Serum phosphate measured at 6 and 12 months after successful kidney transplant is independently associated with subsequent graft loss.

OBJECTIVES: Serum phosphate concentrations have been shown to predict graft loss in prevalent, but not incident, kidney transplant populations. The reasons for this are unknown. We investigated whether serum phosphate at 6 or 12 months posttransplant was associated with graft loss in the same cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected for 325 patients transplanted and followed up at a single center (1996-2004). The association between serum phosphate at 6 and 12 months posttransplant and graft failure was analyzed. RESULTS: Univariable associations with death-censored graft failure were seen for serum phosphate at 6 and 12 months (hazard ratio [HR] 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.48; P < .001, and HR 1.40; CI 1.27-1.54; P < .001). On bivariable analysis (phosphate at 6 vs 12 mo), a significant association remained for both variables and increased graft failure rate (HR 1.19; CI 1.07-1.34; P = .002, and HR 1.37; CI 1.21-1.55; P < .001). These associations persisted in multivariable models (HR 1.27; CI 1.07-1.51; P = .007, and HR 1.34; CI 1.14-1.57; P < .001 for phosphate at 6 and 12 mo). CONCLUSIONS: Serum phosphate at 6 and 12 months posttransplant is an independent predictor of graft loss. Any future trial designed to investigate the benefits of phosphate lowering should consider recruiting patients as early as 6 months posttransplant.

The incidence of major hemorrhagic complications after renal biopsies in patients with monoclonal gammopathies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Monoclonal gammopathies frequently cause renal disease, but they may be an incidental finding. Assessment of renal pathology in the context of renal dysfunction and a monoclonal gammopathy therefore serves as a useful diagnostic tool and, in addition, provides prognostic information. There is, however, a theoretical risk of increased hemorrhagic complications from renal biopsies in this setting. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of significant hemorrhagic complications after renal biopsies in patients with monoclonal gammopathies. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: The case notes of 1993 unselected patients from four teaching hospitals within the United Kingdom who underwent native or transplant renal biopsies between 1993 and 2008 were reviewed. Subjects were categorized as having a monoclonal gammopathy or not, and the incidence of major hemorrhagic complications between groups was compared. RESULTS: In total, 74 (3.7%) patients (native and transplant biopsies) had a major hemorrhagic complication. One hundred forty-eight subjects with a monoclonal gammopathy were identified. The complication rate in this group was 4.1% compared with 3.9% in the control population (native biopsies only; P = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: In the population studied, the rate of major hemorrhagic complications after percutaneous renal biopsy was not significantly greater in patients with a monoclonal gammopathy.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction: implications of international guidelines.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of patients eligible for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy for the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death after a myocardial infarction (MI), according to the current guidelines. METHODS: Eligibility was assessed retrospectively at 6 weeks in 513 post-MI survivors (age 66 +/- 13 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 48.2 +/- 17%) on the basis of an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram. RESULTS: LVEF was < or = 40% in 37% and < or = 35% in 30%, and QRS duration was <120 ms in 89% and > or =120 ms in 11% of patients. The proportion of post-MI patients meeting the criteria set by guidelines were 37% for 2006 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/European Society of Cardiology (ACC/AHA/ESC) 26.5% for 2008 ACC/AHA/Canadian Heart Rhythm Society 16.3% for 2005 US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and 5.8% for the 2006 United Kingdom (UK) National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). According to 2005 CMS and 2006 UK-NICE guidelines, Holter monitoring was required in 7% and 18%, respectively. For the United States (700,000 MI in 2006), the 2006 ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines equate to 216,783 ICD implantations/year. For UK (60,499 MI in 2006), the 2006 NICE guidelines equate to 2,941 ICD implantations, 10,488 Holter studies, and 1,065 VT induction tests/year. CONCLUSIONS: Current ICD therapy guidelines for primary prevention of SCD post-MI demand a substantial increase in service provision worldwide.