Epidemiology of tobacco use in dialysis patients in France and survey of nephrologists' involvement in counseling on tobacco discontinuation.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and increases morbidity and mortality in CKD patients. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the epidemiology of smoking in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis in France. A second objective was to assess the involvement of nephrologists in supporting patients for smoking cessation. METHODS: Data on the smoking history of prevalent patients on maintenance dialysis in France between 2010 and 2020 were obtained from the REIN database (Renal Epidemiology and Information Network), updated by all French nephrology and dialysis centers. As for the support to smoking discontinuation, a questionnaire on smoking cessation assistance was sent to all members of the French Society of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation (SFNDT). RESULTS: The proportion of current smokers among patients on maintenance dialysis was 10.4% in 2010, 11.2% in 2015 and 11.6% in 2020. A total of 228 nephrologists among the 790 members of the SFNDT participated in the survey (28.9%). Most respondents were women (57.3%), worked at a public hospital (61.1%), were under 40 years of age (51.3%) and had no history of smoking (60.8%). The majority reported asking patients about their smoking status and offering brief advice. Among respondents, 72.8% offered help with smoking cessation, 46.3% referred their smoking patients to a tobacco specialist, 51.8% reported prescribing drugs to quit tobacco, and 81.6% requested further training in how to support patients for smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: Smoking cessation training for nephrologists and dedicated programs for patients in nephrology units could improve our practices and decrease the high prevalence of smoking in patients with ESKD.

[A novel cause of acute kidney injury in multiple myeloma: Lenalidomide-induced acute interstitial nephritis]. / Une cause originale d'insuffisance rénale aiguë au cours du myélome multiple : néphrite interstitielle aiguë induite par le lénalidomide.

INTRODUCTION: Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug widely used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Several cases of nephrotoxicity have been reported, but few have been documented histologically. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of acute interstitial nephritis to lenalidomide in a 62-year-old patient with multiple myeloma after administration of the second course of chemotherapy according to the protocol combining bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone. The outcome was quickly favorable after stopping lenalidomide, with corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSION: Lenalidomide may be responsible for acute interstitial nephritis. When acute kidney injury occurs in myeloma, the nephrotoxicity of therapeutic agents should be considered in addition to the common causes of kidney failure. The chronology of events and the histological data are essential and guide the specific management.

Nocardiosis in the south of France over a 10-years period, 2004-2014.

BACKGROUND: Nocardiosis is a rare disease with polymorphic presentations. The epidemiology and clinical presentation could change with the increasing number of immunocompromised patients. METHODS: The medical records and microbiological data of patients affected by nocardiosis and treated at the university hospitals of Marseille between 2004 and 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The cases of 34 patients infected by Nocardia spp during this period were analyzed. The main underlying conditions were transplantation (n=15), malignancy (n=9), cystic fibrosis (n=4), and immune disease (n=3); no immunodeficiency condition was observed for three patients. No case of AIDS was observed. At diagnosis, 61.8% had received steroids for over 3 months. Four clinical presentations were identified, depending on the underlying condition: the disseminated form (50.0%) and the visceral isolated form (26.5%) in severely immunocompromised patients, the bronchial form (14.7%) in patients with chronic lung disease, and the cutaneous isolated form (8.8%) in immunocompetent patients. Nocardia farcinica was the main species identified (26.5%). Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was prescribed in 68.0% of patients, and 38.0% underwent surgery. Mortality was 11.7%, and the patients who died had disseminated or visceral nocardiosis. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation and outcome of nocardiosis depend on the patient's initial immune status and underlying pulmonary condition. Severe forms were all iatrogenic, occurring after treatments altering the immune system.