Impact of the estimated glomerular filtration rate on long-term mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis visiting the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: The association between renal function and all-cause mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis remains unclear. We aimed to identify the impact of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on all-cause mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis visiting the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This retrospective study included patients aged ≥18 years admitted to the ED between 2016 and 2019 for hypertensive crisis (systolic blood pressure ≥180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mmHg). They were classified into four groups according to the eGFR at admission to the ED: ≥90, 60-89, 30-59, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: Among the 4,821 patients, 46.7% and 5.8% had an eGFR of ≥90 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Patients with lower eGFR were older and more likely to have comorbidities. The 3-year all-cause mortality rates were 7.7% and 41.9% in those with an eGFR ≥90 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, those with an eGFR of 30-59 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-2.54) and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.71-3.24) had significantly higher 3-year all-cause mortality risks than those with an eGFR of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2. Patients with an eGFR of 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m2 had a higher mortality (21.1%) than those with an eGFR of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (7.7%); however, the difference was not significant (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.94-1.56). CONCLUSIONS: Renal impairment is common in patients with hypertensive crisis who visit the ED. A strong independent association was observed between decreased eGFR and all-cause mortality in these patients. eGFR provides useful prognostic information and permits the early identification of patients with hypertensive crisis with an increased mortality risk. Intensive treatment and follow-up strategies are needed for patients with a decreased eGFR who visit the ED.

Microscopic Polyangiitis Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the most widespread viral infections in human history. As a breakthrough against infection, vaccines have been developed to achieve herd immunity. Here, we report the first case of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) following BNT162b2 vaccination in Korea. A 42-year-old man presented to the emergency room with general weakness, dyspnea, and edema after the second BNT162b2 vaccination. He had no medical history other than being treated for tuberculosis last year. Although his renal function was normal at last year, acute kidney injury was confirmed at the time of admission to the emergency room. His serum creatinine was 3.05 mg/dL. Routine urinalysis revealed proteinuria (3+) and hematuria. When additional tests were performed for suspected glomerulonephritis, the elevation of myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibody (38.6 IU/mL) was confirmed. Renal biopsy confirmed pauci-immune anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-related glomerulonephritis and MPA was diagnosed finally. As an induction therapy, a combination of glucocorticoid and rituximab was administered, and plasmapheresis was performed twice. He was discharged after the induction therapy and admitted to the outpatient clinic 34 days after induction therapy. During outpatient examination, his renal function had improved with serum creatinine 1.51 mg/dL. We suggest that MPA needs to be considered if patients have acute kidney injury, proteinuria, and hematuria after vaccination.