Comprehensive analysis of risk factors for postoperative wound infection following radical mastectomy in breast cancer patients.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following radical mastectomy in breast cancer patients can significantly affect patient recovery and healthcare resources. Identifying and understanding the risk factors for postoperative wound infections (PWIs) are crucial for improving surgical outcomes. This retrospective study was conducted from June 2020 to June 2023, including 23 breast cancer patients who developed PWIs post-radical mastectomy and a control group of 46 patients without such infections. Comprehensive patient data, including variables such as intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay duration, body mass index (BMI), operation time, anaemia, drainage time, diabetes mellitus, cancer stage, white blood cell (WBC) count, serum albumin levels and preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, were meticulously gathered. Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate logistic regression, were performed using SPSS software (Version 27.0). The univariate analysis identified several factors significantly associated with an increased risk of PWIs, including preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, low serum albumin levels, advanced cancer stage, diabetes mellitus and reduced WBC count. Multivariate logistic regression highlighted anaemia, prolonged drainage time, diabetes mellitus, advanced cancer stage, reduced WBC count, hypoalbuminemia and preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy as significant contributors to the increased risk of PWIs. Anaemia, extended drainage time, diabetes mellitus, advanced cancer stage, low WBC count, hypoalbuminemia and preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy are key risk factors for SSIs post-radical mastectomy. Early identification and proactive management of these factors are imperative to reduce the incidence of postoperative infections and enhance recovery outcomes in breast cancer patients.

Sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with in-hospital tuberculosis mortality in Türkiye, 2008-2018.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that can be fatal if left untreated or poorly treated, and it is associated with many morbidities. Deaths may provide better understanding of the associated factors and help guide interventions to reduce mortality. In this study, it was aimed to reveal some of the features that predict hospital mortality in patients with TB and to present some alarming findings for clinicians. Materials and Methods: Patients who had been hospitalized with the diagnosis of TB between January 2008 and December 2018 were included and analyzed retrospectively. In-hospital mortality because of any TB disease after the initiation of treatment in patients admitted to the TB Ward and the primary cause of mortality were taken as endpoint. Result: A total of 1321 patients with a mean age of 50.1 years were examined. Total mortality was 39.4% (521 deaths) and 13.1% were in-hospital deaths (173 deaths). Of the deaths, 61.8% (n= 107) occurred during the first month after TB treatment were started. On univariate analysis, age over 48.5 years, Charlson comorbidity index, extension of radiological involvement, hypoalbuminemia and lymphopenia were most predictive variables with higher odds ratios (respectively, p<0.001 for all). Conclusions: In-hospital tuberculosis disease mortality is related with older age, cavitary or extensive pulmonary involvement, low albumin levels, unemployment, cigarette smoking and especially those with concomitant malignancy and chronic pulmonary disease.

Malnutrition in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction as a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition is associated with increased mortality in patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer. Because albumin levels are used as a surrogate for nutritional status, the purpose of this study is to assess whether malnutrition is associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in H&N free flap reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 2006-2018 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database was queried for patients undergoing flap procedures of the H&N based on Current Procedure Terminology codes. Patients were included if they were operated on by an otolaryngologist or when the primary surgical site was H&N. Nutritional status was categorized as malnourished (preoperative albumin level <3.5 g/dL) or normal (preoperative albumin level ≥3.5 g/dL). Major complications included pulmonary complications, cardiac complications, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, and sepsis/septic shock. Minor complications included surgical infection, urinary tract infection, bleeding, and dehiscence. Data were analyzed via univariate chi-square and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the patients, 2532 (83.3%) had normal albumin and 506 (16.7%) had hypoalbuminemia. Patients with hypoalbuminemia were more likely to have smoking history (P = 0.008), pulmonary comorbidity (P < 0.001), renal comorbidity (P = 0.018), disseminated cancer (P < 0.001), steroid use (P < 0.001), recent weight loss (P < 0.001), bleeding disorder (P = 0.023), and preoperative transfusion (P < 0.001). After adjustment for preoperative variance, malnourished patients were more likely to experience death (P < 0.001), return to operating room (P < 0.001), free flap failure (P = 0.008), pulmonary complication (P < 0.001), deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (P = 0.019), wound disruption (P = 0.042), intraoperative transfusion (P < 0.001), minor complication (P < 0.001), major complication (P < 0.001), and extended length of stay (P < 0.001). Of the patients with normal albumin, 2.1% experienced flap failure compared with 6.3% of patients with hypoalbuminemia. It should be noted that malnourished patients were 3.370 times more likely to experience flap failure (95% confidence interval, 1.383-8.212; P = 0.008) and 3.975 times more likely to experience death (95% confidence interval, 1.700-9.626; P = 0.001) than those with normal albumin. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition is associated with death, flap failure, minor complications, and other major complications following H&N free flap surgery, even after controlling for preoperative variance. Optimizing preoperative nutrition status before free flap procedures may ameliorate morbidity and mortality in H&N patients.

Association between admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission after hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients: a propensity score-matched study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission after hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 1270 geriatric patients admitted for hip fractures to a level I trauma center were included. Patients were stratified by clinical thresholds and albumin level quartiles. The association between admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission risk was assessed using multivariate logistic regression and propensity score-matched analyses. The predictive accuracy of albumin levels for readmission was evaluated by ROC curves. The dose-response relationship between albumin levels and readmission risk was examined. RESULTS: The incidence of 30-day readmission was significantly higher among hypoalbuminemia patients than those with normal albumin levels (OR = 2.090, 95%CI:1.296-3.370, p = 0.003). Furthermore, propensity score-matched analyses demonstrated that patients in the Q2(35.0-37.9 g/L) (OR 0.621, 95%CI 0.370-1.041, p = 0.070), Q3(38.0-40.9 g/L) (OR 0.378, 95%CI 0.199-0.717, p < 0.001) and Q4 (≥ 41 g/L) (OR 0.465, 95%CI 0.211-0.859, p = 0.047) quartiles had a significantly lower risk of 30-day readmission compared to those in the Q1(< 35 g/L) quartile. These associations remained significant after propensity score matching (PSM) and subgroup analyses. Dose-response relationships between albumin levels and 30-day readmission were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Lower admission albumin levels were independently associated with higher 30-day readmission rates in elderly hip fracture patients. Our findings indicate that serum albumin may assist perioperative risk assessment, and prompt correction of hypoalbuminemia and malnutrition could reduce short-term readmissions after hip fracture surgery in this high-risk population.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children with refractory diarrhoea and hypoalbuminaemia as the initial presentation: two case reports and a literature review.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) involving the gastrointestinal tract is a rare condition for which clinical experience is limited. We describe the cases of two patients who initially presented with chronic diarrhoea, hypoproteinaemia, and intermittent fever. These findings suggest that in cases of refractory diarrhoea accompanied by recurrent hypoalbuminaemia, especially with abdominal rash, LCH should be considered. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging studies are essential for obtaining a definitive diagnosis. This approach might be helpful for the early recognition of gastrointestinal tract involvement in LCH.

The combined risk predictive power of frailty and hypoalbuminemia in free tissue flap reconstruction: A cohort study of 34,571 patients from the NSQIP database.

INTRODUCTION: Significant morbidity and mortality are hallmarks of the functional decline seen in physically frail patients. The modified frailty index 5 (mFI-5) represents a risk predictor score that has been validated as a comorbidity-based scale in surgery. Serum albumin levels of <3.5 g/dL (hypoalbuminemia) have also been implicated with poor postoperative outcomes. However, the association between these two parameters remains to be investigated. We aimed to elucidate the interdependence of preoperative albumin levels and frailty, as evaluated by the mFI-5 score, and its reliability to prognosticate postoperative results in free flap reconstruction (FFR). METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study and accessed the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) from 2008 to 2021. We identified all adult patients (≥18 years of age) who underwent a FFR. We extracted perioperative data and lab values including albumin. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk predictors. Main outcomes involved mortality, length of hospital stay, reoperation, medical and surgical complications, and discharge destination within the 30-day postoperative period. RESULTS: A total of 34,571 patients were included in the study, with an average age of 53.9 years (standard deviation [SD] 12.2) and an average body mass index (BMI) of 28.8 (SD 6.1). Of these patients, 7484 were male (21.6%), whereas 22,363 (64.7%) had no frailty (mFI = 0). Additionally, 9466 patients had a frailty score of 1 (27.4%), 2505 had a score of 2 (7.2%), 226 had a score of 3 (0.7%), and 11 had a score of 4 or higher (0.0%). Albumin levels were available for 16,250 patients (47.0%), and among them, 1334 (8.2%) had hypoalbuminemia. Regression analyses showed that higher mFI scores were independent predictors of any, surgical, and medical complications, as well as increased rates of reoperations, unplanned readmissions, and prolonged hospital stays. Hypoalbuminemia independently predicted any, surgical, and medical complications, and higher mortality, reoperation, and longer hospital stay. When both frailty and albumin levels (mFI-5 and albumin) were considered together, this combined assessment was found to be a more accurate predictor of all major outcomes (any, medical and surgical complications, mortality, and reoperation). Further, our analysis identified a weak negative correlation between serum albumin levels and mFI scores (Spearman R: -.1; p < .0001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this cohort study highlights the association of hypoalbuminemia with adverse postoperative outcomes, including those not directly related to frailty. Simultaneously, higher mFI scores independently predicted outcomes not associated with hypoalbuminemia. Stemming from these findings, we recommend considering both serum albumin levels and frailty in patients receiving FFR. This perioperative algorithm may help provide more individualized planning including multidisciplinary care and pre and posthabilitation.

Clinical characteristics of elderly hip fracture patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease and construction of a clinical predictive model for perioperative pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: The recovery of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) will increase the incidence of perioperative pneumonia (POP). However, there is limited research on POP in elderly patients with hip fractures complicated by CVD. Therefore, our research focuses on the following two issues: (1) What are the clinical features of elderly patients with hip fractures combined with CVD? (2) What are the predictive factors for the occurrence of POP in such patients? HYPOTHESIS: Male, femoral neck fracture and hypoalbuminemia can be predictive factors for the development of POP after hip fracture in CVD patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a nested case-control study that included patients aged 65 to 105 years with CVD who had a hip fracture between January 2021 and January 2023. According to the occurrence of POP, they were divided into case group and control group. Collecting data includes demographic information, clinical data, and surgical information. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to select variables. The constructed predictive model was transformed into a nomogram. Predictive performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: We ultimately included 714 patients, 69.3% female, with a median age of 80 years. Asymptomatic cerebral infarction (ACI) is the most common CVD (55.7%). More patients developed intertrochanteric fractures than femoral neck fractures (57.1 vs. 42.9%). In total, 606 patients (84.9%) underwent surgery. The most common perioperative complications were anemia (76.9%) and hypoalbuminemia (71.8%). POP (20.0%) was more common preoperatively (89.5%). Factors such as fracture type, surgical wait time, implant used for surgery, and anesthesia type did not differ between the presence or absence of postoperative pneumonia. 143 patients with POP served as the case group. Five hundred and seventy one patients did not develop POP and served as the control group. The predictors of POP were male (OR 1.699,95%CI 1.150-2.511, p<0.05), femoral neck fracture (OR 2.182,95%CI 1.491-3.192, p<0.05), and hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.062, 95%CI 1.833-5.116, p<0.05). This model has good discrimination, calibration, and clinical practicality. DISCUSSION: In this study, we constructed a clinical prediction model for the occurrence of POP in CVD combined with hip fracture in the elderly, with risk factors including gender, fracture type and perioperative hypoproteinemia. Therefore, we can take effective preventive measures against the occurrence of POP in patients with these factors in our clinical work. LEVEL OF PROOF: IV; nested case-control study.

Combined Prognostic Impact of Low Muscle Mass and Hypoalbuminemia in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia and hypoalbuminemia have been identified as independent predictors of increased adverse outcomes, including mortality and readmissions, in hospitalized older adults with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). However, the impact of coexisting sarcopenia and hypoalbuminemia on morbidity and death in adults with ADHF has not yet been investigated. We aimed to investigate the combined effects of lower muscle mass (LMM) as a surrogate for sarcopenia and hypoalbuminemia on in-hospital and postdischarge outcomes of patients hospitalized for ADHF. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 385 patients admitted for ADHF between 2017 and 2020 at a single institution were retrospectively identified. Demographic and clinical data were collected, including serum albumin levels at admission and discharge. Skeletal muscle indices were derived from semi-automated segmentation software analysis on axial chest computed tomography at the twelfth vertebral level. Our analysis revealed that patients who had LMM with admission hypoalbuminemia experienced increased diagnoses of infection and delirium with longer hospital length of stay and more frequent discharge to a facility. Upon discharge, 27.9% of patients had higher muscle mass without discharge hypoalbuminemia (reference group), 9.7% had LMM without discharge hypoalbuminemia, 38.4% had higher muscle mass with discharge hypoalbuminemia, and 24.0% had LMM with discharge hypoalbuminemia; mortality rates were 37.6%, 51.4%, 48.9%, and 63.2%, respectively. 1- and 3-year mortality risks were highest in those with LMM and discharge hypoalbuminemia; this relationship remained significant over a median 23.6 (3.1-33.8) months follow-up time despite multivariable adjustments (hazard ratio, 2.03 [95% CI, 1.31-3.16]; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization with ADHF, LMM, and hypoalbuminemia portend heightened mortality risk.

Predictors of renal relapse in Koreans with lupus nephritis after achieving complete response: a 35-years of experience at a single center.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Renal relapse has known to be a poor prognostic factor in patients with lupus nephritis (LN), but there were few studies that identified the risk factors of renal relapse in real world. We conducted this study based on 35-years of experience at a single center to find out predictors of renal relapse in Korean patients with LN after achieving complete response (CR). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, laboratory, pathologic and therapeutic parameters in 296 patients of LN who reached CR. The cumulative risk and the independent risk factors for renal relapse were examined by Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The median follow-up period from CR was 123 months. Renal relapse had occurred in 157 patients. Renal relapse occurred in 38.2%, 57.6% and 67.9% of patients within 5-, 10-, and 20-year, respectively. The age at diagnosis of SLE and LN were significantly younger, and the proportions of severe proteinuria and serum hypoalbuminemia were higher in patients with renal relapse. Interestingly, the proportion of receiving cytotoxic maintenance treatment was higher in patients with renal relapse. In Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, only young-age onset of LN (by 10 years, HR = 0.779, p = 0.007) was identified to independent predictor of renal relapse. CONCLUSION: Young-age onset of LN was only independent predictor and the patients with severe proteinuria and serum hypoalbuminemia also tended to relapse more, despite of sufficient maintenance treatment. Studies on more effective maintenance treatment regimens and duration are needed to reduce renal relapse.

Goal-directed Perioperative Albumin Substitution Versus Standard of Care to Reduce Postoperative Complications: A Randomized Clinical Trial (SuperAdd Trial).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether goal-directed albumin substitution during surgery and postanesthesia care to maintain a serum albumin concentration >30 g/L can reduce postoperative complications. BACKGROUND: Hypoalbuminemia is associated with numerous postoperative complications. Since albumin has important physiological functions, substitution of patients with hypoalbuminemia is worth considering. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, randomized, controlled, outcome assessor-blinded clinical trial in adult patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification 3 to 4 or undergoing high-risk surgery. Patients, whose serum albumin concentration dropped <30 g/L were randomly assigned to goal-directed albumin substitution maintaining serum concentration >30 g/L or to standard care until discharge from the postanesthesia intermediate care unit. Standard of care allowed albumin substitution in hemodynamic instable patients with serum concentration <20 g/L, only. Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications ≥2 according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification in at least 1 of 9 domains (pulmonary, infectious, cardiovascular, neurological, renal, gastrointestinal, wound, pain, and hematological) until postoperative day 15. RESULTS: Of 2509 included patients, 600 (23.9%) developed serum albumin concentrations <30 g/L. Human albumin 60 g (40-80 g) was substituted to 299 (99.7%) patients in the intervention group and to 54 (18.0%) in the standard care group. At least 1 postoperative complication classified as Clavien-Dindo Classification ≥2 occurred in 254 of 300 patients (84.7%) in the intervention group and in 262 of 300 (87.3%) in the standard treatment group (risk difference -2.7%, 95% CI, -8.3% to 2.9%). CONCLUSION: Maintaining serum albumin concentration of >30 g/L perioperatively cannot generally be recommended in high-risk noncardiac surgery patients.

Associated factors with liver fibrosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate.

INTRODUCTION: There are conflicting findings on the link between liver fibrosis and cumulative methotrexate dosages. We aimed to determine the frequency of liver fibrosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate and to identify its associated factors. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study over 9 months (April-December 2021), including rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Liver stiffness was assessed by FibroScan. Fibrosis and significant liver fibrosis were defined as liver stiffness higher than 6 and 7.2 kPa, respectively. Liver tests, albuminemia, lipid profile, and blood glycemia were measured. Metabolic syndrome was also evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: We included 21 men and 47 women. The mean age was 51.60 ± 1.82 years. The mean disease duration was 8.29 ± 6.48 years. The mean weekly intake of methotrexate was 13.76 ± 3.91 mg. The mean methotrexate duration was 4.67 ± 4.24 years. The mean cumulative dose was 3508.87 ± 3390.48 mg. Hypoalbuminemia and metabolic syndrome were found in 34% and 25% of cases. We noted increased alkaline phosphatase levels in four cases. The mean liver stiffness was 4.50 ± 1.53 kPa. Nine patients had liver fibrosis, and four had significant fibrosis. Associated factors with liver fibrosis were as follows: age ≥ 60 years (OR:22.703; 95%CI [1.238-416.487]; p = 0.035), cumulated dose of methotrexate ≥ 3 g (OR: 76.501; 95%CI [2.383-2456.070]; p = 0.014), metabolic syndrome (OR: 42.743; 95%CI [1.728-1057.273]; p = 0.022), elevated alkaline phosphatase levels (OR: 28.252; 95%CI [1.306-611.007]; p = 0.033), and hypoalbuminemia (OR: 59.302; 95%CI [2.361-1489.718]; p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Cumulating more than 3 g of methotrexate was associated with liver fibrosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Having a metabolic syndrome, higher age, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels were also likely to be independently associated with liver fibrosis. Key points • Rheumatoid arthritis patients require monitoring hepatic fibrosis when the cumulated dose of methotrexate is above 3 g. • Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for liver fibrosis, suggesting that its management is necessary to prevent this complication. • Hypoalbuminemia and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels (twice the upper limit) in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate were associated with liver fibrosis.

Hypoalbuminemia improves the ACS-NSQIP surgical risk calculator for gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The ACS-NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator (SRC) is used to predict surgical outcomes, but its accuracy in gastrectomy has been questioned.1,2 We investigated if adding hypoalbuminemia enhances its predictive ability in gastrectomy. METHODS: We identified gastrectomy patients from the ACS-NSQIP database from 2005 to 2019. We constructed pairs of logistic regression models: one with the existing 21 preoperative risk factors from the SRC and another with the addition of hypoalbuminemia. We evaluated improvement using Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT), Brier scores, and c-statistics. RESULTS: Of 18,070 gastrectomy patients, 34.5 â€‹% had hypoalbuminemia. Hypoalbuminemia patients had 2.34 higher odds of mortality and 1.79 higher odds of morbidity. Adding hypoalbuminemia to the RC model statistically improved predictions for mortality, cumulative morbidity, pulmonary, renal, and wound complications (LRT p â€‹< â€‹0.001). It did not improve predictions for cardiac complications (LRT p â€‹= â€‹0.11) CONCLUSION: Hypoalbuminemia should be considered as an additional variable to the ACS-NSQIP SRC for gastrectomy.

The Impact of Hypoalbuminemia on Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between hypoalbuminemia and postoperative complications in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: This meta-analysis study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023442466) and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies focused on shoulder arthroplasty that compared hypoalbuminemia and normal albumin levels were included. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Collaboration database. Seven comparative studies were included, and odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were calculated for the dichotomous variables. A fixed-effect model was used when there was no statistical evidence of heterogeneity, and a random-effect model was used when significant heterogeneity was observed. Review Manager 5.4 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included a total of 20,290 patients from seven studies. Hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with a higher risk of readmissions (OR 2.92, 95%CI 1.74 to 4.91), reoperations (OR 3.23, 95%CI 1.98 to 5.27), an increase in hospital stay duration (MD 1.59, 95%CI 0.86 to 2.32), and complications such as death (OR 5.75, 95% CI 2.98 to 11.08; studies = 4), thromboembolic events (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.46 to 4.06; studies = 4), cardiac events (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.07 to 7.24; studies = 3), pulmonary infections (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.54 to 6.20; studies = 3), systemic infections (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.51 to 3.16; studies = 3), and transfusions (OR 3.16, 95% CI 2.23 to 4.48; studies = 2). However, there was no significant association between hypoalbuminemia and renal complications, surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, wound problems, or cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides strong evidence that hypoalbuminemia is associated with a higher risk of postoperative complications in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.

Bilateral central serous retinal detachment in a patient with nephrotic syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this report is to highlight the importance of considering nephrotic syndrome as a potential underlying cause of bilateral central serous retinal detachment in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and to underscore the significance of a comprehensive systemic workup in these patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old Iranian female patient with history of systemic lupus erythematosus presented with progressive vision loss and bilateral macular elevation. Ophthalmic examination revealed periorbital edema, chemosis, and subretinal fluid at the macula of both eyes. Optical coherence tomography confirmed the existence of subretinal fluid and serous detachment located at the macula of both eyes. On fluorescein angiography, there were no signs of subretinal leakage such as smoke stack sign or expansile dot in late phases. Laboratory tests detected hypoalbuminemia and significant proteinuria, leading to the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome. Treatment with prednisolone and albumin infusion resulted in improved visual acuity and resolution of subretinal fluid. CONCLUSION: Nephrotic syndrome can be a rare underlying cause of bilateral central serous retinal detachment, and its association with systemic lupus erythematosus should be considered. Hypoalbuminemia in nephrotic syndrome alters fluid dynamics in the retina, contributing to bilateral central serous retinal detachment. Early recognition and management of nephrotic syndrome are essential for vision recovery and preventing long-term complications.

Nutritional and clinical factors associated with acute kidney injury development in critically ill children.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with poorer clinical outcomes. There is scarce data to support an association between nutritional status and nutrient delivery in critically ill pediatric patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the nutritional and clinical factors associated with the development of AKI during pediatric ICU stay. METHODS: This prospective study included critically ill pediatric patients aged < 15 years who were admitted to the medical and surgical pediatric ICU. Clinical, laboratory, nutritional status, nutritional therapy parameters, and AKI data were recorded. Adjusted logistic regression was applied and expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: We enrolled 108 patients with a median age of 9 months (interquartile range/IQR 2.4-62.5), and 43.5% developed AKI. Sepsis/septic shock (OR 8.00; 95% CI 2.06-32.51, p = 0.003), higher severity of illness (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.24-2.90, p = 0.003), hypoalbuminemia (OR 4.11; 95% CI 1.61-10.46, p = 0.006), edema (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.10-10.67, p = 0.034), fluid overload (OR 3.52, 95% CI 1.56-7.96, p = 0.003), need for mechanical ventilation (OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.45-9.04, p = 0.006) and adequate protein intake (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-1.00, p = 0.048) were associated with development of AKI. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoalbuminemia, need for mechanical ventilation, fluid overload, severity of illness, sepsis/septic shock, and edema were risk factors for AKI in pediatric ICU. Furthermore, adequate protein intake is associated with AKI during pediatric ICU stay, making it important to implement nutritional assessment and nutritional therapy protocols for critically ill pediatric patients.

Cytokine release syndrome was an independent risk factor associated with hypoalbuminemia for patients with relapsed/refractory hematological malignancies after CAR-T cell therapy.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study aims to assess the nutritional status of patients during the different phases of the Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy and to identify prominent risk factors of hypoalbuminemia in patients after CAR-T treatment. The clinical consequences of malnutrition in cancer patients have been highlighted by growing evidence from previous clinical studies. Given CAR-T cell therapy's treatment intensity and possible side effects, it is important to provide patients with sufficient medical attention and support for their nutritional well-being. METHODS: This study was conducted from May 2021 to December 2021 among patients undergoing CAR-T cell therapy at the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the risk factors associated with hypoalbuminemia. Participants were divided into the cytokine release syndrome (CRS) group (n = 60) and the non-CRS group (n = 11) to further analyze the relationship between hypoalbuminemia and CRS. RESULTS: CRS (OR = 13.618; 95% CI = 1.499-123.709; P = 0.013) and baseline albumin (ALB) (OR = 0.854; 95% CI = 0.754-0.967; P = 0.020) were identified as the independent clinical factors associated with post-CAR-T hypoalbuminemia. According to the nadir of serum albumin, hypoalbuminemia occurred most frequently in patients with severe CRS (78.57%). The nadir of serum albumin (r = - 0.587, P < 0.001) and serum albumin at discharge (r = - 0.315, P = 0.01) were negatively correlated for the duration of CRS. Furthermore, patients with hypoalbuminemia deserved longer hospitalization (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: CRS was identified as a significant risk factor associated with post-CAR-T hypoalbuminemia. An obvious decline in serum albumin was observed as the grade and duration of CRS increase. However, further research is still needed to elucidate the mechanisms of CRS-associated hypoalbuminemia.

Correlation between admission hypoalbuminemia and postoperative urinary tract infections in elderly hip fracture patients.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between hypoalbuminemia upon admission and the incidence of postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) in elderly patients with hip fractures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of elderly patients who underwent surgical treatment for hip fractures at a level I trauma center from 2013 to 2023. Serum albumin levels were measured upon admission, and hypoalbuminemia was defined as a total albumin level < 35 g/L. Multivariable logistic regression and propensity score matching analysis were utilized to control and reduce potential confounding factors, aiming to obtain adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for UTIs to determine the strength of the association. RESULTS: This observational cohort study included 1279 patients, among whom 298 (23.3%) developed UTIs. Patients with albumin levels < 35 g/L had significantly greater odds of developing UTIs compared to those with albumin levels ≥ 35 g/L (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.28-2.70). Further analysis, dividing albumin levels into quartiles, demonstrated that patients in the Q2 group (38.0-40.9 g/L; OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.88-2.17), Q3 group (35.0-37.9 g/L; OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.06-2.71), and Q4 group (15.3-34.9 g/L; OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.61-4.43) had notably higher odds of developing UTIs compared to those in the Q1 group (41.0-52.0 g/L). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of hypoalbuminemia upon admission in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery is strongly correlated with the occurrence of postoperative UTIs. Furthermore, this association exhibits a clear dose-response relationship.

Hypovitaminosis D in Haematological Malignancies: Cause or Consequence?

Vitamin D is a pleiotropic hormone, widely controversial for its role in the development of chronic diseases and cancers, including haematological malignancies, and also for its impact on overall survival. Observational and interventional studies are being conducted on hypovitaminosis D and haematological malignancies and their subtypes in order to improve the therapeutic management of patients. We carried out a prospective observational study over three years on a population of 251 patients followed up for newly diagnosed haematological malignancies to investigate the impact of vitamin D deficiency on this category of patients. Our population was dominated by the lymphoproliferative syndrome and included 125 patients (49.8%). Anthropometric data showed a significant difference in body mass index between the sexes with a p value of 0.001. Vitamin D levels at diagnosis were inadequate in more than half the patients (56%). This hypovitaminosis was linked to the female sex (p = 0.006), obesity (p = 0.031) and the digestive involvement of the lymphoma (p = 0.03). There was also a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and hypoalbuminemia (p = 0.02). This relationship was confirmed in multivariate analysis, with hypoalbuminemia being a factor associated with the deficiency (p = 0.022, OR = 0.95, IC95% 0.91-0.93). However, we did not find any impact on overall survival.

Incidence, associated factors, and outcomes of acute kidney injury following placement of antibiotic bone cement spacers in two-stage exchange for periprosthetic joint infection: a comprehensive study.

Background: Two-stage exchange with placement of antibiotic cement spacer (ACS) is the gold standard for the treatment of chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), but it could cause a high prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the results of the current evidence on this topic are too mixed to effectively guide clinical practice. Methods: We retrospectively identified 340 chronic PJI patients who underwent the first-stage exchange with placement of ACS. The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guideline was used to define postoperative AKI. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed to determine the potential factors associated with AKI. Furthermore, a systematic review and meta-analysis on this topic were conducted to summarize the knowledge in the current literature further. Results: In our cohort, the incidence of AKI following first-stage exchange was 12.1%. Older age (per 10 years, OR= 1.509) and preoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR= 3.593) were independent predictors for postoperative AKI. Eight AKI patients progressed to chronic kidney disease after 90 days. A meta-analysis including a total of 2525 PJI patients showed the incidence of AKI was 16.6%, and AKI requiring acute dialysis was 1.4%. Besides, host characteristics, poor baseline liver function, factors contributing to acute renal blood flow injury, and the use of nephrotoxic drugs may be associated with the development of AKI. However, only a few studies supported an association between antibiotic dose and AKI. Conclusion: AKI occurs in approximately one out of every six PJI patients undergoing first-stage exchange. The pathogenesis of AKI is multifactorial, with hypoalbuminemia could be an overlooked associated factor. Although the need for acute dialysis is uncommon, the fact that some AKI patients will develop CKD still needs to be taken into consideration.

The Role of Body Mass Index and Hypoalbuminemia on Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Obesity and malnutrition are modifiable risk factors associated with increased postoperative complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Obesity is paradoxically associated with malnutrition. Previous studies have only evaluated the impact of body mass index (BMI) and hypoalbuminemia separately in relation to postoperative TKA outcomes and have attempted to compare the impact of these modifiable risk factors. Our study seeks to establish if increased BMI and decreased albumin levels have a compounding effect on postoperative outcomes. A retrospective analysis was conducted using the 2011-2014 American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) dataset. This study reaffirmed that increased BMI and low albumin levels are associated with increased postoperative complications following TKA. Moreover, this study demonstrated that they do not have a compounding effect, but rather only help predict outcomes when analyzed individually. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 32(2) 114-117, 2023).