Appraising the outcome and complications of peritoneal dialysis patients in self-care peritoneal dialysis and assisted peritoneal dialysis: A 5-year review of a single Saudi center.

Our objective is to study the outcomes and complications of peritoneal dialysis (PD) including comparison of self-care PD with home-care assisted PD during a five-year period. A retrospective study of PD data at King Saud University-affiliated hospital in Riyadh from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2013. One hundred and eleven patients were included (female 55%). The average age was 47.4 (1-83) years. Twenty-one (18.91%) patients were on continuous ambulatory PD and 90 (81.08%) on automated PD. The mean time on PD was 23.5 (3-60) months. At the end of five years, 47 (42.34%) patients were continuing on PD, 12 (10.81%) had renal transplant, 33 (29.73%) patients were transferred to hemodialysis, and two (1.8%) patients were transferred to other centers. Seventeen patients died during this period giving a mortality rate of 7.13 deaths/100 patient-year during the five-year period. Six patients died due to cardiovascular causes, while five had sepsis. There was one death each due to prostate cancer, hyperoxaluria, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Three patients died suddenly at home. Peritonitis rate was one episode/35.28 patient/month or one episode/2.94 patient/year. We compared the results for patients doing the dialysis themselves [56 (50.45%)] "self-care PD" to 55 (49.5%) patients assisted by a family member or other caregivers "assisted PD." We found no significant difference in the incidence of complications, technical outcome, mortality, and peritonitis episodes. However, we found a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus and significant increase in exit site infection in assisted PD. Our study suggests that PD patients in Saudi Arabia have a good overall outcome. Furthermore, assisted PD showed good patient and technique outcome.

Accuracy and precision of the CKD-EPI and MDRD predictive equations compared with glomerular filtration rate measured by inulin clearance in a Saudi population.

BACKGROUND: Predictive equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in different clinical conditions should be validated by comparing with the measurement of GFR using inulin clearance, a highly accurate measure of GFR. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to validate the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations by comparing it to the GFR measured using inulin clearance in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study performed in adult Saudi patients with CKD. SETTING: King Saud University Affiliated Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared GFR measured by inulin clearance with the estimated GFR calculated using CKD-EPI and MDRD predictive formulas. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Correlation, bias, precision and accuracy between the estimated GFR and inulin clearance. RESULTS: Comparisons were made in 31 participants (23 CKD and 8 transplanted), including 19 males (mean age 42.2 [15] years and weight 68.7 [18] kg). GFR using inulin was 51.54 (33.8) mL/min/1.73 m2 in comparison to inulin clearance, the GFR by the predictive equations was: CKD-EPI creatinine 52.6 (34.4) mL/ min/1.73 m2 (P=.490), CKD-EPI cystatin C 41.39 (30.30) mL/min/1.73 m2 (P=.002), CKD creatinine-cystatin C 45.03 (30.9) mL/min/1.73 m2 (P=.004) and MDRD GFR 48.35 (31.5) mL/min/1.73 m2 (P=.028) (statistical comparisons vs inulin). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated that GFR estimated by the CKD-EPI creatinine was the most accurate compared with inulin clearance, having a mean difference (estimated bias) and limits of agreement of -1.1 (15.6,-17.7). By comparison the mean differences for predictive equations were: CKD-EPI cystatin C 10.2 (43.7,-23.4), CKD creatinine-cystatin C 6.5 (29.3,-16.3) and MDRD 3.2 (18.3,-11.9). except for CKD-EPI creatinine, all of the equations underestimated GFR in comparison with inulin clearance. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with inulin clearance, the CKD-EPI creatinine equation is the most accurate, precise and least biased equation for estimation of GFR in the Saudi population and in all subgroups by age, stage of CKD and transplantation status. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and the study did not include patients with comorbid diseases such as diabetes, hepatitis C virus infection, and other co-morbidities as well as old age ( > 80 years).

The use of Quantiferon-TB gold in-tube test in screening latent tuberculosis among Saudi Arabia dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Screening for tuberculosis (TB) is a key strategy for controlling infection. This study aimed to detect latent TB among dialysis patients. METHODS: This is a prospective study conducted in King Saud University, Riyadh involving hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients aged ≥18 years. Patients were screened for latent TB infection (LTBI) using both TBskin test (TST) and QuantiFERONTB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT). All participants were followed-up clinically and radiologically every 3 months for 2 years. RESULTS: A total of 243 (181 HD and 62 PD) patients were included and 112(46.1%) were males. 45.3% showed positive QFT in HD patients with sensitivity of 91.7%, specificity of 71.4%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 19.5%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.1%. TST results in HD showed that positive TST was 17.4%, sensitivity was 63.2%, specificity was 95.5%, PPV was 51.5%, and NPV was 91.1%. Five (8.1%) showed positive QFT in PD patients with sensitivity of 7.7%, specificity of 91.8%, PPV of 6.6%, and NPV of 92.3%. TST results in PD showed that positive TST was 9.8%, sensitivity was 35.7%, specificity was 97.9%, PPV was 55.8%, and NPV was 93.3%. Previous TB infection was significantly correlated with QFT only in HD patients, but significantly associated with TST in both HD and PD patients. Also in HD, QFT was significantly associated with TST (P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Due to high variability of QFT-GIT sensitivity, we recommend its use for its NPV and to use either TST or QFT in screening latent TB.

Electrocardiography and serum potassium before and after hemodialysis sessions.

This study was undertaken to assess potassium level and electrocardiographic (ECG) changes post hemodialysis and whether fall in potassium level during dialysis may potentiate cardiac arrythemia. We studied 21 chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients who had their serum electrolytes measured before and immediately after dialysis session, and ECG performed at the same time. The patients included 14 females and 7 males with a mean age of 53.1+/-15.6 years and range from 26 to 81 years; 9 (43%) patients were diabetics. All the patients had been on dialysis for a minimum of 6 months each Pre-HD serum potassium levels had no correlation with any ECG parameters except a negative correlation with the T wave amplitude r=-0.5, p=0.021. ECG parameters significantly changed post-HD; the T wave amplitude decreased, and the R wave amplitude increased. A comparatively higher R wave significantly decreased the T to R wave ratio post dialysis. The QRS duration and QTc interval also increased significantly. The patients with post-HD serum potassium of < or = 3.5 -in comparison to those with levels > 3.5 mmol/L -had a higher R wave amplitude and a significantly less T to R wave ratio (11.8+/-9.7 vs 6.4+/-5.1, p=0.045 and 0.4+/-0.38 vs 1.0+/-0.97, p=0.049, respectively. In patients with serum potassium decrement of > 2.0 mmol/L, the T to R wave ratio decreased significantly, 0.32+/-0.21 vs 0.85 +/-0.26, p=0.023; The T wave amplitude decreased more than the rise in R wave. Multiple regression analysis did not reveal any relationship of pre or post HD ECG changes and serum potassium, serum calcium or net change in serum potassium post-HD. We conclude that post-HD serum potassium decrement results in a decrease in T to R wave ratio on ECG; this change may have an arrhythmogenic potential.

Missed renal infarction presenting as the nephrotic syndrome: a case report.

Aortic dissection may be associated with renal disease. The presentation, especially in the later stages of the process, includes proteinuria, hematuria and impairment of renal function. Thus the clinical picture may be confused with glomerulonephritis or hypertension. We present a case of ischemic nephropathy resulting from involvement of the right kidney by an aortic dissection. The pateint presented with the nephrotic syndrome some two and a half months after the probable time when the aortic disection had occurred. At that time the initial back and flank pains had disappeared. Ultrasound examination revealed a smaller right kidney, compared to the left one. Imaging techneques, initaited for suspected renal artery stenosis, revealed aortic dissection involving the right renal artery starting from the descending aorta, distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery and extending down to the right common iliac artery; occluding the right renal artery. The medical literature is reviewed for patients presenting with ischemic nephropathy and the mechanisms of proteinuria discussed. We conclude that ischemic nephropathy can clinically mimic glomerulonephritis and can be missed if it is not included in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with heavy proteinuria and hypertension.