Clinicopathological features of adult right-sided cardiac masses: Analysis of 19 cases.

Background: Right sided cardiac masses are rare. The purpose of this study is to review the clinical experience and pathological characteristics of right-sided cardiac masses and to provide a prognostic analysis in our hospital. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 19 consecutive cases of right heart masses diagnosed in our institution from 2016 to February 2020. All available clinicopathological features, imaging characteristics and disease outcomes were summarized and presented. Results: The subjects included 9 men and 10 women with a mean age of 48.5 years. The most frequent complaint was dyspnea. The most common site was the right atrium (42.1%) followed by the tricuspid valve (36.8%). Clinical diagnosis revealed vegetations in 8 patients (42.1%), thrombi in 7 patients (36.8%), myxoma in 1 patient, hydatid cyst in 1 patient and metastatic (secondary) masse was seen in 2 cases. In the 19 patients, 3 patients underwent surgery, 15 patients were managed with medical treatment, therapeutic abstention was indicated in one patient. 14 patients were all alive at the end of the follow-up period. In contrast, 5 patients were dead (26.3%). Conclusion: In our series, the majority of right cardiac masses were benign, outnumbering the malignant ones, as described in the literature. The mortality rate was relatively high about 26.3%.

Infective endocarditis in hemodialysis patients: A 10-year observational single center study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients remains high, despite the preventive measures implemented by nephrologists, especially the rigorous respect of hygiene, the use of antibiotic locks for catheters and the use of tunneled catheters instead of non-tunneled. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical, biological, and echocardiographic characteristics, and the prognosis of IE in CHD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective study, conducted from December 2010 to March 2020, at the Nephrology and Cardiology units of University Hospital in Oujda, Morocco. RESULTS: We compiled a series of 31 CHD patients having developed IE. Eleven cases (35.4%) were collected between 2010 and 2015, and 20 cases (64.6%) between 2016 and 2020. The mean age was 47 ± 19 years, 58% were male, and 25.8% of patients had diabetes. Vascular access for hemodialysis was by arteriovenous fistula, non-tunneled catheter, and tunneled catheter in 22.5%, 32.2%, and 45.2%, of the cases, respectively. About 25.8% of patients had benefited from more than two catheters (tunneled or non-tunneled) during the 3 months preceding the occurrence of IE. The mitral, tricuspid, and aortic valves were the site of IE in 41.9%, 41.9%, and 13% of the cases, respectively. Right heart IE and left heart IE were observed in 42% (13 cases) and 58% (18 cases) of cases, respectively. Blood cultures were negative in 58.1% of the cases at the time of diagnosis of IE. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 69.2% of the cases. Mortality occurred in 54.8% of the cases. CONCLUSION: IE remains a severe condition in CHD patients with an increasing incidence. Rigorous prevention and screening strategies should be implemented at the hemodialysis centers.

Severe hypercalcemia requiring acute hemodialysis: A retrospective cohort study with increased incidence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic has had dramatic consequences on the progression of numerous pathologies, especially neoplastic ones. The orientation of hospital activities toward the care of patients with SARS-Cov2 infection has caused significant delays in the diagnosis and therapy of many other pathologies. What about severe hypercalcemia? The aim of this work was to determine the clinical and biological presentation, etiologies, mortality, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on severe hypercalcemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we conducted a retrospective study for 84 months (September 2014 to September 2021) at the Nephrology Unit in University Hospital Mohammed VI, Oujda, Morocco. Included were all adult patients diagnosed with severe hypercalcemia (defined as corrected total serum calcium of >3.5 mmol/l or > 14.0 mg/dl) and who had benefited from one or more hemodialysis sessions. RESULTS: 66 episodes of severe hypercalcemia occurred in 64 patients. The mean age was 57 ± 15 years and 57.6% were female. The mean corrected serum calcium at admission was 16.9 ± 2.1 mg/dl and 33.3% had more than 18.0 mg/dl. Malignancies represented 80.4% of all etiologies. Acute kidney injury was observed in 69.7%. The delta drop in serum calcium 48 h after initiation of medical treatment was 4.64 ± 1.63 mg /dl. Mortality was noted in 14% of all cases. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed in 58.3%, 87.5% and 85.7%, respectively, in group 1 (14.0-16.0 mg/dl), group 2 (16.1-18.0 mg/dl), and group 3 (> 18.0 mg/dl) (p = 0.04). The mean serum potassium value was 5.1 ± 1.3, 4.0 ± 1.0, and 3.7 ± 0.7 respectively, in group 1 (14.0-16.0 mg/dl), group 2 (16.1-18.0 mg/dl), and group 3 (> 18.0 mg/dl) (p < 0.001). Newly diagnosed neoplasia, severe hypercalcemia (> 16.0 mg/dl), and mortality have been observed in 15.4% vs. 23.7% (p = 0.31), 25% vs. 50% (p = 0.03), and 35.7% vs. 52.6% (p = 0.13) respectively, in patients before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The Covid-19 pandemic caused an increase in both the incidence and severity of hypercalcemia and the hemodialysis practiced in this context remains efficient and safe.

Management of hypercalcaemic crisis in adults: Current role of renal replacement therapy.

Neoplasms and hematologic diseases are the predominant etiologies of hypercalcemic crisis in adults and the immediate treatment is mainly medical and symptomatic. The use of renal replacement therapy (RRT) is often necessary to correct the hypercalcemia, uremia and electrolyte disturbances related to Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). The aim of this work was to determine the etiologies and the place of RRT in treating patients with hypercalcaemic crisis. We conducted a retrospective study for 36months at the Nephrology Unit, University Hospital, Oujda, eastern of Morocco. We included all adult patients diagnosed with hypercalcemic crisis that was defined as corrected total serum calcium of >3.5mmol/l. RESULTS: 12 patients were collected. All patients were female and 5 patients were elderly (≥65years). Three patients had a serum calcium value of >4mmol/l and the highest calcium value was 5.8mmol/l. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed in 8 cases. AKI was observed in 8 cases. Three patients had chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Neoplasm was noted in 9 cases. All patients received venous rehydration, glucocorticoids and biphosphonates. The use of RRT with low calcium dialysate was performed in 11 cases. Three patients died during the first 24h of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: RRT must play its full role as first line treatment of hypercalcemia crisis. Improvements in hemodialysis techniques and the use of low calcium or calcium-free dialysates currently allows this therapeutic measure to be prescribed safely, and the benefit-risk balance is positive for the great benefit provided by dialysis.

Uremic pericarditis in patients with End Stage Renal Disease: Prevalence, symptoms and outcome in 2017.

The prevalence of uremic pericarditis (UP) used to range from 3% to 41%. More recently, it has decreased to about 5%-20% and to <5% in the last decades, as hemodialysis techniques have become widely used and dialysis quality improved. The objective of this work is to determine the initial clinical picture and the prognosis of patients presenting End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) with UP. MATERIALS: This is a retrospective study (May 2015-September 2017). Inclusion criteria targeted patients who had uremic pericarditis defined as pericarditis occurring in a patient with ESRD before initiation of renal replacement therapy, or within eight weeks of its initiation. RESULTS: 16 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age of patients was 54 [24, 71] years and 56.2% were male. Pericardial effusion was small, moderate and large in 31.2%, 37.6% and 31.2% of cases respectively. One pericardiocentesis was performed in view of a clinical picture of impending cardiac tamponade and three pericardial drainages were performed given presentation of tamponade. Hemodialysis was initiated for all the patients and continued for 2 to 3weeks until complete regression of the pericardial effusion. The mean number of dialysis sessions was 11±3.5. One patient died of septic shock that developed three weeks after diagnosis of uremic pericarditis. CONCLUSION: UP is considered a rare but fatal complication of ESRD because of the risk of tamponade and its prognosis remains dependent on early diagnosis and adequate treatment of ESRD.

Infective endocarditis in chronic hemodialysis: A transition from left heart to right heart.

Infective endocarditis (IE) of the left heart is the most frequent type of IE in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) (in 90% of cases) whereas involvement of the right heart is rare. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical, biological, and echocardiographic characteristics, as well as the prognosis of IE in CHD. This is a retrospective study conducted at the Center of Nephrology and Hemodialysis in Oujda, Morocco. Over a period of 56 months, we compiled data on a series of 11 CHD patients with IE. Their mean age was 40.5 ± 14 years, 72% were male and 27.3% had diabetes. All patients had native valve. All patients had bacteremia preceding the episode of IE. The tricuspid valve was the site of IE in 45% of the cases. Cardiac complications were observed in 72% of the patients and mortality was observed in 72% of cases. The period from IE diagnosis to death was 9 ± 6 days. In our study, the tricuspid valve was the most affected valve of IE in CHD.

Diabetic kidney disease and vascular comorbidities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a developing country.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased risk of progression toward end-stage renal disease and cardiovascular (CV) risk mortality. To investigate this association, we studied 637 patients with T2DM in the Eastern area of Morocco. The mean follow-up period was 42 ± 11 months. At the baseline visit, 22.8%, 59.1% and 18.1% of the patients had normo-albuminuria, micro-albuminuria and macro-albuminuria, respectively. Of all patients, 51.6% had a history of hypertension and 37.4% had hypertension on admission. At the end of follow-up, rapid progression (estimated glomerular filtration rate >5 mL/min/1.73 m² /year) was observed in 24.1% of the cases and the frequency of occurrence of CV events was 5%, 18.5% and 32.5% in the normo-, micro- and macro-albuminuria groups, respectively (P <0.001). In multivariate analysis, arterial hypertension was identified as an independent risk factor related to diabetic kidney disease (DKD, P = 0.04) and occurrence of CV events (P = 0.02), while albuminuria was not identified as an independent risk factor, either for DKD or for the occurrence of CV events. Our study found that hypertension was an independent risk factor for the DKD and the occurrence of the CV events in T2DM patients.

[Evaluation and analysis of pain in chronic hemodialysis]. / Évaluation et analyse de la douleur en hémodialyse chronique.

AIM: Pain is an unpleasant experience that deeply affects patients' quality of life and emotional state. Pain's epidemiology and characteristics in chronic hemodialysis are not well known and insufficiently analysed. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, characteristics, impact and treatment of pain in our hemodialysis patients and determine its related associated factors. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study including 93 chronic hemodialysis patients. We collected demographic data as well as the aspects of the reported pain on the basis of the concise pain questionnaire, and finally inferred the risk factors related to pain occurrence. Chronic pain was defined as a pain that has existed for over three months. RESULTS: The prevalence of pain was 70.9% (n=66), mean age 55.3±13.3 years, sex ratio 30 males/36 females, mean duration of hemodialysis 82.4±57.29 (6-252) months. This pain was permanent, daily, intermittent and rare in respectively 9%, 28.7%, 48.4% and 13.6% of cases. It was mild, moderate, severe or unbearable in respectively 42.8%, 23.8%, 19% and 14.2% of cases. Pain was multifocal in 57.4% of cases. The most frequently reported pain sites were: shoulders (47.2%), head (41.2%), knee (34.5%) and back (20%). Thus, 53.8% of patients reported using analgesics, with a daily intake, frequent or rare in respectively 28%, 44% and 28% of cases. The comparison between the group of patients reporting pain to the one without pain complaints in univariate statistical analysis found that age, Charlson's score, interdialytic weight gain and the rate of two dialysis sessions per week were linked to pain occurrence. However, in multivariate analysis, only age remained as a pain-associated factor. CONCLUSION: Pain in chronic hemodialysis patients is a very common complaint. Therefore, it is necessary to assess it regularly, using a suitable questionnaire.

A survival case in a severe amlodipine intoxication.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are prescribed in a wide variety of cardiovascular conditions. Nevertheless, they remain a major cause of cardiovascular drug overdose that often leads to a lethal outcome. We report the case of an intoxication with amlodipine, which caused severe hypotension, in a young woman. The patient was initially treated with fluids, calcium gluconate, and Dobutamine without effect. She then received hyperinsulinemia euglycemia therapy. A rise in blood pressure (BP) was observed two hours after insulin was started. The next day, the insulin infusion was stopped and seven days later the patient was discharged from the hospital after psychiatric consultation. The positive inotropic effect of insulin therapy in our patient supports previous findings that suggest its use as a first-line therapy in the management of CCBs overdose.

Ten years of renal transplantation in a Moroccan hospital: results and constraints.

INTRODUCTION: Renal transplantation (RT) offers several advantages to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, such as a better quality of life and economic benefits. This study sought to report a 10-year experience of RT in a developing country as well as the barriers to its improvement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The retrospective study included 67 patients who underwent a first RT from a related living donor (RLD) between June 1998 and December 2008. We noted pretransplantation donor and recipient parameters as well as the results and barriers to RT promotion in our country. RESULTS: The mean overall age of our patients including 43 males (64.1%) and 24 females (35.8%) was 30 ± 9.6 years. Teenagers from 13 to 18 years of age represented 9% of the recipients. Immediate failure was observed in 5 cases due to vascular thrombosis (n = 3) or hyperacute rejection (n = 2). Graft and patient survival rates at 1 year were 92.6% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The limited number of RT in our country may be explained by the lack of both human and material resources as well as the limited pool of living donors. Nonetheless, the economic gain subsequent to RT should encourage promotion of this treatment mainly through dissemination of information.

Prevalence and predictive factors of anemia after renal transplantation: a Moroccan report.

OBJECTIVE: Anemia, a common multifactorial problem in kidney transplant recipients, represents an important cardiovascular risk factor. The purpose of this study was to assess anemia prevalence after kidney transplantation, the main factors involved in its occurrence, its cardiovascular consequences, and its impact on patient survival and graft function. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 69 patients undergoing renal transplantation between January 1998 and September 2008 with ≥1 year of follow-up. For all of the patients, we recorded hemoglobin concentrations before and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 36, and 60 months after transplantation. Anemia was defined as recommended by the American Society of Transplantation: hemoglobin level <12 g/dL in women and <13 g/dL in men. To determine the factors involved in anemia occurrence, we compared 2 groups of patients, with versus without anemia, at various times after renal transplantation. RESULTS: This study showed a high prevalence of anemia in the early posttransplantation period of 82.7% and 42% of kidney transplantation patients at 1 month and 6 months, respectively. It was mainly related to a low pretransplant hemoglobin level. The prevalence declined to 37.7% at 1 year. Renal graft dysfunction was the most important factor in the occurrence of late post-renal transplantation anemia. The presence of anemia increased the risk of renal graft functional deterioration by a factor of 2.9. The decreased prevalence at 1 year after transplantation was significantly associated with a reduction in left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: The management of anemia is essential to improve renal graft survival, reduce cardiovascular morbidity, and ensure a better quality of life for renal transplant recipients.