Efficacy of 4-hour rescue therapeutic plasma exchange in severe septic shock patients.

BACKGROUND: Early intervention for septic shock is crucial to reduce mortality and improve outcome. There is still a great debate over the exact time of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) administration in septic shock patients. This study aims to investigate the effect of early initiation (within 4 hours) of TPE in severe septic shock on hemodynamics & outcome. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, before-after case series study on 16 septic shock patients requiring high doses of vasopressors admitted in two ICUs from Cairo, Egypt. All of our patients received TPE within 4 hours of ICU admission. The fresh frozen plasma exchange volume = 1.5 × plasma volume. RESULTS: In the 16 patients included in the study, mean arterial pressure was significantly improved after the initial TPE (p < 0.002) and norepinephrine dose which significantly reduced post TPE (p < 0.001). In addition, norepinephrine dose to mean arterial pressure significantly improved (p < 0.001). There was reduction of a net 6 hours fluid balances following the first TPE were observed in all the patients (p < 0.03) by a mean of 757 ml. Systemic vascular resistance index was markedly improved post-TPE along with statistically improved cardiac index (p < 0.01). Stroke volume variance was also significantly decreased after the TPE sessions (p < 0.01). C-reactive protein significantly improved after TPE (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Early initiation of TPE in severe septic shock patients might improve hemodynamic measures.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is negatively associated with serum phosphorus level among stage 3a-5 chronic kidney disease patients / El nivel de 25-hidroxivitamina D sérica está asociado negativamente con el nivel de fósforo sérico en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en estadio 3a-5

BACKGROUND: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) negatively correlates with serum phosphorus level of stage 3a-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. So far, no explanation has been provided for this negative association. OBJECTIVE: To confirm this negative association and determine if this relationship is mediated through other known co-morbid factors. Cases and methods: One hundred (57 male and 43 female) pre-dialysis stage 3a-5 CKD patients were selected. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), 25 (OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and intact fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) were assessed. A correlation analysis between serum 25(OH)D and the different parameters studied was performed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was carried out to determine predictors of 25(OH)D. RESULTS: The negative association between serum 25 (OH)D and serum P was confirmed in univariate and multivariate correlation analysis. On the other hand, we failed to detect a significant association between 25 (OH)D and serum FGF23. Serum P is the most important independent predictor of 25 (OH)D in these patients (partial R2 = 0.15, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Serum P is likely to have a direct negative impact on serum 25 (OH)D. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanism

ANTECEDENTES: La 25-hidroxivitamina D (25(OH)D) sérica se correlaciona negativamente con el nivel de fósforo sérico en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) en estadio 3a-5. Hasta la fecha, no se dispone de ninguna explicación sobre esta asociación negativa. OBJETIVO: Confirmar la asociación negativa y averiguar si esta relación está mediada por otros factores de comorbilidad conocidos. Casos y métodos: Se seleccionaron 100 pacientes (57 varones y 43 mujeres) con ERC en estadio 3a-5 prediálisis. Se evaluaron la tasa de filtración glomerular estimada (TFRe), el calcio sérico (Ca), el fósforo (P), la 25(OH)D, la hormona paratiroidea (HPT) y el factor de crecimiento de fibroblastos 23 intacto (FGF23). Se realizó un análisis de correlación entre la 25(OH)D sérica y los distintos parámetros estudiados. Se llevó a cabo un análisis de regresión lineal multivariable para determinar los factores pronósticos de 25(OH)D. RESULTADOS: Se confirmó la asociación negativa entre la 25(OH)D sérica y el P sérico en análisis de correlación univariable y multivariable. Por otro lado, no detectamos ninguna asociación significativa entre la 25(OH)D y el FGF23 sérico. El P sérico es el factor predictivo independiente más importante de la 25(OH)D en estos pacientes (R2 parcial=0,15; p < 0,0001). CONCLUSIÓN: Es probable que el P sérico tenga un impacto negativo directo sobre la 25 (OH)D sérica. Es necesario realizar más estudios para averiguar el mecanismo subyacente

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Outcomes in Cairo University Hospitals: 6 Years Experience.

Therapeutic plasma exchange is used in treating different immunological and non-immunological diseases. We analyzed the outcome of 308 patients treated by 1783 membrane plasma exchange sessions from January 2011 until January 2017 at Cairo University Hospital. Thrombotic microangiopathies were the commonest indication [73 (23.7%) patients] with response in 63/73 patients (86.3%), followed by systemic vasculitis with pulmonary-renal involvement [40(13%) patients] with recovery in 32/40 patients (80.0%), Guillain-Barré syndrome [39(12.7%) patients] with recovery in 30/39 patients (76.9%), myasthenia gravis [31(10.1%) patients] with response in 26/31 patients (83.9%), and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome [28(9.1%) patients] with recovery in only 6/28 patients (21.4%). Complications included hypotension [276/1783 (15.5%) sessions], hypocalcemia [26/308 (8.5%) patients], and 37/308 (12%) patients died. Sepsis caused mortality in 29/37 (78.4%) of patients. In conclusion, our therapeutic plasma exchange experience shows a favorable outcome for thrombotic microangiopathies, systemic vasculitis, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Sepsis was the leading mortality cause.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is negatively associated with serum phosphorus level among stage 3a-5 chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) negatively correlates with serum phosphorus level of stage 3a-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. So far, no explanation has been provided for this negative association. OBJECTIVE: To confirm this negative association and determine if this relationship is mediated through other known co-morbid factors. CASES AND METHODS: One hundred (57 male and 43 female) pre-dialysis stage 3a-5 CKD patients were selected. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and intact fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) were assessed. A correlation analysis between serum 25(OH)D and the different parameters studied was performed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was carried out to determine predictors of 25(OH)D. RESULTS: The negative association between serum 25(OH)D and serum P was confirmed in univariate and multivariate correlation analysis. On the other hand, we failed to detect a significant association between 25(OH)D and serum FGF23. Serum P is the most important independent predictor of 25(OH)D in these patients (partial R2=0.15, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Serum P is likely to have a direct negative impact on serum 25(OH)D. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanism.