Loop diuretics improve conditions of dialysis inception in advanced CKD: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Diuretics can reduce fluid overload but their effects on conditions of dialysis start remain elusive. We aimed to determine whether loop diuretics exposure in the year before inception can delay the need for dialysis, affect the conditions of dialysis start, and cause early mortality three months after initiation in pre-dialysis patients. METHODS: All adult patients starting dialysis from 2009 to 2015 in the REIN registry were included. Three subgroups were defined according to diuretics exposure: "continuous", "stopped", or "no diuretics" over the year before inception and compared for pre-dialysis hospitalization rates, and 3-month mortality after dialysis. RESULTS: Among 59,302 patients, we found fewer emergency initiations of dialysis in the continuous diuretics group than in the stopped diuretics and no diuretics groups: 9492 (27.5%) vs 1905 (32.3%) and 5226 (35.0%), respectively; p < 0.0001. In the continuous diuretics group, there were fewer starts on central venous catheters than in the stopped diuretics and no diuretics groups: 16,677 (49.4%) vs. 3246 (56.0%) vs. 8,639 (58.4%); p < 0.0001. Patients with continuous diuretic exposure had a lower hospitalization rate than the stopped diuretics group in the year prior to dialysis, except for heart failure. The unadjusted 3-month hazard ratio of mortality after dialysis inception was significantly higher in the "no diuretics" or "stopped diuretics" groups compared with "continuous diuretics", but the excess of risk was blunted after adjustment for emergency start and pre-dialysis visits to a nephrologist. CONCLUSION: Continuous loop diuretics exposure in the year before dialysis was associated with better conditions of dialysis inception, and possibly lower mortality rates in the three months after inception.

Early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes in France: multidisciplinary expert opinion, prevention value and practical recommendations.

Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), accounting for approximately 50% of patients starting dialysis. However, the management of these patients at the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains poor, with fragmented care pathways among healthcare professionals (HCPs). Diagnosis of CKD and most of its complications is based on laboratory evidence. This article provides an overview of critical laboratory evidence of CKD and their limitations, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE), and serum potassium. eGFR is estimated using the CKD-EPI 2009 formula, more relevant in Europe, from the calibrated dosage of plasma creatinine. The estimation formula and the diagnostic thresholds have been the subject of recent controversies. Recent guidelines emphasized the combined equation using both creatinine and cystatin for improved estimation of GFR. UACR on a spot urine sample is a simple method that replaces the collection of 24-hour urine. Albuminuria is the preferred test because of increased sensitivity but proteinuria may be appropriate in some settings as an alternative or in addition to albuminuria testing. KFRE is a new tool to estimate the risk of progression to ESKD. This score is now well validated and may improve the nephrology referral strategy. Plasma or serum potassium is an important parameter to monitor in patients with CKD, especially those on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors or diuretics. Pre-analytical conditions are essential to exclude factitious hyperkalemia. The current concept is to correct hyperkalemia using pharmacological approaches, resins or diuretics to be able to maintain RAAS blockers at the recommended dose and discontinue them at last resort. This paper also suggests expert recommendations to optimize the healthcare pathway and the roles and interactions of the HCPs involved in managing CKD in patients with diabetes.

Protective antibody response to mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 vaccines in patients on maintenance haemodialysis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is more frequent and severe in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on maintenance haemodialysis (HD). Vaccines are now available, but the protective response rates and determinants of humoral response to the vaccine are poorly described. Methods: This prospective observational study describes the response rates of detectable and protective antibody titres 1 month after each dose of an mRNA vaccine in a cohort of 851 patients on maintenance HD. Findings: Among naïve SARS-CoV-2 patients, a vast majority produced detectable (95.2%) or protective levels of antibodies (69.6%) 1 month after the second vaccine dose. In addition, the response rate was significantly higher with the mRNA-1273 than with the BNT162b2 vaccine 1 month after the second dose (79.8 versus 59.1%, respectively; P < 0.001). The main determinants for an inadequate humoral response were older age, treatment with immunosuppressants or oral anticoagulants and low serum albumin. All the patients who encountered coronavirus disease 2019 before vaccination also reached a highly protective humoral response. Interpretation: We found an acceptable humoral response rate in patients on maintenance HD, much higher than in transplant recipients. Therefore the third dose of vaccine may be justified in those patients with an inadequate humoral response, particularly those with a history of organ transplantation or immunosuppressive treatment.

Diabetic kidney disease versus non-diabetic kidney disease in type 2 diabetic patients on dialysis: An observational cohort.

BACKGROUND: All chronic kidney diseases in diabetic patients are not diabetic kidney diseases. The objective was to compare the clinical characteristics, survival and access to transplantation in diabetic patients starting dialysis and classified either as diabetic kidney disease (DKD) or non-diabetic kidney disease in diabetic patients (NDKD). METHODS: We used the nationwide French REIN registry to analyse baseline clinical characteristics at dialysis inception and outcomes defined as kidney transplantation, deaths and their causes. The probability of death or transplantation was analysed using a multivariate Cox model and the Fine and Gray competing for risk model (sdHT). RESULTS: We included 65,136 patients from January 2009 to December 2015 with a median follow-up of 31 months. The cumulative incidence of kidney transplantation over eight years was 46.9% (44.8-48.9) in non-diabetic patients (ND), higher than the 19.3% (17.5-21.2) in the DKD group and 22.2% (18.4-26.7) in the NDKD group. The risk of death was significantly higher in the NDKD group than in the DKD group, even after accounting for the competing risk of transplantation (NDKD/sdHR 1.22; 95%CI 1.18-1.27; p < 0.005 vs. DKD/sdHR 1.12; 95%CI 1.08-1.16; p < 0.005 with adjustment for age, sex, major adverse cardiovascular events, cancer and chronic respiratory failure, compared to ND). CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic patients starting dialysis, patients in the DKD group had reduced access to kidney transplantation. NDKD patients had a higher risk of mortality than DKD. The distinction between DKD and NDKD should be accounted for in the plan of care of diabetic patients starting dialysis.

Evaluation of a predictive model of end-stage kidney disease in a French-based cohort.

BACKGROUND: The risk of ESKD is highly heterogeneous among renal diseases, and risk scores were developed to account for multiple progression factors. Kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) is the most widely accepted, although external validation is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of this score in a French case-control cohort and test the pertinence of the proposed thresholds. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study comparing a group of patients starting renal replacement therapy (RRT) to a group of patients with CKD stages 3-5. Multivariate analysis to assess the predictors of ESKD risk. Discrimination of 4-, 6- and 8-variable scores using ROC curves and compared with eGFR alone and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) alone. RESULTS: 314 patients with a ratio of 1 case for 1 control. In multivariate analysis, increasing age and higher eGFR were associated with a lower risk of ESKD (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.48-0.79; and OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.86, respectively). The log-transformed ACR was associated with a higher risk of ESKD (OR 1.25 per log unit, 95% CI 1.02-1.55). The 4-variable score was significantly higher in the RRT group than in the CKD-ND group, and was more efficient than the eGFR (AUROC 0.66, 95% CI 0.60-0.72, p = 0.018) and the log-transformed ACR (AUROC 0.63 95% CI 0.60-0.72, p = 0.0087) to predict ESKD. The 6-variable score including BP metrics and diabetes was not more discriminant as the 4-variable score. The 8-variable score had similar performance compared with the 4-score (AUROC 8-variable score: 0.70, 95% CI 0.64-0.76, p = 0.526). A 40% and 20% score thresholds were not superior to eGFR < 15 and 20 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. A 10% threshold was more specific than an eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. CONCLUSION: KFRE was highly discriminant between patients progressing to ESKD vs those non-progressing. The 4-variable score may help stratify renal risk and referral in the numerous patients with stage 3 CKD. Conversely, the proposed thresholds for creating vascular access or preemptive transplantation were not superior to eGFR alone.

Effects of high- vs low-dose native vitamin D on albuminuria and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: a randomized pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Residual albuminuria is associated with an increased risk of progression to ESKD. We tested whether a supplementation with native vitamin D could reduce albuminuria in stable CKD patients under maximal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled study of high (cholecalciferol 100 000 UI per 10 days over 1 month) vs low-dose (ergocalciferol 400 UI/days over 1 month) supplementation with native vitamin D on urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, blood pressure and the RAS over 1 month in stable CKD patients with albuminuria and maximum tolerated RAS blockade. RESULTS: We included 31 patients, 21 in the high dose group and 10 in the low dose group. In contrast with a low dose, high dose vitamin D normalized plasma 25(OH)D, decreased iPTH but slightly increased plasma phosphate. High dose vitamin D decreased geometric mean UACR from 99.8 mg/mmol (CI 95% 60.4-165.1) to 84.7 mg/mmol (CI 95% 51.7-138.8, p = 0.046). In the low dose group, the change in geometric mean UACR was not significant. Blood pressure, urinary 24 h aldosterone and peaks and AUC of active renin concentrations after acute stimulation by a single dose of 100 mg captopril were unaffected by the supplementation in native vitamin D, irrespective of the dose. Native vitamin D supplementation was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: We found a small (- 15%) but significant decrease in albuminuria after high dose vitamin D supplementation. We found no effect of vitamin D repletion on blood pressure and the systemic RAS, concordant with recent clinical studies.

Effect of emergency start and central venous catheter on outcomes in incident hemodialysis patients: a prospective observational cohort.

BACKGROUND: Unfavorable conditions at hemodialysis inception reduce the survival rate. However, the relative contribution to outcomes of predialysis follow-up, symptoms, emergency start or central venous catheter (CVC) is unknown. METHODS: We analyzed the determinants of survival according to dialysis initiation conditions in the nationwide REIN registry, using two methods based either on clinical classification or data mining. We divided patients into four groups according to dialysis initiation (emergency vs planned, symptoms or not, previous follow-up). "Followed planned starters" began dialysis as outpatients and with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). "Followed symptomatic non-urgent starters" were patients who started earlier because of any non-urgent symptomatic event. "Followed urgent starters" had seen a nephrologist before inception but started dialysis in an emergency condition. "Unknown urgent starters" were patients without any follow-up and who had a CVC at inception. RESULTS: "Followed urgent" starters had the lowest 2-year survival rate (66.8%) compared to "followed planned" (77.3%), "followed symptomatic non urgent" (79.2%), and "unknown urgent" (71.7%). Compared to other groups, the risk of mortality was lower in followed symptomatic non urgent (HR 0.86 95% CI 0.75-0.99) and higher in followed urgent starters (HR 1.05 (95% CI 0.94-1.18). In data mining Classification And Regression Tree regrouping in five categories, the lowest 2-year survival (52.3%) was in over 70-year-old starters with a CVC. The survival was 93.2% in under 57-year-old patients without active cancer, 82.5% in 57-70-year-old individuals without cancer, 72.4% in over 70-year-old patients without CVC and 61.4% in under 70-year-old subjects with cancer. The hazard ratio of data mining categories varied between 2.12 (95% CI 1.73-2.60) in 57-70-year-old subjects without cancer and 4.42 (95% CI 3.64-5.37) in over 70-year-old patients with CVC. Therefore, regrouping incident patients into five data mining categories, identified by age, cancer, and CVC use, could discriminate the 2-year survival in patients starting hemodialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Although each classification captured different prognosis information, both analyses showed that starting hemodialysis on a CVC has more dramatic outcomes than emergency start per se.

Effectiveness and Tolerance of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors With Aging in Chronic Kidney Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) are recommended for slowing chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression to kidney failure. Their effectiveness and tolerance as patients age remain uncertain because older patients have often been excluded from clinical trials. DESIGN: CKD-REIN cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We studied 2762 patients with CKD stages 3 and 4 and a clinical indication for RASi enrolled between 2013 and 2016 in 40 nephrology clinics nationally representative in France. METHODS: The primary outcome was the occurrence of kidney failure or death. The secondary outcomes were the occurrence of cardiovascular events and hospitalizations with acute kidney injury (AKI) or hyperkalemia. A propensity score analysis was performed. We used Cox models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for each outcome associated with RASi prescription and tested interactions with age. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 67 years, including 841 (30%) aged 75 years and older; 2178 (79%) were prescribed RASi's. During a median follow-up of 4.6 years, 33% of patients reached kidney failure or died. RASi prescription was associated with a lower risk of kidney failure or death (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.66, 0.95), an association not modified by age (P for interaction = .72). It was not significantly associated with cardiovascular events. During the first 3 years of follow-up, 14% of patients were hospitalized with AKI or hyperkalemia, but risk was not higher among those prescribed RASi's (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.55-1.02) and age did not modify its effect (P for interaction = .28). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study shows that aging does not appear to modify either RASi's beneficial effects on major CKD outcomes or their potential adverse effects.

A randomized multicenter trial on a lung ultrasound-guided treatment strategy in patients on chronic hemodialysis with high cardiovascular risk.

Lung congestion is a risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients on chronic hemodialysis, and its estimation by ultrasound may be useful to guide ultrafiltration and drug therapy in this population. In an international, multi-center randomized controlled trial (NCT02310061) we investigated whether a lung ultrasound-guided treatment strategy improved a composite end point (all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, decompensated heart failure) vs usual care in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis with high cardiovascular risk. Patient-Reported Outcomes (Depression and the Standard Form 36 Quality of Life Questionnaire, SF36) were assessed as secondary outcomes. A total of 367 patients were enrolled: 183 in the active arm and 180 in the control arm. In the active arm, the pre-dialysis lung scan was used to titrate ultrafiltration during dialysis and drug treatment. Three hundred and seven patients completed the study: 152 in the active arm and 155 in the control arm. During a mean follow-up of 1.49 years, lung congestion was significantly more frequently relieved in the active (78%) than in the control (56%) arm and the intervention was safe. The primary composite end point did not significantly differ between the two study arms (Hazard Ratio 0.88; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.63-1.24). The risk for all-cause and cardiovascular hospitalization and the changes of left ventricular mass and function did not differ among the two groups. A post hoc analysis for recurrent episodes of decompensated heart failure (0.37; 0.15-0.93) and cardiovascular events (0.63; 0.41-0.97) showed a risk reduction for these outcomes in the active arm. There were no differences in patient-reported outcomes between groups. Thus, in patients on chronic hemodialysis with high cardiovascular risk, a treatment strategy guided by lung ultrasound effectively relieved lung congestion but was not more effective than usual care in improving the primary or secondary end points of the trial.

Dialysis dose and mortality in haemodialysis: is higher better?

BACKGROUND: The effect of dialysis dose on mortality remains unsettled. Current guidelines recommend targeting a single-pool Kt/V (spKt/V) at 1.20-1.40 per thrice-weekly dialysis session. However, the optimal dialysis dose remains mostly disputed. METHODS: In a nationwide registry of all incident patients receiving thrice-weekly haemodialysis, 32 283 patients had available data on dialysis dose, estimated by Kt/V and its variants epuration volume per session (Kt) and Kt indexed to body surface area (Kt/A). Survival was analysed with a multivariate Cox model and a concurrent risk model accounting for renal transplantation. A predictive model of Kt in the upper quartile was developed. RESULTS: Regardless of the indicator, a higher dose of dialysis was consistently associated with better survival. The survival differential of Kt was the most discriminating, but marginally, compared with the survival differential according to Kt/V and Kt/A. Patient survival was higher in the upper quartile of Kt (>69 L/session) then deteriorated as the Kt decreased, with a difference in survival between the upper and lower quartile of 23.6% at 5 years. Survival differences across Kt distribution were similar after accounting for kidney transplantation as a competing risk. Predictive factors for Kt in the upper quartile were arteriovenous fistula versus catheters and graft, haemodiafiltration versus haemodialysis, scheduled dialysis start versus emergency start, long weekly dialysis duration and spKt/V measurement versus double-pool equilibrated Kt/V. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the existence of a relationship between dialysis dose and survival that persisted despite correcting for known confounders. A model for predicting a high dose of dialysis is proposed with practical relevance.

Vascular access cannulation and haemostasis: a national observational study of French practices.

BACKGROUND: We report the results of an observational study of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannulation and haemostasis practices in France. METHODS: The study (sponsored by Brothier Pharmaceutical Inc.) was conducted in 150 dialysis units. Data obtained from 150 supervisory nurses, 1538 nurses and 3588 patients with an AVF were analysed. RESULTS: The nurses reported using rope-ladder, area or buttonhole cannulation techniques in 68, 26 and 6% of cases, respectively. Metal needles were used most frequently (64%), with mainly a diameter of 15 G or 16 G. The needle was introduced with the bevel up in 56% of cases. Compression applied using dressings (in particular, pure calcium alginate dressings) was the method of choice for haemostasis of the puncture sites and was assessed as being strong by most of the nurses and very strong in cases of prolonged bleeding. Most (82%) of the patients reported the use of local anaesthetic before cannulation and 23% reported an allergic skin reaction to the anaesthetic. Bleeding of the puncture sites lasted for >10 min for 48% of the patients and it reappeared between two sessions for 29% of the patients. Whereas the nurses appeared to have a good understanding of AVF, more than half of the patients did not know how to care for it, with 55% requiring more information. CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the lack of national consensus concerning AVF cannulation practices. It suggests that haemostasis methods of the puncture sites can be improved and it highlights the need to improve patient knowledge.

Prevalence of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis and Spatial Association With Quarries in a Region of Northeastern France: A Capture-Recapture and Geospatial Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Silica is an environmental substance strongly linked with autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and renal limited vasculitis, in a northeastern region of France and to evaluate whether there was a geospatial association between the localization of quarries in the region and the prevalence of these AAVs. METHODS: Potential AAV patients were identified using 3 sources: hospital records, immunology laboratories, and the French National Health Insurance System. Patients who resided in the Alsace region of France as of January 1, 2016 and who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for GPA or the 2012 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference definitions for GPA or MPA were included. Incomplete case ascertainment was corrected using a capture-recapture analysis. The spatial association between the number of cases and the presence of quarries in each administrative entity was assessed using regression analyses weighted for geographic region. RESULTS: Among 910 potential AAV patients, we identified 185 patients fulfilling inclusion criteria: 120 patients with GPA, 35 patients with MPA, and 30 patients with renal limited vasculitis. The number of cases missed by any source as estimated by capture-recapture analysis was 6.4 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.6-11.5). Accordingly, the estimated prevalence in Alsace in 2016 was 65.5 GPA cases per million inhabitants (95% CI 47.3-93.0), 19.1 MPA cases per million inhabitants (95% CI 11.3-34.3), and 16.8 renal limited vasculitis cases per million inhabitants (95% CI 8.7-35.2). The risk of AAV was significantly increased in communities with quarries (odds ratio 2.51 [95% CI 1.66-3.80]), and geographic-weighted regression analyses revealed a significant spatial association between the proximity to quarries and the number of GPA cases (P = 0.039). In analyses stratifying the AAV patients by ANCA serotype, a significant association between the presence of quarries and positivity for both proteinase 3 ANCAs (P = 0.04) and myeloperoxidase ANCAs (P = 0.03) was observed. CONCLUSION: In a region with a high density of quarries, the spatial association between the presence of and proximity to quarries and the prevalence of AAVs supports the idea that silica may have a role as a specific environmental factor in this disease.

Atypical focal segmental glomerulosclerosis associated with a new PODXL nonsense variant.

BACKGROUND: Podocalyxin (PODXL) is a highly sialylated adhesion glycoprotein that plays an important role in podocyte's physiology. Recently, missense and nonsense dominant variants in the PODXL gene have been associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a leading cause of nephrotic syndrome and kidney failure. Their histologic description, however, was superficial or absent. METHODS: We performed exome sequencing on a three-generation family affected by an atypical glomerular nephropathy and characterized the disease by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: The disease was characterized by FSGS features and glomerular basement membrane duplication. Six family members displayed chronic proteinuria, ranging from mild manifestations without renal failure, to severe forms with end-stage renal disease. Exome sequencing of affected twin sisters, their affected mother, healthy father, and healthy maternal uncle revealed a new nonsense variant cosegregating with the disease (c.1453C>T, NM_001018111) in the PODXL gene, which is known to be expressed in the kidney and to cause nephropathy when mutated. The variant is predicted to lead to a premature stop codon (p.Q485*) that results in the loss of the intracytoplasmic tail of the protein. CONCLUSION: This is the first description of a peculiar association combining a PODXL stop-gain variant and both FSGS and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis features, described by light and electron microscopy.

Impact of the dialysate acid component on haemodialysis mortality rates.

BACKGROUND: No prospective study has evaluated the long-term effect on mortality of the new acid concentrates added to bicarbonate dialysate. The aim of this pharmacoepidemiological study was to evaluate the association between hydrochloric or citric acid-based dialysate and mortality on haemodialysis (HD). METHODS: This study included 117 796 patients with 3 723 887 months on HD recorded in the national French Renal Epidemiology and Information Network registry. Dialysate acid components were retrospectively reconstructed for each facility. All patients on HD were associated each month with an exposure based on that at their facility of treatment. We took each patient's time-varying exposure into account to calculate the monthly mortality rates for each exposure. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for mortality were calculated with a Poisson regression, with acetic acid as the reference. Regressions were adjusted for initial clinical characteristics (age, gender, previous cardiovascular events, active malignancy, diabetes, pulmonary disease, mobility), dialysis technique and location (in-centre, outpatient centre, self-care unit) and ESRD vintage, updated monthly. RESULTS: The crude mortality rate per 1000 patient-months with citric acid {11.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.1-12.0]} was lower than with either acetic acid [12.9 (95% CI 12.8-13.1)] or hydrochloric acid [12.8 (95% CI 12.2-13.5)]. For the 2014-17 period, the IRR for mortality with citric acid [adjusted IRR 0.94 (95% CI 0.90-0.99)] and with hydrochloric acid [adjusted IRR 0.86 (95% CI 0.79-0.94)] were significantly lower than with acetic acid. CONCLUSION: This post-marketing study of long-term exposure to dialysate acidifiers at the patient level found the use of citric and hydrochloric acid-based dialysates, compared with acetic acid, was associated with lower mortality.

Metabolic syndrome in haemodialysis patients: prevalence, determinants and association to cardiovascular outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In the general population, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is predictive of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Waist circumference (WC), a component of the MetS criteria, is linked to visceral obesity, which in turn is associated with MACE. However, in haemodialysis (HD) patients, the association between MetS, WC and MACE is unclear. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 1000 HD patients, we evaluated the prevalence and characterised the clinical predictors of MetS. The relationship between MetS and its components, alone or in combination, and MACE (coronary diseases, peripheral arteriopathy, stroke or cardiac failure), was studied using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 753 patients were included between October 2011 and April 2013. The prevalence of MetS was 68.5%. Waist circumference (> 88 cm in women, 102 cm in men) was the best predictor of MetS (sensitivity 80.2; specificity 82.3; AUC 0.80; p <  0.05). In multivariate analysis, MetS was associated with MACE (OR: 1.85; 95CI 1.24-2.75; p <  0.01), but not WC alone. There was a stronger association between the combination of abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridaemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with MACE after exclusion of impaired fasting glucose and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: MetS is frequent and significantly associated with MACE in our haemodialysis cohort and probably in other European dialysis populations as well. In HD patients, a new simplified definition could be proposed in keeping with the concept of the "hypertriglyceridaemic waist".

CERA conversion to darbepoetin alfa in 154 hemodialysis patients.

PURPOSE: Anemia is a common complication in dialysis patients, usually treated with erythropoietin (EPO). Among available EPOs and analogs, continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) and darbepoetin alfa (DA) are the only two agents with a long duration of action, although they have almost never been formally compared in terms of efficacy. We took advantage of an accidental disruption in CERA supply to study the effect of its replacement with DA in the same patients. METHODS: The clinical and biological characteristics of 154 hemodialysis patients were retrospectively reviewed during the last 3 months on CERA compared to the first 4 months after replacement by DA, both ASE being administered by IV route. The comparison included EPO doses, hemoglobin levels, factors interfering with anemia (iron status assessment, iron doses, inflammation, quality of treatment) and was performed under the Bayesian paradigm. RESULTS: We found no significant differences between the two EPOs in terms of doses or hemoglobin concentrations. Factors that could potentially influence hemoglobin concentrations also did not differ under CERA or DA. The stability of hemoglobin was identical with both EPOs. We provide a conversion factor which allows comparison of cost according to local prices. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, in this observational "real life" study, the two EPOs are to be considered as equivalent.

[Who are these patients on dialysis and not on the kidney transplant waiting list?] / Qui sont ces patients en dialyse non inscrits sur liste d'attente de greffe rénale ?

Access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage chronic renal disease is a major challenge in France. Registration on the transplant waiting list is a mandatory step to be able to access this technique. The Haute Autorité de santé (HAS) updated, in 2015, the contraindications to access this list. In this context, we wanted to make an inventory of the reasons for non-registration on the renal transplant waiting list in patients on dialysis for at least a year, aged less than 80 years, in France. All patients included in the Epidemiology and Nephrology Information Register (REIN), who were supposed to have their annual monitoring point from August 1 to November 30, 2016 meeting the criteria, were included and a dedicated questionnaire was completed by their dialysis center. Thus, 3172 patients were analyzed: 2302 (73%) had a medical contraindication to transplant, most often (33%) vascular, 458 (14%) refused to be registered, with proportionately more women in this category, and finally in 412 patients (13%), there was no reason given in our questionnaire. However, for 65% of patients in the latter category, an assessment for registration had started. There were therefore, in our cohort, only 144 patients (4.5%) without explanation for the non-registration. This national study is the first to give a view of the reasons for non-registration on the renal transplant list in France. Unsurprisingly, medical contraindication is the primary reason in this population of chronic patients. The high refusal rate should be emphasized and analyzed more precisely, in particular with the patient's point of view. And finally, very few patients have no informed reason or current assessment.

Effect of adding vildagliptin to insulin in haemodialysed patients with type 2 diabetes: The VILDDIAL study, a randomized, multicentre, prospective study.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of adding the dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitor vildagliptin to insulin on the glycaemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing haemodialysis. METHODS: Overall, 65 insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing haemodialysis (HbA1c: 7.3% ± 1.1%; age: 70.5 ± 8.5 years) were randomized (1:1) either to receive vildagliptin 50 mg/day in addition to insulin (vildagliptin-insulin group) or to pursue their usual insulin regimen (insulin-only group). Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed for 48 ± 6 hours at baseline and at week 12. The primary study endpoint was change from baseline in mean interstitial glucose using CGM. The secondary endpoints included other CGM variables and glucose control markers. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, a greater reduction in mean CGM glucose from baseline was observed in the vildagliptin-insulin group compared with the insulin-only group, although the between-treatment difference was not statistically significant (mean difference [CI 95%]: -0.96 mmol/L [-2.09; 0.18] vs. -0.29 mmol/L [-1.29; 0.76], P = 0.32). However, a significant decrease from baseline in HbA1c, glycated albumin and insulin daily doses was observed in the vildagliptin-insulin group versus the insulin-only group (-0.6% [-1.19; -0.1], P < 0.01), in the vildagliptin-insulin group versus no change in the insulin-only group (-130.6 µmol/L [-271; 10.7] vs. +36.2 µmol/L [-164.4; 236.9], P = 0.04 and - 5.9 IU/day [-1.8; 7.1] vs. +1.1 IU/day [-14.5; 16.6], P = 0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference in the percentage of time spent in hypoglycaemia using CGM, occurrence of severe hypoglycaemia or number of adverse events. CONCLUSION: In this study, vildagliptin added to insulin improved glycaemic control with an associated insulin-sparing effect in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing haemodialysis and was well tolerated.