The role of peritoneal dialysis in the treatment of acute kidney injury in neurocritical patients: a retrospective Brazilian study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently in the neurocritical intensive care unit and is associated with greater morbidity and mortality. AKI and its treatment, including acute kidney replacement therapy, can expose patients to a secondary greater brain injury. This study aimed to explore the role of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in neurocritical AKI patients in relation to metabolic and fluid control, complications related to PD and outcome. METHODS: Neurocritical AKI patients were treated by PD (prescribed Kt/V = 0.40/session) using a flexible catheter and a cycler and lactate as a buffer. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were included. The mean age was 61.8 ± 13.2 years, 65.5% were in the intensive care unit, 68.5% needed intravenous inotropic agents, 72.4% were on mechanical ventilation, APACHE II was 16 ± 6.67 and the main neurological diagnoses were stroke (25.9%) and intracerebral haemorrhage (31%). Ischaemic acute tubular necrosis (iATN) was the most common cause of AKI (51.7%), followed by nephrotoxic ATN AKI (25.8%). The main dialysis indications were uraemia and hypervolemia. Blood urea and creatinine levels stabilised after four sessions at around 48 ± 11 mg/dL and 2.9 ± 0.4 mg/dL, respectively. Negative fluid balance and ultrafiltration increased progressively and stabilised around 2.1 ± 0.4 L /day. Weekly delivered Kt/V was 2.6 ± 0.31. The median number of high-volume PD sessions was 6 (4-10). Peritonitis and mechanical complications were not frequent (8.6% and 10.3%, respectively). Mortality rate was 58.6%. Logistic regression identified as factors associated with death in neurocritical AKI patients: age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-2.16, p = 0.001), nephrotoxic AKI (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.69- 0.95, p = 0.03), mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.17-2.46, p = 0.01), intracerebral haemorrhage as main neurological diagnoses (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.09-2.11, p = 0.03) and negative fluid balance after two PD sessions (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.74-0.97, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that careful prescription may contribute to providing adequate treatment for most neurocritical AKI patients without contraindications for PD use, allowing adequate metabolic and fluid control, with no increase in the number of infectious, mechanical and metabolic complications. Mechanical ventilation, positive fluid balance and intracerebral haemorrhage were factors associated with mortality, while patients with nephrotoxic AKI had lower odds of mortality compared to those with septic and ischaemic AKI. Further studies are needed to investigate better the role of PD in neurocritical patients with AKI.

Successful Liberation from Acute Kidney Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Recovery of kidney function to liberate patients from acute kidney replacement therapy (AKRT) is recognized as a vital patient-centered outcome. The lack of specific guidelines providing specific recommendations on therapy interruption is an important obstacle. We aimed to determine the prevalence of successful discontinuation of AKRT and its predictive factors after the elaboration of clinical protocol with these recommendations. METHODOLOGY: A prospective cohort study was performed with 156 patients at a public Brazilian university hospital between July 2020 and July 2021. RESULTS: Success and hospital discharge were achieved for most patients (84.6% and 89%, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that C-reactive protein (CRP), urine output, and creatinine clearance at the time of interruption were variables associated with discontinuation success (OR: 0.943, CI: 0.905-0.983, p = 0.006; OR: 1.078, CI: 1.008-1.173, p = 0.009 and OR: 1.091, CI: 1.012-1.213, p = 0.004; respectively). The areas under the curve for CRP, urine output, and creatinine clearance at the time of interruption were 0.78, 0.62, and 0.82, respectively. Both CRP and creatinine clearance were good predictors of successful liberation of AKRT. The optimal cutoff value of them had sensitivity and specificity of 0.88 and 0.87, 0.91 and 0.90, respectively. The use of noradrenalin at the time of interruption (OR: 0.143, CI: 0.047-0.441, p = 0.001) and successful discontinuation (OR: 3.745, CI: 1.047-13.393, p = 0.042) were identified as variables associated with hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: Our results show the factors related to success in discontinuing AKRT are the CRP, creatinine clearances, and urinary output at the time of AKRT interruption and it was associated with lower mortality.

Advances in Peritoneal Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury.

UNASSIGNED: In the 1970s, acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) was widely accepted for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI), but this practice has declined in favor of extracorporeal therapies, mainly in developed world. The lack of familiarity with the use of PD in critically ill patients has also led to a lack of use even among those receiving maintenance PD. Renewed interest in the use of PD for AKI therapy has emerged due to its increasing use in low- and middle-income countries due to its lower cost and minimal infrastructural requirements. In high-income countries, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic saw PD for AKI used early on, where many critical care units were in crisis and relied on PD use when resources for other AKI therapy modalities were limited. In this review, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of PD in AKI patients and indications and contraindications for its use. We also provide an overview of advances to support PD treatment during AKI, discussing PD access, PD prescription, complications related to PD, and its use in particular clinical conditions. (Rev Invest Clin. 2023;75(6):327-36).

Factors predicting successful discontinuation of acute kidney replacement therapy: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment for severe acute kidney injury (AKI) typically involves the use of acute kidney replacement therapy (AKRT) to prevent or reverse complications. METHODOLOGY: We aimed to determine the prevalence of successful discontinuation of AKRT and its predictive factors. A retrospective cohort study was performed with 316 patients hospitalized at a public Brazilian university hospital between January 2011 and June 2020. RESULTS: Success and hospital discharge were achieved for most patients (85% and 74%, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that C-reactive protein (CRP), urine output, and need mechanical ventilation at the time of interruption were variable associated with discontinuation success (OR 0.969, CI 0.918-0.998, p = 0.031; OR 1.008, CI 1.001-1.012, p = 0.041 and OR 0.919, CI 0.901-0.991, p = 0.030; respectively), while the absence of comorbidities such as chronic kidney disease (OR 0.234, CI 0.08-0.683, p = 0.008), cardiovascular disease (OR 0.353, CI 0.134-0.929, p = 0.035) and hypertension (OR 0.278, CI 0.003-0.882, p = 0.009), as well as pH values at the time of AKRT indication (OR 1.273, CI 1.003-1.882, p = 0.041), mechanical ventilation at the time of interruption (OR 0.19, CI 0.19-0.954, p = 0.038) and successful discontinuation (OR 8.657, CI 3.135-23.906, p < 0.001) were identified as variables associated with hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: These results show that clinical conditions such as comorbidities, urine output, and mechanical ventilation, and laboratory variables such as pH and CRP are factors associated with hospital discharge and AKRT discontinuation success, requiring larger studies for confirmation.

Comparison between FRAIL Scale and Clinical Frailty Scale in predicting hospitalization in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence of frailty by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and the 5-item FRAIL scale and their association with hospitalization in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. We included patients of both genders ≥ 18 years old in HD treatment for at least 3 months. Demographic, clinical, and routine laboratory data were retrieved from the medical charts. Two different frailty assessment tools were used, the CFS and the FRAIL scale. Participants were followed up for 9 months and hospitalizations for all causes were evaluated. A Venn diagram was constructed to show the overlap of possible frailty and pre-frailty. Cox regression was used to identify the association between frailty and hospitalization. The significance level was 5%. RESULTS: A total of 137 subjects were included in the analysis. The median age was 61 (52-67) years and 60% were male. The hospitalization rate and mortality in 9 months were 22.6% and 7.29%, respectively. Regarding frailty, the overall prevalence was 13.8% assessed by CFS and 36.5% according to the FRAIL scale. In the Cox regression, frailty by FRAIL scale was associated with a 2.8-fold increase in the risk of hospitalization (OR = 2.880; 95% CI = 1.361-6.096; p = 0.006), but frailty assessed by the CFS was not associated with the need for hospitalization. CONCLUSION: In HD patients, the FRAIL scale proved to be an easy-to-apply tool, identifying a high prevalence of frailty and being a predictor of hospital admission.

The Serum Concentration of Vancomycin as a Diagnostic Predictor of Nephrotoxic Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients.

The impact of serum concentrations of vancomycin is a controversial topic. RESULTS: 182 critically ill patients were evaluated using vancomycin and 63 patients were included in the study. AKI occurred in 44.4% of patients on the sixth day of vancomycin use. Vancomycin higher than 17.53 mg/L between the second and the fourth days of use was a predictor of AKI, preceding AKI diagnosis for at least two days, with an area under the curve of 0.806 (IC 95% 0.624-0.987, p = 0.011). Altogether, 46.03% of patients died, and in the Cox analysis, the associated factors were age, estimated GFR, CPR, and vancomycin between the second and the fourth days. DISCUSSION: The current 2020 guidelines recommend using Bayesian-derived AUC monitoring rather than trough concentrations. However, due to the higher number of laboratory analyses and the need for an application to calculate the AUC, many centers still use therapeutic trough levels between 15 and 20 mg/L. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that a narrower range of serum concentration of vancomycin was a predictor of AKI in critically ill septic patients, preceding the diagnosis of AKI by at least 48 h, and it can be a useful monitoring tool when AUC cannot be used.

Acute Kidney Injury in Elderly Patients With Coronavirus Infectious Disease: A Study of Incidence, Risk Factors, and Prognosis in Brazil.

Introduction: Elderly patients with COVID-19 are at a higher risk of severity and death as not only several comorbidities but also aging itself has been considered a relevant risk factor. Acute kidney injury (AKI), one of the worst complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection, is associated with worse outcomes. Studies on AKI with COVID-19 in Latin-American patients of older age remain scarce. Objectives: To determine AKI incidence and the risk factors associated with its development, as well as to compare outcome of elderly patients with or without AKI associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients with SARS-CoV2 infection admitted to a Public Tertiary Referral Hospital from 03/01/2020 to 12/31/2020, from admission to resolution (hospital discharge or death). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from patients during hospitalization. Daily kidney function assessment was performed by measuring serum creatinine and urine output. AKI was diagnosed according to KDIGO 2012 criteria. Results: Of the 347 patients with COVID-19 admitted to our hospital during the study period, 52.16% were elderly, with a median age of 72 years (65- 80 years). In this age group, most patients were males (56.91%), hypertensive (73.48%), and required ICU care (55.25%). AKI overall incidence in the elderly was 56.9%, with higher frequency in ICU patients (p < 0.001). There was a predominance of KDIGO 3 (50.48%), and acute kidney replacement therapy (AKRT) was required by 47.57% of the patients. The risk factors associated with AKI development were higher baseline creatinine level (OR 10.54, CI 1.22 -90.61, p = 0.032) and need for mechanical ventilation (OR 9.26, CI 1.08-79.26, p = 0.042). Mortality was also more frequent among patients with AKI (46.41%vs24.7%, p < 0.0001), with death being associated with CPK level (OR 1.009, CI 1.001-1.017, p = 0.042), need for mechanical ventilation (OR 17.71, CI 1.13-277.62, p = 0.002) and KDIGO 3 (OR 2.017 CI 1.039 -3.917, p = 0.038). Conclusion: AKI was frequent among the elderly hospitalized with COVID-19 and its risk factors were higher baseline creatinine and need for mechanical ventilation. AKI was independently associated with a higher risk of death.

The Role of Peritoneal Dialysis in the Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Prospective Brazilian Study.

This study aimed to explore the role of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in acute-on-chronic liver disease (ACLD) in relation to metabolic and fluid control and outcome. Fifty-three patients were treated by PD (prescribed Kt/V = 0.40/session), with a flexible catheter, tidal modality, using a cycler and lactate as a buffer. The mean age was 64.8 ± 13.4 years, model of end stage liver disease (MELD) was 31 ± 6, 58.5% were in the intensive care unit, 58.5% needed intravenous inotropic agents including terlipressin, 69.5% were on mechanical ventilation, alcoholic liver disease was the main cause of cirrhosis and the main dialysis indications were uremia and hypervolemia. Blood urea and creatinine levels stabilized after four sessions at around 50 and 2.5 mg/dL, respectively. Negative fluid balance (FB) and ultrafiltration (UF) increased progressively and stabilized around 3.0 L and -2.7 L/day, respectively. Weekly-delivered Kt/V was 2.7 ± 0.37, and 71.7% of patients died. Five factors met the criteria for inclusion in the multivariable analysis. Logistic regression identified as risk factors associated with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in ACLD patients: MELD (OR = 1.14, CI 95% = 1.09-2.16, p = 0.001), nephrotoxic AKI (OR = 0.79, CI 95% = 0.61-0.93, p = 0.02), mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.49, CI 95% = 1.14-2.97, p < 0.001), and positive fluid balance (FB) after two PD sessions (OR = 1.08, CI 95% = 1.03-1.91, p = 0.007). These factors were significantly associated with death. In conclusion, our study suggests that careful prescription may contribute to providing adequate treatment for most Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) patients without contraindications for PD use, allowing adequate metabolic and fluid control, with no increase in the number of infectious or mechanical complications. MELD, mechanical complications and FB were factors associated with mortality, while nephrotoxic AKI was a protective factor. Further studies are needed to better investigate the role of PD in ACLF patients with AKI.

Meal timing and frequency implications in the development and prognosis of chronic kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher risk of death than the general population, the main cause being cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nutrition plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of CVD and kidney diseases. Currently, new evidence reinforces the importance of specific foods and general dietary patterns rather than isolated nutrients for cardiovascular risk. In addition, dietary patterns and healthy eating habits seem extremely relevant in decreasing risk factors. Epidemiologic and clinical intervention studies have suggested that late-night dinner and skipping breakfast are associated with an increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and CVD. In CKD, despite important changes in nutritional counseling in recent decades, less attention has been paid to meal timing and frequency. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss the evidence of meal timing and frequency in CKD development and prognosis, presented under three main topics: risk of developing CKD, importance of dietary habits, and implications of fasting.

Pharmacokinetics of Intraperitoneal Vancomycin and Amikacin in Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Patients With Peritonitis.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the vancomycin and amikacin concentrations in serum and dialysate for automatic peritoneal dialysis (APD) patients. Methods: A total of 558 serum and dialysate samples of 12 episodes of gram-positive and 18 episodes of gram-negative peritonitis were included to investigate the relationship between vancomycin and amikacin concentrations in serum and dialysate on the first and third days of treatment. Samples were analysed 30, 120 min, and 48 h after intraperitoneal administration of vancomycin in peritonitis caused by gram-positive agents and 30, 120 min, and 24 h after intraperitoneal administration of amikacin in peritonitis caused by gram-negative agents. Vancomycin was administered every 72 h and amikacin once a day. The target therapeutic concentration of amikacin was 25-35 mg/l at the peak moment and 4-8 mg/l at the trough moment; and after 48 h for vancomycin, 15-20 mg/l at the trough moment. Results: For peritonitis caused by gram-negative agents, at the peak moment, therapeutic levels of amikacin were reached in dialysate in 80.7% of patients with evolution to cure and in 50% of patients evaluated as non-cure (p = 0.05). At the trough moment, only 38% were in therapeutic concentrations in the dialysate in the cure group and 42.8% in the non-cure group (p = 1). Peak plasma concentrations were subtherapeutic in 98.4% of the samples in the cure group and in 100% of the non-cure group. At the trough moment, therapeutic concentrations were present in 74.4% of the cure group and 71.4% of the non-cure group (p = 1). Regarding vancomycin and among gram-positive agents, therapeutic levels were reached at the peak moment in 94% of the cure group and 6% of the non-cure group (p = 0.007). After 48 h, 56.8% of the cure group had a therapeutic serum concentration whereas for the non-cure group it was only 33.3% (p = 0.39). Conclusion: Despite a small sample size, we demonstrated peak dialysate amikacin level and peak serum vancomycin level correlates well with Gram-negative and Gram positve peritonitis cure, respectively. It is suggested to study the antibiotics pharmacodynamics for a better understanding of therapeutic success in a larger sample.

Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19: 90 Days of the Pandemic in a Brazilian Public Hospital.

Renal involvement is frequent in COVID-19 (4-37%). This study evaluated the incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methodology: This study represents a prospective cohort in a public and tertiary university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, during the first 90 days of the COVID-19 pandemic, with patients followed up until the clinical outcome (discharge or death). Results: There were 101 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, of which 51.9% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The overall AKI incidence was 50%; 36.8% had hematuria or proteinuria (66.6% of those with AKI), 10.2% had rhabdomyolysis, and mortality was 36.6%. Of the ICU patients, AKI occurred in 77.3% and the mortality was 65.4%. The mean time for the AKI diagnosis was 6 ± 2 days, and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage 3 AKI was the most frequent (58.9%). Acute renal replacement therapy was indicated in 61.5% of patients. The factors associated with AKI were obesity [odds ratio (OR) 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-2.76, p < 0.05] and the APACHE II score (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.08-2.64, p < 0.05). Mortality was higher in the elderly (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.66, p < 0.05), in those with the highest APACHE II score (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.98, p < 0.05), and in the presence of KDIGO stage 3 AKI (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.05-2.57, p < 0.05). Conclusion: AKI associated with severe COVID-19 in this Brazilian cohort was more frequent than Chinese, European, and North American data, and the risk factors associated with its development were obesity and higher APACHE II scores. Mortality was high, mainly in elderly patients, in those with a more severe disease manifestation, and in those who developed KDIGO stage 3 AKI.

Evaluation of peptidylarginine deiminase 4 and PADI4 polymorphisms in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD 4) concentration and PADI4 polymorphisms as predictors of acute kidney injury (AKI) development, the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), and mortality in patients with septic shock. METHODS: We included all individuals aged ≥ 18 years, with a diagnosis of septic shock at ICU admission. Blood samples were taken within the first 24 hours of the patient's admission to determine serum PAD4 concentration and its PADI4 polymorphism (rs11203367) and (rs874881). Patients were monitored during their ICU stay and the development of SAKI was evaluated. Among the patients in whom SAKI developed, mortality and the need for RRT were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were 99 patients, 51.5% of whom developed SAKI and of these, 21.5% needed RRT and 80% died in the ICU. There was no difference between PAD4 concentration (p = 0.116) and its polymorphisms rs11203367 (p = 0.910) and rs874881 (p = 0.769) in patients in whom SAKI did or did not develop. However, PAD4 had a positive correlation with plasma urea concentration (r = 0.269 and p = 0.007) and creatinine (r = 0.284 and p = 0.004). The PAD4 concentration and PADI4 polymorphisms were also not associated with RRT and with mortality in patients with SAKI. CONCLUSION: PAD4 concentration and its polymorphisms were not associated with SAKI development, the need for RRT, or mortality in patients with septic shock. However, PAD4 concentrations were associated with creatinine and urea levels in these patients.

Evaluation of peptidylarginine deiminase 4 and PADI4 polymorphisms in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD 4) concentration and PADI4 polymorphisms as predictors of acute kidney injury (AKI) development, the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), and mortality in patients with septic shock. METHODS: We included all individuals aged ≥ 18 years, with a diagnosis of septic shock at ICU admission. Blood samples were taken within the first 24 hours of the patient's admission to determine serum PAD4 concentration and its PADI4 polymorphism (rs11203367) and (rs874881). Patients were monitored during their ICU stay and the development of SAKI was evaluated. Among the patients in whom SAKI developed, mortality and the need for RRT were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were 99 patients, 51.5% of whom developed SAKI and of these, 21.5% needed RRT and 80% died in the ICU. There was no difference between PAD4 concentration (p = 0.116) and its polymorphisms rs11203367 (p = 0.910) and rs874881 (p = 0.769) in patients in whom SAKI did or did not develop. However, PAD4 had a positive correlation with plasma urea concentration (r = 0.269 and p = 0.007) and creatinine (r = 0.284 and p = 0.004). The PAD4 concentration and PADI4 polymorphisms were also not associated with RRT and with mortality in patients with SAKI. CONCLUSION: PAD4 concentration and its polymorphisms were not associated with SAKI development, the need for RRT, or mortality in patients with septic shock. However, PAD4 concentrations were associated with creatinine and urea levels in these patients.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Avaliar a concentração da peptidilarginina deiminase 4 (PAD4) e os polimorfismos de PADI4, como preditores de desenvolvimento de lesão renal aguda, necessidade de terapia renal substitutiva (TRS) e mortalidade em pacientes com choque séptico. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos indivíduos com idade ≥18 anos, com diagnóstico de choque séptico na admissão na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI). Amostras de sangue foram coletadas nas primeiras 24 horas após a admissão do paciente para determinar a concentração sérica de PAD4 e seus polimorfismos PADI4 (rs11203367) e (rs874881). Os pacientes foram acompanhados durante a internação na UTI e tiveram avaliados desenvolvimento da lesão renal aguda séptica (Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury - Saki), necessidade TRS e mortalidade. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 99 pacientes; 51,5% desenvolveram Saki e, desses, 21,5% necessitaram de TRS e 80% morreram na UTI. Não houve diferença entre a concentração de PAD4 (p=0,116) e seus polimorfismos rs11203367 (p=0,910) e rs874881 (p=0,769) entre os pacientes. No entanto, o PAD4 apresentou correlação positiva com a concentração plasmática de ureia (r=0,269; p=0,007) e creatinina (r=0,284; p=0,004). A concentração de PAD4 e os polimorfismos da PADI4 também não foram associados à TRS e à mortalidade em pacientes com Saki. CONCLUSÕES: A concentração de PAD4 e seus polimorfismos não foram associados ao desenvolvimento de Saki, à necessidade de TRS ou à mortalidade em pacientes com choque séptico. No entanto, as concentrações de PAD4 foram associadas às concentrações de creatinina e ureia nesses pacientes.

Vancomycin for Dialytic Therapy in Critically Ill Patients: Analysis of Its Reduction and the Factors Associated with Subtherapeutic Concentrations.

This study aimed to evaluate the reduction in vancomycin through intermittent haemodialysis (IHD) and prolonged haemodialysis (PHD) in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients with sepsis and to identify the variables associated with subtherapeutic concentrations. A prospective study was performed in patients admitted at an intensive care unit (ICU) of a Brazilian hospital. Blood samples were collected at the start of dialytic therapy, after 2 and 4 h of treatment and at the end of therapy to determine the serum concentration of vancomycin and thus perform pharmacokinetic evaluation and PK/PD modelling. Twenty-seven patients treated with IHD, 17 treated with PHD for 6 h and 11 treated with PHD for 10 h were included. The reduction in serum concentrations of vancomycin after 2 h of therapy was 26.65 ± 12.64% and at the end of dialysis was 45.78 ± 12.79%, higher in the 10-h PHD group, 57.70% (40, 48-64, 30%) (p = 0.037). The ratio of the area under the curve to minimal inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) at 24 h in the PHD group was significantly smaller than at 10 h (p = 0.047). In the logistic regression, PHD was a risk factor for an AUC/MIC ratio less than 400 (OR = 11.59, p = 0.033), while a higher serum concentration of vancomycin at T0 was a protective factor (OR = 0.791, p = 0.009). In conclusion, subtherapeutic concentrations of vancomycin in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients in dialysis were elevated and may be related to a higher risk of bacterial resistance and mortality, besides pointing out the necessity of additional doses of vancomycin during dialytic therapy, mainly in PHD.

Vancomycin dosing, monitoring and toxicity: Critical review of the clinical practice.

Vancomycin is an antibiotic used in the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In the last decades, vancomycin has been widely used in hospital environments due to the increasing incidence of sepsis and septic shock. Sepsis may lead to multiple organ failure; it is considered a risk factor for the development of acute kidney injury (AKI), with an overall mortality rate of around 45%, which can reach the surprising rate of 70% with the combination of AKI and sepsis. Considering the high mortality rate of sepsis and its related costs of hospitalization and treatment, specific measures should be adopted, such as early-goal treatment protocols: proper and early administration of antimicrobials, fluids, vasoactive drugs and transfusion support. Besides the careful selection of the antimicrobial, another concern related to critically ill patients is the proper dose of the antimicrobial, since pharmacokinetic changes are observed due to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. Gram-positive pathogens are very common in hospitalized patients with septic shock, so vancomycin has been the antimicrobial of choice for more than 60 years. However, discussions about its dosage, administration and monitoring are extremely important, considering the risk of nephrotoxicity and the emergence of resistant S. aureus. This narrative review aims to discuss controversial aspects related to the efficacy and safety of vancomycin, correlating them with data available in the literature and identifying knowledge gaps in guide future lines of research.

Effect of hemodialysis on respiratory mechanics in acute kidney injury patients.

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis (HD) is one treatment for acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. Studies have shown that this dialysis modality may lead to changes in pulmonary function with an impact on prognosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate changes in respiratory mechanics and oxygenation of AKI patients admitted to an intensive care unit who were undergoing intermittent mechanical ventilation (IMV) and daily HD. METHODS: This prospective cohort study evaluated 94 AKI patients and 234 HD sessions. Pulmonary static compliance (Pcs), resistance (Rsr), and arterial partial pressure of oxygen and the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2 /FiO2 ) ratio were assessed during the initial three-day period of daily HD therapy. FINDINGS: Psc increased progressively during HD sessions, from 39.4 ± 21.4 mL/cm H2 O prior to the initial dialysis to 55.5 ± 25.2 at the end of the last dialysis during the study period (P = 0.04). Similarly, Rsr and PaO2 /FiO2 ratio also improved, from 11.1 ± 6.3 cm H2 O/L/s prior to the initial dialysis to 8.8 ± 4.2 at the end of the last dialysis (P =0.0027) and from 228 ± 85 prior to the initial dialysis to 312.1 ± 111.5, P < 0.001, to the end of the last dialysis, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed that AKI patients undergoing IMV and daily HD improve their respiratory mechanics and oxygenation.

Poor agreement between indirect calorimetry and predictive formula of rest energy expenditure in pre-dialytic and dialytic chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is common in the end-stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can be caused by factors related to poor dietary intake and changes in energy expenditure. Indirect calorimetry (IC) is the gold standard method to measure resting energy expenditure (REE), however, it is not much available and it is common to use predictive formulas of REE in clinical practice. This study compared the values of REE measured by IC to those estimated by Harris & Benedict formula, the most one used in clinical practice in Brazil. METHODS: Patients with stage 5 CKD (an estimated glomerular filtration rate <15 mL/min/1.73 m2), >18 years old were included and submitted to the IC test and Harris & Benedict's predictive formula. The assessments were performed at three moments: pre-dialysis indications (P1), at the beginning of dialysis indication (P2) and 30 days after the start of dialysis therapy (P3). Tuckey's test was used to compare energy expenditure variable by groups, and the Bland & Altman analysis was used to compare the agreement between the methods. A significance level of p < 0.05 and agreement limits of up to 200 Kcal were used. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients with mean age of 61.2 ± 10.9 years were included, 60% female, 17% afrodescendants and 60% with diabetes mellitus. There were no significant differences in REE between the three moments (P1: 1289.8 ± 382.7 kcal, P2: 1218.2 ± 362.8 kcal, P3: 1269.5 ± 335.1 kcal, p = 0.874). Harris & Benedict formula did not show IC agreement for the REE measurement because it presented high limits of agreement or because of the low precision of the estimated measure. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there was no significant alteration of REE by IC and that REE values estimated by Harris & Benedict formula did not agree with the values measured by IC in this population. The role of Harris & Benedict formula should be re-evaluated in stage 5 CKD patients.

Mortality and Recovery of Renal Function in Acute Kidney Injury Patients Treated with Prolonged Intermittent Hemodialysis Sessions Lasting 10 versus 6 Hours: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: This trial aimed to compare mortality and recovery of renal function in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients treated with different durations of prolonged hemodialysis (PHD) sessions (6 h versus 10 h). METHODOLOGY: We included patients with sepsis-associated AKI, >18 years, who are in use of a norepinephrine (lower than 0.7 ucg/kg/min). RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-four patients were treated with 531 sessions of PHD (G1=104 and G2=90 patients). The two groups were similar in age and SOFA. There was no significant difference in hypotension, hypokalemia, and anticoagulation during PHD sessions. The two groups showed differences in filter clotting, hypophosphatemia, and treatment discontinuation (12.3 versus 23.1%, p=0.002; 15.5 versus 25.8%, p=0.005; and 7.9 versus 15.6%, p=0.008, respectively). There was no difference in fluid balance (FB) before and after PHD sessions. Death and complete recovery of renal function were similar (81.3 versus 82.2%, p=0.87 and 21 versus 31.2%, p=0.7, respectively). At logistic regression, the positive FB before and after dialysis was identified as risk factor for death, while volume overload after three PHD sessions and predialysis creatinine were negatively associated with recovery of renal function in 28 days. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the mortality and recovery of renal function of AKI patients submitted to different durations of PHD and sessions lasting 10 h presented higher filter clotting, hypophosphatemia, and treatment discontinuation. ISRCTN Registry number is ISRCTN33774458.

Urgent start peritoneal dialysis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Although historically peritoneal dialysis was widely used in nephrology, it has been underutilized in recent years. In this review, we present several key opportunities and strategies for revitalization of urgent start peritoneal dialysis use, and discuss the recent literature on clinical experience with peritoneal dialysis use in the acute and unplanned setting. RECENT FINDINGS: Interest in using urgent start peritoneal dialysis to manage acute kidney injury (AKI) and unplanned chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 patients has been increasing. To overcome some of the classic limitations of peritoneal dialysis use in AKI, such as a high chance of infectious and mechanical complications, and no control of urea, the use of cycles, flexible catheters, and a high volume of dialysis fluid has been proposed. This knowledge can be used in the case of an unplanned start on chronic peritoneal dialysis, and may be a tool to increase the peritoneal dialysis penetration rate among incident patients starting chronic dialysis therapy. SUMMARY: Peritoneal dialysis should be offered in an unbiased way to all patients starting unplanned dialysis, and without contraindications to peritoneal dialysis. It may be a feasible, well tolerated, and complementary alternative to hemodialysis, not only in the chronic setting, but also in the acute.