Relationship between biochemical parameters of mineral bone disease and static bone histomorphometry in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis: An Indian cross-section study.

AIM: We estimated the relationship between routine biochemical laboratory parameters with static bone histomorphometric parameters and their high and low bone turnover capacity predictability in hemodialysis patients. METHOD: It was a single-center cross-sectional study, included 28 hemodialysis patients. The routine biochemical parameters measured including calcium, phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, intact PTH, and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. The histomorphometric parameters assessed were osteoblasts perimeter, osteoclast perimeter, eroded perimeter, osteoid perimeter, bone fibrosis and bone volume. RESULT: Total 28 hemodialysis patients underwent bone biopsy. Seventy percent were male, with a mean age was 33.07±10.42 yrs; serum alkaline phosphatase was 219.10±311.3IU/ml; vitamin D was 18.18±9.56ng/ml, and intact PTH was 650.7±466.0pg/ml. Intact PTH had a significant positive association with osteoblast, osteoclast, eroded surface, and osteoid perimeter. Serum alkaline phosphatase had a significant relationship with bone fibrosis (r=0.525, p-value=0.004). Intact PTH was significantly higher in females than males (1078.75±533.04 vs. 479.6±309.83; p-value=0.004). The osteoid surface was significantly high in females compared to males (p=0.038). Age had a significant impact on osteoblast and eroded surface (p=0.008 and p=0.031, respectively). Intact PTH is a reliable biomarkers for bone turnover compare to ALP (p<0.001 and p=0.554, respectively). CONCLUSION: Intact PTH strongly associated with bone formation, bone resorption parameters. Gender and age had significant impact on static histomorphometric parameters in our study.

Sofosbuvir-Velpatasvir Fixed Drug Combination for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease and Kidney Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: India is witnessing high hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection burden in patients of chronic kidney disease. Due to unavailability of costly Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes-recommended directly acting antiviral drugs, a widely available pan-genotypic combination of Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir can become an economical option. Data regarding treatment experience of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir combination in chronic kidney disease is scarce. No data from India have been published in patients on renal replacement therapies till now. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included all patients of end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis with treatment-naïve chronic HCV infection treated with sofosbuvir (400 mg) and velpatasvir (100 mg) fixed-dose combination. Pretreatment routine investigations were performed, which included HCV viral load, genotype, fibro scan, endoscopy for esophageal varices, and portal vein Doppler. The patients were followed up with HCV viral load to declare sustained virologic response. RESULT: patients were included with a mean age of 39.8 ± 10.8 years, and 77.4% were male. Genotype 1 was found to be most prevalent (67.7%), with a median viral load of 106copies/ml. Six (19.3%) patients had hepatitis B virus co-infection. Three (9.7%) patients had cirrhosis. Sustained virologic response (SVR12) was achieved in 30 (96.8%) patients, and one (3.2%) patient had relapse. Furthermore, 14 (45.2%) patients underwent renal transplantation, and none of them had relapsed. Dyspepsia (9.7%) was the most common side effect observed with no major adverse effect. CONCLUSION: Our study showed excellent efficacy with the safety profile of this drug combination in end-stage renal disease patients. However, larger prospective studies and multicenter randomized controlled trials are needed for further confirmation.

Comparison of intradermal route and dose of Hepatitis B vaccine administration in chronic dialysis patients: A pilot study.

We aimed to study the seroconversion rate in two arms of intradermal (ID) route: low dose with high-frequency and high dose with low-frequency hepatitis B (HB) vaccination in dialysis patients. A total of 56 patients, on either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, were included. Patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups. The first group was immunized through the ID route and received weekly 10 µg of vaccine at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 weeks (low-dose with high frequency). The second group was immunized through the ID route and received two doses of 40 µg at one-month interval (high dose with low frequency). Anti-HBs antibody titers were measured at one month and one month after completion of the vaccination, i.e., at three months in each group. At one month, each group had received 40 µg of vaccine. The seroconversion rate was 28.57% in each group. At one month after completion of vaccination, seroconversion rate in low-dose ID and high-dose ID was 60% and 58.33%, respectively (P = 0.911) at 80 µgm of total vaccine dose. The overall "good" responders in low-dose versus high-dose ID route were 30% and 50%, respectively (P = 0.179). However, among responders, anti-HBs antibody titers ≥100 mIU/mL in low-dose and high-dose ID route were 50% and 85.7%, respectively (P = 0.049). The rate of seroconversion is comparable in both low dose with high-frequency and high dose with low-frequency ID route.

Effect of vitamin D level on the immunogenicity to hepatitis B vaccination in dialysis patients.

We undertook this study to assess the response of hepatitis B vaccination in dialysis patients and the effect of vitamin D level on the immunogenicity to hepatitis B vaccination. It was an observational study, which included 60 patients of end-stage renal disease on maintenance dialysis. Patients with anti-HBs antibody positive at baseline were excluded. All received intramuscular recombinant hepatitis B vaccination at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months 20 µg on each deltoid muscle bilateral. Anti-HBs antibody titers were measured at 4 and 7 months of vaccination and the titer ≥10 mIU/mL was considered as "positive". Vitamin D levels were measured at baseline before starting the vaccination. The mean vitamin D level was 15.0 ± 7.8 ng/mL. The vitamin D level <10 and <20 were 23.3% and 83.3%, respectively. The patients on hemodialysis had relatively higher vitamin D level than on peritoneal dialysis patients, i.e. 16.3 ± 8.5 and 11.5 ± 3.1 ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.03). Overall, 38 patients responded to the immunization (63.3%) and 11 patients were non-responders (36.7%) at 4 months. Difference of vitamin D level in responder (16.6 ± 9.1 ng/mL) and non-responder (12.4 ± 4.1 ng/mL) was not significant (p = 0.16). At 7 months (1 month after completion of vaccination) 61.9% were responders and 38.1% were non-responders. The vitamin D level in responders and non-responders were statistically not significant (p = 0.11). In responder, titer ≥100 mIU/mL was seen in 30% at 4 months and in 42.9% at 7 months (p = 0.05). In the good and weak responders at 7 months, vitamin D levels were 21.5 ± 10.8 and 10.1 ± 3.7 ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.37). The association of vitamin D level and anti-HBs antibody titer were not significant (r = 0.03 and 95% CI was -0.43 to 0.48, p = 0.89) in those who responded. Most patients on dialysis were vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D levels did not differ between responding and non-responding dialysis patients.

Preventive role of carvedilol in adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Adriamycin though considered as an effective anticancer drug, leads to irreversible cardiomyopathy (CMP) and congestive heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of carvedilol in adriamycin (ADR)-induced cardiomyopathy (CMP) in cancer patients. METHODS: Patients with lymphoreticular malignancy in whom ADR therapy was planned were randomized into two groups: carvedilol and control. Twenty seven patients each were enrolled in carvedilol and control groups. In the carvedilol group, 12.5 mg once daily oral carvedilol was given during six months. The patients were evaluated by echocardiography before and after chemotherapy. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and systolic and diastolic diameters were calculated. RESULTS: At six months of follow up, six patients in the carvedilol group and five in the control group had died. The mean EF (63.19 vs. 63.88%) and fraction shortening (FS) (34 vs. 34.6) of the carvedilol group were similar at follow up, but in the control group, the mean EF (67.27 vs. 60.82%, P =0.003) and FS (38.48 vs. 34.6, P<0.05) at control echocardiography were significantly lower. In carvedilol group, both systolic and diastolic diameters were not changed, but in control group, systolic diameters were significantly increased compared with basal measures (left ventricular end systolic diameter = 28.26±5.50 mm vs. 31.25± 6.50 mm; P< 0.05). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic use of carvedilol in patients receiving anthracycline protected systolic functions of the left ventricle. Carvedilol can be a potential drug which can ameliorate ADR-induced CMP.

Plasmodium vivax induced hemolytic uremic syndrome: An uncommon manifestation that leads to a grave complication and treated successfully with renal transplantation.

We are reporting a case of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare manifestation of Plasmodium vivax malaria. A young driver was admitted with acute febrile illness, decreased urine output, anemia, thrombocytopenia, jaundice, and increased serum lactate dehydrogenase. He showed a partial response to antimalarial drugs. However, he was readmitted with worsening renal parameters. His kidney biopsy revealed chronic thrombotic microangiopathy. He remained dialysis dependent and later underwent renal transplantation successfully, with excellent graft function at 1-year.