previous studies have shown that hypertension is not an independent factor in the development of LVH and occurrence does not depend on the length and severity of hypertension, but the role played by other comorbidities such as triglycerides, age, gender, genetics, insulin resistance, obesity, physical inactivity, increased salt intake and chronic stress. LVH develops through three phases: adaptive, compensatory, and pathological phase. Contractile dysfunction is reversible in the first two phases and irreversible in the third. According to the Framingham study, LVH develops in 15-20% of patients with mild arterial hypertension, and in 50% of patients with severe hypertension. The pathophysiology of LVH includes hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, interstitial and perivascular fibrosis, coronary microangiopathy and macroangiopathy. Individuals with LVH have 2-4 times higher risk of having adverse CV events compared to patients without LVH.

Extremity manifestations and surgical treatment for nasu hakola disease.

Nasu-Hakola disease, which is also known as polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy (PLOSL), is a rare and mortal human genetic disorder (Verloes et al., (1997) and Bianchin et al., (2004)). Nasu-Hakola is a progressive disease characterized by early onset cognitive dementia and bone cysts (both evident by the third decade). The disease has a worldwide distribution, but most patients have been reported in Finland and in Japan (Montalbetti et al., (2004)). In the literature less than 200 cases are reported and only a few of them are about the surgical treatment for the extremity (Madry et al., (2007)). Most patients die by their fourth or fifth decade because of neurologic problems. Surgeons generally prefer conservative treatment modalities in the treatment of cystic lesions of the bone in this syndrome. In this case report, we presented a 42-year-old male with Nasu-Hakola disease having bilateral painful talar lipomembranous cystic lesions treated with curettage and iliac bone grafting. He is in the 3rd year of his followup after surgery and he has not any extremity complaints, but his neurological problems sustain. Our aim in this study is to show the beneficial aspect of surgical intervention in the cystic lesions of Nasu Hakola disease in the skeleton to obtain the patient a painless joint although surgery is rarely performed in this systemic and progressive disease.

Comparison of intracoronary versus intravenous administration of tirofiban in primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the intravenous bolus dose of tirofiban with intracoronary bolus dose in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with regard to in hospital and six months clinical outcomes and peak cardiac enzyme levels. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 84 ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who underwent primary PCI from March 2006 to February 2007. All patients received the systemic bolus dose of tirofiban 10 mcg/kg either via intracoronary (IC) or intravenous (IV) route, followed by a 36 hours of IV infusion at 0.15 mcg/kg/min. Thirty six patients in IC group were compared with 48 patients in IV group in terms of peak cardiac enzyme levels, in-hospital and six months major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rates (death, myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization). Fisher's exact test, Yates Chi-square, unpaired Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was no difference in cardiovascular risk profile or cardiac history between two groups. At six months the incidence of MACE was 6.25% in IV group and 11.1% in IC group (p=0.45). Peak cardiac phosphokinase (CPK) levels between IV and IC groups were also statistically non significant (2657+/-2181 U/L in IV group and 2529+/-1929 U/L in IC group) (p=0.92). CONCLUSION: Intracoronary bolus application of tirofiban was not associated with reduction in MACE rates compared to intravenous administration in patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI. Future prospective trials with higher bolus doses of IC tirofiban should addressed to clarify this issue.

The Highway Technique: a new stenting technique to treat coronary bifurcation lesions.

AIMS: We report a new stenting technique which was employed in 12 patients to treat coronary bifurcation lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: A stent is positioned in the main vessel together with a balloon in the side branch, which is positioned slightly proximal to the main vessel stent that also has enough length to cover the side branch ostium. Both the stent in the main vessel and the balloon in the side branch are inflated simultaneously. Following deflation, a double lumen is created in the main vessel, proximal to the bifurcation. The stent balloon is removed with the side branch balloon left deflated in its initial position. The main vessel is rewired with a third guidewire. The side branch balloon and guidewire are removed. The initial guidewire in the main vessel is directed to the side branch. A balloon is advanced and inflated in the side branch to dilate the struts of the main vessel stent that will provide the side branch entrance. The side branch balloon is left in place. A size matched balloon is advanced on the third guidewire that was advanced in the main vessel and inflated inside the stent with high pressure. Finally, kissing balloon inflation is performed at the bifurcation. Provisional stenting of the side branch can be performed when necessary. Final kissing balloon inflation is recommended after stenting of the side branch. CONCLUSIONS: As a new coronary bifurcation stenting method, the Highway Technique has some advantages in side branch protection, with favourable immediate and 30-day clinical outcomes.

Treatment of saphenous vein graft lesions with paclitaxel- and sirolimus-eluting stents: comparison of short- and long-term clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare treatment of saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions with paclitaxel-eluting (PES) and sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in daily practice with regard to short- and long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS: Between August 2002 and September 2006, a total of 71 patients with SVG lesions who were implanted PES or SES with percutaneous coronary intervention in our center were evaluated retrospectively. Forty-six patients with PES (PES group) were compared to twenty-five patients treated with SES (SES group) in terms of in-hospital, 30-day, six-months and 1-year clinical outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-Square statistics or Fisher's exact and independent sample t test. Survival analysis was done using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. RESULTS: Baseline clinical characteristics were similar in both groups except for a tendency toward a lower age in the SES group. No statistically significant difference was found between two groups by means of lesion and procedural characteristics. All clinical outcomes at 30-day, 6-month and 1-year after the interventions were similar in both groups. Early stent thrombosis was detected in one patient (2.2%) of PES group (p=0.65). Late stent thrombosis was not observed in both groups. The rate of major adverse cardiac events at 1-year was 8.7% in the PES group and 16% in the SES group (p=0.44). CONCLUSION: Short-and long-term clinical outcomes of PES and SES in the treatment of SVG lesions are similar. The results of our study showed that both drug-eluting stents are effective and safe in real-world patient with diseased SVGs.

Common variants in the ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 gene with decreased HDL-cholesterol levels and coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to determine whether the common variants within the coding sequence of ABCA1 gene affects low plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in Turkish patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The study group was composed of 552 CAD patients, of which 251 had HDL-C levels < or =40 mg/dL, and 301 had HDL-C levels >40 mg/dL. METHODS: PCR-RFLP was used to determine the A2589G and G3456C DNA polymorphisms of the ABCA1 gene. The study group was analyzed for potential clinical predictors of low HDL-C. RESULTS: The GG variant of the ABCA1 gene A2589G polymorphism was found in 3.6% patients within the HDL-C < or =40 mg/dL group and in 4% of HDL-C levels >40 mg/dL group. Frequency distributions of the A2589G genotypes were not found to differ significantly among groups. The CC genotype of the G3456C polymorphism was found in 6.8% of HDL-C < or =40 mg/dL group and in 11.6% individuals of the HDL-C levels >40 mg/dL group. Frequency distributions of the G3456G genotypes were not significantly different among groups. The A2589G genotypes were not found to be effective over the analyzed lipid parameters. Among G3456C genotypes, in CAD patients with HDL-C < or =40 mg/dL the low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels were elevated, whereas HDL-C levels decreased in CC genotype carriers compared to GG and GC. CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was found between cardiovascular endpoints and ABCA1 gene A2589G and G3456C genotypes in this study population.

The relation between coronary flow rate, plasma endothelin-1 concentrations, and clinical characteristics in patients with normal coronary arteries.

BACKGROUND: Coronary slow flow (CSF) is characterized by delayed opacification of epicardial arteries in the absence of occlusive disease. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relation between coronary flow rate, plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations, and clinical characteristics in patients with normal coronary arteries. METHODS: The study population included 77 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries who underwent coronary angiography on suspicion of ischemic heart disease due to typical chest pain or ischemic findings on treadmill exercise test or myocardial scintigraphy. Based on the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction frame count (TFC), patients were grouped into those with normal coronary flow and those with slow coronary flow. RESULTS: Forty-eight (61.5%) patients were found to have CSF. Plasma ET-1 concentrations were significantly higher with the presence of CSF (P=.03). There were significant differences between plasma ET-1 concentrations, and mean TFC, TFC for left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), TFC for left circumflex coronary artery (CX), and TFC for right coronary artery separately in patients with and without CSF (P=.033, P<.001, P<.001, P<.001, and P<.001, respectively). Mean TFC, TFC for LAD, and TFC for CX, and ET-1 concentrations were significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers (P<.001, P<.001, P=.004, and P=.033, respectively). However, logistic regression analysis suggested that ET-1 concentration was not an independent determinant of CSF. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is a significant relation between ET-1 concentrations and coronary flow rate, ET-1 concentrations are not sufficient to determine the presence of CSF. Smoking is strongly associated with CSF, TFC, and increased ET-1 concentrations.

Impact of anemia on nonfatal coronary events after percutaneous coronary interventions.

Anemia is associated with higher rates of cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Although studies have focused on fatal coronary events in anemic patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), data is lacking regarding nonfatal coronary events. The aim of our study was to analyze the incidence of anemia in patients who developed nonfatal events after successful PCI, and to make a comparison with event-free patients. Forty-nine consecutive patients with and 51 without nonfatal coronary events (nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, or repeat PCI) during the 1-year follow-up after the index PCI procedure were included in the study. Anemia was defined using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as a hematocrit value at initial presentation <39% for men and <36% for women. Baseline hematocrit levels were measured before the procedure. Baseline clinical, lesion, and procedural characteristics were comparable in both groups. Anemia was present in 33.8% of men and 30.4% of women. The incidence of anemia in patients with nonfatal coronary events was 46.9% and 15.7% in the event-free group, which was significantly different (P = 0.001). Anemia was found to be an independent risk factor for nonfatal coronary events in PCI patients (odds ratio: 2.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-4.79; P = 0.036). In conclusion, anemia is an important risk factor for predicting nonfatal coronary events after PCI. Although previous studies have shown its impact on fatal events, this study has demonstrated that anemia also has a role in nonfatal thrombotic coronary events and restenosis.