Physiologic risk factors for early acute kidney injury in severely injured patients.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the predictive value of the neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) for an early acute kidney injury (AKI) development in severely injured patients. Determination of the time-dependent roles of trauma-related physiologic markers of tissue hypoxia, systemic inflammation and rhabdomyolysis in AKI development. METHODS: 81 adult patients were screened for the presence of AKI for eight consecutive days following the injury. Arterial levels of plasma NGAL, lactate, interleukin-6, procalcitonin, and myoglobin were investigated at 24 hours (T1), 48 hours (T2), and 96 hours (T3) after the injury. RESULTS: The incidence of AKI was 32.1 %. Patients with AKI were older, but no significant difference in injury severity was observed. NGAL levels were significantly higher in the AKI group at T1, T2, and T3 when compared to the non-AKI group. Lactate levels were significantly higher in the AKI group at T2 only, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the AKI group at T2 and T3. Procalcitonin and myoglobin levels were significantly higher in the AKI group at T1, T2, and T3, when compared to the non-AKI group. Positive correlations were found between plasma NGAL and all screened physiological factors at all defined time points. CONCLUSION: Development of AKI after blunt trauma is very complex and multifactorial. Activation of the systemic inflammatory response and rhabdomyolysis (high concentration of myoglobin) were strongly involved in AKI development. Blood NGAL levels after injury were significantly higher in patients, who developed posttraumatic AKI. Plasma NGAL, lactate, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, and myoglobin had potential to be useful parameters for risk stratification and prediction of AKI after trauma (Tab. 6, Ref. 40).

[Bone mineral density in patients with chronic renal failure at the start of haemodialysis therapy]. / Kostní minerální denzita u nemocných s chronickým selháním ledvin pri zahájení hemodialyzacní lécby.

AIM: To determine bone mineral density (BMD) in nephrology patients at the start of haemodialysis therapy and its dependence on some laboratory and clinical characteristics of the study set. METHODS: There were 73 newly haemodialyzed patients accepted in the 3 months period from the beginning of the chronic haemodialysis program. Each patient underwent measurements BMD with DXA method in the area of lumbar spine and the left hip. Ca, P and parathormone values were measured once per month during 3 months before BMD determination. 25-OH vitamin D, estradiol and blood pH were determined only once before the densitometry examination. RESULTS: BMD in the osteoporosis zone was measured most often in the area of femoral neck in the whole group (prevalence 35 %) and also in the single groups of patients (men, women, non-diabetics, diabetics). In women, BMD findings corresponding to osteoporosis values in the total hip were significantly more often (p < 0.01). In the area of femoral neck and lumbar spine the percentage of women and men in single groups (osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal values) was without any statistical differentiation. Diabetics and non-diabetics did not distinguish in the number of findings osteoporosis and osteopenia in any followed areas of skeleton. As the significant factors predicating BMD there were found: calcium level and sex for the area of the total hip, calcium level, blood pH and height for the femoral neck, and sex for the lumbar spine only. The certain degree of vitamin D deficiency was measured in nearly all patients (mean 11.5 ± 7.4 µg/l), and hypocalcaemia was demonstrated in one fifth of patients. CONCLUSION: Bone mineral density values and some laboratory parameters affecting bone metabolism are often abnormal in the patients entering the chronic haemodialysis program and must be taken into consideration.

[An effect of continuous and intermittent renal replacement therapy on antibiotic treatment in critically ill patients with sepsis - a practice-based perspective of vancomycin and gentamycin therapies]. / Vliv kontinuální a intermitentní náhrady renálních funkcí na antibiotickou lécbu u kriticky nemocných v sepsi - praktický pohled na lécbu vankomycinem a gentamicinem.

Sepsis and septic shock are common cause of hospitalisation in intensive care unit. Acute kidney injury is an accompanying manifestation of sepsis/septic shock leading to worsening of morbidity and also mortality and requiring use of intermittent or continual renal replacement therapy. Life saving effect is attributed to early and effective antibiotic therapy. Therapeutic drug monitoring and do-sage adjustment is important for successful treatment. Despite therapeutic drug monitoring of both antibiotic agents vankomycin and gentamicin the treatment still rises many questions about the convenient use in septic patients due to their nephrotoxicity.

[Diagnostic algorithm of syncope: integrative approach]. / Diagnostický algoritmus synkop: integrativní prístup.

Syncope is a symptom, defined as transient loss of consciousness and postural tone with spontaneous and mostly prompt recovery. At first it is necessary to differentiate other non-syncopal transient loss of consciousness and simple falls, where thorough history taking is pivotal. EGSYS and OESIL risk scores seem to be contributional in initial risk stratification, however they are neither widely accepted nor a part of national guidelines. They are part of the European society of cardiology guidelines, though. Next it is essential expert ECG evaluation, thorough physical status examination, supine and standing blood pressure measurement and carotid sinus massage, if not contraindicated. Successively one has to decide if hospitalization or outpatient management is more suitable. Recently it has been shown, that so-called syncope management units (aimed for short-term hospitalization or fast outpatient examination, including vital function monitoring, echocardiography and facile cathlab access) are effective in fast syncope evaluation. Echocardiography, ECG monitoring and head-up tilt test should be a part of complex diagnostic evaluation. If syncope is not clarified by upon stated methods moreover syncope is recurrent, electrophysiological study, ILR implantation or both are justified. Despite of entire health practitioner's effort, more than 1/3 of syncopes remain unexplained.

[Primary hepatic carcinoid]. / Primární jaterní karcinoid.

Primary hepatic carcinoid (PHC) is considered to be particularly sporadic diagnosis; in current world literature about 60 cases have been reported. Most of the patients present with abdominal pain, diarrhea, icterus, flush, weight loss or respiratory disease; even though the course of the disease might stay asymptomatic for a long time. An illuminating case of at presentation oligosymptomatic 72-year-old patient, which was after extensive examination based on OctreoScan and histological verification diagnosed to have generalized PHC, is reported. Paliative therapy with somatostatine analogues followed. At autopsy 8 months later the clinical diagnosis of PHC was confirmed. PHC is difficult to diagnose both due to radiological similarity to other hepatic lesions and demanding exclusion of other primary foci. The diagnosis of PHC is based on negative imaging techniques result in other possible localizations. Minimal symptomatology in stage of generalization, atypical primary localization and rapid progression is of interest in current case.