ABSTRACT
The presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is associated with a wide range of ANA-associated autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AARD). The most commonly method used for the detection of ANA is indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on HEp-2 cells. This method is very sensitive but unspecific. As a consequence, ANA testing on HEp-2 substrates outside a proper clinical specialist framework may lead to inappropriate referrals to tertiary care specialists and, worst case inappropriate and potentially toxic therapy for the patient. Among ANA, isolated anti-DFS70 antibodies represent a potentially important biomarker that can be clinically used to discriminate AARD from non-AARD patients in ANA IIF positive individuals. Therefore, their presence may avoid unnecessary follow-up testing and referrals. In our study, we investigated if the implementation of a new ANA workup algorithm allowing for the identification of anti-DFS70 antibodies is cost-effective through the reduction of both unnecessary follow-up testing and outpatient clinic visits generated by the clinical suspicion of a potential AARD. None of the 181 patients included with a positive monospecific anti-DFS70 antibody result developed SARD during the follow-up period of 10 years. The reduction in number of tests after ANA and anti-DFS70 positive results was significant for anti-ENA (230 vs. 114 tests; p < 0.001) and anti-dsDNA antibodies (448 vs. 114 tests; p < 0.001). In addition, the outpatient clinic visits decreased by 70 % (p < 0.001). In total, the adoption of the new algorithm including anti-DFS70 antibody testing resulted in a cost saving of 60869.53 for this pilot study. In conclusion, the use of anti-DFS70 antibodies was clearly cost-efficient in our setting.
ABSTRACT
Introducción: La calcificación vascular (CV) asociada a la enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) es un fenómeno estrechamente ligado a las alteraciones en el metabolismo mineral óseo. Existen muchos factores implicados, entre ellos los fármacos empleados en el tratamiento de la ERC. Algunos estudios in vitro señalan que las alteraciones electrolíticas y ácido básicas que tienen lugar durante la sesión de hemodiálisis (HD) pueden jugar un papel clave en el proceso de CV. Métodos: Analizamos las alteraciones electrolíticas y ácido-básicas que tienen lugar durante la sesión de HD en 26 pacientes, empleando de forma aleatorizada concentraciones de calcio en el líquido de diálisis de 1,25 o 1,5 mM. Resultados: En todos los pacientes, independientemente del baño de calcio empleado, se produce una ganancia de calcio. En el grupo de pacientes dializados con baño de calcio 1,5mM, el 100% finaliza la sesión con valores de calcio sérico > 1,3 mM, mientras que en el de 1,25mM, esto solo ocurre en el 15%. Al inicio de la sesión, esta ganancia de calcio coincide con niveles de fósforo aún no controlado. Además, en todos los pacientes se observa una alcalinización progresiva: el 50% finaliza la sesión con cifras de bicarbonato > 30mM y el 23% con pH> 7,5. Conclusiones: Durante la sesión de HD se producen cambios electrolíticos y ácido-básicos inductores de CV: ganancia de calcio y alcalinización en presencia de fósforo sérico inicialmente elevado. Son necesarios estudios con modelos cinéticos de ganancia de calcio y alcalinización diferentes a los actuales (AU)
Introduction: Vascular calcification (VC) associated to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex phenomenon closely related to mineral bone metabolism disorders. Many are the factors implicated, as the drugs used in the treatment of CKD. Some in vitro studies suggest that electrolyte and acid-base disorders induced by hemodialysis (HD) may play a key role in VC. Methods: We analyzed electrolyte and acid-base disorders that occur during an HD session in 26 patients randomly assigned to 1,25 mM or 1,5 mM calcium bath. Results: There is a calcium load in all the patients, independently of calcium bath concentration or basal serum calcium levels. At the end of the session, 100% of the patients dialyzed with 1,5mMcalcium bath have calcium serum levels > 1,3 mM. However, this only occurs in 15% of the patients dialysed with 1,25 mM calcium bath. During this calcium load, phosphorus levels persist uncontrolled. Besides, there is a progressive alkalinization in all the patients. In the end of the session 50% have serum bicarbonate > 30 mM and 23% pH > 7,5. Conclusions: During HD sessions occur electrolyte and acid-base disorders that induce VC: Calcium load and alkalization in presence of elevated phosphorus levels. It is necessary to perform studies with kinetic models of calcium load and alkalinization different from the actual ones (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/therapy , Renal Dialysis/adverse effects , Vascular Calcification/physiopathology , Water-Electrolyte Imbalance/physiopathology , Acid-Base Imbalance/physiopathology , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Vascular calcification (VC) associated to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex phenomenon closely related to mineral bone metabolism disorders. Many are the factors implicated, as the drugs used in the treatment of CKD. Some in vitro studies suggest that electrolyte and acid-base disorders induced by hemodialysis (HD) may play a key role in VC. METHODS: We analyzed electrolyte and acid-base disorders that occur during an HD session in 26 patients randomly assigned to 1,25 mM or 1,5 mM calcium bath. RESULTS: There is a calcium load in all the patients, independently of calcium bath concentration or basal serum calcium levels. At the end of the session, 100% of the patients dialyzed with 1,5 mM calcium bath have calcium serum levels > 1,3 mM. However, this only occurs in 15% of the patients dialysed with 1,25 mM calcium bath. During this calcium load, phosphorus levels persist uncontrolled. Besides, there is a progressive alkalinization in all the patients. In the end of the session 50% have serum bicarbonate > 30 mM and 23% pH > 7,5. CONCLUSIONS: During HD sessions occur electrolyte and acid-base disorders that induce VC: Calcium load and alkalization in presence of elevated phosphorus levels. It is necessary to perform studies with kinetic models of calcium load and alkalinization different from the actual ones.
