Intermittent hemodiafiltration as a down-step transition therapy in patients with acute kidney injury admitted to intensive care unit who initially underwent continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) are initially employed in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in ICU setting. After the period of serious illness, hemodialysis is usually used as a mode of transition from CRRT. Intermittent hemodiafiltration (HDF) is not commonly applied in this scenario. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of using HDF as transition therapy after CVVHDF in critically patients with AKI. METHODS: An observational and prospective pilot study was conducted in ICU patients with dialysis-requiring AKI. Patients were initially treated with CVVHDF and, after medical improvement, those who still needed renal replacement therapy were switched to HDF treatment. RESULTS: Ten Patients underwent 53 HDF sessions (mean of 5.3 sessions/patient). The main cause of renal dysfunction was sepsis (N = 7; 70%). The APACHE II mean score was 27.6 ± 6.9. During HDF treatment, the urea reduction ratio was 64.5 ± 7.5%, for ß-2 microglobulin serum levels the percentage of decrease was 42.0 ± 7.8%, and for Cystatin C was 36.2 ± 6.9%. Five episodes of arterial hypotension occurred (9.4% of sessions). There were 20 episodes of electrolytic disturbance (37.7% of sessions), mainly hypophosphatemia. No pyrogenic or suggestive episode of bacteremia was observed. CONCLUSION: Hemodiafiltration was safe and efficient to treat critically ill patients with acute kidney injury during the transition phase from continuous to intermittent dialysis modality. Special attention should be paid regarding the occurrence of electrolytic disturbance, mainly hypophosphatemia.

Serum Soluble-Fas, Inflammation, and Anemia in Acute Kidney Injury.

Anemia is a common feature in critically ill patients. Serum soluble-Fas (sFas) levels are associated with anemia in chronic kidney disease. It is possible that sFas levels are also associated with anemia in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. The study aims to investigate the relationship between serum levels of sFas, erythropoietin (Epo), inflammatory cytokines, and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration in critically ill patients with AKI. We studied 72 critically ill patients with AKI (AKI group; n = 53) or without AKI (non-AKI group; n = 19), and 18 healthy volunteers. Serum sFas, Epo, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, iron status, and Hb concentration were analyzed in all groups. We also investigated the correlation between these variables in the AKI group. Critically ill patients (AKI and non-AKI groups) had higher serum levels of Epo than healthy volunteers. Hb concentration was lower in the AKI group than in the other groups. Serum sFas, IL-6, TNF-α, and ferritin levels were higher in the AKI group. Hb concentration correlated negatively with serum IL-6 (r = -0.37, P = 0.008), sFas (r = -0.35, P = 0.01), and Epo (r = -0.27, P = 0.04), while serum sFas correlated positively with iron levels (r = 0.36, P = 0.008) and IL-6 (r = 0.28, P = 0.04) in the AKI group. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for markers of inflammation and iron stores, only serum sFas levels (P = 0.03) correlated negatively with Hb concentration in the AKI group. Serum Epo and inflammatory cytokine levels are elevated in critically ill patients with or without AKI. Serum levels of sFas are elevated and independently associated with anemia in critically ill patients with AKI.

Effects of simvastatin on cytokines secretion from mononuclear cells from critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.

PURPOSE: To assess the in vitro effects of simvastatin on IL-10 and TNF-α secretion from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of critically ill patients with and without acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: PBMC were collected from 63 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and from 20 healthy controls. Patients were divided in 3 subgroups: with AKI, with sepsis and without AKI and with AKI and sepsis. After isolation by ficoll-gradient centrifugation cells were incubated in vitro with LPS 1 ng/mL, simvastatin (10(-8)M) and with LPS plus simvastatin for 24h. TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations on cells surnatant were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Cells isolated from critically ill patients showed a decreased spontaneous production of TNF-α and IL-10 compared to healthy controls (6.7 (0.2-12) vs 103 (64-257) pg/mL and (20 (13-58) vs 315 (105-510) pg/mL, respectively, p<0.05). Under LPS-stimulus, IL-10 production remains lower in patients compared to healthy control (451 (176-850) vs 1150 (874-1521) pg/mL, p<0.05) but TNF-α production was higher (641 (609-841) vs 406 (201-841) pg/mL, p<0.05). The simultaneous incubation with LPS and simvastatin caused decreased IL-10 production in cells from patients compared to control (337 (135-626) vs 540 (345-871) pg/mL, p<0.05) and increased TNF-α release (711 (619-832) vs 324 (155-355) pg/mL, p<0.05). Comparison between subgroups showed that the results observed in TNF-α and IL-10 production by PBMC from critically ill patients was independent of AKI occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The PBMC treatment with simvastatin resulted in attenuation on pro-inflammatory cytokine spontaneous production that was no longer observed when these cells were submitted to a second inflammatory stimulus. Our study shows an imbalance between pro and anti-inflammatory cytokine production in PBMC from critically ill patients regardless the presence of AKI.

A new spectrophotometric method to detect residual amounts of peroxide after reprocessing hemodialysis filters / Um novo método espectrofotométrico para detectar níveis residuais de peróxido após o reprocessamento de filtros de hemodiálise

ABSTRACT Objective: Reuse of hemodialysis filters is a standard practice and the sterilizing chemical most often employed is peracetic acid. Before starting the dialysis session, filters and lines are checked for residual levels of peracetic acid by means of a non-quantitative colorimetric test that is visually interpreted. The objective of this study was to investigate a new quantitative spectrophotometric test for detection of peracetic acid residues. Methods: Peracetic acid solutions were prepared in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 ppm. A reagent (potassium-titanium oxide + sulfuric acid) was added to each sample in proportions varying from 0.08 to 2.00 drops/mL of solution. Optical densities were determined in a spectrophotometer using a 405-nm filter and subjected to visual qualitative test by different observers. Results: A relation between peroxide concentrations and respective optical densities was observed and it was linear with R2 > 0.90 for all reagent/substrate proportions. The peak optical densities were obtained with the reagent/substrate ratio of 0.33 drops/mL, which was later standardized for all further experiments. Both qualitative and quantitative tests yielded a specificity of 100%. The quantitative test was more sensitive than the qualitative test and resulted in higher positive and negative predictive values. There was a difference between observers in the qualitative test and some samples with significant amounts of peroxide were not detected. Conclusion: A quantitative spectrophotometric test may improve detection of residues of peracetic acid when compared to the standard visual qualitative test. This innovation may contribute to the development of safer standards for reuse of hemodialysis filters.

RESUMO Objetivo: A reutilização de filtros de hemodiálise é uma prática disseminada e a substância química esterilizante mais empregada é o ácido peracético. Antes de iniciar a sessão de diálise, os filtros e as linhas são verificados em relação a níveis residuais de ácido peracético por meio de teste colorimétrico não quantitativo, com interpretação visual. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar um novo teste espectrofotométrico quantitativo para detecção de resíduos de ácido peracético. Métodos: As soluções de ácido peracético foram preparadas em concentrações que variam de 0,01 a 10 ppm. O reagente (óxido de potássio-titânio + ácido sulfúrico) foi acrescentado a cada amostra em proporções que variaram de 0,08 a 2,00 gotas/mL de solução. As densidades ópticas foram determinadas em um espectrofotômetro com filtro de 405 nm e submetidas a um teste visual qualitativo por diferentes observadores. Resultados: Observou-se a relação linear entre as concentrações de peróxido e as respectivas densidades ópticas com R2 > 0,90 para todas as proporções de reagente/substrato. As maiores densidades ópticas foram obtidas com a proporção reagente/substrato de 0,33 gotas/mL, que foi padronizada para todos os experimentos posteriores. Os testes qualitativos e quantitativos apresentaram especificidade de 100%. O teste quantitativo foi mais sensível do que o qualitativo e apresentou maiores valores preditivos positivos e negativos. Houve uma diferença entre os observadores no teste qualitativo e algumas amostras com quantidade significativa de peróxido não foram detectadas. Conclusão: O teste espectrofotométrico quantitativo pode melhorar a detecção de resíduos de ácido peracético em comparação ao teste visual qualitativo padrão. Essa inovação pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de padrões mais seguros na reutilização de filtros de hemodiálise.

A new spectrophotometric method to detect residual amounts of peroxide after reprocessing hemodialysis filters.

OBJECTIVE: Reuse of hemodialysis filters is a standard practice and the sterilizing chemical most often employed is peracetic acid. Before starting the dialysis session, filters and lines are checked for residual levels of peracetic acid by means of a non-quantitative colorimetric test that is visually interpreted. The objective of this study was to investigate a new quantitative spectrophotometric test for detection of peracetic acid residues. METHODS: Peracetic acid solutions were prepared in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 ppm. A reagent (potassium-titanium oxide + sulfuric acid) was added to each sample in proportions varying from 0.08 to 2.00 drops/mL of solution. Optical densities were determined in a spectrophotometer using a 405-nm filter and subjected to visual qualitative test by different observers. RESULTS: A relation between peroxide concentrations and respective optical densities was observed and it was linear with R2 > 0.90 for all reagent/substrate proportions. The peak optical densities were obtained with the reagent/substrate ratio of 0.33 drops/mL, which was later standardized for all further experiments. Both qualitative and quantitative tests yielded a specificity of 100%. The quantitative test was more sensitive than the qualitative test and resulted in higher positive and negative predictive values. There was a difference between observers in the qualitative test and some samples with significant amounts of peroxide were not detected. CONCLUSION: A quantitative spectrophotometric test may improve detection of residues of peracetic acid when compared to the standard visual qualitative test. This innovation may contribute to the development of safer standards for reuse of hemodialysis filters.

Índice de doenças coexistentes e idade avançada como preditores desobrevida em pacientes em diálise / Index of coexisting disease and old age as predictors of survival in hemodialysis patients

Identificar os fatores que podem influenciar a sobrevida dos pacientes em programa crônico de hemodiálise em um hospital privado do Brasil. Neste estudo, foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, 99 pacientes do Centro de Diálise Einstein (CDE), Unidade de Hemodiálise do Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, que estiveram em programa crônico de hemodiálise por pelo menos três meses, no período de fev. de 2000 a out. de 2006. As características dos pacientes que foram avaliadas quanto à possível influência na sobrevida foram: causa da insuficiência renal cardíaca (IRC) (com e sem diabetes mellitus), sexo, idade, níveis de albumina, proteína C reativa (PCR), hemoglobina e o Índice de Doença Coexistenteou Index of Coexisting Disease(instrumento que avalia a presença e a severidade das comorbidades) da admissão. As curvas de sobrevida foram calculadas segundo o método de Kaplan-Meier e as diferenças entre as curvas foram avaliadas pelo teste log-rank. A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 63,14 ± 16,18 anos, 34% deles eram do sexo feminino e 40% apresentavam DM como causa da IRC. Os níveis médios de albumina e hemoglobina na admissão foram 3,44 ± 0,58 g/dl e 10,55 ± 1,51 g/dl respectivamente, e a mediana dos níveis de PCR foi 9,55 g/dl. A distribuição dos pacientes de acordo com o nível de ICED na admissão foi: 25(25%) pacientes apresentavam ICED leve, 36(36%) apresentavam ICED moderado e 38(38%) apresentavam ICED grave. 33 pacientes (33%) foram a óbito, 24(24%) foram submetidos a transplante renal, 5(5%) foram transferidos para outra unidade de diálise, 36(36%) continuaram em hemodiálise e 1 (1%) paciente recuperou a função renal. A sobrevida em um ano foi de 80% e a mediana da sobrevida dos pacientes foi de 42,34 meses(IC 95%: 28,06-54,84). Na...