Serum ferritin is associated with arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients: results of a 3-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Iron may contribute to vascular injury through reactive oxygen species. Hemodialysis patients frequently receive iron supply for correction of anemia and are at a high risk of cardiovascular disease. We tested the relationship between iron status and change in arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We measured iron status in 53 hemodialysis patients and studied the association with clinical, biochemical, and arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) over 3 years. The blood pressure was controlled to below 140/90 mmHg by anti-hypertensive drugs. RESULTS: Median and interquartile range of baseline baPWV, baPWV at 3 years, and ΔbaPWV (difference between 3-year baPWV and baseline baPWV) were following: 17.6 (14.8-18.9), 16.9 (15.3-19.9), and 0.2 (-1.2 to 2.7) m/s. At baseline, baPWV was positively correlated with age, serum ferritin, and systolic blood pressure in univariate analysis. However, in multivariate analysis, only age and serum ferritin remained the significant determinants of baseline baPWV. After 3 years, ΔbaPWV was negatively correlated with age and positively with 3-year averaged serum ferritin in univariate analysis. Then, in multivariate analysis, only 3-year averaged serum ferritin was the important determinant of ΔbaPWV. ΔbaPWV was significantly increased in patients with 3-year averaged serum ferritin >500 ng/mL compared to patients with 3-year averaged serum ferritin ≤500 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialysis patients, serum ferritin associates with the progressive arterial stiffness, especially when serum ferritin >500 ng/mL.

Anti-platelet factor 4/heparin antibody is associated with progression of peripheral arterial disease in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Heparin therapy may induce anti-platelet factor 4/heparin antibody (PF4-H Ab). Hemodialysis patients receive scheduled heparin and are at a risk of developing PF4-H Ab. Hemodialysis patients are also at a high risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This study examines whether chronic PF4-H Ab exposure contributes to the progression of PAD measured by ankle brachial index (ABI) in hemodialysis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 71 hemodialysis patients were enrolled, and the association between clinical, biochemical parameters and ABI after 3 years was studied. PF4-H Ab was evaluated by ELISA, and patients with titer ≥ 0.4 were taken as having PF4-H Ab. RESULTS: Mean ABI was 1.04 ± 0.18 at baseline and 1.01 ± 0.17 after 3 years. Mean ΔABI (change in ABI after 3 years) was -0.04 ± 0.13. PF4-H Ab was positive in 26 patients. PF4-H Ab was not related to hemodialysis duration, DM history, smoking and age. Platelet count showed no correlation with PF4-H Ab. However, there was significance in ΔABI between PF4-H Ab-positive and PF4-H Ab-negative patients (p = 0.002). ΔABI was negatively correlated with PF4-H Ab and 3-year averaged serum Ca × P only (ß = -0.378, p = 0.001; ß = -0.263, p = 0.018, respectively). However, in PF4-H Ab-positive patients, the extent of ΔABI did not correlate with PF4-H Ab titers (r = -0.021, p = 0.921). CONCLUSIONS: PF4-H Ab positivity, along with high levels of serum Ca × P, played a potential role in the progression of PAD over time.

Serum ferritin is associated with progression of peripheral arterial disease in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients received intravenous iron to treat anemia and had high prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). We hypothesized that high iron status might associate with the progression of PAD among hemodialysis patients. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between iron status and progression of PAD. METHODS: We measured iron status in 74 hemodialysis patients and studied the association with clinical, biochemical, and vascular parameters including progression of PAD measured by ankle-brachial index (ABI) over 3 years. RESULTS: Mean baseline ABI was 1.03 ± 0.18. Mean ABI at 3 years was 0.95 ± 0.20. Mean ∆ABI (change in ABI after 3 years) was -0.08 ± 0.14. Serum ferritin was negatively correlated with baseline ABI (r = -0.232, p = 0.046). After 3 years, ∆ABI was negatively associated with 3-year averaged serum ferritin, phosphorus, and calcium-phosphate product (Ca × P) (r = -0.253, p = 0.029; r = -0.278, p = 0.016; r = -0.288, p = 0.013; respectively). After an adjusted model, 3-year averaged serum ferritin and Ca × P remained the significant determinants of ∆ABI (ß = -0.234, p = 0.038; ß = -0.271, p = 0.017; respectively). ∆ABI was significantly different between 3-year averaged serum ferritin level ≥600 and <600 ng/mL (p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialysis patients, high serum ferritin associates with progression of PAD, especially among those with high Ca x P level.

Effect of diabetes on mortality and length of hospital stay in patients with renal or perinephric abscess.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the risk of in-hospital mortality and the length of hospital stay between diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalized for renal or perinephric abscess. METHOD: The data analyzed in this study were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims. The risk of in-hospital mortality and the length of hospital stay were compared between 1,715 diabetic patients, hospitalized because of renal or perinephric abscess in Taiwan between 1997 and 2007, and a random sample of 477 non-diabetes patients with renal or perinephric abscess. RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality rates from renal or perinephric abscess for the diabetic patients and the non-diabetic patients were not different, at 2.3% and 3.4%, respectively. However, diabetes was significantly associated with a longer length of hospital stay among patients with renal abscess, by 3.38 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.59-5.17). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes does not increase the risk of in-hospital mortality from renal or perinephric abscess. Nevertheless, appropriate management of patients with diabetes and concurrent renal or perinephric abscess is essential to reduce the length of hospital stay.

Effect of diabetes on mortality and length of hospital stay in patients with renal or perinephric abscess

OBJECTIVES: We compared the risk of in-hospital mortality and the length of hospital stay between diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalized for renal or perinephric abscess. METHOD: The data analyzed in this study were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims. The risk of in-hospital mortality and the length of hospital stay were compared between 1,715 diabetic patients, hospitalized because of renal or perinephric abscess in Taiwan between 1997 and 2007, and a random sample of 477 non-diabetes patients with renal or perinephric abscess. RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality rates from renal or perinephric abscess for the diabetic patients and the non-diabetic patients were not different, at 2.3% and 3.4%, respectively. However, diabetes was significantly associated with a longer length of hospital stay among patients with renal abscess, by 3.38 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.59-5.17). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes does not increase the risk of in-hospital mortality from renal or perinephric abscess. Nevertheless, appropriate management of patients with diabetes and concurrent renal or perinephric abscess is essential to reduce the length of hospital stay. .