Mortality Factors in Crush Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Crush Syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following large-scale catastrophic earthquakes. Since there are no randomized controlled studies on Crush Syndrome, knowledge on this subject is limited to expert experience. The primary objective is to analyze the epidemiological and demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, and mortality factors of earthquake victims after the Pazarcik and Elbistan earthquakes on February 6, 2023. METHODS: This cross-sectional and observational retrospective study evaluated 610 earthquake victims who presented to our center between February 6 and April 30, 2023. Among these patients, 128 with Crush Syndrome were included in the study. Patient information was gathered from hospital records during their stay and from national registries upon referral. The primary outcome was to identify risk factors for mortality. Demographic and laboratory data were analyzed by acute kidney injury (AKI) stages; mortality-affecting factors were identified through regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 128 Crush Syndrome patients (100 adults, 28 children), 64 were female. The AKI rate was 32.8%. Among patients with AKI, the frequency of hemodialysis requirement was 69%, and the mortality rate was 14.2%. The overall mortality rate for patients with Crush Syndrome was 4.6%, compared to 3.9% (19/482) in earthquake victims without Crush Syndrome (p=0.705). Notably, low systolic blood pressure at admission was the only factor significantly affecting mortality in Crush Syndrome patients (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 1.088, p=0.021, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights low systolic blood pressure upon admission as a significant risk factor for increased mortality in Crush Syndrome patients. This finding may contribute to the literature by emphasizing the importance of monitoring blood pressure under rubble and administering more aggressive fluid therapy to patients with low systolic blood pressure.

Mortality predictors of patients diagnosed with severe hyponatremia in the emergency department.

PURPOSE: To determine the factors affecting mortality as a result of the analysis of the demographic and clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients whose serum Na value was determined to be 125 mEq/L or below at the time of admission to the emergency department (ED). METHOD: Patients over 18 years of age who admitted to the ED of a tertiary hospital between September 2021 and September 2022 and whose serum sodium level was determined to be 125 mEq/L and below were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics, admission complaints, medications used, Charles comorbidity index (CCI), laboratory parameters, and outcomes of the patients included in the study were recorded in the data form. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-nine patients were included in the study. When the 30-day mortality of the patients is examined, the mortality rate was found to be 21.6%. In the analyses performed for the predictive power of laboratory parameters for mortality, it was determined that the highest predictive power among the predictive values determined by the area under the curve (AUC) was the albumin level (AUC 0.801, 95% CI 0.753-0.849, p < 0.001). In the binary logistic regression analysis, urea and albumin were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: According to study data, albumin and urea levels are independent predictors of 30-day mortality in patients diagnosed with severe hyponatremia in the emergency department.

The effect of subclinic thyroid pathologies on erythropoietine dose in hemodialysis patients.

PURPOSE: The effect of subclinical thyroid pathologies on erythropoietin (EPO) treatment has not been well defined. The aim of the study is to compare the frequency and dose of EPO administration in patients with subclinical thyroid pathology and euthyroid hemodialysis patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted with 210 patients. Special conditions were excluded, a total of 191 patients were included. Patients were divided into three groups. RESULTS: The incidences of subclinical hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism and euthyroidism were 10.5%, 3.1%, and 86.4%, respectively. Statistically significant difference was found between subclinical hypothyroid and euthyroid patients in terms of the number of patients using EPO (p = 0.0207), monthly total EPO doses (p = 0.003), and total monthly EPO doses per weight (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The EPO dose required to achieve similar hemoglobin levels in hemodialysis patients was significantly higher in subclinical hypothyroid patients than in euthyroid patients.

Acute kidney injury in Turkey: epidemiological characteristics, etiology, clinical course, and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the etiologies, comorbidities, and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Turkey and determine any potential differences among different geographical parts of the country. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted by the Acute Kidney Injury Working Group of the Turkish Society of Nephrology. Demographical and clinical data of patients with AKI at the time of diagnosis and at the 1st week and 1st, 3rd, and 6th months of diagnosis were evaluated to determine patient and renal survival and factors associated with patient prognosis. RESULTS: A total of 776 patients were included (54.7% male, median age: 67 years). Prerenal etiologies, including dehydration, heart failure, and sepsis, were more frequent than other etiologies. 58.9% of the patients had at least one renal etiology, with nephrotoxic agent exposure as the most common etiology. The etiologic factors were mostly similar throughout the country. 33.6% of the patients needed kidney replacement therapy. At the 6th month of diagnosis, 29.5% of the patients had complete recovery; 34.1% had partial recovery; 9.5% developed end-stage kidney disease; and 24.1% died. The mortality rate was higher in the patients from the Eastern Anatolian region; those admitted to the intensive care unit; those with prerenal, renal, and postrenal etiologies together, stage 3 AKI, sepsis, cirrhosis, heart failure, and malignancy; those who need kidney replacement therapy; and those without chronic kidney disease than in the other patients. CONCLUSION: Physicians managing patients with AKI should be alert against dehydration, heart failure, sepsis, and nephrotoxic agent exposure. Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AKI in their countries would help prevent AKI and improve treatment strategies.

Evaluation of eryptosis in patients with chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: Anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the result of reduced erythropoietin, disturbed erythropoiesis and decreased lifespan of circulating erythrocytes. Excessive eryptosis or premature suicidal erythrocyte death is characterized by cell shrinkage and phosphatidylserine externalization. This study aimed to explore accelerated eryptosis and accompanying biochemical alterations in CKD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 106 CKD patients (59 predialysis [PreD] patients, 26 haemodialysis [HD] patients and 21 peritoneal dialysis [PD] patients) and a control group composed of 29 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Data on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (U/mL), annexin-V binding (mean fluorescent intensity, MFI) and intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i; MFI) as well as the hematologic and biochemical parameters were recorded. RESULTS: The [Ca2+]i levels were 3.05 ± 1.66 MFI, 2.24 ± 0.99 MFI, 2.38 ± 0.87 MFI and 1.71 ± 0.46 MFI in the PreD, HD, PD and control groups, respectively. Other than significantly higher [Ca2+]i levels in the PreD group than in the control group (p < 0.001), no significant difference was noted between study groups in terms of [Ca2+]i. Annexin-V binding was 1.05 ± 0.99 MFI in PreD group, 1.15 ± 0.56 MFI in HD group, 1.06 ± 0.87 MFI in PD group, and 0.88 ± 0.86 MFI in controls. Annexin-V binding was significantly higher in PreD, HD and PD groups compared with the control group (p < 0.001 for each). SOD activity was 0.07 ± 0.07 in the PreD group, 0.13 ± 0.08 in the HD group, 0.14 ± 0.07 in the PD group, and 0.03 ± 0.01 in the control group. SOD activity in both HD and PD groups were significantly higher than control and PreD groups (p < 0.001 for each). Lower albumin, higher ferritin, and higher parathormon levels were found to be correlated with eryptosis biomarkers. Patients treated vs. non-treated with calcium channel blockers had significantly lower annexin-V binding levels (p = 0.013). Patients treated vs. non-treated with erythropoietin (EPO) had elevated annexin-V binding level (p < 0.001) and lower [Ca2+]i (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our findings revealed the presence accelerated eryptosis, as a potential contributing factor to development of anemia, in patients with CKD stages 3-5D. Inflamation and parathormon can also accelerate eryptosis. Favorable effect of CCB and EPO on eryptosis needs to be confirmed in larger scale studies.

Mortality analysis of COVID-19 infection in chronic kidney disease, haemodialysis and renal transplant patients compared with patients without kidney disease: a nationwide analysis from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and immunosuppression, such as in renal transplantation (RT), stand as one of the established potential risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Case morbidity and mortality rates for any type of infection have always been much higher in CKD, haemodialysis (HD) and RT patients than in the general population. A large study comparing COVID-19 outcome in moderate to advanced CKD (Stages 3-5), HD and RT patients with a control group of patients is still lacking. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, retrospective, observational study, involving hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 from 47 centres in Turkey. Patients with CKD Stages 3-5, chronic HD and RT were compared with patients who had COVID-19 but no kidney disease. Demographics, comorbidities, medications, laboratory tests, COVID-19 treatments and outcome [in-hospital mortality and combined in-hospital outcome mortality or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU)] were compared. RESULTS: A total of 1210 patients were included [median age, 61 (quartile 1-quartile 3 48-71) years, female 551 (45.5%)] composed of four groups: control (n = 450), HD (n = 390), RT (n = 81) and CKD (n = 289). The ICU admission rate was 266/1210 (22.0%). A total of 172/1210 (14.2%) patients died. The ICU admission and in-hospital mortality rates in the CKD group [114/289 (39.4%); 95% confidence interval (CI) 33.9-45.2; and 82/289 (28.4%); 95% CI 23.9-34.5)] were significantly higher than the other groups: HD = 99/390 (25.4%; 95% CI 21.3-29.9; P < 0.001) and 63/390 (16.2%; 95% CI 13.0-20.4; P < 0.001); RT = 17/81 (21.0%; 95% CI 13.2-30.8; P = 0.002) and 9/81 (11.1%; 95% CI 5.7-19.5; P = 0.001); and control = 36/450 (8.0%; 95% CI 5.8-10.8; P < 0.001) and 18/450 (4%; 95% CI 2.5-6.2; P < 0.001). Adjusted mortality and adjusted combined outcomes in CKD group and HD groups were significantly higher than the control group [hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) CKD: 2.88 (1.52-5.44); P = 0.001; 2.44 (1.35-4.40); P = 0.003; HD: 2.32 (1.21-4.46); P = 0.011; 2.25 (1.23-4.12); P = 0.008), respectively], but these were not significantly different in the RT from in the control group [HR (95% CI) 1.89 (0.76-4.72); P = 0.169; 1.87 (0.81-4.28); P = 0.138, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with CKDs, including Stages 3-5 CKD, HD and RT, have significantly higher mortality than patients without kidney disease. Stages 3-5 CKD patients have an in-hospital mortality rate as much as HD patients, which may be in part because of similar age and comorbidity burden. We were unable to assess if RT patients were or were not at increased risk for in-hospital mortality because of the relatively small sample size of the RT patients in this study.

A new model to determine Optimal Exposure to Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate Mofetil after renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Drug dosing for Tacrolimus (TAC) and Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) after kidney transplantation remains challenging. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) offers a means to individualize drug dosing and improve outcomes. METHODS: In this observational study, patients having mycophenolic acid (MPA) exposure assessed by limited sampling strategy (LSS) within the first 6 months were included and followed for 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 113 clinical events occurring in 110 patients were classified into 3 groups: Group 1 Stable (n = 34), Group 2 Over drug exposed (n = 64) having infections or drug toxicity and Group 3 Under drug exposed (n = 15) developing rejection or de novo donor-specific alloantibodies. Although TAC levels, MMF dose, MPA, and MPA Glucuronide (MPAG) exposure, expressed as area under curve (AUC), individually failed to predict outcomes, a scoring model incorporating all 3 drug levels TAC TDM × (MPA AUC + MPAG/10 AUC) correctly classified outcomes. A score over 1071 had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.94 (95% CI 0.56-0.83) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.69-0.89) for over exposure. A score below 625 had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.76 (95% CI 0.53-0.93) and 0.80 (95% CI 0.41-0.70) for under exposure. CONCLUSIONS: This integrated model of assessing TAC and MMF exposure may facilitate individualized therapy.

The effect of hemodialysis adequacy on ventricular repolarization in end-stage kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: Ventricular repolarization (VR) markers may predict ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of a hemodialysis (HD) session and HD adequacy on VR markers in HD patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at 2 university hospitals with 83 patients and VR markers were measured before and after an HD session: QT, QTc, QT minimum, QT maximum, dispersion of QT (QTd), T-peak to T-end (Tp-e) interval, and Tp-e/QT. Kt/V measurements calculated using the second generation Daugirdas formula were used to indicate dialysis adequacy. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the Kt/V value. Group 1 patients had a Kt/V of ≤1.6 with a standard dialysis dose, and Group 2 comprised those with a measurement of >1.6 with a high dialysis dose. RESULTS: There were 36 patients in Group 1 and 47 patients in Group 2. There were statistically significantly more female patients in Group 2 (p=0.016). After an HD session, heart rate increased, blood pressure decreased, and the QT, QTc, QT maximum, QTd, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT were prolonged (p<0.05). The VR markers measured were similar in the 2 groups. VR markers were not significantly different in diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: HD may be a risk factor for cardiac arrest because of prolonged VR parameters, independent of HD adequacy. A high dialysis dose may not always be best for the heart.