Crescentic Glomerulonephritis Due to Enterococcal Endocarditis.

Glomerulonephritis following an enterococcal endocarditis is an extremely rare and life-threatening condition. We present the case of a 71-year-old patient with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis following enterococcal endocarditis after surgical replacement of the aortic valve. The combination of antibiotic therapy, corticosteroid therapy and haemodialysis led to an improvement in renal function; however, the severity of cardiac deterioration resulted in a fatal outcome.

Clinical and histopathological characteristics of COL4A3 c.2881+1G>A variant causing Alport spectrum disorders in Croatian population.

Alport syndrome (AS) and thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) are part of the spectrum of kidney disorders caused by pathogenic variants in α3, α4, or α5 chains of the collagen type IV, the major structural component of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), 34 AS/TBMN patients (58.8% male) from 12 unrelated families were found positive for heterozygous c.2881+1G>A variant of the COL4A3gene, that is considered disease-causing. All patients were from the continental or island part of Croatia. Clinical, laboratory, and histopathological data collected from the medical records were analyzed and compared to understand the clinical course and prognosis of the affected patients. At the time of biopsy or first clinical evaluation, the mean age was 31 years (median: 35 years; range: 1 - 72 years). Hematuria was present in 33 patients (97.1%) and 19 (55.9%) patients had proteinuria. There were 6 (17.6%) patients with hearing loss, 4 (11.8%) with ocular lesions, and 11 (32.4%) with hypertension. Twenty-three (67.6%) patients had proteinuria at follow-up, and 5 (14.7%) patients with the median age of 48 years (range: 27-55) progressed to kidney failure, started dialysis, or underwent kidney transplantation. Of the 13 patients who underwent kidney biopsy, 4 (30.8%) developed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and 8 (66.7%) showed lamellation of the GBM, including all patients with FSGS. It is essential to conduct a detailed analysis of each collagen type IV genetic variant to optimize the prognosis and therapeutic approach for affected patients.

Resistant and Relapsing Collapsing Glomerulopathy Successfully Treated with Rituximab-A Case Report.

Collapsing glomerulopathy (CG) or collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (cFSGS) is an aggressive disease with a high tendency of progression to end-stage renal disease due to common resistance to conventional immunosuppressants. Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody against CD20 B cells, showed some benefit in the treatment of CG. We are reporting about female patients with an idiopathic form of CG presenting with nephrotic syndrome (NS) and renal insufficiency resistant to several immunosuppressive agents such as steroids (ST), calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), and cyclophosphamide (CYC). This multidrug-resistant disease responded to RTX with complete remission. Forty-four months after initial RTX administration, a relapse of CG with severe NS and acute renal insufficiency occurred. Repeated application of RTX led to complete remission again. To the best of our knowledge, we are reporting the first case of the relapsing multidrug-resistant form of CG, which responded to RTX. Current data about the treatment of CG with RTX is lacking and is based on rare case reports and small case series. Thus, our report can contribute to determining the role of RTX in the treatment of CG.

Anemia Is Correlated with Malnutrition and Inflammation in Croatian Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Multicenter Nationwide Study.

Malnutrition, inflammation, and anemia are common in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In this study, correlations between Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS), laboratory and anthropometric parameters, and anemia indices in Croatian PD patients were analyzed. One hundred and one PD patients (males/females 54/47, age 58.71 ± 14.68 years, mean PD duration 21.82 ± 21.71 months) were included. Clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric parameters were measured. Statistically significant correlations between MIS and erythropoietin weekly dose per kg of body weight (ESA weekly dose), hemoglobin (Hb), and erythrocytes were found (r = 0.439, p < 0.001; r = -0.032, p < 0.001; r = -0.435, p < 0.001), respectively. Also, statistically significant correlations were found between MIS and mean corpuscular volume (r = 0.344, p < 0.001), iron (r = -0.229, p = 0.021), and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (r = -0.362, p < 0.001), respectively. Furthermore, statistically significant correlations between ESA weekly dose and serum albumin level and body mass index (BMI) were found (r = -0.272, p = 0.006; r = -0.269, p = 0.006), respectively. When we divided PD patients into 2 groups according Hb level (Hb ≥ 110 [N = 60, 59.41 %]) and Hb < 110 [N = 41, 40.59%]), statistically significant differences were found in MIS score (3.02 ± 2.54 vs 4.54 ± 3.54, p = 0.014), C-reactive protein (CRP) (3.52 ± 6.36 vs 7.85 ± 7.96, p = 0.005), and serum albumin level (44.22 ± 8.54 vs 39.94 ± 8.56, p = 0.003), respectively. Our findings suggest that anemia is correlated with malnutrition and inflammation in Croatian PD patients. Further studies are needed to assess whether modulating inflammatory or nutritional processes can improve anemia management in PD patients.

Blood Pressure of Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients in the Dalmatian Region of Croatia: Differences between Hospital and Out-of-Hospital Dialysis Centers.

AIMS: This study was aimed at comparing the incidence of arterial hypertension and blood pressure (BP) variance in hospital and out-of-hospital hemodialysis (HD) patients during HD sessions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 1 week at all the HD centers in Dalmatia, Croatia. The pre-, intra-, and post-dialysis BP values were collected for 3 consecutive HD sessions per patient. RESULTS: Of the 399 subjects, 73.9% were hypertensives, who showed higher interdialytic weight gain compared to the normotensives (2.58 vs. 2.40). Hospital and out-of-hospital HD patients received identical antihypertensive therapies, except that beta blockers were more frequently administered to out-of-hospital HD patients. Higher pre-, intra-, and post-dialysis BP values were recorded in patients at out-of-hospital HD centers. CONCLUSION: The differences in BP variability and antihypertensive therapies administered to hospital HD patients as compared to out-of-hospital HD patients may reflect differing approaches by the nephrologists at these centers.

[[GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION, MONITORING AND THERAPY OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE-METABOLIC BONE DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE].]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a systemic disease with numerous complications associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Chronic kidney disease-metabolic bone disease (CKD-MBD) starts at early stages of CKD with phosphorus accumulation and consequent initiation of numerous events that result with the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism with changes on bones and extraskeletal tissues. The most important and clinically most relevant consequences of CKD-MBD are vascular calcifications which contribute to cardiovascular mortality. Patients with the increased risk for the development of CKD-MBD should be recognized and treated. Prevention is the most important therapeutic option. The first step should be nutritional counseling with vitamin supplementation if necessary and correction of mineral status. Progression of CKD requires more intensive medicamentous treatment with the additional correction of metabolic acidosis and anemia. Renal replacement therapy should be timely initiated, with the adequate dose of dislaysis. Ideally, preemptive renal transplantion should be offered in individuals without contraindication for immunosuppressive therapy.

[Croatian guidelines for screening, prevention and treatment of protein-energy wasting in chronic kidney disease patients]. / Preporuke za pracenje, prevenciju i lijecenje proteinsko-energijske pothranjenosti u bolesnika s kronicnom bubrezom bolesti.

There is a high incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and malnutrition is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population of patients. A multitude of factors related to CKD and renal replacement therapy can affect the nutritional status of CKD patients and lead to the development of malnutrition. In patients with CKD, protein energy wasting (PEW) is a condition that is distinct from undernutrition and is associated with inflammation, increased resting energy expenditure, low serum levels of albumin and prealbumin, sarcopenia, weight loss and poor clinical outcomes. Nutritional and metabolic derangements are implicated for the development of PEW in CKD and leading to the development of chronic catabolic state with muscle and fat loss. Prevention is the best way in treating PEW. Appropriate management of CKD patients at risk for PEW requires a comprehensive combination of strategies to diminish protein and energy depletion, and to institute therapies that will avoid further losses. The mainstay of nutritional treatment in MHD patients is nutritional counselling and provision of an adequate amount of protein and energy, using oral supplementation as needed. Intradialytic parenteral nutrition and total enteral nutrition should be attempted in CKD patients who cannot use the gastrointestinal tract efficiently. Other strategies such as anemia correction, treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism and acidosis, delivering adequate dialysis dose can be considered as complementary therapies in CKD patients. Multidisciplinary work of nephrologists, gastroenterologist and dietician is needed to achieve best therapeutic goals in treating CKD patients with PEW.

[Assisted peritoneal dialysis]. / Asistirana peritonejska dijaliza.

According to the National Registry of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT), the incidence of chronic kidney disease (end-stage renal disease) and the need of RRT have declined in the last decade renal. One of the reasons for this tendency certainly is transplantation as the best choice. However, transplant procedure has limitations in elderly patients due to the number of comorbidities. This study was designed as retrospective analysis of outcomes in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis for a period of eleven years. Patients were divided into those who had been assisted or unassisted. Out of 100 patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD), 77 completed the treatment, including 26 assisted and 51 unassisted patients. Peritonitis was recorded in 20 assisted and 26 unassisted patients. Peritonitis was more common in unassisted patients, who were more frequently lost from PD. Assisted PD could be a good and safe choice of RRT in this special group of patients.

[How to prevent protein-energy wasting in patients with chronic kidney disease--position statement of the Croatian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation]. / Kako prevenirati i lijeciti proteinsko-energetsku pothranjenost u bolesnika s kronicnom bolescu bubrega--osvrt hrvatskog drustva za nefrologiju, dijalizu i transplantaciju na preporuke medunarodnog drustva za prehranu bubreznih bolesnika.

Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is a frequent problem in patients with end-stage renal disease, which is associated with adverse outcome. Risk factors for development of PEW in dialysis patients include anorexia, limitations in food intake due to problems with mineral metabolism (hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia). Prevention of PEW in dialysis population demands different therapeutic measures to correct abnormalities and to prevent loss of energy and proteins. Therapeutic approach should be individualized based on the specific problems of each patient in order to correct metabolic problems and to optimize food intake. In patients with inability to maintain nutritional status with standard oral feeding, other measures which include oral nutrition supplements and intradialytic parenteral feeding should be applied. Anabolic steroids, growth hormone and adequate oral nutritional supplements, together with physical activity may prevent further catabolism and correct abnormalities. Appetite stimulators, antiinflammatory interventions and anabolic drugs seem promising; however, their efficacy should be investigated in future clinical trials.

[Transplantation and retransplantation--impact on emotional state]. / Transplantacija i retransplantacija--utjecaj na emocionalno stanje.

In our clinical practice, we are often faced with emotional difficulties of transplanted patients. Most are due to anxiety, difficulty in integrating newly recruited organ as its own, feeling of guilt, and difficulties with personal experience of self. Despite common presence of emotional difficulties, many studies describe improvement in the quality of life of transplant patients. However, the quality of life is deteriorating again in case of transplant rejection. In such situations, restlessness develops along with losing control over their own lives, a sense of failure, hopelessness and lack of prosperity ideas. Complex emotional experiencing is very important in strengthening the patient's psychological health and personality, thus achieving better treatment compliance in general.

[Treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease--position statement of the Croatian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation and review of the KDIGO and ERPB guidelines]. / Lijecenje anemije u kronicnoj bubreznoj bolesti--stav hrvatskog drustva za nefrologiju, dijalizu i transplantaciju i osvrt na preporuke KDIGO i ERBP.

Renal anemia is the result of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and deteriorates with disease progression. Anemia may be the first sign of kidney disease. In all patients with anemia and CKD, diagnostic evaluation is required. Prior to diagnosing renal anemia, it is necessary to eliminate the other possible causes. Direct correlation between the concentration of hemoglobin and the stage of renal failure is well known. Early development of anemia is common in diabetic patients. Correction of anemia may slow the progression of CKD. Anemia is an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease in patients with CKD. Treatment of anemia in patients with CKD is based on current guidelines. Recently, the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) group has produced comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for the management of anemia in CKD patients and ERBP (European Renal Best Practice) group its position statement and comments on the KDIGO guidelines. The Croatian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation (HDNDT) has already published its own guidelines based on the recommendations and positive experience of European and international professional societies, as well as on own experience. The latest version of Croatian guidelines was published in 2008. Since then, on the basis of research and clinical practice, there have been numerous changes in the modern understanding of the treatment of anemia in CKD. Consequently, HDNDT hereby publishes a review of the recent recommendations of international professional societies, expressing the attitude about treating anemia in CKD as a basis for new guidelines tailored to the present time.

Long-term effects of peritonitis on peritoneal dialysis outcomes.

PURPOSE: Prevalence of peritoneal dialysis is low in part because of the perceived high risk for complications such as peritonitis. However, in the most recent era, peritonitis incidence and its effects on patient outcomes may have diminished. The aim of this study was to analyze peritonitis incidence and its impact on patient and technique survival, as well as on the kidney transplantation rate and outcome. METHODS: All peritoneal dialysis patients from a county hospital between year 2001 and 2011 were retrospectively included. Patients were divided into two groups with respect to peritonitis. The primary composite end-point consisted of a 3-year patient mortality or technique loss. Secondary end-points were patient survival and probability of kidney transplantation with respect to peritonitis history. RESULTS: Among 85 study patients, there were 61 peritonitis episodes. The incidence of peritonitis was 0.339 ± 0.71 episode per patient per 12 months or one episode per 29.3 ± 22.2 patient-months. The time to peritonitis was shorter, and peritonitis was more likely in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis than in automated peritoneal dialysis patients. Patient and technique survival and transplantation rate were similar in the group with and without peritonitis history. The primary end-point was recorded in 35 % of patients with peritonitis history and in 54 % of those without peritonitis (p = 0.04). In a multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated with the primary end-point and with patient survival was patient age at start of peritoneal dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: In contemporary peritoneal dialysis patients, timely treated peritonitis may not be associated with adverse patient and technique outcomes. The transplantation rate is unaffected by the peritonitis history. Peritoneal dialysis may be promoted as the first dialysis method in appropriate patients.

[Adequacy of peritoneal dialysis and laboratory procedures]. / Adekvatnost peritonejske dijalize i laboratorijski postupci.

Peritoneal dialysis is an equally valuable method for some patients. It is a method with some advantages and thus should be considered the method of choice. Are the trends of treatment with this method instead of terminal kidney disease replacement stagnating? In our ten-year retrospective study, we tried to do assess how to control the efficiency of dialysis and what was its influence on patient survival. We compared clinical state of patients, laboratory indicators of dialysis dosage (Kt/v) and peritoneal membrane transport function (PET). Patients were divided according to Kt/v values <1.7, 1.7-2.2 and >2.2. According to PET findings, they were divided into four standard groups. Kt/v and PET are unavoidable evaluation factors of peritoneal membrane and for prescribing dialysis. The transport, ultrafiltration and other membrane characteristics change with time and with inflammatory processes. On any calculation of adequacy, it is essential to distinguish diuretic and anuric patients. The adequacy of peritoneal dialysis should be incorporated in the conclusion on prescriptions and quality treatment of each individual patient.

[Cardiac valves calcifications in dialysis patients]. / Kalcifikacije srcanih zalistaka kod pacijenata na kronicnoj hemodijalizi.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, especially those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), are at much higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population. High serum phosphorus (P) level play important role in pathogenesis of cardiovascular calcifications and is a frequent and important cardiovascular risk factor in patients with CKD. We aimed to investigate the association of serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), parathyroid hormon (PTH). calcium phosphorus product (CaxP) with cardiac valves calcifications (VC) in patients on hemodialysis (HD). We investigated for VC using colour Doppler echocardiography. VC were considered present if mitral annular calcifications and/or aortic annular calcifications were visualized. We divided patients in two groups. VC negative group (VC-) were patients with absence of VC. Patients with presence of VC were VC positive (VC+). CRP mean levels in two samples were higher in VC+ group than in VC- group (17.0 vs 3.4mg/L) and (17.1 vs 4.0 mg/L) p<0.0001. CaxP mean level in both samples was higher in VC+ group than in VC- group, 4.8 vs 4.2 (p=0.0219) and 5.0 vs 4.3 (p=0.0078). We also made analysis of absolute highest levels of three samples of CRP (CRPmax) between groups. CRPmax was higher in VC+ group than in VC- group, 19.5 vs 9.7 mg/L, (p=0.0045). We made analysis of absolute higher levels of two samples of Ca x P (CaxPmax) between groups. CaxPmax was higher in VC+ group than in VC- group, 5.2 vs 4.4 (p=0.0014). We found cardiac valve calcifications in 40 percent of patients on hemodialysis. We found that patients with correlation between PTH level, CRP level, CaxP product and cardiac valve calcifications have higher serum levels of PTH and CRP. We also found that CaxP product is higher in patients with cardiac valve calcifications. We didn't find correlation between age, dialysis duration, BMI and cardiac valve calcifications. These findings support careful monitoring of calcium metabolisum in end stage renal disease to reduce valvular cacifications and the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Are lipoprotein disturbances in chronic hemodialyzed patients only renal failure related?

Chronically hemodialyzed (HD) patients frequently suffer from quantitative and even more often qualitative serum lipids disorders. Mostly they have increased triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol, slightly increased or normal total and LDL-cholesterol and decreased HDL-cholesterol concentrations. The study compared lipid profile between two groups of chronic HD patients coming from regionally distinct areas, the continental and the maritime one. The aim was to examine the hypothetic influence of their different dietary habits on lipid profile. The study included 72 patients from continental region (39 men) and 50 from maritime part of the country (30 men). Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, liver disease, alcoholics as well as sevelamer treated patients were not included. Prior to a HD session the patients were determined fasting total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, total proteins, albumins and C-reactive protein serum concentrations. All patients were undergoing bicarbonate hemodialysis with polysulphone dialysers of low permeability. The continental group of patients were somewhat older, undergoing HD for longer period of time, of lower height, greater weight, greater body mass index, higher total (4.70 +/- 0.91:4.42 +/- 1.02 mmol/L), and LDL-cholesterol (2.78 +/- 0.74:2.66 +/- 0.75 mmol/L) concentrations, while lower triglycerides (1.72 +/- 0.84:1.81 +/- 0.83 mmol/L) and HDL-cholesterol (1.13 +/- 0.42:1.16 +/- 0.54 mmol/L). However all the differences were without statistical significance. Chi-square test showed that the continental group of patients consumed more often pork, bacon, smoked and cured meats, margarine, butter, walnuts, almonds, garlic, cream and full-fat cheese than fish. They prepare food more often with lard and sunflower oil. Almost every fourth continental patient received statins, while only every 25th in the maritime group of patients. There were not any statistically significant Chi-square values for differences in frequencies of patients with total cholesterol greater than 5.2 mmol/L, triglycerides above 1.6 mmol/L, HDL-cholesterol less than 1.1 mmol/L, LDL-cholesterol greater than 2.6 mmol/L, obesity and malnutrition between the two groups. Based on the results of this study we have concluded that diet has significant influence on lipid profile of HD patients. Even though the continental and the maritime groups of patients differed significantly in diet, they were similar in plasmatic lipoprotein concentrations. However, this similarity was ascribed only to statin treatment, which was more frequent in the continental group of patients. The influence of ESRD and HD as a method of renal replacement therapy on lipid profile was not more dominant than diet.

[Anaemia in chronic kidney disease: target haemoglobin concentration in patients treated with erythropoesis stimulating agents]. / Anemija kronicne bubreine bolesti: ciljne vrijednosti hemoglobina za bolesnike lijecene pripravcima koji stimuliraju eritropoezu.

UNLABELLED: Dialysis Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Zadar General Hospital, Zadar, Croatia Anaemia is most often manifested in the third stage of chronic kidney disease and is closely related to morbidity and mortality of these patients, and it has a proven negative effect on the quality of life. It is therefore important to treat these patients early, especially the most vulnerable groups such as diabetics, and we need clearly defined guidelines as well as target haemoglobin concentration to treat these patients. The guidelines are the result of investigations and conclusions of professional societies, and legal regulations and insurance agencies use professional societies guidelines for their purposes. Target haemoglobin concentration that is recommended in American, European and our national guidelines is within 120 to 120 g/L and should not be higher. Asmall number of patients are able to maintain this concentration, because of the comorbide conditions and other factors that effect haemoglobin stability. Poor outcomes are possible in patients whose haemoglobin concentration is higher than recommended but mortality is also higher in patients whose haemoglobin concentration is lower than the target for a longer period of time. CONCLUSION: the lowest mortality as seen in all the studies and meta analyses is in patients whose haemoglobin concentration is within the target range. Haemoglobin concentration variability stays a constant challenge in investigational and clinical practice.

[The impact of glucose absorbed from dialysis solution on body weight gain in peritoneal dialysis treated patients]. / Utjecaj glukoze apsorbirane iz dijalizata na tjelesnu tezinu peritonejskom dijali lijecenih bolesnika.

A proportion of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients experience substantial body weight (BW) gain with time. It is caused by fat tissue accumulation or fluid retention. It is believed that fat tissue accumulates due to caloric contribution of glucose absorbed from dialysis solution or to the mitochondrial fat regulatory uncoupling protein (UCP) gene polymorphism. This study examined BW fluctuations in 40 patients (24 females, 16 males), treated by PD at least 36 months (initial mean age 54.50+/-9.00 years, mean BW 68.00+/-8.50 kg and mean height 164.00+/-8.50 cm), relation of the BW fluctuation and caloric contribution of glucose absorbed from dialysis solution and characteristics of the patients with BW gain. Initial BW increased after 6, 12, 24 and 36 months by 5.90+/-3.50 kg, 7.90+/-4.90 kg, 9.50+/-5.00 and 11.00+/-5.00 kg, or for 8.68, 11.62, 13.97 and 16.18% of the initial value, respectively. After the first 6 and 12 months 38 patients gained weight, 39 after 24 and all 40 patients after 36 months. There was not significant correlation between BW gain and caloric contribution of glucose absorbed from dialysis solution. Female patients had initially lower BW, but for the first 12 months period significantly increased BW more than males, and not for the other observed periods. High transporters (patients with higher transport, higher transmission of glucose from peritoneal solution into the blood, and urea and creatinine in the opposite direction, with rapid decrement of osmolality gradient between dialysate and blood that is necessary for excessive fluid elimination), had lower initial BW and, although without statistical significance, only within the first period increased BW more than low transporters. In conclusion, with time BW gain was found in all the PD dialysis patients, it was not related to caloric contribution of glucose absorbed from dialysis solution, and women and high transporters increased BW weight more than men and low transporters in the first year of treatment. The BW gain is at least in part caused by fluid retention.