Prevention of recurrence of enteric peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis with Escherichia coli Nissle 1917: A case-series study.

INTRODUCTION: Peritonitis is still a major cause of drop-out in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and is often the consequence of the migration of bacteria across the intestinal wall, configuring an enteric peritonitis (EP). EP is usually caused by commensals of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, it relapses commonly and may result in catheter removal. AIMS: Currently, no specific therapeutic measures are available to effectively prevent recurrence of EP, thus we reported our clinical experience with use of probiotics Escherichia coli Nissle (EcN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a case-series study performed in PD patients affected by recurrent peritonitis due to GI commensals. In these patients, we added prophylactic treatment with EcN 100 mg twice a day (in addition to 10 days monthly of 200 mg rifaximin) to the standard management of peritonitis. RESULTS: We enrolled 14 PD patients (mean age: 53.1 ± 11.9 years; 67% males; dialysis vintage: 7.5 (3.1 - 27.7) months; 64% automated PD). Causative organisms were Escherichia coli (N = 5), Klebsiella pneumoniae (N = 3), Enterococcus faecalis (N = 2), Enterobacter cloacae (N = 2), Aeromonas caviae (N = 1), Streptococcus gallolyticus (N = 1). No exit-site infection was associated with peritonitis. Patients were successfully treated with intra-peritoneal antibiotics adjusted to culture results and antibiotic sensitivities for 14 - 21 days. During the subsequent 18 months of follow-up, no recurrence of EP was registered. No adverse effect was reported. CONCLUSION: In PD patients, the use of EcN is associated with no recurrence of EP. Further studies or clinical trials are needed to confirm our results.

Sodium toxicity in peritoneal dialysis: mechanisms and "solutions".

The major trials in peritoneal dialysis (PD) have demonstrated that increasing peritoneal clearance of small solutes is not associated with any advantage on survival, whereas sodium and fluid overload heralds higher risk of death and technique failure. On the other hand, higher sodium and fluid overload due to loss of residual kidney function (RKF) and higher transport membrane is associated with poor patient and technique survival. Recent experimental studies also show that, independently from fluid overload, sodium accumulation in the peritoneal interstitium exerts direct inflammatory and angiogenetic stimuli, with consequent structural and functional changes of peritoneum, while in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease sodium stored in interstitial skin acts as independent determinant of left ventricular hypertrophy. Noteworthy, this tissue pool of sodium is modifiable being removed by dialysis. Therefore, novel PD strategies to optimize sodium removal, including the use of bimodal and/or low-sodium solutions, are actively tested. Nonetheless, a holistic approach aimed at preserving peritoneal function and the kidney may represent the key of therapy success in the hard task of preserving adequate sodium balance in PD patients. In this review, we describe the available evidence on sodium toxicity in PD, either related or unrelated to fluid overload, and we also discuss about possible "solutions" to preserve or restore sodium balance in PD patients.

Simultaneous abdominal wall defect repair and Tenckhoff catheter placement in candidates for peritoneal dialysis.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of pre-existing abdominal wall defect (AWD) could represent a potential contraindication for peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. We report the results of our 6-year experience involving simultaneous repair of pre-existing AWD and catheter insertion for PD. METHODS: Patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) 7-10 ml/min attending a single nephrology clinic between January 2008 and December 2014 were evaluated. Simultaneous AWD repair and catheter placement was performed. For inguinal (IH) or umbilical hernia (UH), a prolene mesh repair technique was adopted. Except for one case of total anaesthesia, the surgical procedure was performed under either spinal or local anaesthesia. Ceftazidime alone or in association with quinolones was administered 1 h before surgery in a single dose. Patients were discharged 2 days after surgery, and returned to the clinic twice during the 1st week for peritoneum washing (first volume of peritoneal dialysis solution: 300 ml). From week 3, volume (2000 ml) and dwells were personalized according to the patient's clinical condition; options were: incremental PD, standard PD, or continuous cycling PD. Surgical follow-up was planned at 1, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Peritoneal catheters were inserted in 170 patients. IH, UH and incisional hernia were found in 18, 2 and 1 patients, respectively. IH was bilateral in 4 patients; concomitant IH and UH occurred in 1 patient. There were no deaths, nor intra-operative complications apart from scrotal haematoma in 1 patient. Over a mean follow-up of 551 days (range 342-1274) no hernia recurrence was registered and the peritoneal catheter continued functioning without problems. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous AWD repair and peritoneal catheter placement seems a reliable and safe surgical procedure that allows patients with AWD to benefit from PD treatment.

[The use of Cinacalcet in chronic kidney disease: a case report]. / Utilizzo del calcio-mimetico in terapia conservativa: un caso clinico.

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism is an important concurrent cause of cardiovascular and osteo-articular events, as well as, high morbidity and mortality for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease in conservative therapy and dialysis. The usual therapies, such as the vitamin D active metabolites and the phosphate binders did not always demonstrate effective in SHP control. New drugs, such as the calcimimetics, are available, resulting beneficial in highly reducing PTH levels. The only calcimimetic drug clinically used is cinacalcet, whose use is planned only in patients undergoing dialysis (peritoneal and extracorporeal). We describe the clinical case of a caucasian woman of 82 yrs old, with chronic kidney disease and secondary hyperparathyroidism resistant to usual therapies, in conservative treatment, which is prescribed cinacalcet (off-label). At first we found a worsening of the indices of renal function secondary to the effects of the drug on the hydrosaline balance. Increasing the hydrosaline intake we have seen the reduction and the subsequent stability of exams. Cinacalcet was effective in controlling the levels of parathyroid hormone and has contributed significantly to the achievement of optimal calcium-phosphorus balance. In view of these data, there is no doubt in taking in consideration the use of this drug also in the earliest stages of IRC.

Imaging of the peritoneum evaluated by 99mTc-icodextrin scintigraphy in peritoneal dialysis patients: preliminary data.

AIM: In this study, we proposed a peritoneal scintigraphy with a different marker, the 99mTechnetium-Icodextrin, to evaluate the distribution of the dialysate within the peritoneal cavity in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: 99mTc-Icodextrin scintigraphy was performed in 16 PD patients. 0.5 ml of 7.5% Icodextrin solution was labeled with 74 megabecquerel (MBq) of 99mTc and then added to 2,000 ml of dialysate solution (2.5% dextrose). The peritoneum scintigraphy was performed by a SPECT gamma camera with the peritoneal cavity filled and after the complete drainage of the radio compound-dialysate mixture. The images were reviewed for evidence of peritoneal leaks, hernias, loculated fluid collections, and peritoneal membrane adhesions. RESULTS: Abnormal findings were detected by 99mTc-Icodextrin scintigraphy in 4 (25%) out of 16 patients and included retroperitoneal (n = 1), diaphragmatic (n = 1) and inguinal (n = 1) leakages and peritoneal membrane adhesions (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneum scintigraphy with 99mTc-Icodextrin is a useful method to detect some complications occurring during peritoneal dialysis; it offers excellent imaging to assess these complications.

Evidence that p-cresol and IL-6 are adsorbed by the HFR cartridge: towards a new strategy to decrease systemic inflammation in dialyzed patients?

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis (HD) and hemodiafiltration clear only with a low efficiency the plasma from interleukin-6 and p-cresol, two protein-bound uremic toxins associated with high cardiovascular risk in end stage renal disease. HFR Supra is a double-chamber hemodiafiltration system in which the ultrafiltrate returns to the patient after its regeneration through a resin cartridge that binds hydrophobic and protein-bound solutes. In the present study, we evaluated whether the HFR cartridge can also bind total p-cresol and IL-6 and remove them from the ultrafiltrate. METHODS: We compared the levels of IL-6 and p-cresol in ultrafiltrate samples collected at the inlet (UFin) and at the outlet (UFout) of the cartridge at the start or at the end of a 240 min HFR session in 12 inflamed chronic HD patients. The pro-inflammatory activity of the ultrafiltrate samples was also determined by evaluating the changes that they induced in IL-6 mRNA expression and protein release in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 healthy volunteers. IL-6 and p-cresol circulating levels were also assessed in peripheral plasma blood samples collected before and after HFR and, for comparison, a control HD. RESULTS: p-Cresol and IL-6 were lower in UFout than in UFin both at the start and at the end of the HFR session, suggesting that they were retained by the cartridge. IL-6 mRNA expression and release were lower in PBMC incubated with UFout collected at the end than with UFin collected at the start of HFR, suggesting that passage through the cartridge reduced UF pro-inflammatory activity. Plasma total p-cresol decreased by about 53% after HFR, and 37% after HD. IL-6 circulating values were unmodified by either these dialysis procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the HFR-Supra cartridge retains total p-cresol and IL-6 in the ultrafiltrate and lowers plasma total p cresol but not IL-6 levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01865773.

Plasma p-cresol lowering effect of sevelamer in peritoneal dialysis patients: evidence from a Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

p-Cresol is a by-product of the metabolism of aromatic aminoacid operated by resident intestinal bacteria. In patients with chronic kidney disease, the accumulation of p-cresol and of its metabolite p-cresyl-sulphate causes endothelial dysfunction and ultimately increases the cardiovascular risk of these patients. Therapeutic strategies to reduce plasma p-cresol levels are highly demanded but not available yet. Because it has been reported that the phosphate binder sevelamer sequesters p-cresol in vitro we hypothesized that it could do so also in peritoneal dialysis patients. To explore this hypothesis we measured total cresol plasma concentrations in 57 patients with end-stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis, 29 receiving sevelamer for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia and 28 patients not assuming this drug. Among the patients not assuming sevelamer, 16 were treated with lanthanum whereas the remaining 12 received no drug because they were not hyperphosphatemic. Patients receiving sevelamer had plasma p-cresol and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations significantly lower than those receiving lanthanum or no drug. Conversely, no difference was observed among the different groups either in residual glomerular filtration rate, total weekly dialysis dose, total clearance, urine volume, protein catabolic rate, serum albumin or serum phosphate levels. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that none of these variables predicted plasma p-cresol concentrations that, instead, negatively correlated with the use of sevelamer. These results suggest that sevelamer could be an effective strategy to lower p-cresol circulating levels in peritoneal dialysis patients in which it could also favorably affect cardiovascular risk because of its anti-inflammatory effect.