Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) Augmented Total Antioxidant Capacity and Reduced C-Reactive Protein among Haemodialysis Patients in Phase II Trial.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative processes might increase in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) according to the current literature. Oxidative stress (OS) is a risk factor of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications, which are major causes of mortality among ESRD patients. Haemodialysis (HD) is life-saving procedure, nevertheless it is an active chronic inflammatory status that could augment cardiovascular disease and increase mortality. Gum Arabic (GA) has been claimed to act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in experimental studies and clinical trials. Therefore, we assumed GA supplementation among haemodialysis patients would reduce oxidative stress and consequently reduce the state of chronic inflammatory activation associated with haemodialysis. METHODS: Forty end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients aged 18-80 years who were on regular haemodialysis in Arif Renal Center, Omdurman, Sudan, were recruited. All recruited patients met the inclusion criteria and signed informed consent prior to enrolment. The patients received 30 g/day of GA for 12 weeks. C-reactive protein (CRP) and complete blood count (CBC) were measured as baseline and monthly. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured before and after GA intake. Ethical approval from the National Medicines and Poisons Board was obtained. RESULTS: Gum Arabic significantly augmented total antioxidant capacity level (P < 0.001) (95% CI, 0.408-0.625) and also attenuated oxidative marker MDA and C-reactive protein (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GA has revealed potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties in haemodialysis patients. Oral digestion of GA (30 g/day) decreased oxidative stress and inflammatory markers among haemodialysis patients. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03214692, registered 11 July 2017 (prospective registration).

Mycophenolate mofetil versus azathioprine for maintenance treatment of lupus nephritis.

To compare the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with that of azathioprine (AZA) drugs in the maintenance therapy of lupus nephritis (LN) patients, we studied 81 Sudanese patients with LN (32 in Class III, 34 in Class IV, and 15 in combined Class V + IV of the ISN/RPS 2003 Classification). All patients received induction therapy consisting of monthly intravenous pulse doses of cyclophosphamide (CYC) (500 mg/m 2 of body-surface area) for six months, plus three consecutive pulses of intravenous methylprednisolone 15 mg/kg/day of body weight (maximum 500 mg). Subsequently, 41 (50.6%) patients were randomized into a group that received oral MMF (22 mg/kg/day), and 40 (49.4%) patients randomized to a group that received oral AZA (2 mg/kg/day). All patients initially received oral prednisone (1 mg/kg of body weight daily) for four weeks. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. Total remission rate was 75.3% (80.5% in MMF and 70% in AZA), complete remission rate of 54.3% (56.1% with MMF and 52.5% with AZA), and a partial remission rate of 21% (24.4% with MMF and 17.5% with AZA) over 29 months. During maintenance therapy, six patients died (four in the AZA group and two in the MMF group), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) developed in five patients (three in the AZA group and two in the MMF group). During the 36-months of the study, both groups had comparable event-free survival rate for the composite end point of death or ESRD and rate of relapse-free survival. Furthermore, both groups had no significant differences in terms of frequency of hospitalization, amenorrhea, infection, nausea, and vomiting. We conclude that our study showed that short-term therapy with intravenous CYC followed by maintenance therapy with oral MMF or AZA had similar efficacy and safety for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe LN.

Low sensitivity of the exit site scoring system in detecting exit site infections in peritoneal dialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the utility of the exit site scoring system in diagnosing exit site infections, we compared its scores to the well established exit site categories outlined by Twardowski and Prowant. METHODS: We examined the exit sites of 50 patients on peritoneal dialysis. Each exit site was given a score ranging from "zero" to "≥ 4" according to the exit site scoring system. Exit sites were simultaneously classified into one of the exit site diagnostic categories outlined by Twardowski and Prowant. The sensitivity and specifity of the exit site scoring system in diagnosing exit site infection was then calculated in reference to the exit sites classified as infected according to Twardowski criteria. RESULTS: The proportions of perfect, good, equivocal, and infected exit sites were 24%, 22%, 32%, and 22%, respectively. 21 exit sites had an exit site score of zero. Of those, 12 (57.1%) were perfect, 7 (33.3%) were good, 1 (4.8%) was equivocal, and 1 (4.8%) was actually infected. 21 exit sites had an exit site score ranging from 1 to 3 without purulent discharge. Of those, 4 (18.2%) were good, 15 (68.2%) were equivocal, and 3 (13.6%) were infected. The specifity of the exit site scoring system in diagnosing exit site infection was 100%, but its sensitivity was only 63.6%. CONCLUSION: The exit site scoring system is not a sensitive tool for diagnosing exit site infection mainly because it ignores evaluation of the sinus for granulation tissue. Exuberant granulation tissue in the sinus tract is not always accompanied by purulent drainage.

Non-infectious complications of peritoneal dialysis among Sudanese patients: five years experience.

INTRODUCTION: The technique of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) is known to be associated with various infectious and non-infectious complications. The latter term includes anatomical/mechanical complications as well as hemoperitoneum, inflow pain, electrolyte disturbances, metabolic derangements and delayed gastric emptying. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all patients who were maintained on CAPD for a minimum of 90 days in Sudan, in the period between May 2005 and Apr 2010. We examined the incidence of various non-infectious complications and their possible associations. RESULTS: The analysis included 296 patients including 71 children (24%). Males constituted 62.2% of the study population and 13.9% were diabetic. The incidence per 100 patient-years of various non-infectious complications was as follows: hypokalemia (30.4), catheter dysfunction (10.8), dialysate leak (5.3), hernia (4.7), hemorrhagic effluent (4.7), inflow pain (2.3), upper gastrointestinal symptoms (2) and cuff extrusion (0.9). Catheter block and hernia were diagnosed with a median duration after catheter insertion of 6 and 7.5 months, respectively. Catheter block was significantly more prevalent among children (22.5% versus 9.3%; P = 0.006). A high body mass index (BMI) was the only identified independent predictor for leak (OR 1.4, P = 0.005). More than half of the 16 hernias were umbilical, and four of the five inguinal hernias were bilateral. Non-infectious complications were responsible for 32% of technique failures. CONCLUSION: Non-infectious complications were fairly common among our CAPD patients and led to catheter removal in a considerable number of patients.

Rates and causes of peritonitis in a National Multicenter Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis program in Sudan: first-year experience.

This is a cumulative report of all patients in six centers in Greater Khartoum, all three cities that comprise the capital of Sudan, covering the first year of operation of the National Program. This study evaluates the rates, mechanisms, causative agents and clinical outcomes of peritonitis. We included the data of all 60 patients who underwent CAPD from June 2005 to June 2006. There were 15 episodes of peritonitis in 323 patient-months, which equates to an overall peritonitis rate of one episode every 21.5 months (0.55 episodes per year at risk). The individual center rates varied. There was a statistically significant age difference, with peritonitis being more common in the youngsters. All patients presented with abdominal pain and had cloudy effluents but none had a significant exit site or tunnel infection. Fluid cultures were available in 11 out of the 15 episodes of peritonitis. The cultures were positive for organisms in only 3 out of 11 (27%) cases. Two patients were infected by Pseudomonas aerogenosa and one patient by Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, the culture-negative peritonitis rate was 8/11 (73%). Touch contamination was the likely mechanism in 7/15 (46.7%) of the episodes. There were three cases of refractory peritonitis and only one case of relapsing peritonitis. None of the patients had a catheter removed because of peritonitis. We conclude that the first year of operation of the Sudan National Multi-centered PD program has proven that it is a promising project with multifaceted success. The cumulative peritonitis incidence is acceptable although there are several areas for improvement. Standardized laboratory techniques need to be implemented and pursued, particularly in the microbiology area.

Peritoneal dialysis in the Sudan.

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is a significant social and economic burden on the Sudan. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was recently introduced as a national service and is provided free of charge by the Federal State. We present here an overview of our experience and outcomes after the first 20 months of operation of the National Program, displaying its organization and patient and technique survival, peritonitis rates, and adequacy parameters of the first patients to undergo CAPD. METHODS: As a national experiment, the program was sequentially launched in 5 adult and 2 pediatric centers in Khartoum, the capital city of the country. The data include the entire 111 patients who underwent CAPD from June 2005 to January 2007. All data were reported to, and analyzed at, the head office of the Sudan National Peritoneal Dialysis Program. RESULTS: CAPD is the modality exclusively utilized thus far. Automated PD will be added to the program this year. By 30 January 2007, the total number of patients enrolled was 111. Their age range was 1 - 75 (median 56) years. 20 patients (18%) were shifted to hemodialysis and 5 patients received living related kidney transplants. Two died of severe septicemia due to peritonitis; 16 (14%) others died of non-PD-related causes. There were 60 cases of peritonitis in 839 patient-months, which equates to an overall peritonitis rate of 1 episode every 14 months (0.87 episodes per year at risk). The individual center rates varied. A critical review of cases at the end of the first year showed a statistically significant age difference, with peritonitis being more common in the younger patients. Mean age of patients that developed peritonitis was 30.53 years, whereas that for peritonitis-free patients was 44.09 years (p = 0.025). All patients that had peritonitis presented with abdominal pain and had a cloudy effluent; none had exit-site or tunnel infection. The culture-negative peritonitis rate was 53%. Pseudomonas species were responsible for 13.3% and Staphylococcus aureus for 6.7%. Touch contamination was the likely mechanism behind 46.7% of the episodes. There were 3 cases of refractory peritonitis and a single case of relapsing peritonitis. Concerning PD adequacy, average Kt/V urea was 1.74; weekly creatinine clearance was 62.5 L/1.73 m(2). Average normalized protein catabolic rate, as a measure of dietary protein intake in patients in a steady state, was 1.17 g/kg. These measures indicate that the overall program adequacy was satisfactory and the values fall within the recommended ranges. CONCLUSION: The first 20 months of operation of the Sudan's National Peritoneal Dialysis Program have proven that it is a promising project with multifaceted success. The adequacy indicators are acceptable but the cumulative peritonitis incidence is above that recommended, indicating several areas for potential improvement. Although CAPD is highly cost-effective, ongoing difficulties, including the cost of medications and laboratory tests, are being sorted out with official support and public involvement.

Patterns of "severe acute renal failure" in a referral center in Sudan: excluding intensive care and major surgery patients.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common health problem worldwide. There is limited data on the pattern of ARF in Sudan. Moreover, glomerular diseases, which are a well-known cause of ARF, have not been accurately and adequately diagnosed previously. A retrospective study on the patterns of ARF was carried out in a general nephrology referral center in Sudan during the period from February 2003-February 2004. Patients from intensive care units with ARF and those who developed ARF after massive surgery were excluded from the study. Renal biopsy was performed when indicated and studied with light and immunofluorescent microscopy. Eighty-nine patients (57 (64%) cases were males and mean age was 39+/-19.4 years) fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of advanced renal failure requiring renal function replacement therapy. Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) was diagnosed in 50 (56%) patients; 33 (66%) ATN patients had renal failure as a complication of volume depletion, fulminant infections (particularly malaria and typhoid fever) or snakebites and 12 (13.4%) patients ingested paraphenylene-diamine (PPD) (hair/Henna dye) in suicidal attempts. Eight (9%) patients of the total study group had glomerular diseases and 11 (12.3%) had obstructive uropathy associated with ARF; the cause of ARF could not be determined in 17 (19%) patients. Fifty-three (60%) patients recovered their renal function, six (6.7%) patients progressed to chronic kidney disease (CKD), 16 (18%) died and 14 (16%) were lost to follow-up. In conclusion, patients with ARF associated with ATN had a favorable prognosis except when ATN was associated with PPD poisoning.

Pattern of glomerulonephritis in Sudan: histopathological and immunofluorescence study.

The final diagnosis of renal disease can only be established with the study of renal biopsy using light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. This study reports on the pattern of glomerulonephritis, diagnosed with light microscopy and immunofluorescence, in two major nephrology referral centers in Sudan. Renal biopsies from 86 consecutive patients were studied by light and immunofluorescence microscopy. The latter was introduced for the first time in the country. Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, minimal change disease and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis accounted for 26.6%, 22.1%, 10.5% and 3.5% of cases respectively. Lupus nephritis was the commonest cause of secondary glomerulonephritis, accounting for 11.6% of cases. In contrast to the frequency seen in developed countries, IgA nephropathy was uncommon in our series and was seen in only 4.7% of cases. Primary renal amyloidosis was diagnosed in 3.5% of the patients. The pattern of glomerulonephritis in our series is similar to the reports from other developing countries with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis being the commonest primary glomerulopathy and lupus nephritis, the commonest secondary glomerulopathy.