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INTRODUCTION: Thiazides are utilized in general hypertension management, however, their role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) hypertension management remains unclear. Although data support thiazide efficacy in advanced CKD, the adverse effect profile (including estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] decline and electrolyte abnormalities) may lead to thiazide discontinuation. The authors assessed the thiazide discontinuation rate in Kaiser Permanente Southern California members with moderate-to-severe CKD and hypertension. METHODS: This study was a multicenter retrospective analysis evaluating Kaiser Permanente Southern California members with hypertension and CKD 3B or 4 who filled a thiazide prescription in 2021, with follow-up through 2022. The outcomes were thiazide discontinuation rate, reason for thiazide discontinuation, time to thiazide discontinuation, and discontinuing practitioner specialty. Mean changes in blood pressure and eGFR from baseline were also evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 401 patients followed for 1 year after thiazide initiation, 65 patients discontinued a thiazide (discontinuation rate: 16.2%, mean time to discontinuation: 7.5 months). Of the 201 patients followed for 2 years after thiazide initiation, 57 patients discontinued a thiazide (discontinuation rate: 28.4%, mean time to discontinuation: 15.5 months). The most commonly documented thiazide discontinuation reason was increased serum creatinine (30% of total reasons at 1 year and 39% of total reasons at 2 years). CONCLUSION: Most patients with hypertension and CKD 3B or 4 continued on a thiazide with favorable blood pressure lowering effects and modest eGFR decline. Thiazides may be considered viable antihypertensive options with close renal function monitoring for patients with moderate-to-severe CKD.
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OBJECTIVES: Neoadjuvant targeted therapy has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for locally aggressive thyroid cancer. Its impact on tumor and adjacent tissues remains a nascent area of study. Here we report on a series of six subjects with locally advanced thyroid cancer and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis who experienced recovery of RLN function with neoadjuvant treatment and describe the morphologic and electrophysiologic characteristics of these recovered nerves. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective review. Descriptive analysis was conducted to examine the following parameters for recovered nerves: (1) nerve morphology, characterized as Type A (involving epineurium only) versus Type B (extending beyond epineurium); (2) proximal stimulability (normal vs. abnormal vs. absent); and (3) surgical management (resection vs. preservation). RESULTS: Six subjects with unilateral VFP were identified. Median time to return of VF mobility was 3 months (range 2-13.5). All nerves (100%) were noted to have Type A morphology at surgery. Proximal stimulability was normal in four subjects (66.7%), abnormal in one (16.7%), and absent in one (16.7%). Nerves that had improvement of function through neoadjuvant therapy were able to be surgically preserved in five subjects (83.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This represents the first characterization of RLNs that have recovered function with neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced thyroid cancer. Although much remains unknown, our findings indicate carcinomatous neural invasion is a reversible process and recovered nerves may demonstrate normal morphology and electrophysiologic activity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:3415-3419, 2024.