Pattern and Severity of Anaemia in Predialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in Bangladesh: A Tertiary Care Hospital Study

Background: Anemia is a common complication in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and is associated with a reduced quality of life, and increased morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms involved in ananaemiassociated with CKD are diverse and complex. They include a decrease in endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) production, absolute and/or functional iron deficiency, and inflammation with increased hepcidin levels, among others. Objective: The objective of our study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of anaemia in pre-dialysis patients, and chronic kidney disease patients in Bangladesh.Material & Methods:This was a case-control prospective study conducted with over 300 Bangladeshi non-patients as the control group A and 87 with different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients as the case group B in the department of Nephrology BSMMU from April’2004 to June 2006. The normal people who had no history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or CKD and were not on any medication were controlled and different stages of the CKD patients who had no history of blood transfusion, erythropoietin and parental iron infusion were cases.Results:Out of 300 normal populations male was 158(52.7%) and the female was 142(47.3%) and the mean haemoglobin level of the male was 13.94 g/dl and the female was 12.29 g/dl. Among males 24(15.2%) and females 55(38.7%) were anaemic and the overall prevalence of anaemia was noted at 26.3%. Of the total anaemic people, 25% was microcytic anemia. Out of 87 CKD patients, 56 (64%) were male and 31 (36%) were female. The overall prevalence of anaemia in CKD patients was 95.4%. The haemoglobin level was <11g/dl in 57.14% patients with CCr 30-59 ml/min/1.73m2 which increases to 87.5 % in patients with CCr 15-29 ml/min/1.73m2, which also increases to 94.2 % in patients with CCr<15 ml/min/1.73m2. Mean haemoglobin was observed at 8.6 g/dl, 9.54 g/dl and 11.25 g/dl in stage V, stage IV and stage III CKD patients respectively. Anaemia appeared at 43.53 ml/min/1.73 m2 of CCR.Conclusions:The results demonstrate that patient with reduced renal function is more likely to have anaemia and the prevalence and severity of anaemia increase with declining kidney function. CCr and TSAT is the important predictor of anaemia. In a significant number of the CKD, patient anaemia was associated with iron deficiency.

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis and Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis Associated with Renal Morphological Changes.

We report an unusual case of 5-yrs-old girl presenting with recurrent episodic weakness with documented hypokalemia, polyuria and failure to thrive. The child was finally diagnosed as having distal renal tubular acidosis. Imaging studies revealed associated hypoechoic spaces in renal medulla. Long term treatment with alkali and maintenance of normokalemia lead to regression of these morphological changes

Atypical Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis With Short Onset Latency.

An 11-month-old boy presented with focal seizures, myoclonic jerks and altered sensorium of one month duration, with a history of measles at eight months of age. A diagnosis of Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) was made on the basis of typical EEG changes and presence of anti-measles antibody in cerebrospinal fluid. A differential diagnosis of SSPE should be considered in all forms of acute encephalopathy in infants for early diagnosis and management.

Postoperative management of pulmonary endarterectomy and outcome.

Pulmonary artery thromboendarterectomy (PTE) has been regarded as a promising, potentially curative surgical procedure. However, PTE is associated with specific postoperative complications, such as reperfusion pulmonary edema and right heart failure leading to a considerable mortality of 7-24%. Despite its limitations PTE is a better surgical alternative to lung transplantation which carries high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study is to analyze the efficacy, safety, morbidity and survival associated in the postoperative period and quality of life after six months of PTE in Indian patients. Forty-one patients with surgically correctable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension underwent pulmonary endarterectomy. All patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II, III or IV. Preoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure was 40.98 ± 9.29 mmHg and mean pulmonary vascular resistance was 418.39 ± 95.88 dynes/sec/cm -5 . All patients were followed up to six months and a telephonic survey was conducted using a standard questionnaire. They were assessed and classified as per NYHA grading. There was a significant reduction in the mean pulmonary artery pressure (from 40.98 ± 9.29 mmHg to 24.13 ± 7.36 mmHg, P < 0.001) and pulmonary vascular resistance (from 418.39 ± 95.88 dynes/sec/cm -5 to 142.45 ± 36.27 dynes/sec/cm -5 , P < 0.001) with a concomitant increase in the cardiac index (from 1.99 ± 0.20 L/min/m 2 to 3.28 ± 0.56 L/min/m 2 , P < 0.001) during the postoperative period. The mortality rate in our study was 12.19% (five patients). Ninety per cent of the patients reported a significant improvement in the quality of life and exercise tolerance after surgery compared to the preoperative state. Pulmonary endarterectomy is an effective and potentially curative surgical treatment for patients with severe chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The current techniques of operation make the procedure relatively safe and long-term survival, NYHA functional status and exercise capacity improve significantly.