A case report of a pyogenic liver abscess caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis.

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a process with significant morbidity and mortality and is a rare complication in an aisled way in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). In addition to hepatic cyst infection, intracystic hemorrhage is another complication seen in ADPKD patients; however, the liver parenchyma itself remains normal. A PLA located in normal liver tissue in these kinds of patients has not been previously reported. Fusobacterium nucleatum is an anaerobic bacterium with rare involvement other than in periodontal infections. A 58-year-old Caucasian male, who was on hemodialysis treatment from July 2004 due to end-stage renal disease secondary to ADPKD, was admitted with fever, rigor, chills, weakness, and abdominal pain of 10 days duration. During that time, ciprofloxacin 500 mg, twice daily, gentamycin 80 mg/48 h, and vancomycin 1 g/week, were prescribed, but treatment was interrupted by hospitalization. Physical examination on admission revealed that the patient had a fever of 39.8 degrees C, pallor, chills, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and hepatosplenomegaly. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a 5.3 cm diameter collection with irregular configuration located in the caudate lobe. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a large multiloculated hepatic collection. The PLA was managed with antibiotics (metronidazole) and continuous catheter drainage (8Fr drainage catheters [Abocath-T, Abbott, Sligo, Ireland]) into the abscess. Fluid culture was positive for F. nucleatum. Complete remission was obtained after 12 days without complications. We describe a PLA by F. nucleatum, in a very rare location in an ADPKD patient undergoing hemodialysis without complicated cysts, managed with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage with satisfactory resolution.

Ultrapure dialysate and inflammatory response in haemodialysis evaluated by darbepoetin requirements--a randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Dialysate quality has been suggested to influence inflammation status in patients subject to haemodialysis (HD). The aim of this study was to compare ultrapure dialysate (UPD) vs conventional dialysate (CD) with respect to darbepoetin requirements and other inflammation markers. METHODS: A controlled prospective randomized study was carried out on 78 patients from two HD units who were treated with low-flux polyamide dialysers. Patients were assigned to two groups by using different sized blocks per unit and dialysis session. One group received CD treatment while the other was treated with UPD over 12 months. From the groups, 37 patients started treatment with CD and 41 with UPD while 31 patients ended with CD and 30 with UPD. The main variables analysed were haemoglobin (Hb) and darbepoetin dose; other variables studied were C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the two groups for the variables analysed. At the beginning of the study the following values of CD and UPD were assessed: Hb 11.3 and 11.3 (g/dl); darbepoetin dose: 0.49 and 0.44 (microg/kg/week); CRP: 13 and 24 (mg/l); albumin: 3.8 and 3.7 (g/dl); IL-6: 5.94 and 4.18; and IL-1Ra: 345 and 420 (ng/l), respectively. At the end of the study the values of CD and UPD were: Hb 12 and 11.9 (g/dl); darbepoetin dose: 0.47 and 0.48 (microg/kg/week); CRP: 14 and 14 (mg/l); albumin: 3.8 and 3.7 (g/dl); IL-6: 14.03 and 12.93 and IL-1Ra: 322 and 340 (ng/l). CONCLUSIONS: UPD does not improve the inflammatory status evaluated by darbepoetin requirements in conventional HD patients treated with low-flux polyamide dialyser. Further controlled studies are required to evaluate the clinical influence of UPD in HD with other low- and high-flux membranes.