Computed Tomography-Assessed Sarcopenia Predicts Mortality in Kidney Transplant Candidates.

OBJECTIVES: Sarcopenia is common in chronic kidney disease and associated with increased mortality. We investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia, defined as low muscle mass by the psoas muscle index, in endstage renal disease patients on waiting lists for kidney transplant and determined its association with prognostic nutritional index, C-reactive protein-toalbumin ratio, cardiovascular events, and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 162 patients with end-stage renal disease and 87 agematched healthy controls. We calculated nutritional status as follows: prognostic nutritional index = (10 × albumin [g/dL]) + (0.005 × total lymphocyte count (×103/µL]) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio. We gathered demographic and laboratory data from medical records. RESULTS: Patients with end-stage renal disease had a mean age of 44.7 ± 14.2 years; follow-up time was 3.37 years (range, 0.35-9.60 y). Although patients with endstage renal disease versus controls had higher prevalence of sarcopenia (16.7% vs 3.4%; P = .002) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (1.47 [range, 0.12-37.10] vs 0.74 [range, 0.21-10.20]; P < .001), prognostic nutritional index was lower (40 [range, 20.4-52.2] vs 44 [range, 36.1-53.0]; P < .001). In patients with end-stage renal disease with and without sarcopenia, prognostic nutritional index (P = .005) was lower and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (P = .041) was higher in those with versus those without sarcopenia. Among 67 patients on waiting lists who received kidney transplants, those without sarcopenia had better 5-year patient survival posttransplant than those with sarcopenia (P = .001). Multivariate regression analysis showed sarcopenia and low prognostic nutritional index were independentrisk factors for mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia was ~5 times more frequent in patients with end-stage renal disease than in healthy controls and was positively correlated with the prognostic nutritional index. Sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for mortality in patients on transplant waiting lists.

Unveiling cancer risk in ANCA-associated vasculitis: result from the Turkish Vasculitis Study Group (TRVaS).

To investigate cancer incidence in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), compare it with the age/sex-specific cancer risk of the Turkish population, and explore independent risk factors associated with cancer. This multicenter, incidence case-control study was conducted using the TRVaS registry. AAV patients without cancer history before AAV diagnosis were included. Demographic and AAV-related data of patients with and without an incident cancer were compared. Standardized cancer incidence rates were calculated using age-/sex-specific 2017 Turkish National Cancer Registry data for cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). Cox regression was performed to find factors related to incident cancers in AAV patients. Of 461 AAV patients (236 [51.2%] male), 19 had incident cancers after 2022.8 patient-years follow-up. Median (IQR) disease duration was 3.4 (5.5) years, and 58 (12.6%) patients died [7 with cancer and one without cancer (log-rank, p = 0.04)]. Cancer-diagnosed patients were older, mostly male, and more likely to have anti-PR3-ANCA positivity. The cumulative cyclophosphamide dose was similar in patients with and without cancer. Overall cancer risk in AAV was 2.1 (SIR) ((1.3-3.2), p = 0.004); lung and head-neck [primary target sites for AAV] cancers were the most common. In Cox regression, male sex and ≥ 60 years of age at AAV diagnosis were associated with increased cancer risk, while receiving rituximab was associated with decreased cancer risk. Cancer risk was 2.1 times higher in AAV patients than the age-/sex-specific cancer risk of the Turkish population population, despite a high rate of rituximab use and lower dose of cyclophosphamide doses. Vigilance in cancer screening for AAV patients covering lung, genitourinary, and head-neck regions, particularly in males and the elderly, is vital.

C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio is Associated with Disease Activity in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis.

Objective/Aim: C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) has recently been recognized as an independent prognostic marker for vasculitides. This study aims to investigate CAR and its relationship with disease activity and damage in prevalent ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) patients. Methods: Fifty-one patients with AAV and 42 age-sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Birmingham vasculitis score (BVAS) was used to assess vasculitis activity and vasculitis damage index (VDI) to provide information on disease damage. Results: The median (25th-75th) age of the patients were 55 (48-61) years. CAR was significantly higher in AAV patients than controls (1.9±2.7 vs 0.7±0.4; p=0.006). The 75th percentile of BVAS was defined as high BVAS (BVAS≥5) and ROC curve analysis showed that CAR≥0.98 predicted BVAS≥5 with 70.0% sensitivity and 68.0% specificity (AUC:0.660, CI: 0.482-0.837, p=0.049). When patients with CAR≥0.98 were compared to those without, BVAS [5.0 (3.5-8.0) vs. 2.0 (0-3.25), p<0.001], BVAS≥5 [16 (64.0%) vs 4 (15.4%) patients, p:0.001], VDI [4.0 (2.0-4.0) vs. 2.0 (1.0-3.0), p=0.006], and CAR [1.32 (1.07-3.78) vs. 0.75 (0.60-0.83), p<0.001] were higher whereas albumin [3.8 (3.1-4.3) vs. 4.1 (3.9-4.4) g/dL, p=0.025] and haemoglobin [12.1 (10.4-13.4) vs. 13.0 (12.5-14.2) g/dL, p=0.008] were lower. Multivariate analysis revealed that BVAS [OR(95% CI):1.313 (1.003-1.719), p=0.047] was an independent factor associated with CAR≥0.98 in patients with AAV. Furthermore, correlation analysis showed that CAR significantly correlated with BVAS (r: 0.466, p=0.001). Conclusion: In this study, we observed that CAR was significantly associated with disease activity in AAV patients and can be used to monitor disease activity.

A case of Alport syndrome with pregnancy-related atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Kidney function may be impaired during pregnancy due to various reasons, and the physiological changes of pregnancy may unmask or worsen pre-existing kidney disease. Herein, we report a pregnant patient presenting with nephrotic-range proteinuria. She later developed acute kidney injury and pre-eclampsia. However, hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia persisted after delivery, and she was diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Although hematological abnormalities resolved with eculizumab treatment, her renal functions did not improve. Kidney biopsy showed crescentic glomerulonephritis without thrombotic microangiopathy features. Concurrently, she was evaluated for hearing impairment, and a diagnosis of Alport syndrome was confirmed with genetic testing. Kidney function may worsen in patients with Alport syndrome during pregnancy. However, crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) is a rare finding in Alport disease. Pauci-immune crescentic GN has been shown to be related to dysregulated activation of the alternative complement pathway, which is also the underlying pathophysiological mechanism in aHUS.

Peritoneal calprotectin level in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Calprotectin is an important molecule in the initiation and progression of the inflammatory process. Systemic and local intraperitoneal inflammation are distinct processes and consequences in peritoneal dialysis (PD). We aimed to evaluate dialysate calprotectin levels and its associations with peritonitis and dialysis adequacy in PD patients. METHODS: Forty-four PD patients were included in this prospective study. Calprotectin concentration was evaluated in 24-h peritoneal drainage fluid. Patients were followed-up for 1 year, and peritonitis episodes were recorded. Dialysate calprotectin levels were compared to dialysis adequacy parameters and peritonitis frequency. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 54.9±12.7 years. Median PD duration was 54 (23-76) months. Seventeen patients (38.6%) had previous peritonitis episodes. During follow-up, 15 of 44 patients (34.1%) had peritonitis. The median calprotectin concentration was 79.5 (75.2-86.3) ng/ml. The patients were divided into low and high calprotectin groups according to median value. In the high calprotectin group, BMI was found higher (p = 0.04). There was no significant relationship between calprotectin concentration and peritonitis during follow-up (p = 0.29). However, the patients that have had previous peritonitis had higher calprotectin concentrations (p = 0.02). The patients who had higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels also had higher calprotectin concentrations (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Peritoneal calprotectin concentrations were correlated with higher BMI and ESR, and it was higher in patients with previous peritonitis episodes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the peritoneal calprotectin levels in PD patients. Further studies are needed to determine the use of peritoneal calprotectin as an inflammatory marker in PD.

Evaluation of Outcomes of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients in the Post-COVID-19 Period: A National Multicenter Case-Control Study from Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: There are not enough data on the post-CO-VID-19 period for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients affected from COVID-19. We aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory data of PD patients after COVID-19 with a control PD group. METHODS: This study, supported by the Turkish Society of Nephrology, is a national, multicenter retrospective case-control study involving adult PD patients with confirmed COVID-19, using data collected from April 21, 2021, to June 11, 2021. A control PD group was also formed from each PD unit, from patients with similar characteristics but without COVID-19. Patients in the active period of COVID-19 were not included. Data at the end of the first month and within the first 90 days, as well as other outcomes, including mortality, were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 223 patients (COVID-19 group: 113, control group: 110) from 27 centers were included. The duration of PD in both groups was similar (median [IQR]: 3.0 [1.88-6.0] years and 3.0 [2.0-5.6]), but the patient age in the COVID-19 group was lower than that in the control group (50 [IQR: 40-57] years and 56 [IQR: 46-64] years, p < 0.001). PD characteristics and baseline laboratory data were similar in both groups, except serum albumin and hemoglobin levels on day 28, which were significantly lower in the COVID-19 group. In the COVID-19 group, respiratory symptoms, rehospitalization, lower respiratory tract infection, change in PD modality, UF failure, and hypervolemia were significantly higher on the 28th day. There was no significant difference in laboratory parameters at day 90. Only 1 (0.9%) patient in the COVID-19 group died within 90 days. There was no death in the control group. Respiratory symptoms, malnutrition, and hypervolemia were significantly higher at day 90 in the COVID-19 group. CONCLUSION: Mortality in the first 90 days after COVID-19 in PD patients with COVID-19 was not different from the control PD group. However, some patients continued to experience significant problems, especially respiratory system symptoms, malnutrition, and hypervolemia.

Characteristics and Survival Results of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Suffering from COVID-19 in Turkey: A Multicenter National Study.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to study the characteristics of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), determine the short-term mortality and other medical complications, and delineate the factors associated with COVID-19 outcome. METHODS: In this multicenter national study, we included PD patients with confirmed COVID-19 from 27 centers. The baseline demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data and outcomes at the end of the first month were recorded. RESULTS: We enrolled 142 COVID-19 patients (median age: 52 years). 58.2% of patients had mild disease at diagnosis. Lung involvement was detected in 60.8% of patients. Eighty-three (58.4%) patients were hospitalized, 31 (21.8%) patients were admitted to intensive care unit and 24 needed mechanical ventilation. Fifteen (10.5%) patients were switched to hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration was performed for four (2.8%) patients. Persisting pulmonary symptoms (n = 27), lower respiratory system infection (n = 12), rehospitalization for any reason (n = 24), malnutrition (n = 6), hypervolemia (n = 13), peritonitis (n = 7), ultrafiltration failure (n = 7), and in PD modality change (n = 8) were reported in survivors. Twenty-six patients (18.31%) died in the first month of diagnosis. The non-survivor group was older, comorbidities were more prevalent. Fever, dyspnea, cough, serious-vital disease at presentation, bilateral pulmonary involvement, and pleural effusion were more frequent among non-survivors. Age (OR: 1.102; 95% CI: 1.032-1.117; p: 0.004), moderate-severe clinical disease at presentation (OR: 26.825; 95% CI: 4.578-157.172; p < 0.001), and baseline CRP (OR: 1.008; 95% CI; 1,000-1.016; p: 0.040) were associated with first-month mortality in multivariate analysis. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality rate and medical complications are quite high in PD patients with COVID-19. Age, clinical severity of COVID-19, and baseline CRP level are the independent parameters associated with mortality.

Prediction of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction by speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody--associated vasculitis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate left ventricular functions using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Patients and methods: Between June 2018 and July 2019, a total of 31 AAV patients (17 males, 14 females; median age: 53 years; range, 47 to 62 years) and 21 healthy controls (11 males, 10 females; median age: 56 years; range, 46 to 60 years) were included in the study. Clinical and biochemical characteristics of all participants were recorded. All participants underwent conventional and two-dimensional STE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value of serum N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) that predicted subclinical left ventricular dysfunction. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and NT-pro-BNP. Results: The LV-GLS was lower in AAV patients (19.3% vs. 21.7%, respectively; p=0.014). NT-pro-BNP was negatively correlated with LV-GLS (p=0.005, r=0.401). Conclusion: Subclinical left ventricular dysfunction can be detected by STE in patients with AAV who have free of clinically overt cardiovascular disease. The LV-GLS is negatively correlated with serum NT-pro-BNP levels.

Fibroscan detection of fatty liver and liver fibrosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Although liver dysfunction is not considered the main organ involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the frequency of liver dysfunction or abnormal liver enzyme values may be observed in 50-60% of patients. The aim of this study was to assess fatty liver and liver fibrosis in SLE patients using Fibroscan as well as determine associated factors such as immunosuppressive medications. METHODS: Sixty SLE patients and 30 healthy controls were included. Patients with HBV, HCV or cirrhosis, malignancy, cardiac disease, or patients on dialysis were excluded. All participants underwent Fibroscan measurements. RESULTS: The prevalence of fatty liver disease was similar between SLE patients and healthy controls (21.7 vs 26.7%, p = .597). Liver fibrosis was also similar between the two groups (26.7 vs 10.0%, p = .069). Since the majority of SLE patients were female, we performed a subgroup analysis in female patients (n = 51) and controls (n = 25). Fatty liver disease was similar between female SLE patients and controls (23.5 vs 24.0%, p = .964). However, liver fibrosis in female patients with SLE was increased compared to female controls (29.4 vs 4.0%, p = .011) and was associated with age (Exp (B) 95% CI: 1.083 (1.006-1.166), p = .034) and low-dose cumulative glucocorticoid use (Exp (B) 95% CI: 14.116 (1.213-164.210), p = .034). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of fatty liver was similar between SLE patients and controls, while liver fibrosis was increased in the female patient group as compared to controls. Furthermore, liver fibrosis was associated with age and low dose cumulative glucocorticoid use. Interestingly, fatty liver did not precede liver fibrosis in the majority of cases, contrary to what is observed in the general population. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings and determine whether immunosuppressive use has any impact on the development of liver fibrosis in SLE patients.

Vitamin D levels in patients with small and medium vessel vasculitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with small and medium vessel systemic vasculitis. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D3 levels were measured in adult patients with systemic small and medium vessel vasculitis including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CryV), IgA vasculitis (IgAV) and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (HS) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as control groups. 25OH vitamin D3 levels<30ng/ml and <20ng/ml were regarded as insufficiency and deficiency, respectively. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients (42 AAV, 2 CryV, 8 IgA vasculitis, 5 PAN) with systemic vasculitis, 101 HS, and 111 RA patients were included. The mean 25OH vitamin D3 level was 21.8±14.2ng/mL in patients with vasculitis, 42.7±27.6ng/mL in HS (p<.001) and 20.1±18.47ng/mL in patients with RA (p=.54). Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were significantly higher in patients with systemic vasculitis compared to HS (75.4% vs 33.7%, p<.001; %50 vs 21.8%, p<.001, respectively). Vitamin D status was not different in patients with systemic vasculitis compared to RA. There was a negative correlation between vitamin D status and CRP levels (=-.364, p=.007). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that renal involvement was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in patients with vasculitis (OR 22.5 [95% CI 1.6-128.9]. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are more frequent in patients with systemic small and medium vessel vasculitis and RA than HS. Renal involvement is one of the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in patients with vasculitis.

Favipiravir Use in Kidney Transplant Recipients with COVID-19: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Kidney transplant recipients are among the high-risk groups for severe COVID-19. To date, no specific antiviral agent has proved uniformly effective against SARS-CoV-2. Favipiravir, the recommended drug by the Turkish Ministry of Health, was uniformly supplied to all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by a positive nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction test. The aim of our study was to retrospectively compare our kidney transplant recipients treated with favipiravir who developed COVID-19 infection versus those not treated with favipiravir during the clinical course of the disease, with a special emphasis on the occurrence of side effects and adverse events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 37 consecutive kidney transplant recipients with a median age of 46 years (62.2% women). Recipients included 8 with deceased donors and 29 with living related donors; median posttransplant survival was 8.0 years (IQR, 5.5-12.5 years). RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (70.3%) received favipiravir, and 11 (29.7%) did not. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for baseline demographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory data, except that the favipiravir-treated patients were older and had a higher requirement of oxygen treatment. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups for the course and outcome of COVID-19 infection with regard to adverse side effects/events associated with favipiravir. Laboratory data at baseline, day 7, and day 30 were also comparable between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the efficacy of favipiravir for treatment of COVID-19 infection remains controversial, favipiravir is safe for kidney transplant recipients.

Prognostic nutritional index is a predictor of mortality in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease.

PURPOSE: Prognostic nutritional index (PNI), a composite indicator of inflammation and nutritional status, has recently been recognized as an independent prognostic marker for chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to investigate PNI and its relationship with mortality in elderly patients with CKD. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-nine patients over the age of 80 years with stage 3-4 CKD were enrolled in this retrospective study. PNI was used to assess the nutritional status of the patients. Patients were divided into two different groups as deceased and survived and as low PNI (< 39) and high PNI (≥ 39) according to median value of PNI. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 85.7 ± 3.7 years. One hundred and ninety-five (54.3%) patients died during follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that male gender, PNI, proteinuria, and diabetes mellitus (DM) were independent predictors of mortality in elderly patients with CKD. When patients with low PNI were compared to those with high PNI, initiation of dialysis and mortality rate were significantly higher whereas albumin, hemoglobin and lymphocyte count were lower. Pearson correlation analysis showed that PNI was significantly correlated with albumin (r = 1.000, p < 0.001), hemoglobin (r = 0.340, p < 0.001) and eGFR (r = 0.123, p = 0.020). Hemoglobin was an independent predictor of PNI in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: In this study, we observed that PNI was significantly associated with mortality over the age of 80 years in patients with CKD and can be used to monitor nutritional status in this patient population.

Assessment of peritoneal thickness using CT in relation to dialysis adequacy in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Studies assessing peritoneal thickness by CT in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are lacking. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between peritoneal thickness as measured by CT and dialysis adequacy with peritoneal membrane characteristics in PD patients. Ninety-four PD patients were enrolled. Peritoneal thickness was measured by CT. Patients with and without a decrease in Kt/V of at least 0.3 over time were classified as Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. An increase of 0.1 unit of dialysate/plasma (D/P) creatinine over time were considered significant. The relationship between peritoneal membrane thickness, change in Kt/V, and peritoneal membrane characteristics were investigated. There were 31 (33.0%) patients in Group 1. The duration of PD (86.0 ± 64.1 vs. 59.6 ± 45.2 months, p: 0.023), peritoneal thickness (1.02 ± 0.37 vs. 0.87 ± 0.21 mm, p: 0.015), peritoneal calcification (7 [22.6%] vs. 3 [4.8%] patients, p: 0.013], increased D/P creatinine ratio (14 [45.2%] vs. 14 [22.2%] patients, p: 0.031) and CRP (13.9 ± 11.2 vs. 7.1 ± 4.8 mg/L, p: 0.045) were significantly higher in Group 1, whereas albumin (3.6 ± 0.5 vs. 3.8 ± 0.6 g/dL, p: 0.047) and parathyroid hormone (355.2 ± 260.2 vs. 532.1 ± 332.9 ng/L, p: 0.015) levels were significantly lower. Peritoneal thickness was significantly correlated with duration of PD (r: 0.775, p < 0.001) and CRP (r: 0.282, p: 0.006). Regression analysis showed that peritoneal thickness (Exp (B) [95% CI]: 0.029 [0.003-0.253], p: 0.001) was independent predictor of decreased Kt/V in PD patients. In conclusion, prolonged PD duration and increased peritoneal thickness are associated with a decrease in Kt/V over time. CT may be an alternative and noninvasive method instead of peritoneal biopsy for determining the structural changes of the peritoneal membrane .

Incidence and risk factors for urinary tract infections in the first year after renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The most common infections among renal transplant patients are urinary tract infections (UTI). Our main objective in this study is to determine the incidence of UTIs in patients who have undergone renal transplantation in our hospital, to identify the causative microbiological agents, risk factors and determine the effects of UTI on short-term graft survival. METHODS: Urinary tract infections, which developed within the first year of renal transplantation, were investigated. Patients were compared regarding demographic, clinical, laboratory characteristics and graft survival. RESULTS: 102 patients were included in our study. Fifty-three patients (53%) were male and 49 (48%) were female. Sixty-seven urinary tract infection attacks in 21 patients (20.5%) were recorded. Age (p = 0.004; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.032-1.184), longer indwelling urinary catheter stay time (p = 0.039; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.013-1.661) and urologic complications (p = 0.006; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.001-0.320) were found as risk factors for UTI development in the first year of transplantation. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. Of these bacteria, 63.2% were found to be extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) positive. Multidrug resistant microorganisms (MDROs) were more frequent in male patients (32 episodes in males vs. 14 episodes in females, p = <0.001). UTI had no negative impact on short-term graft survival. CONCLUSION: Our study results represent the high incidence of UTI with MDROs in KT recipients. Infection control methods should be applied even more vigorously especially in male transplant patients since a higher incidence of UTI caused by resistant microorganisms was reported in male patients.

FRAX scores are increased in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

PURPOSE: Prognosis in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) has greatly improved with immunosuppressive use whereas incidence of treatment-related comorbidities such as osteoporosis has increased. However, studies investigating bone disease in AAV are limited. Fracture Risk Assesment Tool (FRAX) was developed to estimate 10-year hip and major osteoporotic fracture risks. Aim of this study was to estimate FRAX scores in AAV patients and compare them to healthy controls. METHODS: 30 AAV patients and 20 healthy controls were included. Demographic, disease, and medication history were recorded from patient files. Femoral neck, lumbar spine and forearm bone mineral densitometry, and thoracolumbar radiographs were performed. FRAX fracture risk scoring was assessed for all participants. RESULTS: There were 18 male and 12 female patients. Mean age was 58.5 ± 11.7 years. Osteoporosis and osteopenia were present in 23.3% and 50% of patients, respectively. There were fractures in eight patients (26.7%). FRAX major fracture (9.4 ± 7.3% vs 5.9 ± 3.2%, p = 0.02) and hip fracture (2.2 ± 3.2% vs 0.9 ± 0.8%, p = 0.03) scores were higher in patients than controls. In seven (23.3%) patients, the 10-year probability of hip fracture was ≥ 3% and in five (16%) patients the 10-year risk of a major osteoporosis-related fracture was ≥ 20%. None of the controls exceeded these thresholds. CONCLUSION: AAV patients are at high risk for future fractures as calculated with FRAX. Life-long monitoring for bone disease and fractures are essential. Large studies with longer follow-up are needed to determine the accuracy of FRAX risk scoring in predicting fractures.

Low bone density, vertebral fracture and FRAX score in kidney transplant recipients: A cross-sectional cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation (KT) recipients are at increased risk of low bone density (LBD) and fractures. In this retrospective study, we investigated bone mineral density (BMD), vertebral fractures, calculated risk for major osteoporotic fractures (MOF), and hip fractures in the KT recipients. PATIENTS-METHOD: Patients who completed at least one year after KT were included in the analysis. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded. Measurements of BMD were performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Vertebral fractures were assessed using semi-quantitative criteria with conventional radiography. The ten-year risk for MOF and hip fracture were calculated using the FRAX@ tool with BMD. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three KT recipients were included in the study. The population included 77 women. The mean age at evaluation was 46,5±11,9 years. Seventy-eight (50.9%) patients had normal femoral neck BMD while osteoporosis and osteopenia at the femoral neck were present in 12 (7.8%) and 63 (41.1%) of the patients, respectively. Age at evaluation was the risk factor for LBD (OR 1.057; 95% CI 1.024-1.091; p = 0.001). In female KT recipients, LBD was principally affected by menopausal status whereas in males, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor use and lower BMI levels were the risk factors. The prevalent vertebral fracture was found in 43.4% of patients. In multivariate analysis, only steroid use (OR 0.121; 95% CI 0.015-0.988; p = 0.049) was found to be associated with prevalent fracture. Among all KT recipients, 1.9% had a high MOF probability (≥20% risk of fracture), and 23.5% had high hip fracture probability (≥3% risk of hip fracture) according to FRAX. CONCLUSION: Exploring the prevalence of LBD and vertebral fracture and the risk factors would help clinicians to modify long-term follow-up strategies. Furthermore, the high hip fracture risk probability in our cohort suggested that there is a need for longitudinal studies to confirm the validity of the FRAX tool in the transplant population.

Baseline carotid intima-media thickness is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is an early marker of atherosclerosis and is increased in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Association of CIMT with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or mortality is less clear. Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a hormone associated with vascular calcification, atherosclerosis, and mortality in the hemodialysis population. We investigated whether baseline CIMT and FGF-23 are associated with CVD and mortality in PD patients. Fifty-five PD patients were included. CVD was defined as ischemic heart disease, stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Intact FGF-23 was measured in plasma. CIMT was measured by ultrasonography. Twenty-one patients developed CVD and 12 died over 47.1 ± 33.8 months. Patients with CVD were older (55.9 ± 10.5 vs. 42.5 ± 12.9 years, P < .01), had lower albumin (3.8 ± 0.5 vs. 4.2 ± 0.3 g/dL, P < .01) and higher CIMT (0.87 ± 0.22 vs. 0.61 ± 0.11 mm, P < .01). Patients with mortality were also older (53.5 ± 11.5 vs. 45.8 ± 13.8 years, P = .05), had lower albumin (3.7 ± 0.6 vs. 4.1 ± 0.3 g/dL, P < .01), higher CRP (15.0 ± 8.5 vs. 7.6 ± 8.4 mg/L, P < .01) and CIMT (0.9 ± 0.3 vs. 0.6 ± 0.1 mm, P < .01). Albumin and CIMT were associated with CVD and CIMT > 0.75 mm was associated with cardiovascular mortality. FGF-23 did not show any correlations. CIMT at baseline is associated with CVD and mortality in PD patients.

Vitamin D Levels in Patients With Small and Medium Vessel Vasculitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with small and medium vessel systemic vasculitis. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D3 levels were measured in adult patients with systemic small and medium vessel vasculitis including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CryV), IgA vasculitis (IgAV) and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (HS) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as control groups. 25OH vitamin D3 levels<30ng/ml and <20ng/ml were regarded as insufficiency and deficiency, respectively. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients (42 AAV, 2 CryV, 8 IgA vasculitis, 5 PAN) with systemic vasculitis, 101 HS, and 111 RA patients were included. The mean 25OH vitamin D3 level was 21.8±14.2ng/mL in patients with vasculitis, 42.7±27.6ng/mL in HS (p<.001) and 20.1±18.47ng/mL in patients with RA (p=.54). Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were significantly higher in patients with systemic vasculitis compared to HS (75.4% vs 33.7%, p<.001; %50 vs 21.8%, p<.001, respectively). Vitamin D status was not different in patients with systemic vasculitis compared to RA. There was a negative correlation between vitamin D status and CRP levels (=-.364, p=.007). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that renal involvement was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in patients with vasculitis (OR 22.5 [95% CI 1.6-128.9]. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are more frequent in patients with systemic small and medium vessel vasculitis and RA than HS. Renal involvement is one of the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in patients with vasculitis.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increased in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of mortality in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the normal population. However, MetS in AAV has not been adequately investigated. We aimed to determine MetS prevalence and associated factors in AAV patients. METHODS: Thirty-seven AAV patients and 42 healthy controls were enrolled. MetS was determined by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) criteria. The relationship between clinical features of AAV and MetS was also investigated. RESULTS: MetS was significantly higher in AAV patients than controls by NCEP-ATPIII (51.4% vs. 26.2%, p 0.022) and IDF (62.2% vs. 35.7%, p 0.020). When AAV patients with MetS were compared to those without, there were significant differences in age, CRP, GFR and NT-pro-BNP. Age [58 (13) vs. 50 (8) years p: 0.028], CRP [4.0 (3.6) vs. 3.2 (1.0) mg/l, p 0.021] and NT-pro-BNP [173.5 (343.7) vs. 106.0 (103.0) pg/ml, p 0.013] were significantly higher in AAV patients with MetS than those without; GFR was significantly lower [38 (46) vs. 83 (51) ml/min/1.73 m2, p 0.004]. ROC curve analysis showed NT-pro-BNP > 58.0 ng/ml predicted MetS with 87.1% sensitivity and 46.7% specificity (Area under curve: 0.71, CI 0.536-0.902, p 0.041). Multivariate analysis revealed age [OR (95% CI): 1.180 (1.010-1.370), p 0.039] and NT-pro-BNP > 58 pg/ml [OR (95% CI): 5.5 (1.02-30.1) p 0.047] were independent predictors of MetS in AAV patients. CONCLUSION: MetS is significantly higher in AAV patients than controls and is associated with age and NT-pro-BNP. Screening and treating MetS may improve prognosis in AAV patients.