[Phosphorus binders: preferences of patients on haemodialysis and its impact on treatment compliance and phosphorus control]. / Captores del fósforo: preferencias de los pacientes en hemodiálisis y su repercusión sobre el cumplimiento del tratamiento y el control del fósforo.

INTRODUCTION: Non-adherence to phosphate binding (PB) medication may play a role in the difficulty in achieving the targets for phosphorus. We have a wide armamentarium of PB but preferences of patients are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: to study the patients' preferences and beliefs regarding PB and their influence on adherence and serum phosphate. METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort study was performed. A total of 121 hemodialysis patients answered a specific questionnaire in which they were questioned about adherence, the type of PB they preferred and the reasons for their choice. All patients questioned tasted two or three PB. The consequence of non-adherence to PB was estimated indirectly by determination of serum phosphorus. RESULTS: Specific noncompliance with PB medication was recognized by 21.4% of patients. Patients non-adherent specifically to PB were more likely to have P levels >5.5 mg/dl (χ(2): 4.7; 95% CI 1.07-6.5; p = 0.03). Paradoxically, patients non-adherent showed greater knowledge of the use (χ(2): 17.3; 95% CI -2.2-10.1; p <0.0001) and importance of the drug (χ(2): 10.4; 95% CI -1.5-6.6; p = 0.001). The percentage of patients prescribed binders they did not like was 54.5%. Patients who were taking PB they did not like had a greater risk of having P levels >5.5 mg/dl) (χ(2): 13.3; 95% CI -1.1-1.5; p = 0.0001). Calcium acetate was the preferred PB in 47.1% of patients, lanthanum carbonate in 40%, sevelamer in 20.6% and aluminum hydroxide in 19.4%. The reasons claimed by patients for their negative ratings of PB were the type of dosage form, the taste, the number of tablets and gastric intolerance. Gastric intolerance and bad taste were more frequent in aluminum hydroxide patients (19.4% and 22.2%, respectively). Sevelamer received complaints about its dosage form because the tablets were too large and a large number of tablets were required (27.2%). 17.7% of patient who were taking lanthanum carbonate did not like the chewable tablets. CONCLUSION: patients who were taking binders that they did not like had worse serum P levels and were prescribed higher doses of binders. Knowing patients' preferences about the drugs prescribed may be a key factor in achieving adequate adherence to treatment.

Nephrotic syndrome as paraneoplastic manifestation of a primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma.

We present a case of nephrotic syndrome secondary to a membranous glomerulonephritis (MG), in a nonsmoking female with a solitary pulmonary nodule, which did not show growth during 2 years of followup. A biopsy by videothoracoscopy showed a granulomatous non-neoplastic process with giant multinucleated cells. The appearance of a nephrotic syndrome and its interpretation as paraneoplastic revealed the existence of a primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC), a very rare pulmonary tumor. After resection of tumor there was a complete recovery from the nephrotic syndrome. This case highlights how the investigation of paraneoplastic syndromes can help in the early diagnosis of some malignancies.

[Operation to remove tunnelled venous catheters in a dialysis unit. Is it possible to reverse the trend in their growing use?]. / Operación retirada de catéteres venosos tunelizados en una unidad de diálisis. ¿Es posible cambiar la tendencia en el uso creciente de éstos?

INTRODUCTION: Introduction In an attempt to reduce unnecessary central venous catheters (CVC) dependence in prevalent population, a "CVC removal" programme was initiated in our unit. The objective was to diminish the number of CVC and to analyze the causes of their insertion and maintenance. On 09/01/07, 38 out of 173 prevalent patients on hemodialysis. Methods were CVC dependant (21.9%): 16 incident patients (42,1%) and 22 (57,8%) prevalent patients. All of them were re-evaluated for permanent vascular access utilization, included those previously rejected for surgery. Physical, psychical and vascular aspects regarding each patient were taken into consideration. The following variables were age, Body mass index, time on hemodialysis, Charlson analyzed comorbidity index, DM or vascular comorbidities and number of vascular accesses created prior to CVC placement. In those patients in whom AVF creation was feasible, the following were registered after 18 months of 1.Primary failure rate. 2. Related complications. 3. up follow Percentage of usable AVF or AVG. 4. Percentage of removed CVC. 5. Mortality and hospitalization. The decision of no realization of a new vascular access and? Results maintenance of TVC was performed in 21 patients (55.2%). In 9 of them was decision of the nephrologists and the family. In 11 patients was decision of vascular surgeon due to vascular bed exhaustion. A permanent VA was achieved in 17 patients (44.7%), 50% of them was incident patients and 45% prevalent patients. The primary failure rate was 0%. The TVC was withdrawn in 11/17 (64.7%). Only 4 patients remain without TVC after 18 months of follow-up: 5 patients died (4 with a AVF functioning and 1 VA closure due to steal syndrome) and in 8 patients was mandatory to reintroduce the TVC again. Immediate complications after the surgery were: 1 severe haematoma, 2 infections and 2 severe sequestrations. 3 patients required hospital admission following complications directly related to VA. Mean time of free of TVC was 5.2 months (range: 0.7- 14.3 months). The mortality was 29,4% (5/17) in the group of patients with a new VA and 9,5% (2/21) in the other group(RR 3,19; IC 95%: 0,68-13,98; p: 0,11). No significant differences were observed between patients who transitioned to a permanent vascular access and those who remained TVC dependant in regards to age, gender, BMI, time on dialysis, DM, comorbidity or number of previous VA, Transition from CVC use to hospitalizations or mortality. Conclusions permanent vascular access is possible in prevalent patients in dialysis. Improvement was achieved by a modest amount, and after a prolonged process with gravel complications, some of which proved severe. Need for CVC dependence is confirmed in a high percentage of prevalent patients on dialysis. Comorbidity might have influenced the results. The quality standard should be adequate to reality of current population on hemodialysis.

[Can FT3 levels facilitate the detection of inflammation or catabolism and malnutrition in dialysis patients?]. / ¿Pueden los niveles de T3L facilitar la detección de estados inflamatorios o de catabolismo y desnutrición en enfermos en diálisis?

INTRODUCTION: Low serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels have been reported in a high percentage of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients and have been considered as independent predictors of mortality in both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). A reduction in thyroid function in dialysis patients could be a marker of malnutrition and/or inflammation. OBJECTIVE: Our aim has been to evaluate the incidence of low T3 syndrome in a group of dialysis patients and analyze its relationship with different parameters of malnutrition and inflammation. PATIENTS AND METHODS We included 32 stable dialysis patients (24 HD and 8 DP); mean age +/- SD 71.2 +/- 11.7 years; 46.9% males; 15.6% diabetics; mean time on dialysis 47 +/- 43 months. The following parameters were measured in every patient: thyrothropin (TSH), Free T4 (FT4) and Free T3 (FT3); biochemical data related to nutritional status; anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), and dietary survey of three consecutive days. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS 11.0. RESULTS: Mean hormonal values of thyroid function were: TSH 2,2 +/- 1.5 U/ml (range: 0,4-5.0); FT4 14.7 +/- 2.3 pmol/l (range: 11.0-23.0) and FT3 4,0 +/- 0.71 pmol/l (range: 3.95-6.80). Only 2 patients (6.3%) showed low FT4 levels and another 2 patients increased TSH levels, whereas 17 patients (53.1%) presented with low FT3 levels. We did not found any correlation between serum FT3, FT4 and TSH levels. We found a correlation between FT3 and inflammation/nutritional parameters: prealbumin (r = 0,36; p = 0,04); transferrin (r = 0,40; p = 0,025); PCR (r = -0.38; p = 0,039); and IGF-I (r = 0,38; p = 0,03); body mass index (BMI) (r = 0,51; p = 0,002); arm circumference (AC) (r = 0,65; p = 0,000), and arm muscle circumference (AMC) (r = 0,72; p = 0,000). FT3 levels were also correlated with BIVA parameters: phase angle (r = 0,54; p = 0,002); muscle mass percentage (r = 0,49; p = 0,005); and cell mass percentage (r = 0,53; p = 0,02), but not with any data of fat mass. AMC was the only variable that independently correlated with FT3 levels in the multivariate regression analysis (r = 0,69; r2: 0,48; p = 0,000) CONCLUSION: Half of our dialysis patients have decreased levels of serum FT3 without alteration on FT4 or TSH. Low FT3 levels are correlated bioquimical and anthropometric parameters indicators of malnutrition and inflammation. Periodical measurement of FT3 levels could be used by clinicians as an accesible and reproducible method to detect such states.

[Elderly patients with chronic kidney disease: what happens after 24 months of follow-up]. / Ancianos con enfermedad renal crónica: ¿qué ocurre a los 24 meses de seguimiento?

INTRODUCTION: Systematic application of mathematical formulae to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of the general population, according to KDOQI classification of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), has permitted to calculate its high prevalence, so as to be considered as a public health problem. Many patients with CKD according to this classification (at least stage 3) are elderly with a low GFR and without any other typical manifestations of renal damage, which is generating a worry between nephrologists due to a significant increment in non justified referrals to their clinics. Our aim in this study is to follow-up during twenty-four months a group of elderly with a low eGFR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 80 clinically stable patients, with a mediane age of 83 years (range 69-97), recruited alleatory in a consultation of Geriatric and Nephrology General, within January and April 2006, were followed up during twenty-four months. We separated them in two groups based in serum creatinine: Group 1: 38 patients with serum creatinine >_ 1,1 mg/dl (range 0,7-1,1), and Group 2: 42 patients with serum creatinine >1.1 mg/dl (range 1,2-3). Clinically we registered morbimortality and treatments received, and biochemically we measured in serum: creatinine and calculated eGFR at the time of recruitment and after twenty-four months of follow-up using two equations: Cockroft and abreviated MDRD. In urine we determinated basic urinalysis in all patients, protein/creatinine in group 1 and determinated protein in collection urine 24 hours group 2. Statistical comparisons were made using repeated measures, chisquare, and logistic regression of the SPSS 11.0 program. RESULTS: 22,5% of the patients died during the follow up. Heart and infectious problems were the kind of morbidity more frequently found. Only a small proportion (23,3%) of group 2 patients were receiving erithropoietin treatment. Estimated GFR and proteinuria remained stable at the end of twenty-four months independently of basal eGFR. We found no significant differences between both groups in the rest of analytical parameters studied except a significant decrease of hematocrit in the elderly of group 2. Only a small proportion (23,3%) of group 2 patients were receiving erithropoietin treatment. CONCLUSION: In old patients without proteinuria, the stability of its renal function along the time allows us to give a soothing message at the moment of facing the so called CKD "epidemic" in this population.

Management of calcific uremic arteriolopathy (calciphylaxis) with a combination of treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA) is a rare but serious complication of end-stage renal disease presenting as painful cutaneous lesions and progressing to non-healing ulcers and gangrene. This syndrome is associated with calcium and phosphorus deposits within small arteries of the skin. The pathognomonic lesion is vascular calcification with intimal arterial hypertrophy and superimposed small-vessel thrombosis. The condition is being increasingly recognized and reported as a contributing factor to death in dialysis patients, with secondary infection and sepsis as the major cause of mortality. No standard treatment has been established for this syndrome. We present the therapeutic approach employed in two patients, which successfully resulted in healing of the lesions, using a combination of measures to control the factors potentially related to development of CUA and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

[Is Cinacalcet a cost-effective treatment in severe secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients on hemodialysis?]. / Es el cinacalcet un tratamiento coste-efectivo en el hiperparatiroidismo secundario severo en pacientes en hemodiálisis?

BACKGROUND: A previous study using cinacalcet, as compared to vitamin D alone, showed a better reduction response of PTH levels and a significant diminution of secondary effects. The objective of present study was to evaluate the additional cost of adding cinacalcet to the standard treatment of patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) taking into account the treatment goals achieved. METHODS: 12 month prospective study of 23 patients with severe SHPT. Two treatment regimens were considered: standard treatment (m 0) and standard treatment plus cinacalcet (m 12). Four consequences of inadequate control of SHPT were registered: parathiroid hormone (PTH), Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P) and the Ca x P product serum levels. Treatment effectiveness was measured as percentage of patients who achieved treatment goal according to each indicator: PTH < 800 pg/mL, PTH between 150 and 300 pg/mL, Calcium < 9.5 mg/dL, Phosphorus < 5.5 mg/dL, and Ca x P product < 55. Annual and monthly costs were calculated for both treatment regimens using Spanish 2007 tariffs, and taking into account the dose reduction in some other treatments. Results are presented as incremental costs and cost per patient who achieved treatment goal. RESULTS: At 12 month it was observed a higher percentage of patients who achieved simultaneously the 4 therapeutic goals with respect to basal moment, from 0% to 52.1%. Cinacalcet allowed to save costs in concomitant drugs, achieving a total saving of 149 euros per patient and month. At 12 month, Cinacalcet achieved a reduction of percentage of patients with PTH > 800 pgr/mL with half of costs than standard treatment (651.35 euros vs 1363.68 euros). It was not possible to calculate the cost for PTH indicator since at the study onset, there was no patient who achieved a level between 150 and 300 pg/mL. Cinacalcet allowed reaching treatment goals in Calcium, Phosphorus and Ca x P product in a more cost-effective way (2164.2 euros vs 2684.8 euros). CONCLUSIONS: Although Cinacalcet is expensive,p atients treated with Cinacalcet showed a minor cost per patient who achieved treatment goal than patients without Cinacalcet. The ability of cinacalcet to reduce PTH secretion, along with the reductions in the serum Ca, P, and Ca x P product, provides an alternative to the traditional treatment paradigm, and should be a welcomed addition in the management of SHPT.

[Changes in vascular access in a dialysis unit in recent years: planning problems, change in preferences, or demographic change?]. / Cambios en el acceso vascular en una unidad de diálisis en los últimos años: problemas de planificación, cambio de preferencias o cambio demográfico?

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the reasons for the general and discouraging overutilization of catheters in DOPPS countries is lacking. METHODS: We analysed the changes in distribution of the different types of vascular access in all 398 patients ongoing hemodialysis at our unit, from January 2000 until December 2005, as well as patients' characteristics. Secondly, risk factors associated with the use of permanent catheters were evaluated in all 95 patients who used that kind of vascular access from January 1997 until April 2006. RESULTS: The percentage of fistulas in prevalent patients diminished from year 2000 until year 2005 (from 95% to 77.9%); concurrently there was an increase in the use of permanent catheters (from 4.2% to 21.5%). The percentage of incident patients having a usable fistula or graft at the beginning of hemodialysis diminished progressively (83.4% in 2000; 69.3% in 2005), and there was a significant increase in the percentage of incident patients using a permanent catheter (from 0 to 23%). Coincidentally, there was a change in patients characteristics: increasing age (71.3 vs. 60.5 years); greater diabetes percentage (7.1% vs. 18.5%) and less time on dialysis (93.2 vs 37 months; p < 0.03). Causes of permanent catheter insertion varied, exhaustion of all other arteriovenous options being the most frequent in the first period of the study and the presence of an unsuitable vascular anatomy in the second. CONCLUSIONS: Despite our policy favoring arteriovenous angioaccess, our results with regards to vascular access worsened in both prevalent and incident patients, coinciding with a change in patients' characteristics. We believe that reversing this trend may become more complicated as the population on dialysis grows older and becomes more prone to diabetes.

[Can we improve our results in hemodialysis? Setting quality objectives, feedback, and benchmarking]. / Es posible mejorar nuestros resultados en hemodiálisis? Establecimiento de objetivos de calidad, retroalimentación (Feedback) y benchmarking.

UNLABELLED: To diminish inter centres variability in applied medical treatments, as well as in the results obtained with them, is one of the main challenges that Nephrology faces now a days. The systematic and planned use of Clinical Performance Measures (CPMs), Feedback and Benchmarking are tools that can help clinicians to reach such an objective. In this study we evaluate the consequences of applying those techniques in the results obtained in three haemodialysis units. METHODS: we analyzed the results obtained in 311 patients dialyzed in the three units during the period 2006-2007. Established and evaluated objectives were as follows: 1.- To increase the percentage of patients with a serum calcium below 9,5 mg/dl over 70%; 2.- To increase the percentage of patients with a serum phosphorus under 5,5 mg/dl over 80%; 3.- To increase the percentage of patients with a serum PTH in between 150-300 pg/ml over 40%; 4.- To diminish the percentage of patients with a serum ferritine below 100 ng/ml under 10%, in one of the units that at the beginning of the study was not accomplishing that objective. Every three months each unit received their own results as well as the results of the two other units. RESULTS: the percentage of patients with serum calcium below 9,5 mg/dl increased significantly in the three units (54,6%, 56,1% and 55,6% at the beginning; 87,7%, 82.9% and 75,1% at the end of the study, respectively; p<0,001). The same was observed for the percentage of patients with a serum phosphorus below 5,5 mg/dl (77,9%, 73,6% and 66,0% at the beginning; 81,7%, 78,0% and 85.9% at the end, respectively; p: not significant), and for the percentage of patients with PTH between 150-300 pg/ml (32,9%, 43,1% and 26,4% versus 47,5%, 41,4% and 39.5%, respectively; p: not significant). The percentage of patients with a serum ferritin below 100 ng/ml in unit B diminished from 30% to 5,3% (p<0,001), reaching results similar the the two other units. Mean erythropoietin (EPO) consumption during the year 2005 was 145,5+/-13,2 U/kg/week in unit A; 226,2+/-39,8 U/kg/week in unit B, and 175,5+/-13,9 U/kg/week in unit C. At the end of year 2007, mean EPO consumption was significantly lower in unit B (144,2+/-15 U/kg/week), and similar to the other two units (140+/-14,2 in unit A and 135,1+/-13,8 in unit C). CONCLUSION: The results of this study permit to conclude that the use of QPM's and quality targets, combined with feedback and benchmarking, allows for the improvement of clinical results. Each centre should establish their own objectives, independently of the defined quality standards, so as to reach such standards or even to improve them. In this study, the three units showed a general improvement in their results, tending towards similar outcomes for the same clinical processes.

[Use of the aluminum phosphate-binders in hemodialysis in the ultrapure water era]. / Uso de captores alumínicos en hemodiálisis en la era del agua ultrapura.

INTRODUCTION: Aluminium binder has been ill-advised, but his use remain applicable in the clinique practice in very seleccionated and particular patients. The repercussion of prolonged treatment with low doses of aluminium phosphate-binders in haemodialysis was studied. The haemodialysis unit had a double osmosis inverse and the aluminium levels in haemodialysis liquid was less than 2 micrograms/liter. METHODS: 41 patients of the 295 on haemodialysis received aluminium phosphate-binders since the 2005 January to the 2007 November. The mean time of treatment was 17.8 months, and the doses was 3.9 tablets day (mean of 463 grams in the studied period). The association of low doses of aluminium phosphate-binders permitted a better control of phosphorus (6.8 to 4.8 mg/dl; p<0.0001), with a reduction of the others phosphate-binders: sevelamer (10.4 a 8 tablets/day; p<0.0001) and calcium phosphate-binders (4.6 to 3.1 tablets/day; p<0.0001). The serum aluminium increased after the aluminium treatment (6.8 to 13.8 mcg/l; p<0.0001), and no toxicity indirect signs were observed on CMV, haemoglobin, none PTH. Five patients (12.1%) reached aluminium serum levels higher 20 mcg/l, and none reached the 40 mcg/l. CONCLUSIONS: The aluminium phosphate-binders were effective, economical and, now, with an apparent better security profile than in a previous time, but it is very important to be careful with this use and to follow a vigilance strict on patients and haemodialysis liquid.

[Elderly patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: what is their course at one year?]. / Ancianos con enfermedad renal crónica: ¿Cuál es su evolución al cabo de un año?

INTRODUCTION: Aging is associated to several structural and functional kidney changes. Recently, there is a great interest in the detection of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in the general population. A classification of CKD, based on several stages of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), has been established. In this study we followed up, clinically and biochemically, during one year eighty patients older than 65 years so as to ascertain the applicability and utility of such classification to those patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 80 clinically stable patients, with a median age of 83 years, recruited within January and April 2006, were followed up during one year. We separated them in two groups: Group 1: 38 patients with serum creatinine pound sterling 1,1 mg/dl (range 0,7-1,1) and with no proteinuria; and Group 2: 42 patients with serum creatinine > or =1.1 mg/dl (range 1,2-3) and with proteinuria <3 grs/24 hours. Clinically we registered morbimortality and treatments received, and biochemically we measured serum creatinine and eGFR at the time of recruitment and after one year of follow up using two equations: Cockroft and abbreviated MDRD. Statistical comparisons were made using the general lineal model for repeated measures of the SPSS 11.0 program. RESULTS: 10% of the patients died during the follow up. Cardiac problems were the kind of morbidity more frequently found. Only a small proportion (23%) of group 2 patients were receiving erythropoietin (EPO) treatment. Estimated GFR and proteinuria remained stable at the end of one year independently of basal GFR; we found no significant differences between groups in the rest of analytical parameters. CONCLUSION: in old patients with no significant proteinuria, the similarity of their clinical evolution and the stability of their eGFR (independently of its basal value), as well as the lack of differences in other analytical parameters, appears not to confer any advantages to the use of mathematical formulae to classified them according to their eGFR.

[Preliminary results of the Spanish Society of Nephrology multicenter study of quality performance measures: hemodialysis outcomes can be improved]. / Resultados del proyecto de mejora de la calidad de la asistencia en hemodiálisis: estudio multicéntrico de indicadores de calidad de la Sociedad Española de Nefrología (SEN).

INTRODUCTION: The Spanish Society of Nephrology "Quality in Nephrology Working Group" (QNWG) was created in 2002. The aims of this group are the identification, diffusion, implementation and consolidation of a systematic, objective and comprehensive set of quality performance measures (QPMs) to help along the improvement of patient care and outcomes on hemodialysis, by means of strategies of feedback and benchmarking, and the design of quality improvement projects. The objective of this study is to present the preliminary results of a set of quality performance measures obtained in a group of Spanish hemodialysis centers, as well as to evaluate the repercussion of the application of the aforementioned thecniques on the observed results. METHODS: During 2007 a total of 28 hemodialysis units participated in the study; 2516 patients were evaluated. A specific software was designed and used to facilitate the calculation of CPMs in each unit. The clinical indicators used refered to dialysis adequacy; anemia; mineral metabolisme; nutrition; viral infections; vascular access; mortality, morbidity (number and days of hospital admissions); and renal transplant. Every three months each center received its own data and its comparison with the rest of the group. RESULTS: Except for hemoglobin levels we observed a global improvement. The percentage of centers reaching the stablished standards defined by the QNWG passed from 65% to 90,9% for Kt/V Daugirdas II (> 1,3 in > that 80% of the patients); from 71,4 % to 77,2 % for PTH (> 30 % of patients with serum PTH between 150 and 300 pg/ml); and from 42,8 % to 63,5 % for phosphate (> 75 % of patients with a serum phsphate < 5,5 mg/dl). More than 50% of centers showed an improvement in their final results as compared with their own initial results in all analyzed CPMs. Those centers that did not obtained an improvement in their results started the study with better percentages of acomplishment than those that showed a significant improvement in QPMs. (80,6+/-15,4 versus 71,8+/-16,6 respectively; p<0,001) CONCLUSIONS: We are starting to make progresses in our knowledge of clinical results in our hemodialysis units, although there is still a long way to go over. To monitor and share CPMs results within hemodialysis centers might help to improve their results as well as to reduce intecenters variability.

[Quality control systems implementation in the Spanish Dialysis Units]. / Implantación de sistemas de gestión de calidad en las unidades de nefrología españolas.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate and analyze the implementation of a Quality Management Systems (QMS) and the use of Clinical Performance measures by the Nephrology Services and Hemodialysis Units in Spain. METHOD: The Quality Management Work Group of the Spanish Society of Nephrology (SEN) realized a survey that was directed to all the Spanish Nephrology Services and Hemodialysis Units. No exclusion criteria were defined for the study. The survey was based on a multichotomous self completing "Ad Hoc" questionnaire. RESULTS: The survey was answered by 46.7% of the polled centers (44.5% were public hospitals and 55.5% private centers). Of those replying the survey 70 % had a QMS, with a higher implementation in the area of Hemodialysis (HD). The ISO 9001-2000 was the prefer QMS model chosen by 76.4% of the centers. 68.6% of the centers with a QMS were certified by an external Auditing Group. 91.7% of the Nephrology Services and Hemodialysis units were using some clinical practice guideline. A high percentage of the centers had medical protocols and nursing plans (> 90%). A significantly higher implementation of QMS was observed in Private Hospitals and Hemodialysis Units (88.8 %) when compared to public Hospitals (46.1%) (X2: 31.5; p < 0.001). The ISO 9000 Standard certification was selected by 78,3% of the private centers and by 21,7% of the public centers (X2: 37.3; p < 0.001). The certification or accreditation were done by an external auditing group in 68. 1% of the private centers compared to 31.9% for the public Hospitals (X2: 24.8; p < 0.001). Although the rate of answers prevents from extracting definitive conclusions, the result seems to indicate that in the Spanish Nephrology Community a clear trend exists towards the use QMS. This tendency suggests, that in the near future, there will be a progressive implementation and routine use of QMS in the Nephrology Community in Spain.

[Functional dependency evaluation of hemodialysis patients: a multicentric study]. / Valoración del grado de dependencia funcional de los pacientes en hemodiálisis (HD): estudio multicéntrico.

BACKGROUND: There has been a change in the hemodialysis population characteristics over the last years with a progressive increase in patient,s age and associated comorbility and mortality. This older hemodialysis population are more functionally and medically dependent increasing the time taken to perform nursing work. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of functional dependency on hemodialysis patients and the need of care by nursing workload. METHODS: A transversal descriptive study was done during 1 month (april 2005) on 586 patients from 10 HD Units in Spain. No exclusion criteria were used. The Delta Test, who was used to evaluate the patients dependency needs, is a workload measure instrument base on three subscales: dependency, Physical Deficiency and mental deficiency. The indicators are measure on a scale of one to three with each level representing an increasing demand on nursing time. The results obtained from the Delta Test were analyzed taking into account the following variables: age, average time in dialysis, Charlson comorbidity Index, geographic location and HD unit. RESULTS: 46% of the patients show some degree of dependency, of these 12.8% were moderated and 8.1% severe; the subscale analysis showed that 19.6% and 6.7% had, respectively, a moderate to severe physical and mental health deficiency. The dependency degree varied significantly between HD Units and geographic location with a range of 0% to 59.8%. The degree of dependency were statistically associated with age and CCI. The higher CCI (r: 0,21; p < 0.001) and age (r: 0,26; p < 0.001) the higher was the Delta Test Score for dependency level. Patients times of initiation on dialysis were not associated with an increase in the degree of dependency. The aspects evaluated by the Delta Test that showed a higher score were those related to patients mobility. The patients assistance requirements during the HD session are basically related to a lack of mobility due to musculoskeletal disease and to a lesser extent to behavior alterations. CONCLUSIONS: HD units are attending patients with an important degree of dependency which impose and added workload to the healthcare personnel. In occasions, it is very difficult to attend and give proper care with the current legally established nurse to patient ratio which. This suggests the need to implement a better staffing policy. The Delta Test provides an objective, adaptable and standardized instrument for measuring degree of dependency of HD patients.

[Tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with treatment with selective Cox-2 inhibitors, celecoxib and rofecoxib]. / Nefritis tubulointersticial asociada al tratamiento con inhibidores de la Cox-2, celecoxib y rofecoxib.

The nephrotoxic effect of nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDS) has been widely described. The main benefit of the Cox-2 inhibitors in relation to the NSAIDS is the production of a very similar analgesic effect, but with fewer gastrointestinal side effects. However, their effects on renal function are little known as yet and their long-term safety is still pending definition. The use of selective Cox-2 inhibitors as anti-inflamatory analgesic is becoming more and more common in our environment. We report two cases of tubulointersticial nephritis confirmed by renal biopsy, associated with administration of the two Cox-2 inhibitors currently available on the market, celecoxib and rofecoxib. In both cases, we were talking about elderly women, with deterioration of the general condition and acute renal failure. In the former case, renal biopsy showed an acute tubulo-intersticial nephritis (TIN) so highly "variegated" in its histologic expression. In the second case, was associated with strong indications of chronicity. Treatment with steroid was initiated in both patients and improvement of renal function was observed.

Determination of serum ionised calcium by ion-exchange electrode in normal subjects.

Serum ionised calcium concentration [Ca2+] was measured with a calcium selective electrode in 65 normal people. A mean value of 1.06 mmol/l (+/- 0.04 S.D.) with an actual range of 0.97 to 1.13 mmol/l was obtained. Serum samples refrigerated at 4 degrees C for 24 h were satisfactory for analysis. Storage of whole blood samples for 6 h at room temperature before separation caused a very small error (+0.04 mmol/l). Mean results and ranges were similar in males and females and there was no significant correlation with age. No significant change in serum [Ca2+] was found following a normal meal. Serum [Ca2+] and total serum calcium showed a very slight correlation (r = 0.35). The method is reproducible and sensitive.

Adequacy of peritoneal dialysis: does kt/v have the same predictive value as in HD? A multicenter study.

Urea kinetics and the use of KT/V has become a useful tool for assessing adequacy of small solute removal in HD. Clinical data supporting the benefit of urea kinetic analysis in CAPD patients had been lacking. Using the standards of KT/V for hemodialysis, many CAPD patients would be underdialyzed but, most studies show no significant difference in morbidity or mortality between CAPD and HD patients. We studied retrospectively, 102 patients (48 M, 54 F), aged 54.6 +/- 14.8 (range 14-82), on CAPD 24.4 +/- 23.9 months (0-120) from 6 hospitals. Clinical and biochemical parameters, co-morbidity, mortality, and hospital admission rate were registered. During the follow-up (1 year), a significant decrease of residual renal function (Kr) from 1.74 +/- 1.86 to 1.31 +/- 1.67 (p < 0.01) was noticed. The KT/V also decreased from 2.00 +/- 0.47 to 1.89 +/- 0.36 (p < 0.01) without change in BUN or plasma creatinine levels. The normalized protein catabolic rate (NPCR) decreased from 0.98 +/- 0.28 to 0.93 +/- 0.30 (p < 0.05) and serum albumin from 3.7 +/- 0.5 to 3.5 +/- 0.6 (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between NPCR and KT/V (r = 0.44, p < 0.05) and between NPCR with serum BUN (r = 0.27, p < 0.05). There was no correlation between KT/V and NPCR neither with hospitalization rate nor clinical symptoms index. The latter, however, showed a positive correlation with the co-morbidity index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Nutritional status, comorbidity, and inflammation in hemodialysis]. / Estado nutricional, comorbilidad e inflamación en hemodiálisis.

UNLABELLED: Low y serum albumin and high C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to be significant predictors of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Although hypoalbuminemia has been attributed to malnutrition, it has recently been recognized evidence of inflammation that predicts serum albumin concentration in dialysis patients. AIM: To establish, in our HD patients, the factors associated with malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia and elevated levels of C-reactive protein to determine its influence in the incidence and cause of death during a one year follow-up period. METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed in 64 patients (35 males, 13% diabetics; mean age 64 +/- 12), who had beep on HD for 64 +/- 58 months. We assessed nutritional status by anthropometric and biochemical parameters and estimated protein and calorie intake by diet recall. The dialysis dose was measure by KT/V normalized for actual and ideal body weight (BW). Comorbidity (total and cardiovascular) were measured using a modified M. Charlson index. CRP was used as a marker of inflammation. During a one year follow-up period we determined the incidence and cause of death. RESULTS: According to Bilbrey index only seven patients (11%) were well nourished. The variables associated with malnutrition were civil status (not married) and dialysis dose estimated by KT/V normalized to ideal BW. Serum albumin (mean 4.1 +/- 0.3 g/dl) was associated with creatinine, comorbidity age and infection. 37.5% of the patients had CRP > 1 mg/dl and they had more cardiovascular comorbidity and lower serum albumin, and they used higher doses of erythropoietin (table III). Patients using modified cellulosic membranes had higher levels of CRP. Multivariate analysis showed that high global comorbidity, low serum cholesterol, and high level of CRP and hematocrit predicted death. The principal cause of mortality was infection. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition is a common problem in HD patients. Low dialysis dose is associated with malnutrition in some patients. We propose to normalize urea clearances to ideal body weight. Inflammatory activity is frequent in HD, probably as a result of intermittent activation of the acute phase response during the dialysis procedure. Low serum albumin in HD patients is principally associated with infection/inflammation but not with malnutrition. CRP is a sensitive marker of inflammation and an power predictor of mortality in HD patients.

[Physical symptoms and emotional disorders in patient on a periodic hemodialysis program]. / Síntomas físicos y trastornos emocionalés en pacientes en programa de hemodiálisis periódicas.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the frequency and severity of somatic symptoms and emotional distress (anxiety and/or depression) among our chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients and to study the relationship between them as well as their influence on the perceived health status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who had been on CHD for a minimum of three months were eligible for the study. Eight of them were excluded: six because they were unable to answer the questionnaires and two because they refused to participate. The 58 remaining patients were the subject of our study (median age 68.5 years; median duration of HD 29.5 months). Diverse sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded. The patients answered the following questionnaires: 1) The "physical symptoms" dimension of the Kidney Disease Questionnaire; 2) A measure of anxiety (STAI); 3) A measure of depression (Beck Depression Inventory and Cognitive Depression Index); and 4) The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). RESULTS: The most frequent and severe symptoms were tiredness, itching, thirst, bone and joint pain and sleep disturbance. The severity of the symptoms was positively associated with female sex, and the presence of clinically relevant degrees of anxiety and/or depression. A quarter of the patients were anxious and almost half of them suffered from depression. Emotional disturbances were associated with the severity of somatic symptoms and comorbidity. Only anxiety and depression were significantly associated with the global NHP score; they explained 47% of its variance. A score of 50 or more in the "Emotional Reactions" dimensions with the NHP detected 69% of the patients with anxiety and 81% of those with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Somatic symptoms are common among patients on CHD and they appear to be associated with emotional distress (anxiety and depression) that influences significantly the perceived health status. Measuring the perceived health status by means of generic and specific questionnaires, may help to establish the diagnosis of these problems.