Estudio del control metabólico en pacientes diabéticos en hemodiálisis crónica: hemoglobina glicosilada, fructosamina y glicemias capilares / Study of metabolic control in diabetic patients on chronic hemodialysis: glycated hemoglobin, fructosamine and capillary glycemia

Background: In conditions that may change red blood cell survival, such as hemodialysis, the accuracy of A1c glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to assess metabolic control can be hampered. Other glycosylated proteins such as fructosamine, could accomplish the role of HbA1c. Aim: To assess if HbA1c is a good metabolic control parameter in diabetic patients on chronic hemodialysis. To compare fructosamine, HbA1c and serial capillary glucose levels in the same patients. Material and Methods: Patients on hemodialysis three times per week were studied. Twenty one subjects with diabetes mellitus and 10 non-diabetic patients were included (70 percent were male). During a period of 14 days, fasting and post prandial capillary glucose levels were measured. Venous glucose, HbA1c and fructosamine were measured at the onset and completion of the monitoring period. Results: Diabetic patients were older than their non-diabetic counterparts (65 and 47 years respectively, p < 0.04). In diabetic and non-diabetic patients respectively, capillary blood glucose levels were 161 +/- 22 and 104 +/- 51 mg/dl, HbA1c levels were 6.8 +/- 1.2 and 5.4 +/- 0.4 percent and fructosamine levels were 282.0 +/- 126.6 and 154.6 +/- 73 umol/L. In all patients there was a positive correlation between blood glucose, HbA1c (r = 0.78 p < 0.01) and fructosamine (r = 0.52, p 0.02). There was a positive correlation between mean capillary glucose, HbA1c (r = 0.77, p < 0.01) and fructosamine (r = 0.69, p < 0.02). Among diabetic patients, the correlation coefficients between mean capillary glucose levels, HbA1c and fructosamine levels were 0.67 (p < 0.01) and 0.51 (NS), respectively. Conclusions: Among diabetic patients on hemodialysis fructosamine levels are not a better indicator of metabolic control than HbA1c.

Klotho: un nuevo eslabón en la fisiopatología de la insuficiencia renal crónica / Klotho: a new link in the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease insufficiency

Klotho, a recently described gene, is mainly expressed in the kidney, and encodes a protein necessary for the activity of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR), especially FGFR1. The Klotho protein has two variants, a transmembrane and a secreted form, and the latter may represent a new hormone synthesized by the kidney. Recent studies have shown that chronic kidney disease (CDK) is associated with significant alterations in the expression of klotho, and this alteration seems to be responsible for many of the phenotypic characteristics that accompany the uremic syndrome. CKD is associated with marked lymphocyte dysfunction, a clinically relevant problem, but the pathophysiological mechanisms behind this dysfunction are mostly unknown. Our research group has recently demonstrated the expression of klotho andFGFR1 in human lymphocytes and is currently implementing a series of experiments designed to determine the role of this pathway in the pathogenesis of lymphocyte dysfunction associated with uremia.

Alta incidencia de diarrea por clostridium difficile en pacientes nefrológicos / High frequency of clostridium difficile diarrhea among patients with renal diseases

Background: Clostridium difficile is the main agent causing antimicrobial associated nosocomial diarrhea. Chronic renal failure is a risk factor for this type of diarrhea. Aim: To study the incidence and complications of Clostridium difficile diarrhea in a university hospital and among patients with renal diseases. Patients and methods: Retrospective review of all cases of Clostridium difficile diarrhea that occurred in a university hospital, between June 2000 and May 2001. Results: In the Nephrology Unit, 48 episodes of Clostridium difficile diarrhea occurred in 35 patients (7 cases per 100 discharges/year). This figure is higher than the global incidence in the hospital (0.53 cases per 100 discharges/year, p <0.001). The mean age of the 33 patients with renal diseases was 63 years old and 17 of them were female. Their main diagnoses were chronic renal failure in hemodialysis in 48 percent , uremic syndrome in 36 percent and renal transplant in 6 percent. Seventy nine percent had a history of antimicrobial use (42 percent quinolones and 36 percent cephalosporins). In 3 patients, the only risk factor was chronic renal failure. Seventy five percent responded to metronidazole and in 27 percent, diarrhea recidivated, compared with a 6 percent recurrence rate in other units, p <0.02). Eight patients died during hospital stay. Conclusions: Among patients with renal diseases, Clostridium difficile is frequent and associated with a high recurrence rate and mortality. Chronic renal failure may be a risk factor for its development

Efecto de la midodrina en la hipotensión sintomática en hemodiálisis / Effects of midodrine on orthostatic hypotension during hemodialysis

Background: Hypotension occurs in 20 percent of hemodialysis procedures. Aim: To study the effects of midodrine on hypotension during hemodialysis. Patients and methods: Ten patients on chronic hemodialysis and with a history of hypotension during the procedure, were studied. They received midodrine 10 mg per os or placebo during 5 dialytic procedures each, in a double blind cross over design. Results: Blood pressure levels prior to dialysis were similar during the midodrine or placebo administration periods. During dialysis, systolic blood pressure fell 19.3ñ28 mmHg with midodrine and 23.4ñ28 mmHg with placebo. Diastolic blood pressure fell 7.3ñ11.5 mmHg with midodrine and 11.1ñ12 mmHg with placebo. The reduction in median arterial pressure was also less pronounced with midodrine. Conclusions: Midodrine lessens the fall in arterial pressure during hemodialysis, in patients with symptomatic hypotension

Crisis de esclerodermia renal: rol de la vasculopatía esclerodérmica en la inducción de fibrosis cutáneo-visceral en dos casos / Renal scleroderma crisis: role of sclerodermic vasculopathy in the induction of cutaneous and visceral fibrosis: report of 2 cases

Although fibrosis and vasculopathy coexist in most patients with progressive systemic sclerosis, it is not clear if these events are the result of an unique etiologic factor or if one is consequence of the other. We report two cases of progressive systemic sclerosis that evolved to a renal scleroderma crisis. A 36 years old female presented with a Sjögren syndrome and painful subcutaneous nodules whose biopsy showed perivascular lymphocytic infiltration, perivascular thickening and normal skin. The ESR was 100 mm/h. She developed an hypertensive crisis and progressive renal failure, followed by a rapidly evolving progressive systemic sclerosis. The patient died in the course of this crisis. A 32 years old female with a progressive systemic sclerosis refractory to D-penicillamine treatment, receiving cyclosporin, presented a renal scleroderma crisis, that was successfully treated, with complete recovery of renal function. We highlight the different evolution of these cases, probably due to an early diagnosis and a better experience in the management of this condition

Diabetes mellitus descompensada y acidosis metabólica hiperclorémica: asociación de patologías en un caso / Association of hyperglycemia and hyperchloremic acidosis in a diabetic patient

Diabetic ketoacidosis is manifested by elevated blood glucose levels, ketosis and metabolic acidosis with increased anion gap. A transitory hyperchloremic acidosis. with normal anion gap, can appear. We report a 21 years old female with a type 2 diabetes mellitus, admitted to the emergency room of a general hospital with hyperglycemia, absence of ketonemia, severe hypokalemia and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Initially, she was diagnosed and treated as a severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Normal blood glucose levels were rapidly achieved but electrolyte and acid base alterations persisted, leading to the suspicion that another associated condition was causing the acidosis and hypokalemia. Urinary pH and anion gap measurement, the study of renal acidification and a bicarbonate overload test lead to the diagnosis of a distal renal tubular acidosis, secondary to a Sjögren syndrome, that was confirmed with a Schirmer test and positive anti Ro antibodies. In this diabetic patient, the acute hyperglycemia intensified the hypokalemia of her distal renal tubular acidosis and unchained the acute metabolic condition

Enfermedad venooclusiva hepática asociada a terapia con azatioprina en un paciente trasplantado renal / Hepatic veno-occlusive disease associated to the use of azathioprine in a renal transplant recipient

We report a 30 years old male, recipient of a kidney allograft and treated with azathioprine, who 18 days after transplantation had a clinically asymptomatic elevation of total bilirrubin and alkaline phosphatases. Nineteen months later, he presented with mild ascites, with a total bilirrubin of 3.5 mg/dl, alkaline phosphatases of 308 U/L (normal <170 U/L) and a prothrombin time at 55 percent of control. A liver biopsy showed sinusoidal and perivenular fibrosis without inflammation, compatible with chronic venous obstruction. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease is an infrequent complication of azathioprine use