ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the cause of early death (death within 3-12 months after hemodialysis) and the related influencing factors patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) as to provide a scientific basis for the prevention of early death.Methods A retrospective matched controlled study was conducted. Fifty-one patients who underwent MHD from January 2004 to April 2014 and died within 3-12 months after hemodialysis in hemodialysis center of the 174th Chinese People's Liberation Army Hospital were included in the case group by retrospective analysis method. According to 1∶2 matched controls, 102 patients underwent hemodialysis in the same period (±2 months) and survived over 12 months were selected as control group. All patients received regular hemodialysis (dialysis 2-3 times per week), with conventional limitation of water and sodium intake, routine treatments such as control of blood pressure, treatment of anemia and disorders of calcium and phosphorus contents. Causes of short-term death were analyzed. Clinical and biochemical parameters of two groups were collected when dialysis was started, and the single factor and multiple factors logistic regression was used to analyze the related risk factors when dialysis was started. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to evaluate the value of above parameters in predicting the early death in patents with MHD.Results The main causes of early death of 51 patients with MHD were mainly cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (27 cases, 52.9%), and infections (15 cases, 29.4%). It was shown by single factor analysis that the age [odds ratio (OR) = 6.625, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 3.232-13.580,P = 0.000], diabetes (OR = 3.875, 95%CI = 0.654 - 10.622,P = 0.031), specialist intervention time before dialysis (OR = 0.349, 95%CI =0.287 - 0.572,P = 0.004), the emergence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events before dialysis (OR = 9.667, 95%CI = 4.632 - 20.174,P = 0.000), the first dialysis for emergency dialysis (OR = 3.875, 95%CI = 1.713 - 8.765, P = 0.005), blood albumin level (OR = 0.294, 95%CI = 0.068 - 0.550,P = 0.008), leukocyte count (OR = 6.286, 95%CI = 1.648 - 23.982,P = 0.026), neutrophil count (OR = 2.833, 95%CI = 1.630 - 4.923,P = 0.001) might be the factors correlating with early death. Eight independent factors were statistically significant, and their effect on the MHD patients was analyzed by logistic regression analysis inα = 0.05 level. The results showed that patients with old age (OR = 1.054, 95%CI = 1.019-1.090,P = 0.002), and the emergence of cardio-cerebrovascular events (OR = 7.469, 95%CI = 2.474 - 22.545,P = 0.000)were early death risk factors of MHD patients, and early specialist intervention before dialysis was a protective factor (OR = 0.286, 95%CI = 0.113-0.722,P = 0.008). ROC curve showed that age had moderate diagnostic value for early death of MHD [area under ROC curve (AUC) = 0.756], the cut-off value was 59.0 years old, the sensitivity was 66.7%, and the specificity was 77.5%. The diagnostic value of early specialist intervention before dialysis was relatively low (AUC = 0.367), the cut-off value was 0.875 years, the sensitivity was 39.2%, and the specificity was 33.3%.Conclusion Old age, the emergency of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events before dialysis is associated with early death, and specialist intervention ahead of dialysis can reduce the risk of early death.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate retrospectively the efficacy of cyclosporine A (CsA) in the treatment of membranous lupus nephropathy (MLN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and biopsy-proven MLN were treated with CsA in combination with prednisone. CsA was given at a starting dosage of 5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 3 months, with a 1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) reduction every month and then maintained at a dosage of 2 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). The dosage of oral prednisone differed from person to person according to levels of extra-renal activity. Clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were retrospectively analyzed. Complete remission was defined as having a urinary proteinuria level (Upr) of < 0.4 g/d, and normal serum albumin and serum creatinine (SCr) levels, without SLE activity. Partial remission was defined as having a UPr decrement > 50% of baseline value and a serum albumin value of 30 - 35 g/L, without SLE activity. No response was defined as having a Upr decrement < 50% of baseline value and > 2.0 g/d, or as a deterioration of renal function, or as having active SLE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One patient could no longer undergo follow-up, and the other 23 patients were treated with CsA and followed up for 6 - 36 months (mean 16.8 +/- 8.4 months). The mean starting dosage of CsA was 4.7 +/- 0.5) mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and the trough level of the whole blood CsA was 248 +/- 110) micro g/L. Twelve patients (52.2%) achieved complete remission, 10 patients (43.3%) achieved partial remission after CsA treatment, and one patient showed no response. At different CsA treatment timepoint, the complete remission rates were 17.4% (3rd month), 21.7% (6th month), 40% (12th month), 88.9% (18th month) and 100% (24th month) respectively. SCr elevation, when within a normal limit was not observed in most patients during early CsA administration, and at the end of the follow-up all the patients had a normal SCr. Relapse occurred in 33.3% of the patients after withdrawing CsA for 4 - 24 months. No chronic CsA renal toxicity was observed in 4 patients who had a repeat renal biopsy after CsA treatment for 6 - 24 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CsA could be regarded as an effective therapy for patients with membranous lupus nephropathy, but its adverse effects, especially its nephrotoxicity, should be carefully monitored during CsA treatment.</p>