New-onset diabetes after hemodialysis initiation: impact on survival.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of new-onset diabetes after initiation of hemodialysis (NODAD) and its impact on survival is not known. METHODS: We used data from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) from January 2000 to December 2001, with at least 3 years of follow-up for this study. Patients aged 18-80 years were included. NODAD was defined as two Medicare institutional claims for diabetes in patients with no history of diabetes prior to starting hemodialysis (HD). Incidence (per 1,000 patient-years), prevalence (%) and hazard ratios for mortality in patients with NODAD were calculated. RESULTS: There were 59,340 incident patients with no history of diabetes prior to starting HD, of which 3,853 met criteria for NODAD. The overall incidence and prevalence of NODAD were 20 per 1,000 patient-years and 7.6%, respectively. In a cohort of 444 patients without diabetes and documented glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, <6% prior to starting HD (from January 2005 and March 2006), at a mean follow-up of 4.7 +/- 2.6 months, 6.8% developed NODAD defined by two Medicare claims for diabetes after initiation of HD. NODAD was associated with a significantly increased risk of death as compared to non-diabetes patients (hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.14-1.25). CONCLUSION: The USRDS showed a high incidence of NODAD, associated with significantly higher mortality compared to those who did not develop NODAD. The mechanism of NODAD needs to be explored further in experimental and clinical studies.

Relationship between the soluble F11 receptor and markers of inflammation in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The human F11 receptor (F11R) is an important cell adhesion molecule implicated in inflammatory thrombosis. We hypothesize that serum levels of the soluble released form of F11R (sF11R) are elevated in dialysis patients since these patients have higher cardiovascular disease burdens than the general population. In this study, we examined whether sF11R levels were elevated in hemodialysis (HD) patients and correlated with known inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: We used new and standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques to measure levels of sF11R, as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), in a cross section of 52 HD patients and compared these with 15 healthy controls. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 56 +/- 17.3 years; 60% were female, and 36% had diabetes mellitus. Serum levels of sF11R, hs-CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 were all significantly higher in patients than in control sera (p < .05). Within the patient group, there was a significant positive correlation between sF11R and TNF-alpha (r = .41, p = .003), IL-10 (r = .32, p = .023), and IL-6 (r = .32, p = .023), whereas hs-CRP showed no significant correlation (r = -.27, p = .052). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the sF11R level is elevated in HD patients and correlates with known markers of cardiovascular disease. sF11R may be a novel cardiovascular risk marker, and longitudinal studies are needed to better assess its relationship with cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in this population.

Hypocalcemia, hypovitaminosis d osteopathy, osteopenia, and secondary hyperparathyroidism 32 years after jejunoileal bypass.

OBJECTIVE: To detail, for the first time, the results of bone histomorphometry, micro-computed tomography, and the calcium-vitamin D-parathyroid hormone (PTH) axis in a unique patient 32 years after undergoing a jejunoileal bypass (JIB) procedure for obesity. METHODS: A case report is presented, serial results of serum chemistry studies before and after treatment are outlined, and histomorphometric data on a bone biopsy specimen are summarized. RESULTS: In a 65-year-old woman with chronic lymphedema who had undergone JIB >3 decades earlier, baseline serum studies showed the following: total calcium, 6.2 mg/dL (normal, 8.5 to 10.5); ionized calcium, 0.87 mmol/L (normal, 1.15 to 1.35); creatinine, 1.3 mg/dL (normal, 0.6 to 1.0); albumin, 2.0 g/dL (normal, 3.0 to 5.0); magnesium, 1.0 mg/dL (normal, 1.5 to 2.1); phosphorus, 3.1 mg/dL (normal, 2.5 to 4.5); potassium, 3.1 mEq/L (normal, 3.5 to 5.0); alkaline phosphatase, 204 U/L (normal, 50 to 136); PTH, 311 pg/mL (normal, 10 to 60); 25-hydroxyvitamin D, <7 ng/mL (normal, 10 to 60); and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 37 pg/mL (normal, 25.1 to 66.1). Histomorphometry of an undecalcified iliac crest bone biopsy specimen demonstrated increased osteoid surface of 59.4% (Z-score = 5.6), increased mineralization lag time of 90.1 days (Z-score = 2.96), decreased adjusted apposition rate of 0.05 mm3/mm2/yr (Z-score = -2.45), but increased volume-based bone formation rate of 0.715 mm3/mm3/yr (Z-score = 2.0). Tetracycline labeling was diffuse and smudged, and the osteoblast-osteoid interface was decreased, indicating a mineralization defect. Increased cortical porosity, but no evidence of significant marrow fibrosis, was noted, whereas cancellous bone volume was decreased to 15.2% (Z-score = -0.92). Micro-computed tomography of bone biopsy specimens confirmed both increased cortical porosity and decreased cancellous bone volume. Vitamin D and calcium therapy resulted in near-normal or low-normal levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium and improvement in PTH and alkaline phosphatase levels during a 9-month period. CONCLUSION: Significant hypovitaminosis D osteopathy, osteopenia, and hypocalcemia attributable to vitamin D deficiency may remain a problem in patients with unreversed JIB operations after more than 3 decades. Clinicians should be aware of this important clinical problem.

Challenges in the diagnosis and management of renal artery stenosis.

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a common cause of secondary hypertension, with the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system being the pathophysiologic hallmark of the disease. Renovascular hypertension, ischemic nephropathy, proteinuria, and flash pulmonary edema are the main clinical syndromes associated with RAS. The prevalence of RAS is on the rise, owing to an increasing prevalence of diabetes and atherosclerotic disease among our aging population. This rise in RAS prevalence poses major challenges for clinicians making diagnostic and treatment decisions. Although renal angioplasty is of proven benefit in fibromuscular dysplasia, randomized trials in atherosclerotic RAS have not shown any advantage for revascularization over medical therapy in terms of blood pressure control or renal function preservation. Angioplasty and surgical interventions should be reserved for patients with preserved kidney size and hemodynamically significant stenosis.