Advanced Glycation End Products and Bone Metabolism in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation may be involved in the progression of CKD-bone disorders. We sought to determine the relationship between AGEs measured in the blood, skin, and bone with histomorphometry parameters, bone protein, gene expression, and serum biomarkers of bone metabolism in patients with CKD stages 3 to 5D patients. Serum levels of AGEs were estimated by pentosidine, glycated hemoglobin (A1c), and N-carboxymethyl lysine (CML). The accumulation of AGEs in the skin was estimated from skin autofluorescence (SAF). Bone AGEs accumulation and multiligand receptor for AGEs (RAGEs) expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry; bone samples were used to evaluate protein and gene expression and histomorphometric analysis. Data are from 86 patients (age: 51 ± 13 years; 60 [70%] on dialysis). Median serum levels of pentosidine, CML, A1c, and SAF were 71.6 pmol/mL, 15.2 ng/mL, 5.4%, and 3.05 arbitrary units, respectively. AGEs covered 3.92% of trabecular bone and 5.42% of the cortical bone surface, whereas RAGEs were expressed in 0.7% and 0.83% of trabecular and cortical bone surfaces, respectively. AGEs accumulation in bone was inversely related to serum receptor activator of NF-κB ligand/parathyroid hormone (PTH) ratio (R = -0.25; p = 0.03), and RAGE expression was negatively related to serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b/PTH (R = -0.31; p = 0.01). Patients with higher AGEs accumulation presented decreased bone protein expression (sclerostin [1.96 (0.11-40.3) vs. 89.3 (2.88-401) ng/mg; p = 0.004]; Dickkopf-related protein 1 [0.064 (0.03-0.46) vs. 1.36 (0.39-5.87) ng/mg; p = 0.0001]; FGF-23 [1.07 (0.4-32.6) vs. 44.1 (6-162) ng/mg; p = 0.01]; and osteoprotegerin [0.16 (0.08-2.4) vs. 6.5 (1.1-23.7) ng/mg; p = 0.001]), upregulation of the p53 gene, and downregulation of Dickkopf-1 gene expression. Patients with high serum A1c levels presented greater cortical porosity and Mlt and reduced osteoblast surface/bone surface, eroded surface/bone surface, osteoclast surface/bone surface, mineral apposition rate, and adjusted area. Cortical thickness was negatively correlated with serum A1c (R = -0.28; p = 0.02) and pentosidine levels (R = -0.27; p = 0.02). AGEs accumulation in the bone of CKD patients was related to decreased bone protein expression, gene expression changes, and increased skeletal resistance to PTH; A1c and pentosidine levels were related to decreased cortical thickness; and A1c levels were related to increased cortical porosity and Mlt. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Exploring pooled analysis of pretested items to monitor the performance of medical students exposed to different curriculum designs.

Several methods have been proposed for analyzing differences between test scores, such as using mean scores, cumulative deviation, and mixed-effect models. Here, we explore the pooled analysis of retested Progress Test items to monitor the performance of first-year medical students who were exposed to a new curriculum design. This was a cross-sectional study of students in their first year of a medical program who participated in the annual interinstitutional Progress Tests from 2013 to 2019. We analyzed the performance of first-year students in the 2019 test and compared it with that of first-year students taking the test from 2013 to 2018 and encountering the same items. For each item, we calculated odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals; we also performed meta-analyses with fixed effects for each content area in the pooled analysis and presented the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). In all, we used 63 items, which were divided into basic sciences, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and public health. Significant differences were found between groups in basic sciences (OR = 1.172 [CI95% 1.005 CI 1.366], p = 0.043) and public health (OR = 1.54 [CI95% CI 1.25-1.897], p < 0.001), which may reflect the characteristics of the new curriculum. Thus, pooled analysis of pretested items may provide indicators of different performance. This method may complement analysis of score differences on benchmark assessments.

Urgent-start dialysis: Comparison of complications and outcomes between peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the viability and outcomes between peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD) in urgent-start renal replacement therapy (RRT). This study aimed to compare infectious and mechanical complications related to urgent-start PD and HD. Secondary outcomes were to identify risk factors for complications and mortality related to urgent-start dialysis. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study with incident patients receiving PD and HD in a Brazilian university hospital, between July 2014 and December 2017. Subjects included individuals with final-stage chronic kidney disease who required immediate RRT, that is, HD through central venous catheter or PD in which the catheter was implanted by a nephrologist and utilized for 72 h, without previous training. Patients with PD were subjected, initially, to high-volume PD for metabolic compensation. After hospital discharge, they remained in intermittent PD in the dialysis unit until training was completed. Mechanical and infectious complications were compared, as well as the recovery of renal function and survival. RESULTS: In total, 93 patients were included in PD and 91 in HD. PD and HD groups were similar regarding age (58 ± 17 vs. 60 ± 15 years; p = 0.49), frequency of diabetes mellitus (37.6% vs. 50.5%; p = 0.10), other comorbidities (74.1% vs. 71.4%; p = 0.67) and biochemical parameters at the beginning of RRT, that is, creatinine (9.1 ± 4.1 vs. 8.0 ± 2.8; p = 0.09), serum albumin (3.1 ± 0.6 vs. 3.3 ± 0.6; p = 0.06) and haemoglobin (9.5 ± 1.8 vs. 9.8 ± 2.0; p = 0.44). After a minimum follow-up period of 180 days and a maximum follow-up period of 2 years, there was no difference regarding mechanical complications (24.7% vs. 37.4%; p = 0.06) or bacteraemia (15.0% vs. 24.0%; p = 0.11); however, there was a difference regarding infection of the exit site (25.8% vs. 39.5%; p = 0.04) and diuresis maintenance [700 (0-1500) vs. 0 (0-500); p < 0.001], with better results in the PD group. There was better phosphorus control at 180 days in the PD group (62.4% vs. 41.8%; p = 0.008), with a lower requirement for phosphate binder usage (28% vs. 55%; p < 0.001), erythropoietin (18.3% vs. 49.5%; p < 0.001) and anti-hypertensives (11.8% vs. 30.8%; p = 0.003). Time to death was similar between groups. In the multivariate analysis, PD was a predictor of renal function recovery [odds ratio: 3.95 (1.01-15.4)]. CONCLUSION: PD is a viable and safe alternative to HD in a scenario of urgent-start RRT with complication rates and outcomes similar to those of HD, highlighting the results regarding renal function recovery.

Internato na pandemia Covid-19: a experiência de uma escola médica / Medical internship in the Covid-19 pandemic: the experience of a medical school

Resumo: Introdução: A pandemia da Covid-19 provocou milhares de mortes e levou a incontáveis mudanças na forma de organização de serviços de saúde e nas escolas de Medicina mundo afora. Relato de experiência: Este artigo relata a experiência da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu da Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), cujas aulas foram suspensas em função da pandemia. Discussão: Descrevem-se as motivações para a suspensão e os procedimentos para a retomada das aulas do internato, depois de 15 semanas da interrupção. Conclusão: Ressalta-se a importância das decisões coletivas, da comunicação empática, do acolhimento e cuidado com a saúde mental e da parceria com o Hospital das Clínicas na realização de rastreamento para a presença do vírus entre os estudantes. Por fim, destaca-se o aprendizado para o professor ao se defrontar, por um lado, com a impotência diante da morte e do desconhecido, e, por outro, com a potência do cuidado que pode ser oferecido em situação tão singular quanto uma pandemia.

Abstract: Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused thousands of deaths and led to countless changes in the way health services and medical schools are organized around the world. Experience report: This article reports on the experience of the Botucatu Faculty of Medicine, UNESP, located in the interior of the state of São Paulo, where classes were suspended due to the pandemic. Discussion: The reasons for the suspension of internship classes and the procedures for their resumption, after 15 weeks, are described. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of collective decisions, empathic communication, mental health care and attention and the partnership with the Hospital das Clínicas in performing track and trace for presence of the virus among the students. Finally, particular emphasis is given to the learning gained by teachers who found themselves feeling, on the one hand, powerless in the face of death and the unknown and, on the other, the strength of the care that can be offered in a situation as unique as the pandemic.

Peritoneal Dialysis as an Urgent-Start Option for Incident Patients on Chronic Renal Replacement Therapy: World Experience and Review of Literature.

Chronic kidney disease is a significant problem of public health worldwide, and up to 60% of patients start dialysis in an unplanned manner without a definitive dialysis access. Recently, peritoneal dialysis (PD) has emerged as an alternative to unplanned chronic dialytic method, and the world collective experience shows that PD can be an efficient, safe, and cost-effective alternative with comparable outcomes to the planned PD and urgent-start hemodialysis (HD). More importantly, as compared to urgent-start HD using a central venous catheter, urgent-start PD has significantly fewer incidences of catheter-related bloodstream infections, dialysis-related mechanical complications, and need for dialysis catheter reinsertions during the initial time of the therapy. An integrative review was conducted on PD urgent start compared to HD urgent start and to planned PD, identifying its potential advantages and limitations. Literature search was performed within multiple databases, and observational studies on clinical experience with urgent PD were reviewed and appraised.

Perfil dos Principais Autores da Revista Brasileira de Educação Médica entre 2006 e 2015: Perspectivas para um Novo Futuro? / Profile of the Main Authors of the Brazilian Journal of Medical Education between 2006 and 2015: Perspectives for a New Future?

RESUMO As mudanças sociais pelas quais o Brasil passou nos últimos anos foram acompanhadas de mudanças na formação médica, que passa a ser, ela própria, objeto de pesquisa. De fato, as iniciativas de incentivo à formação de profissionais para atuação no ensino em saúde têm aumentado a produção científica na educação médica. Para compreender este campo de pesquisa, é importante conhecer o perfil de seus pesquisadores. No Brasil, um indicativo deste perfil poderia ser inferido com base nas características dos principais autores de artigos publicados no periódico especializado da área, a Revista Brasileira de Educação Médica (RBEM), na última década. Assim, para compreender a educação médica enquanto campo de pesquisa, realizamos um estudo bibliométrico para caracterizar o perfil dos principais autores da RBEM no período de 2006 a 2015. Foram identificados todos os autores de comunicações científicas publicadas na RBEM, incluindo para análise aqueles com pelo menos cinco publicações na revista no período. Suas informações profissionais foram extraídas de seus currículos publicados na Plataforma Lattes. Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva. Foram identificados 2.191 autores, tendo-se analisado 39. Entre os autores analisados, 64,1% são médicos, e outros são psicólogos, pedagogos, enfermeiros e cientistas sociais. A maioria (71,8%) concluiu a graduação entre 1970 e 1989. Quase 90% dos autores têm doutorado, sendo que 46,2% concluíram o doutorado na década de 2000; 41% dos autores realizaram algum curso de especialização em ensino, principalmente nas décadas de 1990 e 2000; 76,9% dos autores estão no Sudeste, com 48,7% em São Paulo. O intervalo médio entre a publicação do primeiro artigo científico e o primeiro artigo em educação médica foi de mais de 22 anos entre os formados na década de 1970, enquanto para os formados na década de 1990 esse intervalo foi de 8,5 anos. Comparando os dados obtidos com referenciais bibliométricos e com uma perspectiva histórico-fatual da educação médica no Brasil, apontamos a consolidação da educação médica como campo de pesquisa, com a profissionalização específica crescente de seus investigadores.

ABSTRACT The social changes that Brazil has faced in the last years were accompanied by changes in medical education in such a way that it became a research object. Actually the initiatives to improve the human sources to work in health sciences education have led to an increase in the scientific output in medical education. Knowing the researchers' profile is important to understand medical education as a scientific field. Among us, in Brazil, their profiles could be inferred through the analyses of the main authors of articles published in the Brazilian Journal of Medical Education (RBEM) in the last ten years, because it is the national leading specialized journal in medical education. Therefore, in order to understand this field of investigation we performed a bibliometric study to characterize the main authors' profile of the RBEM from 2006 to 2015. We added all authors of scientific communications published in the period and we analyzed those with at least five publications. Their professional information was extracted from the Lattes Platform. Data were assessed descriptively. We identified 2,191 different authors and included thirty nine. Among the included authors, 64.1% are physicians and the others are psychologists, pedagogues, nurses and sociologists. The majority of authors (71.8%) completed graduation between 1970 and 1989. Almost 90% have a PhD degree and 46.2% acquired it in the 2000s. Forty one percent of the authors accomplished some specialization training in the field of education, mainly between 1990 and 2000. The majority of the authors (76.9%) are in the Southeast region of Brazil, especially in the state of São Paulo (48.7%). The mean interval from the first scientific publication to the first scientific publication in medical education was 22 years among the authors graduated in the 1970s. On the other hand, this interval decreased to 8.5 years for those graduated in the 1990s. We compared our data to other bibliometric data and to a historical perspective of Brazilian medical education in such a way that we can conclude that there is a consolidation of medical education as a research field with increasing specific professionalization of the interested investigators.

Renal osteodystrophy in the obesity era: Is metabolic syndrome relevant?

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have shown a beneficial effect of obesity on bone health; however, most of those studies were not based on bone biopsies. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) could have an effect on bone remodeling. However, there are no data on the effects of MetS in the presence of renal osteodystrophy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between MetS and renal osteodystrophy using the bone histomorphometric turnover-mineralization-volume (TMV) classification. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS & MEASUREMENTS: This observational cross-sectional study included 55 hemodialysis patients (28 women/27 men) who were evaluated for MetS and bone histomorphometry. Biochemical parameters included calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D, free serum leptin, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), intact osteocalcin, sclerostin (Scl), glucose, insulin, and thyroid hormones. Robust models of multivariate linear regressions were used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Females had higher iPTH levels (1,143 vs. 358, p = 0.02). Patients with normal bone volume (BV/TV) had a higher prevalence of MetS (73.6% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.02) and higher serum phosphorus, C-terminal FGF23 and insulin levels. The multivariate regression analysis showed that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) was positively correlated with bone formation rate (BFR/BS) and negatively associated with mineralization lag time. Bone volume was negatively associated with age but positively associated with MetS. Body mass index (BMI) was not correlated with any of the bone histomorphometric parameters. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MetS is not a risk factor for low bone volume in hemodialysis patients. Furthermore, BMI alone was not related to bone volume in this population.

Fungal peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) in Brazil: molecular identification, biofilm production and antifungal susceptibility of the agents.

This paper presents data on fungal peritonitis (FP) in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) at the University Hospital of Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. In a total of 422 patients, 30 developed FP, from which the medical records and the fungal isolates of 23 patient cases were studied. All patients presented abdominal pain, cloudy peritoneal effluent, needed hospitalization, had the catheter removed and were treated with fluconazole or fluconazole plus 5-flucitosine; six of them died due to FP. Concerning the agents, it was observed that Candida parapsilosis was the leading species (9/23), followed by Candida albicans (5/23), Candida orthopsilosis (4/23), Candida tropicalis (3/23), Candida guilliermondii (1/23), and Kodamaea ohmeri (1/23). All the isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, voriconazole and caspofungin whereas C. albicans isolates were susceptible to all antifungals tested. Resistance to fluconazole was observed in three isolates of C. orthopsilosis, and dose-dependent susceptibility to this antifungal was observed in two isolates of C. parapsilosis and in the K. ohmeri isolate. Biofilm production estimates were high or moderate in most isolates, especially in C. albicans species, and low in C. parapsilosis species, with a marked variation among the isolates. This Brazilian study reinforces that FP in PD is caused by a diverse group of yeasts, most prevalently C. parapsilosis sensu stricto species. In addition, they present significant variation in susceptibility to antifungals and biofilm production, thus contributing to the complexity and severity of the clinical features.

Metabolic syndrome criteria as predictors of insulin resistance, inflammation and mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and metabolic syndrome are characterized by overlapping disorders, including glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and, in some cases, obesity. However, there are no specific criteria for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in CKD. Metabolic syndrome can also be associated with increased risk of mortality. Some traditional risk factors may protect dialysis patients from mortality, known as "reverse epidemiology." Metabolic syndrome might undergo reverse epidemiology. The objectives were to detect differences in frequency and metabolic characteristics associated with three sets of diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome, to evaluate the accuracy of insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation to identify patients with metabolic syndrome, and to investigate the effects of metabolic syndrome by three sets of diagnostic criteria on mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients. METHODS: An observational study was conducted. Diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome proposed by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and Harmonizing the Metabolic Syndrome (HMetS) statement were applied to 98 hemodialysis patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 51%, 66.3%, and 75.3% according to NCEP ATP III, IDF, and HMetS criteria, respectively. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by HMetS was simultaneously capable of revealing both inflammation and IR, whereas NCEP ATP III and IDF criteria were only able to identify IR. Mortality risk increased in the presence of metabolic syndrome regardless of the criteria used. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in hemodialysis varies according to the diagnostic criteria used. IR and inflammation predict metabolic syndrome only when diagnosed by HMetS criteria. HMetS was the diagnostic criteria that can predict the highest risk of mortality.

Could albumin level explain the higher mortality in hemodialysis patients with pulmonary hypertension?

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in hemodialysis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with the presence of PH in chronic hemodialysis patients and to verify whether these factors might explain the highest mortality among them. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of hemodialysis patients who started treatment from August 2001 to October 2007 and were followed up until April 2011 in a Brazilian referral medical school. According to the results of echocardiography examination, patients were allocated in two groups: those with PH and those without PH. Clinical parameters, site and type of vascular access, bioimpedance, and laboratorial findings were compared between the groups and a logistic regression model was elaborated. Actuarial survival curves were constructed and hazard risk to death was evaluated by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: PH > 35 mmHg was found in 23 (30.6%) of the 75 patients studied. The groups differed in extracellular water, ventricular thickness, left atrium diameter, and ventricular filling. In a univariate analysis, extracellular water was associated with PH (relative risk = 1.194; 95% CI of 1.006 - 1.416; p = 0.042); nevertheless, in a multiple model, only left atrium enlargement was independently associated with PH (relative risk =1.172; 95% CI of 1.010 - 1.359; p = 0.036). PH (hazard risk = 3.008; 95% CI of 1.285 - 7.043; p = 0.011) and age (hazard risk of 1.034 per year of age; 95% CI of 1.000 - 7.068; p = 0.047) were significantly associated with mortality in a multiple Cox regression analysis. However, when albumin was taken in account the only statistically significant association was between albumin level and mortality (hazard risk = 0.342 per g/dL; 95% CI of 0.119 - 0.984; p = 0.047) while the presence of PH lost its statistical significance (p = 0.184). Mortality was higher in patients with PH (47.8% vs 25%) who also had a statistically worse survival after the sixth year of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: PH in hemodialysis patients is associated with parameters of volume overload that sheds light on its pathophysiology. Mortality is higher in hemodialysis patients with PH and the low albumin level can explain this association.

Continuous peritoneal dialysis compared with daily hemodialysis in patients with acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: In some parts of the world, peritoneal dialysis is widely used for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in acute kidney injury (AKI), despite concerns about its inadequacy. It has been replaced in recent years by hemodialysis and, most recently, by continuous venovenous therapies. We performed a prospective study to determine the effect of continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD), as compared with daily hemodialysis (dHD), on survival among patients with AKI. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with acute tubular necrosis (ATN) were assigned to receive CPD or dHD in a tertiary-care university hospital. The primary endpoint was hospital survival rate; renal function recovery and metabolic, acid-base, and fluid controls were secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients, 60 were treated with CPD (G1) and 60 with dHD (G2). The two groups were similar at the start of RRT with respect to age (64.2 +/- 19.8 years vs 62.5 +/- 21.2 years), sex (men: 72% vs 66%), sepsis (42% vs 47%), shock (61% vs 63%), severity of AKI [Acute Tubular Necrosis Individual Severity Score (ATNISS): 0.68 +/- 0.2 vs 0.66 +/- 0.22; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II: 26.9 +/- 8.9 vs 24.1 +/- 8.2], pre-dialysis blood urea nitrogen [BUN (116.4 +/- 33.6 mg/dL vs 112.6 +/- 36.8 mg/dL)], and creatinine (5.85 +/- 1.9 mg/dL vs 5.95 +/- 1.4 mg/dL). In G1, weekly delivered Kt/V was 3.59 +/- 0.61, and in G2, it was 4.76 +/- 0.65 (p < 0.01). The two groups were similar in metabolic and acid-base control (after 4 sessions, BUN < 55 mg/dL: 46 +/- 18.7 mg/dL vs 52 +/- 18.2 mg/dL; pH: 7.41 vs 7.38; bicarbonate: 22.8 +/- 8.9 mEq/L vs 22.2 +/- 7.1 mEq/L). Duration of therapy was longer in G2 (5.5 days vs 7.5 days; p = 0.02). Despite the delivery of different dialysis methods and doses, the survival rate did not differ between the groups (58% in G1 vs 52% in G2), and recovery of renal function was similar (28% vs 26%). CONCLUSION: High doses of CPD provided appropriate metabolic and pH control, with a rate of survival and recovery of renal function similar to that seen with dHD. Therefore, CPD can be considered an alternative to other forms of RRT in AKI.

Acesso vascular para hemodiálise com cateter temporário de duplo lúmen em cães com insuficiência renal aguda / Hemodialysis vascular access with temporary double-lumen catheter in dogs with acute renal failure

A hemodiálise é uma modalidade terapêutica que pode sustentar a vida do paciente com insuficiência renal aguda (IRA), enquanto este recupera a função renal. Para sua realização, é necessário estabelecer circulação extracorpórea, para que seja realizada a filtração do sangue, impondo a necessidade de um acesso vascular viável e eficiente. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficiência e as complicações do acesso vascular para hemodiálise (HD), com cateter temporário de duplo lúmen inserido na veia jugular externa. Foram estudados 10 cães com IRA induzida por gentamicina, submetidos a sessões diárias de HD, com duração de uma hora, até a recuperação da função renal ou óbito. Foram realizadas 104 sessões de HD nos animais estudados, observando-se necessidade de troca do cateter em sete sessões (6,7 por cento), devido à obstrução do lúmen do cateter em seis sessões (5,8 por cento) ou por saída acidental do mesmo em uma sessão (1,0 por cento). Não se observou migração do cateter, infecção, hemorragia ou hematoma no local de entrada do cateter na pele, obtendo-se fluxo sanguíneo patente em 90,4 por cento das sessões. Concluiu-se que o acesso vascular na veia jugular externa com cateter temporário de duplo-lúmen mostrou-se viável, com ocorrência de poucas complicações, sendo, portanto, indicado como forma de acesso para a circulação extracorpórea para HD em cães com IRA.

Hemodialysis is a therapeutic procedure that can sustain the patient's life in acute renal failure (ARF), during the renal function recover. To perform hemodialysis (HD), an extracorporeal circulation is established to blood filtration, imposing the need of a viable and efficient vascular access. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of the HD vascular access with temporary double-lumen catheter inserted into the external jugular vein. Ten mongrel dogs with ARF, induced by gentamicin administration, were submitted to daily hemodialysis for one hour, until renal function recover or death. A total of 104 HD sessions were performed. Catheter replacement was accomplished in seven sessions (6.7 percent), due to catheter lumen mechanical obstruction in six sessions (5.8 percent) or accidental catheter output in one session (1.0 percent). No catheter migration, infection, bleeding or haematoma around the catheter insertion site was found. Effective blood flow rates were observed in 90.4 percent HD sessions. In conclusion, the vascular access in jugular external vein with temporary double-lumen catheter was valuable, with few complications, and should be indicated to vascular access in extracorporeal circulation to HD in ARF dogs.

High volume peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is still widely used for acute renal failure (ARF) in developing countries despite concerns about its inadequacy. Continuous PD has been evaluated in ARF by analyzing the resolution of metabolic abnormality and normalization of plasma pH, bicarbonate, and potassium. METHODOLOGY: A prospective study was performed on 30 ARF patients who were assigned to high-dose continuous PD (Kt/V = 0.65 per session) via a flexible catheter (Tenckhoff) and automated PD with a cycler. Fluid removal, pH and metabolic control, protein loss, and patient outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients received 236 continuous PD sessions; 76% were admitted to ICUs. APACHE II score was 32.2+/-8.65. BUN concentrations stabilized after 3 sessions, creatinine after 4, and bicarbonate and pH after 2. Fluid removal was 2.1+/-0.62 L/day. Creatinine and urea clearances were 15.8+/-4.16 and 17.3+/-5.01 mL/minute respectively. Normalized creatinine clearance and urea Kt/V values were 110.6+/-22.5 L/week/1.73 m(2) body surface area and 3.8+/-0.6 respectively. Solute reduction index was 41%+/-6.5% per session. Serum albumin values remained stable in spite of considerable protein losses (median 21.7 g/day, interquartile range 9.1-29.8 g/day). Regarding ARF outcome, 23% of patients presented renal function recovery, 13% remained on dialysis after 30 days of follow-up, and 57% died. CONCLUSION: High-dose continuous PD by flexible catheter and cycler was an effective treatment for ARF. It provided high solute removal, allowing appropriate metabolic and pH control, and adequate dialysis dose and fluid removal. Continuous PD can therefore be considered an alternative to other forms of renal replacement therapy in ARF.

Peritoneal dialysis in acute renal failure.

The definition of adequate dialysis in acute renal failure (ARF) is complex and involves the time of referral to dialysis, dose, and dialytic method. Nephrologist experience with a specific procedure and the availability of different dialysis modalities play an important role in these choices. There is no consensus in literature on the best method or ideal dialysis dose in ARF. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is used less and less in ARF patients, and is being replaced by continuous venovenous therapies. However, it should not be discarded as a worthless therapeutic option for ARF patients. PD offers several advantages over hemodialysis, such as its technical simplicity, excellent cardiovascular tolerance, absence of an extracorporeal circuit, lack of bleeding risk, and low risk of hydro-electrolyte imbalance. PD also has some limitations, though: it needs an intact peritoneal cavity, carries risks of peritoneal infection and protein losses, and has an overall lower effectiveness. Because daily solute clearance is lower with PD than with daily HD, there have been concerns that PD cannot control uremia in ARF patients. Controversies exist concerning its use in patients with severe hypercatabolism; in these cases, daily hemodialysis or continuous venovenous therapy have been preferred. There is little literature on PD in ARF patients, and what exists does not address fundamental parameters such as adequate quantification of dialysis and patient catabolism. Given these limitations, there is a pressing need to re-evaluate the adequacy of PD in ARF using accepted standards. Therefore, new studies should be undertaken to resolve these problems.

Mortalidade e prognóstico específico em pacientes com insuficiência renal aguda / Assessment of mortality and specific index in acute renal failure

Vários sistemas de estratificação de risco têm sido estudados com o objetivo de predizer a evolução de pacientes graves com insuficiência renal aguda (IRA). OBJETIVOS: Avaliar e comparar as taxas de mortalidade e o escore de severidade individual de necrose tubular aguda (ATN-ISS) em pacientes que desenvolveram IRA tratados em hospital universitário de atendimento predominantemente terciário. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados prospectivamente 103 pacientes com IRA por necrose tubular aguda (NTA), atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP, acompanhados até recuperação do quadro renal ou óbito. No momento da primeira avaliação do nefrologista foi aplicado o escore ATN-ISS. Os resultados foram apresentados em média ± desvio padrão ou mediana, com nível de significância de 5 por cento. RESULTADOS: Verificamos que 51,4 por cento eram do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 58 ± 36 anos. A mortalidade geral foi de 44,3 por cento, sendo estatisticamente maior nos pacientes provenientes de enfermarias cirúrgicas (52,7 por cento) quando comparados àqueles de enfermarias clínicas (35,3 por cento), e naqueles que realizaram diálise (63,8 por cento) quando comparados aos de tratamento conservador (23,5 por cento). O escore ATN-ISS apresentou boa confiabilidade, com elevado poder discriminatório (área sob a curva de 0,95) e boa calibração, principalmente a partir do quintil 3. CONCLUSÃO: Na população estudada, as taxas de mortalidade foram semelhantes àquelas encontradas na literatura. O escore ATN-ISS mostrou ser um índice prognóstico com grande confiabilidade, podendo ser aplicado na prática diária do nefrologista.

[Assessment of mortality and specific index in acute renal failure]. / Mortalidade e prognóstico específico em pacientes com insuficiência renal aguda.

UNLABELLED: A variety of systems of risk factor stratification have been studied to predict the outcome in acute renal failure (ARF). OBJECTIVES: Assess and compare mortality and the Acute Tubular Necrosis Individual Severity Score (ATN-ISS) in patients with AFR treated in a university hospital. METHODS: A prospective analysis was made of 103 patients with a diagnosis of intrinsic ARF admitted to the Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP. Patients were followed up until recovery of renal function or death. The Score ATN-ISS was recorded during the first hours of the assessment by a nephrologist. Results were reported as median or mean +/- SD, with statistical significance of p < 0.05. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of patients were male with a mean age of 58 +/- 36 years. Forty-four percent died in the hospital. Mortality was higher in patients from the surgical wards (52.7%) and in patients who were treated with dialysis (63.8%). The score ATN-ISS showed a good confidence level, with high discriminatory power (area under the curve of 0.95) and good accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality in this study was comparable to that found in literature. The ATN-ISS was shown to be a prognostic index with a high confidence level that could be routinely applied by nephrologists to patients with AFR.