Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Ckd Crash Landing and Initiating Dialysis Is it Time for Mandatory Screening Programme for Detection of CKD?

The present study was undertaken to study clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic characteristics of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease crash- landing and initiating hemodialysis at first presentation in our centre. MATERIAL: Ours was a cross-sectional study of one hundred and seventy patients with chronic kidney disease starting hemodialysis. Detailed history and examination were done. Apart from routine biochemical tests and CKD-MBD profile, all patient underwent ultrasonography, urine examination and echocardiography. Efforts were made to delineate etiology in each patient. OBSERVATION: Out of 170 patients 64% were males, 36% were females. Mean age at presentation in our study was 41.27 (±16.47) yrs. Chronic glomerulonephritis was the most common etiology accounting for 54% of cases followed by Diabetes (20%). Mean eGFR at presentation was <5 ml/min/1.73 m². Hypocalcemia was present in 87.1%, hyperphosphatemia in 84.2% and elevated PTH levels in 98% with mean PTH levels being 588.07±309.58 ng/ml. LVH on echocardiogram was present in 58.4 % of patient with diastolic dysfunction being reported in 31 % of patients. DCM was present in 28% of patients and 21% of patients had frank left ventricular failure at presentation. CONCLUSION: Chronic Kidney Disease patients referred late have clinical and lab characteristics which are worse as compared to routine CKD patients .This calls for a mandatory CKD screening programme for increasing awareness and early identification of CKD patients.

Gerontolizing Nephrology: Spectrum of Histopathological Findings of Kidney Biopsy in the Elderly.

INTRODUCTION: The spectrum of renal disorder in the elderly differs from the younger population. There is a paucity of literature regarding kidney biopsy in elderly. This study aims to highlight the clinical profile and histopathological spectrum of the elderly patient undergoing a renal biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included all patients (age ≥60 years) undergoing native renal biopsies from January 2012 to December 2017. The clinical profile, laboratory parameters, and renal biopsy findings of these patients were recorded from the case files. RESULTS: Out of 1656 renal biopsies performed during the study period, 230 (13.9%%) performed on the elderly were included. Mean age was 64.02 ± 7.87 years (Range: 60-87 years), and males were predominant (70.4%). The commonest indication for biopsy was nephrotic syndrome (NS) (49.6%) followed by Rapidly progressive renal failure (RPRF) (20.9%) and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) (15.7%). The most frequent histological diagnosis was membranous nephropathy (15.2%) followed by amyloidosis (13.9%) and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (13.0%). The commonest cause of NS was MGN (29.8%) followed by FSGS (24.6%) and amyloidosis (22.8%). The commonest cause of nephritic syndrome was Diffuse Proliferative Glomerulonephritis (29.4%) and Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis (29.4%). Hypertensive nephrosclerosis (40.0%) and diabetic nephropathy (26.7%)) were the commonest histological diagnosis in the patients who underwent renal biopsy for clinical Chronic kidney disease. Crescentic GN (35.4%) and Myeloma cast nephropathy 14.6%) were the commonest cause of RPRF while Acute Tubular Necrosis (41.7%) was the commonest cause of AKI. None of the patients had major complications. CONCLUSION: Renal biopsy is safe in the elderly and provides a wealth of information with regards to the diagnosis and prognosis of renal disorder.

Sofosbuvir-Velpatasvir Fixed Drug Combination for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease and Kidney Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: India is witnessing high hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection burden in patients of chronic kidney disease. Due to unavailability of costly Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes-recommended directly acting antiviral drugs, a widely available pan-genotypic combination of Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir can become an economical option. Data regarding treatment experience of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir combination in chronic kidney disease is scarce. No data from India have been published in patients on renal replacement therapies till now. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included all patients of end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis with treatment-naïve chronic HCV infection treated with sofosbuvir (400 mg) and velpatasvir (100 mg) fixed-dose combination. Pretreatment routine investigations were performed, which included HCV viral load, genotype, fibro scan, endoscopy for esophageal varices, and portal vein Doppler. The patients were followed up with HCV viral load to declare sustained virologic response. RESULT: patients were included with a mean age of 39.8 ± 10.8 years, and 77.4% were male. Genotype 1 was found to be most prevalent (67.7%), with a median viral load of 106copies/ml. Six (19.3%) patients had hepatitis B virus co-infection. Three (9.7%) patients had cirrhosis. Sustained virologic response (SVR12) was achieved in 30 (96.8%) patients, and one (3.2%) patient had relapse. Furthermore, 14 (45.2%) patients underwent renal transplantation, and none of them had relapsed. Dyspepsia (9.7%) was the most common side effect observed with no major adverse effect. CONCLUSION: Our study showed excellent efficacy with the safety profile of this drug combination in end-stage renal disease patients. However, larger prospective studies and multicenter randomized controlled trials are needed for further confirmation.

Lower Limb Nodulo-ulcerative Lesion in Kidney Transplant Recipient - An Unusual Diagnosis.

A 56-year-old kidney transplant recipient presented with a progressive cauliflower-like growth on the plantar surface of the right foot and on workup found to have chromoblastomycosis, which was successfully treated by antifungal agent and surgical excision with no recurrence. Chromoblastomycosis belongs to the heterogeneous group of subcutaneous mycoses. It is caused by various pigmented (dematiaceous) fungi, which gain entry into the skin via traumatic implantation. The case is of interest because it has so far not been reported from the northwest arid zone of India in kidney transplant recipients.

Characteristics and outcome of postpartum acute kidney injury requiring dialysis: A single-center experience from North India.

Postpartum acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the serious complications of pregnancy and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. We conducted this study to determine the characteristics and outcome of the most severe form of postpartum AKI requiring dialysis. This prospective, observational study was conducted in Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur. All postpartum female suffering from AKI requiring dialysis between July 2014 and December 2016 were included in the study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data of the patients were recorded. Outcome variables included survival at hospital discharge and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at three months of follow-up. Sixty (88.2%) out of 68 women admitted with postpartum AKI required dialysis. The mean age was 26.5 ± 4.3 years and the majority (80%) had institutional delivery. The mean sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was 8.0 ± 2.9. Puerperal sepsis (n = 37, 61.6%), preeclampsia (n = 21, 35%), and antepartum hemorrhage (n = 14, 23.3%) were the most common obstetric complication associated with postpartum AKI. Maternal mortality was 28.3%. Higher SOFA score (P = 0.015, odds ratio [OR]: 1.99, confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-3.45) and diagnosis of sepsis (P = 0.048, OR: 26.3, CI: 1.03-678.3) were the independent predictors of mortality. Out of 37 patients who were followed up at three months, 51.3% had eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Duration of anuria (in days) was the only independent predictor of (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at three months of follow-up (P = 0.029, OR: 1.2, CI: 1.02-1.46). Postpartum AKI requiring dialysis was associated with high mortality. More than half of the survivors had eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 on follow-up highlighting the need of appropriate follow-up.

Comparison of intradermal route and dose of Hepatitis B vaccine administration in chronic dialysis patients: A pilot study.

We aimed to study the seroconversion rate in two arms of intradermal (ID) route: low dose with high-frequency and high dose with low-frequency hepatitis B (HB) vaccination in dialysis patients. A total of 56 patients, on either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, were included. Patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups. The first group was immunized through the ID route and received weekly 10 µg of vaccine at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 weeks (low-dose with high frequency). The second group was immunized through the ID route and received two doses of 40 µg at one-month interval (high dose with low frequency). Anti-HBs antibody titers were measured at one month and one month after completion of the vaccination, i.e., at three months in each group. At one month, each group had received 40 µg of vaccine. The seroconversion rate was 28.57% in each group. At one month after completion of vaccination, seroconversion rate in low-dose ID and high-dose ID was 60% and 58.33%, respectively (P = 0.911) at 80 µgm of total vaccine dose. The overall "good" responders in low-dose versus high-dose ID route were 30% and 50%, respectively (P = 0.179). However, among responders, anti-HBs antibody titers ≥100 mIU/mL in low-dose and high-dose ID route were 50% and 85.7%, respectively (P = 0.049). The rate of seroconversion is comparable in both low dose with high-frequency and high dose with low-frequency ID route.

Leukocyte esterase reagent strip as a bedside tool to detect peritonitis in patients undergoing acute peritoneal dialysis.

Peritonitis is a common and life-threatening complication of acute peritoneal dialysis (PD). Diagnosis requires the presence of clinical signs of peritonitis which are nonspecific and laboratory investigations [total leukocyte count (TLC), Gram-stain, and culture of PD effluent fluid] which are time-consuming and not available at the bedside. In this study, we evaluated the use of leukocyte esterase reagent strip (LERS) as a bedside test to diagnose peritonitis in patients undergoing acute PD. Patients who underwent acute PD were monitored for signs and symptoms of peritonitis. PD effluent fluid analysis included TLC, absolute neutrophil count, Gram-stain, and culture for the diagnosis of peritonitis. LERS (Multistix 10SG) was simultaneously dipped in PD effluent fluid and read at two minutes. Reading of + was considered as indicative of peritonitis. Twenty-one out of 166 (12.6%) patients undergoing acute PD developed peritonitis. LERS detected peritonitis in 20 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (NPV) of LERS were 95.2%, 95.2%, 74.1%, and 99.3%, respectively. LERS has very high sensitivity and NPV and can be used as a rapid bedside tool to exclude peritonitis in patients undergoing acute PD.

Clinicoepidemiological profile of peritonitis complicating acute peritoneal dialysis: A single-center experience.

A prospective observational study examining the incidence and microbiological aspects of peritonitis complicating acute intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) was performed. A total of 145 acute IPD treatments were included involving 112 patients. The majority of patients suffered from acute kidney injury (72.3%) secondary to sepsis. Peritonitis occurred in 31 treatment sessions, giving a frequency of 21.4% of procedures performed. The mean interval between starting dialysis and the first sign of peritonitis was 2.9 days, with 58% of cases occurring in the Intensive Care Unit. Frequent catheter manipulation/repositioning and leakages were identified as significant predisposing factors for peritonitis, and the risk of peritonitis was increased with longer duration of IPD. Gram-negative infections were more common than Grampositive infections. The use of systemic antibiotics did not prevent the development of peritonitis.

Acute Stylet Peritoneal Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury: The Soul Never Dies.

BACKGROUND: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) has a significant mortality rate. In developing countries, mortality due to AKI is high due to lack of access to dialysis facilities and related cost. The main goal of International Society of Nephrology (ISN) 0 by 25 initiative is to eliminate deaths due to AKI. Peritoneal dialysis is an underutilized modality in such a scenario. The aim of this study was to look into effectiveness of starting Acute stylet Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) in a resource constraint settings. METHODS: In this prospective study conducted over a year, patients with AKI due to various aetiologies were subjected to Acute stylet PD. The clinical Outcome, demographic, biochemical and treatment data was assessed. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 79 (41 anuric, 33 oliguric and 5 nonoliguric) patients were included in the study. Sepsis was the predominant cause of AKI. Recovery was seen in 34% of patients. Patients with relatively preserved urine output recovered with PD in comparison to the anuric patients (p value <0.01). 58% of patients, majority of whom were anuric needed Hemodialysis (HD) in due course (7 ± 3 days) of time. The mortality in our study was 7.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Acute stylet PD can be considered as a modality of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) to treat a selected (oliguric, nonoliguric) group of AKI patients and as a bridge therapy for HD in those AKI patients in anuria.

Profile of glomerular diseases associated with hepatitis B and C: A single-center experience from India.

Hepatitis B and C are known to affect kidneys in a number of ways. Glomerular diseases associated with hepatitis B and C include membranous nephropathy (MN), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, immunoglobulin A nephropathy, rarely amyloidosis, and fibrillary and immunotactoid glomerulopathy. In a retrospective analysis of kidney biopsy of 534 patients, we found 16 (2.9%) patients of hepatitis B and 11 (2.05%) patients of hepatitis C with glomerular disease. The most common form of glomerulonephritis in hepatitis B patient was MN and in hepatitis C patient was MPGN.

A clinicopathologic study of glomerular disease: A single-center, five-year retrospective study from Northwest India.

Studies published from centers across India have reported different and contradicting patterns of glomerular disease. In this retrospective study, we report our experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Northwest India. A total of 702 renal biopsies performed between 2008 and 2013 were reviewed of which 80 were excluded from the study because of having insufficient records or if the biopsies were taken from an allograft. The study included 411 males (66.1 %) and 211 females (33.9%) with an age range of 12-70 years (mean 30.34 ± 7.04 years). Majority of the biopsies (93.9%) showed some form of glomerulonephritis (GN), either primary (79.4%) or secondary glomerular disease (SGD) (14.5%). Minimal change disease (MCD) was the most common type of primary GN (26.5% of primary GN), followed by membranous nephropathy (MN; 18.8%) and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS; 13.2%). Lupus nephritis (LN) was the most frequent SGD (52.2% of secondary GN). Amyloidosis was found in 41.1% and diabetic glomerulosclerosis in 4.4%. LN was also the second most common diagnosis in females after MCD, seen in 19.4% of females. MCD followed by membranoproliferative GN and diffuse proliferative GN were the most common entities in individuals <20 years of age. In the 20-39 years age group, MN was the most common pathology seen. MN was again the most common pathology seen in patients aged above 40 years followed by amyloidosis and FSGS. In this study, MCD was the most common primary GN observed overall from this part of India. MN was the most common GN in individuals above 20 years of age presenting with the nephrotic syndrome. The geographical and regional differences in the pattern of GNs point to the necessity of having a central biopsy registry.

Effect of vitamin D level on the immunogenicity to hepatitis B vaccination in dialysis patients.

We undertook this study to assess the response of hepatitis B vaccination in dialysis patients and the effect of vitamin D level on the immunogenicity to hepatitis B vaccination. It was an observational study, which included 60 patients of end-stage renal disease on maintenance dialysis. Patients with anti-HBs antibody positive at baseline were excluded. All received intramuscular recombinant hepatitis B vaccination at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months 20 µg on each deltoid muscle bilateral. Anti-HBs antibody titers were measured at 4 and 7 months of vaccination and the titer ≥10 mIU/mL was considered as "positive". Vitamin D levels were measured at baseline before starting the vaccination. The mean vitamin D level was 15.0 ± 7.8 ng/mL. The vitamin D level <10 and <20 were 23.3% and 83.3%, respectively. The patients on hemodialysis had relatively higher vitamin D level than on peritoneal dialysis patients, i.e. 16.3 ± 8.5 and 11.5 ± 3.1 ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.03). Overall, 38 patients responded to the immunization (63.3%) and 11 patients were non-responders (36.7%) at 4 months. Difference of vitamin D level in responder (16.6 ± 9.1 ng/mL) and non-responder (12.4 ± 4.1 ng/mL) was not significant (p = 0.16). At 7 months (1 month after completion of vaccination) 61.9% were responders and 38.1% were non-responders. The vitamin D level in responders and non-responders were statistically not significant (p = 0.11). In responder, titer ≥100 mIU/mL was seen in 30% at 4 months and in 42.9% at 7 months (p = 0.05). In the good and weak responders at 7 months, vitamin D levels were 21.5 ± 10.8 and 10.1 ± 3.7 ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.37). The association of vitamin D level and anti-HBs antibody titer were not significant (r = 0.03 and 95% CI was -0.43 to 0.48, p = 0.89) in those who responded. Most patients on dialysis were vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D levels did not differ between responding and non-responding dialysis patients.

Plasmodium vivax induced hemolytic uremic syndrome: An uncommon manifestation that leads to a grave complication and treated successfully with renal transplantation.

We are reporting a case of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare manifestation of Plasmodium vivax malaria. A young driver was admitted with acute febrile illness, decreased urine output, anemia, thrombocytopenia, jaundice, and increased serum lactate dehydrogenase. He showed a partial response to antimalarial drugs. However, he was readmitted with worsening renal parameters. His kidney biopsy revealed chronic thrombotic microangiopathy. He remained dialysis dependent and later underwent renal transplantation successfully, with excellent graft function at 1-year.

Prevalence of low glomerular filtration rate, proteinuria and associated risk factors in North India using Cockcroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation: an observational, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly being recognized as an emerging public health problem in India. However, community based estimates of low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and proteinuria are few. Validity of traditional serum creatinine based GFR estimating equations in South Asian subjects is also debatable. We intended to estimate and compare the prevalence of low GFR, proteinuria and associated risk factors in North India using Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and Modification of Diet In Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. METHODS: A community based, cross-sectional study involving multistage random cluster sampling was done in Delhi and its surrounding regions. Adults > or = 20 years were surveyed. CG and MDRD equations were used to estimate GFR (eGFR). Low GFR was defined as eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Proteinuria (> or = 1+) was assessed using visually read dipsticks. Odds ratios, crude and adjusted, were calculated to ascertain associations between renal impairment, proteinuria and risk factors. RESULTS: The study population had 3,155 males and 2,097 females. The mean age for low eGFR subjects was 54 years. The unstandardized prevalence of low eGFR was 13.3% by CG equation and 4.2% by MDRD equation. The prevalence estimates of MDRD equation were lower across gender and age groups when compared with CG equation estimates. There was a strong correlation but poor agreement between GFR estimates of two equations. The survey population had a 2.25% prevalence of proteinuria. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis; age above 60 years, female gender, low educational status, increased waist circumference, hypertension and diabetes were associated with low eGFR. Similar factors were also associated with proteinuria. Only 3.3% of subjects with renal impairment were aware of their disease. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of low eGFR in North India is probably higher than previous estimates. There is a significant difference between GFR estimates derived from CG and MDRD equations. These equations may not be useful in epidemiological research. GFR estimating equations validated for South Asian populations are needed before reliable estimates of CKD prevalence can be obtained. Till then, primary prevention and management targeted at CKD risk factors must play a critical role in controlling rising CKD magnitude. Cost-benefit analysis of targeted screening programs is needed.

Diffuse lymphomatous infiltration of kidney presenting as renal tubular acidosis and hypokalemic paralysis: case report.

We report the case of a 22-year-old woman who presented with acute onset flaccid quadriparesis. Physical examination showed mild pallor with cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, and bilateral smooth enlarged kidneys. Neurological examination revealed lower motor neuron muscle weakness in all the four limbs with hyporeflexia and normal sensory examination. Laboratory investigations showed anemia, severe hypokalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Urinalysis showed a specific gravity of 1.010, pH of 7.0, with a positive urine anion gap. Ultrasound revealed hepatosplenomegaly with bilateral enlarged smooth kidneys. Renal biopsy was consistent with the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B cell type). Metabolic acidosis, alkaline urine, and severe hypokalemia due to excessive urinary loss in our patient were suggestive of distal renal tubular acidosis. Renal involvement in lymphoma is usually subclinical and clinically overt renal disease is rare. Diffuse lymphomatous infiltration of the kidneys may cause tubular dysfunction and present with hypokalemic paralysis.

Chyluria with proteinuria or filarial nephropathy? An enigma.

Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in India. Out of 128 million infected individuals worldwide, India accounts for 48 million cases [Manson's Tropical Diseases, 21st Ed. p 1488]. Filariasis can have protean manifestations, but Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia and chyluria are unusual manifestations reported mainly from South Asian countries [Manson's Tropical Diseases, 21st Ed. p 1494]. Chyluria occurs only in 2% of filarial afflicted patients in the filarial belt [Diamond E, Schapira HE. Chyluria--a review of literature. Urology 1985;26(5): 427-31]. Lymphatic filariasis presenting as chyluria may be equally rare. Predominant chyluria with no overt lymphatic filariasis remains an enigma.