Dickkopf-3 in the prediction of contrast media induced acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) has recently been discovered as a urinary biomarker for the prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery. This finding needs to be confirmed for AKI in other clinical settings. The present study investigates whether DKK3 can predict contrast-induced AKI (CI-AKI). METHODS: We performed a prospective study in 490 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Primary endpoint was an increase in serum creatinine concentration ≥ 0.3 mg/dl within 72 h after the procedure. DKK3 was assessed < 24 h before coronary angiography. Predictive accuracy was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: CI-AKI was observed in 30 (6.1%) patients, of whom 27 corresponded to stage I and 3 to stage II according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. Subjects who developed CI-AKI had a 3.8-fold higher urinary DKK3/creatinine ratio than those without CI-AKI (7.5 pg/mg [interquartile range [IQR] 1.2-1392.0] vs. 2.0 pg/mg [IQR 0.9-174.0]; p = 0.047). ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.61. Among subjects without clinically overt chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] > 60 ml/min, urinary albumin creatinine ratio < 30 mg/g), the DKK3/creatinine ratio was 5.4-fold higher in those with subsequent CI-AKI (7.5 pg/mg [IQR 0.9-590.1] vs. 1.38 pg/mg [IQR 0.8-51.0]; p = 0.007; AUC 0.62). Coronary angiography was associated with a 43 times increase in the urinary DKK3/creatinine ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary DKK3 is an independent predictor of CI-AKI even in the absence of overt chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study thereby expands the findings on DKK3 in the prediction of postoperative loss of kidney function to other entities of AKI.

Biomarkers in the prediction of contrast media induced nephropathy - the BITCOIN study.

BACKGROUND: Subjects with chronic kidney disease are at increased risk for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). Risk stratification is traditionally based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and proteinuria. The present trial examines, whether tubular and inflammatory biomarkers are able to identify subjects at increased risk as well. METHODS: We performed a prospective study in 490 patients undergoing coronary angiography. An increase of serum creatinine concentration ≥ 0.3 mg/dl from baseline to day 2-3 was defined as primary endpoint (CI-AKI). Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and calprotectin were assessed < 24h before coronary angiography. Prognostic accuracy was assessed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) calculations. RESULTS: 30 (6.1%) patients suffered from CI-AKI (27 AKIN stage I, 3 AKIN stage II, 0 AKIN stage III). Those subjects who developed CI-AKI had 3.1 fold higher baseline urinary NGAL/creatinine ratios than those without CI-AKI (60.8 [IQR 18.7-93.1] µg/mg vs. 19.9 [IQR 12.3-38.9] µg/mg, p = 0.001). In those subjects without clinically overt CKD (eGFR > 60 ml/min, urinary albumin creatinine ratio <30 mg/g), the NGAL/creatinine ratio was 2.6 higher in CI-AKI vs. no CI-AKI (47.8 [IQR 11.8-75.3] vs. 18.6 [IQR 11.7-36.3] µg/mg). No significant differences were obtained for KIM-1 and calprotectin (p>0.05 each). ROC analyses revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.68 (95% CI 0.60-0.81) for NGAL/creatinine. An NGAL/creatinine ratio < 56.4 µg/mg has a negative predictive value of 96.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the largest investigation on the use of urinary biomarkers for CI-AKI risk stratification so far. It shows that NGAL provides prognostic information beyond the glomerular biomarkers eGFR and proteinuria.

Expect the unexpected: favourable outcome in Munchausen by proxy syndrome.

Munchausen by proxy syndrome (MBPS) is a form of child abuse wherein the mother fabricates or produces illness in her child. The condition is hard to diagnose and few successful interventions have been described. Long-term outcome is associated with high family disruption, reabuse, mortality and morbidity. We report on a six-month-old girl that experienced eight hospital admissions within five months. Symptoms of repeated vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and acute life-threatening events (ALTE) were never substantiated. Finally, blood in diapers and napkins presented by the mother was shown to be of maternal origin. When confronted, the mother agreed to psychiatric admission. Following five months of treatment, her mental state stabilised and she entered supported living. She remained separated from the child, who was given to the father and developed normally on close paediatric follow-up. We report a definite diagnosis and successful intervention in MBPS. The case highlights characteristic features of this entity and illustrates that a favourable outcome depends on early intervention with separation of the child and perpetrator, as well as concomitant long-term psychiatric treatment.