Conventional physical examination extended by bedside ultrasound: a new paradigm in nephrological practice / Exame físico convencional estendido pela ultrassonografia à beira do leito: novo paradigma da prática nefrológica

ABSTRACT Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has been gaining momentum as an extension to physical examination in several specialties. In nephrology, POCUS has generally been used in a restricted way in urinary tract evaluation. We report the case of a patient with nephrotic syndrome secondary to amyloidosis, previously diagnosed by renal biopsy, who was oligosymptomatic when seen the an outpatient clinic, where the POCUS, focused on the heart, lung and abdomen, revealed anasarca, pulmonary congestion and cardiac changes suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis. After evaluation by the cardiology and hematology services, the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis with cardiac involvement was confirmed. This case emphasizes the importance of extending the physical examination using POCUS, which, ideally, should not be restricted to the urinary tract.

RESUMO A ultrassonografia Point of Care (POCUS) vem ganhando momentum como uma extensão ao exame físico em várias especialidades. Na nefrologia, a POCUS tem sido geralmente utilizada de forma restrita na avaliação do trato urinário. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente com síndrome nefrótica secundária à amiloidose previamente diagnosticada por biópsia renal, que se apresentava oligossintomática quando atendida em ambulatório, onde a POCUS, com foco no coração, pulmão e abdômen, revelou anasarca, congestão pulmonar e alterações cardíacas sugestivas de amiloidose cardíaca. Após avaliação pelos serviços de cardiologia e hematologia, foi confirmado o diagnóstico de amiloidose AL com envolvimento cardíaco. Esse caso enfatiza a importância da extensão do exame físico pela POCUS, que, idealmente, não deve se restringir ao trato urinário.

Conventional physical examination extended by bedside ultrasound: a new paradigm in nephrological practice.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has been gaining momentum as an extension to physical examination in several specialties. In nephrology, POCUS has generally been used in a restricted way in urinary tract evaluation. We report the case of a patient with nephrotic syndrome secondary to amyloidosis, previously diagnosed by renal biopsy, who was oligosymptomatic when seen the an outpatient clinic, where the POCUS, focused on the heart, lung and abdomen, revealed anasarca, pulmonary congestion and cardiac changes suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis. After evaluation by the cardiology and hematology services, the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis with cardiac involvement was confirmed. This case emphasizes the importance of extending the physical examination using POCUS, which, ideally, should not be restricted to the urinary tract.

Ventricular arrhythmia in chronic kidney disease patients.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are susceptible to the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias. The leading cause of death in dialysis patients is cardiac arrhythmias. The pathophysiology of arrhythmias in this population is complex and seems to be related to structural cardiac abnormalities caused by CKD, associated with several triggers, such as water and electrolyte disorders, hormonal conditions, arrhythmogenic drugs, and the dialysis procedure itself. Little is known about the clinical outcomes in CKD patients with asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias. The results of treatments with anti-arrhythmic drugs and invasive devices are controversial in these patients, according to the available literature. The aim of this study was to review this often-neglected topic, which is of special importance in the CKD population.

Ventricular arrhythmia in chronic kidney disease patients / Arritmia ventricular em pacientes com doença renal crônica

Abstract Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are susceptible to the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias. The leading cause of death in dialysis patients is cardiac arrhythmias. The pathophysiology of arrhythmias in this population is complex and seems to be related to structural cardiac abnormalities caused by CKD, associated with several triggers, such as water and electrolyte disorders, hormonal conditions, arrhythmogenic drugs, and the dialysis procedure itself. Little is known about the clinical outcomes in CKD patients with asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias. The results of treatments with anti-arrhythmic drugs and invasive devices are controversial in these patients, according to the available literature. The aim of this study was to review this often-neglected topic, which is of special importance in the CKD population.

Resumo A população com doença renal crônica (DRC) está vulnerável à ocorrência de arritmias ventriculares. Os distúrbios do rítmo cardíaco constituem a principal causa de morte em pacientes dialíticos. A fisiopatologia das arritmias nesta população é complexa e parece relacionar-se às alterações da estrutura cardíaca causadas pela DRC, associadas a diversos gatilhos, tais como: distúrbios hidro-eletrolíticos e hormonais, uso de drogas arritmogênicas e aqueles relacionados ao próprio procedimento dialítico. Pouco se sabe sobre os desfechos clínicos dos pacientes com DRC portadores de arritmias ventriculares assintomáticas. O tratamento desta população com anti-arrítmicos e dispositivos invasivos tem resultados controversos na literatura. O objetivo desse trabalho foi revisar este tema muitas vezes negligenciado, mas de especial importância na população com DRC.

Asymptomatic Ventricular Arrhythmia and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ventricular arrhythmia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and death in the general population. Sudden death is a leading cause of death in end-stage renal disease. We aimed at evaluating the effects of ventricular arrhythmia on clinical outcomes in patients with earlier stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: In a prospective study of 109 nondialyzed CKD patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate 34.8 ± 16.1 ml/min/1.73 m2, 57 ± 11.4 years, 61% male, 24% diabetics), we tested the hypothesis that the presence of subclinical complex ventricular arrhythmia, assessed by 24-hour electrocardiogram, is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events, hospitalization, and death and with their composite outcome during 24 months of follow-up. Complex ventricular arrhythmia was defined as the presence of multifocal ventricular extrasystoles, paired ventricular extrasystoles, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, or R wave over T wave. RESULTS: We identified complex ventricular arrhythmia in 14% of participants at baseline. During follow-up, 11 cardiovascular events, 15 hospitalizations, and 4 deaths occurred. The presence of complex ventricular arrhythmia was associated with cardiovascular events (p < 0.001), hospitalization (p = 0.018), mortality (p < 0.001), and the composite outcome (p < 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, adjusting for demographic characteristics, complex ventricular arrhythmia was associated with increased risk of the composite outcome (HR 4.40; 95% CI 1.60-12.12; p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, the presence of asymptomatic complex ventricular arrhythmia was associated with poor clinical outcomes in nondialyzed CKD patients.

Prevalence of ventricular arrhythmia and its associated factors in nondialyzed chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sudden cardiac death is the most common cause of mortality in chronic kidney disease patients, and it occurs mostly due to ventricular arrhythmias. In this study, we aimed at investigating the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmia and the factors associated with its occurrence in nondialyzed chronic kidney disease patients. DESIGN SETTING PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: This cross-sectional study evaluated 111 chronic kidney disease patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate 34.7±16.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2), 57±11.4 years, 60% male, 24% diabetics). Ventricular arrhythmia was assessed by 24-hour electrocardiogram. Left ventricular hypertrophy (echocardiogram), 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and coronary artery calcification (multi-slice computed tomography) and laboratory parameters were also evaluated. RESULTS: Ventricular arrhythmia was found in 35% of the patients. Non-controlled hypertension was observed in 21%, absence of systolic decency in 29%, left ventricular hypertrophy in 27%, systolic dysfunction in 10%, and coronary artery calcification in 49%. Patients with ventricular arrhythmia were older (p<0.001), predominantly men (p = 0.009), had higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.03) and hemoglobin (p = 0.005), and lower intact parathyroid hormone (p = 0.024) and triglycerides (p = 0.011) when compared to patients without ventricular arrhythmia. In addition, a higher left ventricular mass index (p = 0.002) and coronary calcium score (p = 0.002), and a lower ejection fraction (p = 0.001) were observed among patients with ventricular arrhythmia. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, aging, increased hemoglobin levels and reduced ejection fraction were independently related to the presence of ventricular arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular arrhythmia is prevalent in nondialyzed chronic kidney disease patients. Age, hemoglobin levels and ejection fraction were the factors associated with ventricular arrhythmia in these patients.