Effects of education on low-phosphate diet and phosphate binder intake to control serum phosphate among maintenance hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: For phosphate control, patient education is essential due to the limited clearance of phosphate by dialysis. However, well-designed randomized controlled trials about dietary and phosphate binder education have been scarce. METHODS: We enrolled maintenance hemodialysis patients and randomized them into an education group (n = 48) or a control group (n = 22). We assessed the patients’ drug compliance and their knowledge about the phosphate binder using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The primary goal was to increase the number of patients who reached a calcium-phosphorus product of lower than 55. In the education group, 36 (75.0%) patients achieved the primary goal, as compared with 16 (72.7%) in the control group (P = 0.430). The education increased the proportion of patients who properly took the phosphate binder (22.9% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.087), but not to statistical significance. Education did not affect the amount of dietary phosphate intake per body weight (education vs. control: −1.18 ± 3.54 vs. −0.88 ± 2.04 mg/kg, P = 0.851). However, the dietary phosphate-to-protein ratio tended to be lower in the education group (−0.64 ± 2.04 vs. 0.65 ± 3.55, P = 0.193). The education on phosphate restriction affected neither the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment score (0.17 ± 4.58 vs. −0.86 ± 3.86, P = 0.363) nor the level of dietary protein intake (−0.03 ± 0.33 vs. −0.09 ± 0.18, P = 0.569). CONCLUSION: Education did not affect the calcium-phosphate product. Education on the proper timing of phosphate binder intake and the dietary phosphate-to-protein ratio showed marginal efficacy.

Current System for Allocation of Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation / 대한이식학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to analyze the current system for allocation of deceased donor kidney transplantation in Korea, which includes an incentive regulation for candidates registered at the Hospital-based Organ Procurement Organization (HOPO). METHODS: Between January 2011 and November 2016, there were 2,655 deceased donors in Korea. During the same period, there were 21,247 current candidates and recipients of kidney, pancreas and simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants. We analyzed data from all of these donors, candidates, and recipients. RESULTS: Mean waiting times for organ allocation of each priority differed significantly (2nd priority group, 1,701±974 days; 3rd priority group, 1,316±927 days; 4th priority group, 2,077±1,207 days). Additionally, HOPO candidates/deceased donor ratios were very different from each other (maximum, 49; minimum, 0.6). The number of deceased donors in region 1, 2, and 3 were 1,623, 429, and 603, respectively, while the number of transplantations in each region was 3,095, 597, and 1,165, respectively. The candidates registered at region 1 HOPO moved the longest distances on average for transplantation, and this value differed significantly different from that of other regions (56.18±91.9 km vs. 24.66±28.0 km vs. 26.20±37.3 km, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incentive system of current allocation system for deceased donor kidney in Korea does not coincide with the purpose of the ‘Declaration of Istanbul’ and unnecessary social costs have occurred. Therefore, we should make an effort to change our current allocation system to the geographic sequence of organ allocation system.

Comparison of estimated glomerular filtration rate equations at the time of hemodialysis initiation

BACKGROUND: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is one of the most important guidelines in deciding the optimal timing of dialysis initiation. In the present study, we calculated the eGFR at the time of hemodialysis (HD) initiation using 5 commonly used equations to relate them with clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients and to evaluate which of these equations best define the eGFR at HD initiation. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 409 end-stage renal disease patients who were newly started on HD treatment in our institution. The eGFR was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation, the Cockcroft-Gault equation corrected for body surface area, the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation, the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, and the Nankivell equation. RESULTS: The mean eGFRs at HD start were significantly different across the equations. The mean eGFR was 7.8 mL/min for the corrected Cockcroft-Gault equation, 7.7 mL/min for the Cockcroft-Gault equation, 6.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 for the MDRD equation, and 5.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 for the CKD-EPI equation. The corrected Cockcroft-Gault, the MDRD, and the CKD-EPI equations were well correlated with all CKD-specific complications including hypertension, anemia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hyperparathyroidism. The mean eGFR calculated by the corrected Cockcroft-Gault equation showed the lowest coefficient of variation among all the equations. CONCLUSIONS: The eGFR at HD initiation are significantly different according to the used eGFR equations, and the corrected Cockcroft-Gault equation may be the best in defining the eGFR at HD initiation.

Severe but reversible acute kidney injury resulting from Amanita punctata poisoning

Mushroom-related poisoning can cause acute kidney injury. Here we report a case of acute kidney injury after ingestion of Amanita punctata, which is considered an edible mushroom. Gastrointestinal symptoms occurred within 24 hours from the mushroom intake and were followed by an asymptomatic period, acute kidney injury, and elevation of liver and pancreatic enzymes. Kidney function recovered with supportive care. Nephrotoxic mushroom poisoning should be considered as a cause of acute kidney injury.