Cardiac Structure and Function and Subsequent Kidney Disease Progression in Adults With CKD: The Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Heart-kidney crosstalk is recognized as the cardiorenal syndrome. We examined the association of cardiac function and structure with the risk of kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT) in a chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 3,027 participants from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study. EXPOSURE: Five preselected variables that assess different aspects of cardiac structure and function: left ventricular mass index (LVMI), LV volume, left atrial (LA) area, peak tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity, and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) as assessed by echocardiography. OUTCOME: Incident KFRT (primary outcome), and annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope (secondary outcome). ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Multivariable Cox models and mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 59±11 SD years, 54% were men, and mean eGFR was 43±17mL/min/1.73m2. Between 2003 and 2018 (median follow-up, 9.9 years), 883 participants developed KFRT. Higher LVMI, LV volume, LA area, peak TR velocity, and lower EF were each statistically significantly associated with an increased risk of KFRT, with corresponding HRs for the highest versus lowest quartiles (lowest vs highest for EF) of 1.70 (95% CI, 1.27-2.26), 1.50 (95% CI, 1.19-1.90), 1.43 (95% CI, 1.11-1.84), 1.45 (95% CI, 1.06-1.96), and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.03-1.56), respectively. For the secondary outcome, participants in the highest versus lowest quartiles (lowest vs highest for EF) had a statistically significantly faster eGFR decline, except for LA area (ΔeGFR slope per year, -0.57 [95% CI, -0.68 to-0.46] mL/min/1.73m2 for LVMI, -0.25 [95% CI, -0.35 to-0.15] mL/min/1.73m2 for LV volume, -0.01 [95% CI, -0.12 to-0.01] mL/min/1.73m2 for LA area, -0.42 [95% CI, -0.56 to-0.28] mL/min/1.73m2 for peak TR velocity, and -0.11 [95% CI, -0.20 to-0.01] mL/min/1.73m2 for EF, respectively). LIMITATIONS: The possibility of residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple aspects of cardiac structure and function were statistically significantly associated with the risk of KFRT. These findings suggest that cardiac abnormalities and incidence of KFRT are potentially on the same causal pathway related to the interaction between hypertension, heart failure, and coronary artery diseases. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Heart disease and kidney disease are known to interact with each other. In this study, we examined whether cardiac abnormalities, as assessed by echocardiography, were linked to the subsequent progression of kidney disease among people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We found that people with abnormalities in heart structure and function had a greater risk of progression to advanced CKD that required kidney replacement therapy and had a faster rate of decline in kidney function. Our study indicates the potential role of abnormal heart structure and function in the progression of kidney disease among people living with CKD.

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and Risk of CKD Progression.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a member of the TGF-ß cytokine superfamily that is widely expressed and may be induced in response to tissue injury. Elevations in GDF-15 may identify a novel pathway involved in loss of kidney function among patients with CKD. Among participants in the Clinical Phenotyping and Resource Biobank (C-PROBE) study and the Seattle Kidney Study (SKS), we tested whether kidney tissue expression of GDF15 mRNA correlates with circulating levels of GDF-15 and whether elevations in circulating GDF-15 are associated with decline in kidney function. In matching samples of 24 patients with CKD from the C-PROBE study, circulating GDF-15 levels significantly correlated with intrarenal GDF15 transcript levels (r=0.54, P=0.01). Among the 224 C-PROBE and 297 SKS participants, 72 (32.1%) and 94 (32.0%) patients, respectively, reached a composite end point of 30% decline in eGFR or progression to ESRD over a median of 1.8 and 2.0 years of follow up, respectively. In multivariable models, after adjusting for potential confounders, every doubling of GDF-15 level associated with a 72% higher (95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 4.45; P=0.003) and 65% higher (95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 2.50; P=0.02) risk of progression of kidney disease in C-PROBE and SKS participants, respectively. These results show that circulating GDF-15 levels strongly correlated with intrarenal expression of GDF15 and significantly associated with increased risk of CKD progression in two independent cohorts. Circulating GDF-15 may be a marker for intrarenal GDF15-related signaling pathways associated with CKD and CKD progression.

Tacrolimus Toxicity With Minimal Clinical Manifestations: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Tacrolimus (FK 506 or Fujimycin) is an effective anti-T-cell agent derived from the fungus Streptomyces tsukubaensis. Some in vitro studies have demonstrated that the potency of tacrolimus can be up to 100 times to that of cyclosporine. Despite being a very potent immunosuppressant, its use is complicated by narrow therapeutic range, individual variation in pharmacokinetics, and a broad spectrum of drug interactions. We report a case of very high tacrolimus level (>120 ng/mL) in a patient who was on antiretroviral medication and tacrolimus. Despite having such high drug levels, patient's clinical presentation and course was benign. He was managed conservatively and this ordeal resulting in no long-term sequela.

Unusual Cause and Presentation of Collapsing Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

Collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (c-FSGS), a structural variant of focal segmental glomeruloslecrosis (FSGS), is considered to be the most aggressive FSGS form. Most patients present with severe nephrotic syndrome and often have rapidly progressing renal failure and progression to end-stage kidney disease. We are reporting a 28-year-old previously healthy woman, who was started on griseofulvin for onchomycosis; she subsequently developed acute renal failure with significant proteinuria. Exposure to the drug caused dramatic decline in the renal function. Renal biopsy was compatible with c-FSGS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of biopsy-proven griseofulvin-associated c-FSGS. Our patient showed rapid improvement in renal function after discontinuation of griseofulvin. Universally, c-FSGS carries poor prognosis, but this case is unique because patient showed rapid improvement in renal function with a short duration after cessation of griseofulvin.

Calcific Uremic Arteriolopathy: A Case Series and Review from an Inner-City Tertiary University Center in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Renal Replacement Therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 24 patients with CUA and on RRT were evaluated at Detroit Medical Center from 2007 to 2016. Skin biopsy was used in almost all patients, along with the radiological and clinical findings. The patient's clinical and paraclinical data were retrieved from the electronic medical records. The effect of treatment modalities and the underlying hyperparathyroidism management were compared to the clinical outcomes using appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were on hemodialysis, two patients received renal transplants, and one patient was on peritoneal dialysis. Diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent cause of ESRD. The parathyroid hormone level (PTH) was elevated in 22 patients. Fifteen patients were diagnosed 2 weeks or more prior to skin lesion onset. Twenty-two and thirteen patients received sodium thiosulphate and cinacalcet, respectively. Patients with lower PTH and the calcium-phosphate product levels had a relatively better outcome of CUA. CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted approach may play a role in treating CUA. Referral to a nephrologist may aid in the early diagnosis and prompt management of CUA.

Correlation between Dt/V derived from ionic dialysance and blood-driven Kt/V of urea in African-American hemodialysis patients, based on body weight and ultrafiltration volume.

BACKGROUND: The Dt/V obtained by using ionic dialysance (D) as a surrogate for urea clearance (K) is a well-validated adjunct measure of hemodialysis adequacy, with a variable level of correlation with urea-based Kt/V. However, this correlation has not been examined based on patients' body size and ultrafiltration (UF) volume during the dialysis session. METHODS: Simultaneous evaluations of online Dt/V and single-pool variable-volume urea Kt/V were made. Patients were categorized into three subgroups based on their weight (<60, 60-80 and ≥80 kg), body mass index (<25, 25-30 and >30 kg/m2) and UF volume (<1.5, 1.5-3 and >3 L). The correlation between Dt/V and Kt/V was evaluated for the entire cohort per dialysis session in each subgroup. RESULTS: Mean Kt/V was greater than the mean Dt/V (1.72 versus 1.50, P < 0.001), with an overall correlation r value of 0.602. This correlation was stronger in the medium weight group versus lower and higher weights. The correlation between Dt/V and Kt/V was inversely related to the UF volume (r = 0.698, 0.621 and 0.558 for those with UF volume of <1.5, 1.5-3.0 and >3 L, respectively). A total of 99.3% of patients with Dt/V of >1.2 also had Kt/V >1.2 and 9.5% of those with Dt/V <1.2 had their Kt/V <1.2. CONCLUSIONS: There is a moderate degree of correlation between Dt/V and Kt/V in African-American hemodialysis patients, which is impacted by body size and UF volume. A Dt/V of >1.2 strongly predicts adequate dialysis as defined by Kt/V of >1.2.

Bullous Dermatosis in an End-Stage Renal Disease Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease including ESRD patients may present with a wide spectrum of cutaneous abnormalities, ranging from xerosis to hyperpigmentation to severe deforming necrotizing lesions. Skin problems are not uncommon in this population of patients, with a clinical presentation that can be quite bizarre, mandating a long list of differential diagnostic possibilities, and subsequent rise of a puzzling diagnostic challenge. We describe an ESRD patient who presented with blistering, nonhealing ulcerative lesions with a diagnostic skin biopsy revealing a mixed pattern of linear IgA bullous dermatosis and dermatitis herpetiformis. A clinical remission could be achieved with pulse intravenous steroids followed by oral maintenance in combination with dapsone, with no evidence of recurrence.

Understanding the Risk Factors and Long-Term Consequences of Cisplatin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: An Observational Cohort Study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well-known complication of cisplatin-based chemotherapy; however, its impact on long-term patient survival is unclear. We sought to determine the incidence and risk factors for development of cisplatin-associated AKI and its impact on long-term renal function and patient survival. We identified 233 patients who received 629 cycles of high-dose cisplatin (99±9mg/m2) for treatment of head and neck cancer between 2005 and 2011. These subjects were reviewed for development of AKI. Cisplatin nephrotoxicity (CN) was defined as persistent rise in serum creatinine, with a concomitant decline in serum magnesium and potassium, in absence of use of nephrotoxic agents and not reversed with hydration. All patients were hydrated per protocol and none had baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) via CKD-EPI<60mL/min/1.73m2. The patients were grouped based on development of AKI and were staged for levels of injury, per KDIGO-AKI definition. Renal function was assessed via serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) via CKD-EPI at baseline, 6- and 12-months. Patients with AKI were screened for the absence of nephrotoxic medication use and a temporal decline in serum potassium and magnesium levels. Logistic regression models were constructed to determine risk factors for cisplatin-associated AKI. Twelve-month renal function was compared among groups using ANOVA. Kaplan-Maier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were constructed to study its impact on patient survival. Of 233 patients, 158(68%) developed AKI; 77 (49%) developed stage I, 55 (35%) developed stage II, and 26 (16%) developed stage III AKI. Their serum potassium and magnesium levels correlated negatively with level of injury (p<0.05). African American race was a significant risk factor for cisplatin-associated AKI, OR 2.8 (95% CI 1.3 to 6.3) and 2.8 (95% CI 1.2 to 6.7) patients with stage III AKI had the lowest eGFR value at 12 months (p = 0.05) and long-term patient survival (HR 2.1; p<0.01) than patients with no or lower grades of AKI. Most common causes of death were recurrent cancer (44%) or secondary malignancy elsewhere (40%). Cisplatin-associated severe AKI occurs in 20% of the patients and has a negative impact on long-term renal function and patient survival. PEG tube placement may be protective and should be considered in high risk-patients.

Participation of functionally active plasma cells in acute rejection and response to therapy in renal allografts.

Acute rejection (AR) includes T-cell-mediated and antibody-mediated rejection. The inflammatory infiltrate comprised not only T cells but also varying amounts of B cells (CD20(+)) and plasma cells (CD138(+)). The latter are associated with poor clinical outcomes, but their functional status is not clear. The phosphorylation of the S6 ribosomal protein (p-S6RP) is present in cells that are metabolically active, thus identifying functionally active antibody-secreting plasma cells. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical significance of functionally active p-S6RP plasma cells in AR in renal allografts. Renal allografts with biopsy evidence of AR during 2006-2009 were included. Immunohistochemistry staining for CD20, CD138, and p-S6RP was performed on paraffin-embedded slides and scaled as 0-6. The response to antirejection treatment was assessed by the serum creatinine ratio (CrR) at rejection episode (time 0) and following treatment (4 and 12 weeks). Patients with lower scores (0-2) were compared with a higher scored group (3-6). The T-test was conducted using statistical significance of p<0.05. A total of 28 patients (40.7 ± 14.3 year; M:F=15:13) were diagnosed with acute T-cell-mediated rejection (I and II). The p-S6RP staining in the high-score group had a significantly higher CrR (p<0.05) than the low-score group at the time of biopsy, 4 and 12 weeks following treatment. There was no significant difference in the CrR between groups for CD20 or CD138 staining. Functional antibody-secreting p-S6RP plasma cells are actively participating in AR and associated with poor response to treatment in renal allografts.