Estimation of glomerular filtration rate from serum creatinine and cystatin C in octogenarians and nonagenarians.

BACKGROUND: Equations to estimate GFR have not been well validated in the elderly and may misclassify persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We measured GFR and compared the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-Epi) and the Berlin Initiative Study (BIS) equations based on creatinine and/or cystatin C in octogenarians and nonagenarians. METHODS: Using cross-sectional analysis we assessed 95 very elderly persons (mean 85 years) living in the community. GFR was measured by iohexol (mGFR) and compared with estimates using six equations: MDRD, CKD-Epi_creatinine, CKD-Epi_cystatin, CKD-Epi_creatinine-cystatin, BIS_creatinine and BIS_creatinine-cystatin. RESULTS: Mean mGFR was 55 (range,19-86) ml/min/1.73 m(2). Bias was smaller with the CKD-Epi_creatinine-cystatin and the CKD-Epi_creatinine equations (-4.0 and 1.7 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). Accuracy (percentage of estimates within 30% of mGFR) was greater with the CKD-Epi_creatinine-cystatin, BIS_creatinine-cystatin and BIS_creatinine equations (85%, 83% and 80%, respectively). Among the creatinine-based equations, the BIS_creatinine had the greatest accuracy at mGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and the CKD-Epi_creatinine was superior at higher GFRs (79% and 90%, respectively). The CKD-Epi_creatinine-cystatin, BIS_creatinine-cystatin and CKD-Epi_cystatin equations yielded the greatest areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve at GFR threshold = 60 ml/min/1.73 m 2 (0.88, 0.88 and 0.87, respectively). In participants classified based on the BIS_creatinine, CKD-Epi_cystatin, or BIS_creatinine-cystatin equations, the CKD-Epi_creatinine-cystatin equation tended to improve CKD classification (net reclassification index: 12.7%, p = 0.18; 6.7%, p = 0.38; and 15.9%; p = 0.08, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: GFR-estimating equations CKD-Epi_creatinine-cystatin and BIS_creatinine-cystatin showed better accuracy than other equations using creatinine or cystatin C alone in very elderly persons. The CKD-Epi_creatinine-cystatin equation appears to be advantageous in CKD classification. If cystatin C is not available, both the BIS_cr equation and the CKD-Epi_cr equation could be used, although at mGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), the BIS_cr equation seems to be the best alternative.

Obesity and survival in a national cohort of incident hemodialysis patients: An analysis of the Brazilian Dialysis Registry.

INTRODUCTION: A phenomenon called the "obesity paradox" has consistently been reported in several cohorts of patients on chronic hemodialysis. In this setting, a higher body mass index (BMI) is paradoxically associated with better survival. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of BMI on mortality in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis using the Brazilian Dialysis Registry. METHODS: This was a retrospective national cohort study with data on incident hemodialysis patients collected between January 2011 to December 2018. Those aged <18 or > 80 years were excluded from the study. The variables studied were the clinical and laboratory data regularly collected at the dialysis units. The variable of primary interest was BMI, represented as the median of the entire dialysis treatment and stratified into four ranges according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The primary outcome was death within 4 years. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to test associations with mortality. FINDINGS: The analyzed sample consisted of 5489 patients from 73 centers in five regions of the country. Of these, 5.9% were underweight, 48.3% were of normal weight, 31.0% were overweight, and 14.7% were obese. The 4-year survival rates in these BMI ranges were 58%, 70%, 75%, and 80%, respectively. The probability of survival for each BMI extract was significantly different from that in the normal-weight range (p < 0.05). In the fully adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression model, BMI > 24.9 kg/m2 remained an independent protective factor for mortality (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62-0.95, p = 0.016). DISCUSSION: In Brazil, being overweight and obese are protective factors for survival in the chronic hemodialysis population.

Health-related quality of life of patients recieving hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in São Paulo, Brazil: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Inclusion criteria for this is a 1-year prospective study included being 18 years of age or older and clinically stable receiving chronic dialysis. Quality of life was measured using the SF-12 and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life questionnaires at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Patients who completed the surveys for all three periods were evaluated. Differences in quality of life scores were measured using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-nine of 249 (76%) HD patients and 161 of 228 (71%) PD patients completed all three surveys. The PD group was older and a larger number had diabetes. PD patients consistently had higher scores than HD patients at all three measurement periods for patient satisfaction (P = 0.002, P = 0.005, and P = 0.005, respectively), encouragement/support from staff (P = 0.003, P = 0.017, and P = 0.029, respectively), and burden of kidney disease (P = 0.003, P = 0.017, and P = 0.057, respectively). The HD group had a greater percent of patients who clinically improved from baseline to 12 months compared to PD patients for sleep quality, social support, encouragement/support from staff, and overall health. Scores for other dimensions of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life and SF-12 questionnaires were not significantly different between the PD and HD groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide evidence that PD and HD patients have equivalent health-related quality of life in several domains, although the former performed better in some quality of life domains despite being older and having more comorbidities.

A Web-Based Platform to Collect Data from ESRD Patients Undergoing Dialysis: Methods and Preliminary Results from the Brazilian Dialysis Registry.

INTRODUCTION: The methods and initial results of a web-based platform to collect data from patients receiving maintenance dialysis in Brazil are reported. METHODS: Companies providing management software for dialysis centers adapted their system to comply with a formulary of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology. Baseline and follow-up individual patients' data were transmitted via Internet on monthly bases to the coordinating center from 2011 to 2017. RESULTS: 73 dialysis centers provided information of 24,930 patients: 57% were male, 28% were 64 years old or older, and 13% were overweight/obese. Median dialysis vintage was 28 months. Hemodialysis was the most frequent initial therapy (93%) with venous catheters used in 64% of cases. Conventional hemodialysis remained the main current therapy (90%). Seropositivity for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV was 2.7%, 1.1%, and 0.5%, respectively. Erythropoietin (53.9%), iron (35.1%), and sevelamer (23.4%) were the most used medications. Hemoglobin < 100 g/L and serum P > 1.74 mmol/L were present in 33.1% and 36.6% of the cases, respectively. The 5-year survival of incident cases (n = 7,538) was 57%. CONCLUSION: The initiative represents an innovative strategy to collect clinical and epidemiologic data of dialysis patients which may be applied to other settings and provides information that can contribute to guiding clinical practice and health care policy.

Impact of dialyzer membrane on apoptosis and function of polymorphonuclear cells and cytokine synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in hemodialysis patients.

In an in vivo crossover trial, we compared a cellulosic with a synthetic dialyzer with respect to polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) function and apoptosis, cytokine serum levels and synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and complement activation. Twenty hemodialysis (HD) patients were assigned in alternate order to HD with cellulose acetate (CA) or polysulfone (PS) dialyzer. After 2 weeks, patients were crossed over to the second dialyzer and treated for another 2 weeks. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry in freshly isolated PMN. Phagocytosis and production of peroxide by PMN were studied by flow cytometry in whole blood. PBMC were isolated from blood samples and incubated for 24 h with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS). There was no impact of dialyzer biocompatibility on PMN apoptosis and function, cytokine synthesis by PBMC or on their serum levels, serum levels of C3a, and terminal complement complex (TCC). Nevertheless, after HD, serum levels of complement correlated negatively with PMN phagocytosis and peroxide production, and positively with PMN apoptosis and cytokine production by PBMC. Although the results did not show a dialyzer advantage on the immunologic parameters, complement activation may have modulated cell function and apoptosis after HD.

A cost evaluation of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis in the treatment of end-stage renal disease in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Conventional hemodialysis (HD) predominates over peritoneal dialysis (PD) around the world. Prospective and comparative studies comparing the costs of these modalities are scarce. In the present prospective assessment, we describe the resources used and total patient costs for both HD and PD. ♢ METHODOLOGY: We assessed 249 patients on HD and 228 on PD. All patients were 18 years of age or older and on stable dialysis. The information was collected at three points over 1 year, using standard questionnaires. The sources for costs were the Brazilian public and private health care systems. Societal perspective was considered. ♢ STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Core trends and dispersions were measured. Regression models assessed the impact of modality on the average total cost per patient per year. ♢ RESULTS: Of the 249 HD patients and 228 PD dialysis patients, 189 (74%) and 160 (70%) respectively completed follow-up. The mean age for women was 55.8 years; for men, it was 59.8 years (p = 0.001). The average total cost per patient-year was US$28 570 for HD and US$27 158 for PD. By category, the costs consisted of direct medical-hospital costs (82.3% for HD, 86.5% for PD), direct nonmedical costs (5.3% for HD, 3.7% for PD), and indirect costs (12.4% for HD, 9.8% for PD). Overall costs were less for PD patients than for their HD counterparts (p = 0.025). ♢ CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance dialysis represented the most important source of costs for both modalities; loss of productivity incurred significant costs. Future studies should contemplate the social consequences arising from each modality.

N-domain isoform of Angiotensin I converting enzyme as a marker of hypertension: populational study.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the presence of the urinary 90 kDa N-domain ACE in a cohort of the population from Vitoria, Brazil, to verify its association with essential hypertension since this isoform could be a possible genetic marker of hypertension. Anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory parameters of the individuals were evaluated (n = 1150) and the blood pressure (BP) was measured. The study population was divided according to ACE isoforms in urine as follows: ACE 65/90/190, presence of three ACE isoforms (n = 795), ACE 90(+) (65/90) (n = 186), and ACE 90(-) (65/190) (n = 169) based on the presence (+) or absence (-) of the 90 kDa ACE isoform. The anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, serum levels of uric acid, glucose, and the systolic and diastolic BP were significantly greater in the ACE 90(+) compared with the ACE 90(-) and ACE 65/90/190 individuals. We found that 98% of individuals from the ACE 90(+) group and 38% from the ACE 65/90/190 group had hypertension, compared to only 1% hypertensive individuals in the ACE 90(-) group. There is a high presence of the 90 kDa N-domain ACE isoform (85%) in the studied population. The percentile of normotensive subjects with three isoforms was 62%. Our findings could contribute to the development of new efficient strategy to prevent and treat hypertension to avoid the development of cardiovascular disease.

Mortality rate among crack/cocaine-dependent patients: a 12-year prospective cohort study conducted in Brazil.

Mortality is a significant outcome among Brazilian crack/cocaine-dependent patients yet not well understood and is under investigated. This study examined a range of mortality indicators within a cohort of 131 crack/cocaine-dependent patients admitted into treatment and meeting criteria for dependence of crack (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition). After 12 years of treatment discharge, 107 individuals were reassessed and 27 death cases were confirmed by official records, wherein in its majority were caused by homicide (n = 16). In this group, survival rate was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74-0.81) and previous history of IV cocaine use was identified as a predictor of mortality (2.5, 95% CI = 1.08-5.79). High mortality rates among Brazilian crack/cocaine-dependent patients, exposure to violence, and HIV/AIDS were topics discussed in this study. This research highlights the importance of ongoing programs to manage crack/cocaine use along with other treatment features within this population.

Estimated prevalence of childhood end-stage renal disease in the state of São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of pediatric end-stage renal disease and evaluate demographics and renal disease characteristics in state of São Paulo over the year 2008. METHODS: Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study based on a population sample with subjects < 18 years. The data collecting assumed three forms: 1. A questionnaire for dialysis units; 2. Search in the Transplant Center to determine the number and characteristics of patients who had been in a transplant waiting list over the study period; 3. Search in the database of patients registered at the Latin American Collaborative Registry of Pediatric Kidney Transplantation. RESULTS: Data from 301 patients aged 9.0 ± 5.8, including 140 girls (46.5%), resulting in an estimate prevalence of 23.4 cases per million age-related population (pmarp). The age group most frequently found was 10 to 15 years (32.2%), and urinary tract malformation was the most usual known etiology (24.9%). Most children underwent kidney transplantation (62.1%) and among subjects on dialysis, hemodialysis was predominant (71.2%). The Sistema Único de Saúde - Unified National Health System - (SUS) provided the financial support for treatments. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of 23.4 cases pmarp found by the authors is lower than that reported in Western world. We believe data were underestimated in the present study, as few dialysis units returned the completed questionnaire. This potential bias does not invalidate the exploratory character of results. Further mechanisms for retrospective and earlier data collecting on pediatric chronic renal disease (CRD) are needed so that the burden of this serious health condition can be appropriately sized up.

Prevalência estimada da doença renal crônica terminal em crianças no estado de São Paulo / Estimated prevalence of childhood end-stage renal disease in the state of São Paulo

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência da doença renal crônica terminal (DRCT) pediátrica e avaliar os dados demográficos e as características nefrológicas dessa doença no Estado de São Paulo no ano de 2008. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional, descritivo e transversal com base em amostra da população de indivíduos < 18 anos. A coleta de casos ocorreu de três formas: 1. Questionário para as unidades de diálise; 2. Consulta junto à Central de Transplantes para determinar o número e as características de pacientes que estiveram em fila de transplante renal; 3. Consulta ao banco de dados dos pacientes registrados no Estudo Colaborativo do Registro Latino-Americano de Transplantes Renais Pediátricos. RESULTADOS: Dados de 301 pacientes, com idade de 9,0±5,8 anos, sendo 140 meninas (46,5 por cento), resultando em estimativa de prevalência de 23,4 casos por milhão da população com idade compatível (pmpic). A faixa etária mais representada foi a dos 10 a 15 anos (32,2 por cento), e as malformações do trato urinário representaram a etiologia conhecida mais comum (24,9 por cento). A maioria das crianças recebeu transplante renal (62,1 por cento), e entre os indivíduos em diálise predominou a hemodiálise (71,2 por cento). O SUS foi o financiador mais importante dos tratamentos. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de 23,4 casos pmpic que encontramos é inferior à reportada no mundo ocidental. Acreditamos que haja subestimativa de dados em nosso estudo, pois poucas unidades de diálise responderam o questionário. Tal viés não invalida o caráter exploratório dos resultados. É imperativo mecanismos de captação de dados sobre a DRC pediátrica de maneira prospectiva e nos estágios mais precoces da doença para dimensionarmos esse grave problema de saúde em nosso meio.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of pediatric end-stage renal disease and evaluate demographics and renal disease characteristics in state of São Paulo over the year 2008. METHODS: Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study based on a population sample with subjects < 18 years. The data collecting assumed three forms: 1. A questionnaire for dialysis units; 2. Search in the Transplant Center to determine the number and characteristics of patients who had been in a transplant waiting list over the study period; 3. Search in the database of patients registered at the Latin American Collaborative Registry of Pediatric Kidney Transplantation. RESULTS: Data from 301 patients aged 9.0 ± 5.8, including 140 girls (46.5 percent), resulting in an estimate prevalence of 23.4 cases per million age-related population (pmarp). The age group most frequently found was 10 to 15 years (32.2 percent), and urinary tract malformation was the most usual known etiology (24.9 percent). Most children underwent kidney transplantation (62.1 percent) and among subjects on dialysis, hemodialysis was predominant (71.2 percent). The Sistema Único de Saúde - Unified National Health System - (SUS) provided the financial support for treatments. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of 23.4 cases pmarp found by the authors is lower than that reported in Western world. We believe data were underestimated in the present study, as few dialysis units returned the completed questionnaire. This potential bias does not invalidate the exploratory character of results. Further mechanisms for retrospective and earlier data collecting on pediatric chronic renal disease (CRD) are needed so that the burden of this serious health condition can be appropriately sized up.

Cerebrospinal fluid syndromes in HIV-positive patients with acute consciousness compromise

Revisamos as síndromes liquóricas de 100 pacientes HIV-positivos apresentando comprometimento agudo da consciência em pronto-socorro, as correlacionando com dados clínicos. As síndromes mais freqüentes foram: dissociaçäo proteino-citológica absoluta (21), viral (19), neurocriptococose (7), dissociaçäo proteino-citológica relativa (6) e séptica (4), hipoglicorraquia moderada (4 por cento), hipoglicorraquia severa (4 por cento), distúrbio hidroeletrolítico (3 por cento). Um quinto dos pacientes apresentou síndromes liquóricas consideradas suficientes para um diagnóstico ou uma conduta imediata. Os dados clínicos mais comuns foram infecciosos e neurológicos. Houve pouca correlaçäo entre os dados clínicos e as síndromes liquóricas. Comparado a dados de literatura, HIV-positivos tem menor chance de resultados decisivos no exame de líquor. Nós concluimos que, em pacientes HIV-positivos, que se apresentam com alteraçöes agudas da consciência, freqüentemente há resultados inespecíficos no líquor, o que deve ser julgado em funçäo de uma história clínica e exame físicos detalhados

Cerebrospinal fluid syndromes in patients with acute consciousness compromise

We reviewed the laboratory cards of 200 analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) performed to evaluate acute alterations of consciousness in adult patients attended in a neurological emergency room. 61 percent were men; the mean age was 46 years. The most common clinical data were infective and neurologic. The CSF was abnormal in 149 (74.5 percent) patients and the most common syndromes were: compressive (21 percent), hemorrhagic (11.5 percent), "viral"(8.5 percent), septic (7.5 percent), moderate hyperglycorrachia (6.5 percent), hidroelectrolytic disturbances (5.5 percent). There were some statistically significant correlations between CSF syndromes and clinical data: septic syndrome and fever and meningeal signs, hemorrhagic syndrome and headache and meningeal signs, CSF hydroelectrolytic disturbance syndrome and seizure, severe hyperproteinorrchia and headache, fever, meningeal signs and vomiting, moderate hyperproteinorrachia and age over 65 and male sex. We classified the abnormal results in two groups: 1 - sufficient for an immediate clinical decision; 2 - nonspecific. The former group was found in 27.5 percent of the patients and in 36.9 percent of the abnormal CSF results. In patients attending to neurologic emergency rooms with acute alterations of consciousness, the ecamination of the CSF frequently could contribute to an etiologic diagnosis. It must be performed after a rigorous clinical evaluation of the patient.

Dieta hipoproteica associada a aminoácidos essenciais e histidina para pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica terminal: estudo piloto / Hypoproteic diet supplemented by essential aminoacids and histidire for patients with end stage chronic renal failure: a pilot study

Dezessete pacientes portadores de insuficiência renal crônica terminal de diferentes etiologias e com clearance de creatinina inicial de 7,2 ñ 0,8ml/min foram submetidos por tempo indeterminado a uma dieta restrita em proteínas e suplementada com aminoácidos essenciais e histidina por via oral. No momento da avaliaçäo, dois pacientes continuavam sob tratamento e 15 iniciaram tratamento dialítico após seguimento médio de quatro meses (um a 24 meses, perfazendo um total de 102 pacientes/mês). Três pacientes permaneceram sob tratamento por mais de 12 meses. Näo foram observadas variaçöes significativas do peso corporal, prega cutânea do tríceps e da circunferência muscular do braço. O inquérito alimentar durante o estudo revelou calórica baixa em torno de 27 kcal/kg/dia e ingestäo protéica média de 0,79g/kg/dia. Todos os pacientes experimentaram reduçäo ou desaparecimento dos sintomas urêmicos; a uréia plasmática passaou de 197,1 ñ 5,6mg/dl, no início do estudo, para 142,8 ñ 8,5mg/dl durante a avaliaçäo. Näo foi observada modificaçäo da funçäo renal dos pacientes. Os resultados desse estudo preliminar com esse tipo de dieta mostram que os aminoácidos essenciais, embora näo palatáveis, foram bem tolerados pelos pacientes e que a dieta empregada foi capaz de reduzir os sintomas urêmicos, com significativa reduçäo da uréia plásmatica, evitando um total de 102 pacientes/mês em programa dialítico