Prevalence of polyomavirus among United Arab Emirates kidney transplant recipients: results from a single center.

BACKGROUND: BK viremia and nephropathy are increasing problems in renal transplant recipients. The absence of a safe and effective antiviral therapy made screening-based prevention a recommended strategy. The prevalence of its reactivation among recipients of kidney transplants in the Middle East has not been well established. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of BK virus (BKV) infection for renal transplant recipients at our medical center. METHODS: All renal transplant recipients followed up in our transplantation clinic between 2012 and 2013 (n = 116) were screened. Urine and blood quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the BKV were performed in all of the study patients. Renal biopsy was performed only in patients with deteriorating renal function associated with positive PCR. Patients who showed positive BKV PCR were followed up for 6 to 12 months. This included clinical and kidney function assessment along with BKV PCR viral load. RESULTS: Among the 116 kidney transplant recipients studied, 65 (56%) were male, age 51 ± 15 years, with a transplantation vintage of 131 ± 61 months; 17 (14.7%) were positive for BKV PCR. Three (2.7%) showed viremia; 2 of them had deterioration of kidney function, renal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of BK nephropathy (NP) in both cases. The 3 cases were managed by reducing the immunosuppressive treatment with stabilization of their kidney function. Cases with stable renal function and positive urine for BKV cleared the virus spontaneously during follow-up after minor reduction of the immunosuppressive treatment or without any intervention. None of our patients lost the graft due to BK NP. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that BKV is not uncommon in our kidney transplant recipients. Routine screening suggested by the KDIGO Guidelines could help minimize its detrimental impact on the transplant outcome.

Long-term use of low-molecular-weight heparin in hemodialysis patients: a 7-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) is not routinely used as anticoagulant in hemodialysis (HD). The ideal dose and the safety of long-term use are not known. METHODS: A prospective three-phase interventional study. Phase 1 involved dose titration, phase 2 safety and efficacy and phase 3 routine practice. RESULTS: During 7 years of the use of the LMWH enoxaparin (EN), 236 patients were treated with a total number of 60,987 HD sessions. The mean dose used during the titration phase was 0.43 +/- 0.16 mg/kg/session, which was subsequently reduced in phase 3 to 0.36 +/- 0.14 mg/kg/session. The long-term effects of EN on the platelet count and lipid profile were comparable to unfractionated heparin. CONCLUSION: The long-term use of LMWH (EN) with a reduced dose in HD is practical and safe.

Pattern of acute renal failure in a tertiary hospital in the United Arab Emirates.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a challenging problem in nephrology. To evaluate the pattern, management and outcome of ARF in our tertiary hospital, we analyzed the data of all 81 patients admitted with or developing ARF in hospital between January 2002 and June 2003. The 45 men and 36 women of mean age 56.2 +/- 21 (range 13 to 91) years were managed either on the ward (n = 48; 59%) and or in the ICU (n = 33; 41%) 10% were direct admissions to the nephrology service with ARF, and 90% developed ARF in hospital. Thirty percent were referred by oncology services and 15% by general medicine. Sepsis was the cause of ARF in 36 (44%) patients, followed by drug nephrotoxicity in 11 (14%), and obstructive uropathy in 9 (11%). Comorbid conditions were hypertension in 28 (35%); diabetes in 27 (33%); chronic renal failure, 19 (23%); ischemic heart disease 19 (23%); and liver disease 12 (15%). The most common predisposing factor was hypotension in 42 (52%), dehydration in 32 (40%), and drug nephrotoxicity in 20 (25%). Sixty patients (74%) were managed conservatively, and 21 (26%) required renal replacement therapy. The length of hospital stay was 29.5 +/- 38.4 (range 2 to 279) days. Patient survival for those managed on the ward was 71% compared to 33% for ICU patients (P <.00001). Renal survival was 83% for ward patients, compared to 48% for those in the ICU (P <.001). This study showed that majority of ARF developed in-hospital with oncology patients constituting the greatest proportion. Sepsis was the leading cause of ARF and hypotension, the main predisposing factor. Patients treated in the ICU showed a worse prognosis for both patient and renal survival.

Outcome and predictive factors of acute renal failure in the intensive care unit.

The development of acute renal failure (ARF) in the ICU setting carries a high morbidity and mortality. To assess the outcomes and its predictive factors in our ICU, we analyzed the data of patients with ARF treated during 18 months. The 33 patients included 21 men and 12 women of mean age 51 +/- 21.7 years (13 to 87). Sepsis with multi-organ dysfunction (MOD) was the leading cause of ARF (58%). Comorbid conditions were malignancy in 30% of patients, diabetes mellitus in 24%, hypertension in 21%, ischemic heart disease in 21%, liver disease in 15%, and chronic renal failure in 15%. Predisposing factors were hypotension in 67% of cases, dehydration in 36%, drug related in 33%, congestive heart failure in 24%, and liver cirrhosis in 6%. Twenty-five (76%) patients needed mechanical ventilation, 22 (67%) were anuric, 18 (55%) had MODS, and 15 (45%) needed inotropic support. Length of stay in hospital was 27.2 +/- 28.0 days (2 to 94). Nineteen patients (58%) were managed conservatively and 14 (42%) by renal replacement therapy. Patient mortality was 67% and renal mortality 52%. The impact of the following factor: was assessed on patient and renal outcome was assessed ventilation support, presence of oliguria, need for inotropes, and presence of MOD. Patient mortality was significantly influenced by an elevated odds ratios (OR) (95% CI): mechanical ventilation [OR = 34 (95% CI 1.95 to 538)], and presence of MODS [OR = 12.3 (95% CI 2 to 75)]. Renal mortality was influenced by mechanical ventilation [OR = 12.3 (95% CI 1.6 to 119)], oliguria [OR = 12 (95% CI 2 to 72)], inotrope support [OR = 10 (95% CI 2 to 52), and MOD [OR = 35 (95% CI 3.5 to 35.0)]. This study confirms the high patient and renal mortality of ARF among patients to ICU. The four parameters were excellent predictors of renal outcome, while only the need for mechanical ventilation and the presence of MOD were predictors for patient survival.

Late cytomegalovirus disease with atypical presentation in renal transplant patients: case reports.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease typically occurs 1 to 4 months (median 35 days) after solid organ transplantation. Recent reports documented that the natural history of CMV disease associated with solid organ transplantation has been modified as a result of the widespread use of potent immunosuppressents and antiviral prophylaxis. We herein report three pretransplant CMV seropositive recipients (with unknown donor status) who were diagnosed recently to display late and atypical CMV disease. Two men and one woman included two patients who presented with allograft dysfunction at 12 years and at 3 years after transplantation. Both patients showed increased serum creatinine approximately from baseline 200 to >400 micromol/L over 3 months in the absence of features of rejection or cyclosporine toxicity. A renal biopsy was refused by both patients. Two of the three patients presented with symptoms of enterocolitis (diarrhea, nausea, weight loss), which had persisted for more than 6 months. Other symptoms and signs of overt CMV disease (fever, leukopenia) were absent. None had pulmonary, hepatic, or other major organ involvement. In all patients IgG antibodies and CMV DNA by polymerase chain reaction were positive with negative IgM antibodies. The immunosuppressive regimen consisted of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), steroids, and calcineurin inhibitors. The kidney function significantly improved in both patients with renal dysfunction. Gastrointestinal symptoms resolved completely with gradual weight gain. The recognition and early diagnosis of late atypical CMV disease in kidney transplant patients presenting with allograft dysfunction and/or other organ systems is important. The MMF has a red herring effect in our cases due to its GI side effects.

An atypical course of Caroli's disease in a renal transplant patient--case report and review of the literature.

This is a rare case of Caroli's disease, diagnosed following renal transplantation in a patient with autosomal recessive polycystic kidneys. Despite advanced cystic transformation of the biliary tree with striking architectural changes, there was no evidence of portal hypertension or hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, the patient did not suffer a single episode of cholangitis, a most interesting feature of this case. Her clinical course was punctuated by repeated episodes of gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections with resistant organisms; but fortunately, she had no evidence of septicemia. Recurrent Salmonella gastroenteritis indicated a chronic carrier state with the dilated bile ducts possibly acting as a potential reservoir. This has significant implications considering the immune suppression associated with renal transplantation. In general, Caroli's disease is rare. Therefore, a high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of Caroli's disease is warranted especially in patients with ARPKD or ADPKD. Once confirmed, affected patients with end-stage renal disease such as our patient, should ideally undergo combined liver-kidney transplantation.

Analysis of 490 kidney biopsies: data from the United Arab Emirates Renal Diseases Registry.

There is little data on the spectrum of renal diseases in the United Arab Emirates. A renal diseases registry has been set up in an attempt to address this issue nationwide, and we report here the first outcome of this endeavor, a retrospective histopathologic analysis of 490 native kidney biopsies performed on adult patients presenting to four hospitals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi from 1978 to June 1996. The most common indication for a biopsy was the nephrotic syndrome (54.0%), followed by asymptomatic urinary abnormalities (29.7%), and chronic renal failure (12.7%). Primary glomerular disease accounted for 77.1% of all biopsies. Chronic proliferative glomerulonephritis as a group was the predominant pathology (36.2%), followed by idiopathic membranous glomerulopathy (20.1%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (18.3%), minimal change nephropathy (18.3%), and IgA nephropathy (6.3%). Of the patients with secondary kidney diseases, 33 (40.7%) had systemic lupus erythematosis, 27 (33.3%) amyloidosis, 14 interstitial nephropathy, and seven diabetic nephropathy. Kidney biopsies of 187 patients with primary glomerular disease who presented with the nephrotic syndrome were analyzed. In this group idiopathic membranous glomerulopathy, proliferative glomerulonephritis, and minimal change glomerulopathy was found in almost equal proportions (28.3%, 26.6%, 26.2%) with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (15.4%) accounting for the bulk of the remainder. Though the overall results of this analysis do not show any major differences in the spectrum of primary glomerulopathies in the United Arab Emirates compared with other countries, a slight tendency towards a higher frequency of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis among patients indigenous to the Arabian Peninsular (20.4%) deserves further evaluation.

Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator to declot dialysis fistulas.

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis is the most common complication of hemodialysis access. Few reports are available concerning the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) to declot an arterio-venous (A-V) access. This report describes the use of rt-PA for this purpose in 17 A-V accesses. METHODS: The rt-PV was infused manually using a small catheter directly into the A-V access in 10-mg doses at 1-2 hour intervals, to a maximum dose of 40 mg. The procedure was followed by angiography, through the same catheter. RESULTS: One fistula could not be cannulated, and in three the lysis of the clot failed. The other 13 cases (3 fistulas, and 10 grafts 81%) had successful lysis with return of bruit and thrill. Most patients had dialysis the next day using the declotted A-V access. Angiogram detected stenosis in six patients and surgical revision was done 1-8 days after the treatment. In the other seven patients no organic lesions were found, and six of them have a functioning A-V access 50-395 days after the lysis. Only 10-20 mg of rt-Pa was needed in 60% of the cases. No major complication occurred; minor local bleeding was noted in five patients (5/16, 31%). CONCLUSION: rt-PA can be considered safe, effective, and fast for declotting thrombosed arteriovenous fistulas.

What it Means to Die in Islam and Modern Medicine.

The objectives of this article is to evaluate whether the concept of brain-death can be examined by modern medicine alone as well as examine the impact of such an evaluation on Islamic views of this subject. Various clinical, philosophical, Islamic, and public-policy literature on the subject of death and brain-death have been examined. We present arguments to support the view that the subject of death (including brain-death) cannot be examined without a philosophical base. Any discussion on death should consist of definition of what it means to die, criteria for determining that death has occurred, and specific medical tests that show whether these criteria have been fulfilled. Medicine has no definition for death based on experimental sciences and death is defined by a philosophical concept. In order to accept the concept of brain-death in Western countries, they had to change first the philosophical definition of death. Also, there is still a debate in modern medicine whether death is an event or a process. Most recent Islamic literature has accepted the concept of brain-death as a medical fact, without discussing its philosophical base. This philosophical definition depends on many subjective factors. In Islam, death has a clear definition: it is the departure of the soul and hence, it is an event. However, the signs of this departure have not been specified and they were left to experts (physicians) to define them. In conclusion, medicine alone cannot formulate a concept regarding death. A philosophical definition of death must be used with it. The Islamic discussion on the concept of death should be focused mainly on its philosophical definition. The definition of death in the concept of "brain-death" does not contradict the concept of death in Islam.

[Familial hyperkalemia syndrome (Gordon's syndrome)]. / Syndrome d'hyperkaliémie familiale (syndrome de Gordon).

Hyperkaliema at 6 mmol/l was discovered in a 30-year old man during routine examination. Further investigations showed that the hyperkaliaemia was associated with hyperchloraemic acidosis, stimulable hyporeninaemia and relative hypoaldosteronism in relation to the hyperkaliaemia. Renal and adrenal functions were normal. The finding of 3 identical cases in a French family of 9 persons led to the diagnosis of Gordon's syndrome, a rare hereditary metabolic disorder with a controverted physiopathology.

A continuous hemofiltration system using sorbents for hemofiltrate regeneration.

Plasma ultrafiltrate obtained by glomerular filtration undergoes tubular modification which leads to the elimination of toxic substances, excess water and electrolytes, and consequently maintains homeostasis. Using normal urine and the substances it contains as a reference, we have developed a wearable device capable of replacing both the renal excretion function and maintaining fluid and electrolyte equilibrium in uremics within acceptable biological limits. Our device includes a hemofilter allowing continuous plasma ultrafiltration and sorbents obtained from a Redy sorbent cartridge to treat 85% of the ultrafiltrate, whereas 15% of this UF is rejected untreated. After calculating the quantity of ultrafiltrate (about 13 l) containing an amount of waste products of metabolism equivalent to 24-h urine elimination, we determined in vitro the amount of sorbent required to eliminate these waste products from the ultrafiltrate (e.g., 20 g of urea/day) and we have evaluated the quantities of other substances which must be replaced using a tailored diet. This extra-corporeal detoxification process was used in a uremic patient who had been on traditional hemodialysis for the past two years. The continuous treatment permitted maintenance of fluid and electrolyte equilibrium at the desired level and allowed rapid improvement of patient clinical status: elimination uf nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and edema, which had previously reappeared during the interdialytic periods, as well as a rapid decrease in heart size as ascites disappeared. In addition, the patient regained sexual drive and the ability to have an erection. In conclusion, traditional hemodialysis and hemofiltration techniques allow intermittent elimination of products retained by the body and reestablish nearly normal fluid and electrolyte balance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sequential sodium therapy allows correction of sodium-volume balance and reduces morbidity.

We investigated whether individually adjusting Na+ dialysis levels (Na+Di) combined with Na+ and UFR (ultrafiltration rate) programming, and a sodium/volume model (sequential sodium therapy, SST) can improve the end stage renal failure (ESRD) patient's homeostatic equilibrium intra- and interdialytically. One hundred and fifty patients were included in the study over a one year period. The results show that the patients are divided into two groups: 50 patients respond according to the sodium/volume model developed by F. Gotch [1983]. In this group it is possible to predict pre- and post dialysis plasma Na+ concentration (Na+o, Na+t) as a function of Na+Di and it becomes possible to choose Na+Di to allow Na+o and Na+t to virtually coincide, eliminating severe shifts in plasma tonicity. In the second group two subgroups can be distinguished: excess Na+ or excess H2O post dialysis, without possible correction at a single sodium level. SST corrects sodium/volume balance in this group by using sequential intermittent hypo or hypertonic dialysate, combined with fluid removal adapted to each episode. In both groups there was a significant improvement in the clinical condition of the patients who previously were less equilibrated. It is possible to conclude that SST improves tolerance intradialytically and achieves better equilibrium interdialytically. Implementation of SST requires precise control of the concentrate and the water, and equipment adapted for accurate, programmable sequential control of Na+Di and ultrafiltration rate.