COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients: a single-center experience in Istanbul.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes a wide spectrum of symptoms, from asymptomatic conditions to severe inflammatory response. Hemodialysis (HD) patients have a higher risk for developing severe COVID-19 because of older age, multiple co-morbid conditions, and impaired immune system compared to the general population. As little is known about these special groups, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of HD patients with COVID-19. METHODS: All hospitalized HD patients with COVID 19 between March 11, 2020 and May 31, 2020 were included in the study. The composite end-points consisted of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), discharging or death were analysed. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data were retrieved and compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients (median age 65.33 ± 12.22, 24 female, 53.96 ± 40.68) were enrolled and of whom 14 were admitted to ICU and overall 14 (31.1%) have died. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity and fever (60%), dyspnea (55.6%) and cough (53.3%) were predominant symptoms at admission. 8.8% of patients developed severe complications (acute respiratory distress syndrome, macrophage activation syndrome) and secondary infection was observed in 51.1% of the patients. Elevation in the level of inflammatory markers, lactate dehydrogenase, liver enzymes, troponin, creatine kinase, and decrease in lymphocyte count and serum albumin level were observed in non-survivors compared with survivors throughout the clinical course. No significant difference was observed in the score of chest CT performed on the day of hospitalization for the survivors and non-survivors. CONCLUSION: Mortality of COVID-19 in HD patients is high and follow up of certain laboratory parameters can help to predict the prognosis of the patients.

Comparison of Long-term Complications in Patients on Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Longer than 10 Years.

INTRODUCTION: Depending on developments in dialysis techniques and new treatment strategies for comorbid diseases, life expectancy has increased. As a result, dialysis related long term complications could be seen more frequently. We investigated and compared long term complications of the Haemodialysis (HD) and Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) in patients with history if either mode at least 10years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 13HD & 16PD patients were included to the study. Basic demographic parameters and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), uraemic peripheral neuropathy (PNP), parathyroid adenoma, parathyroidectomy and acquired cystic disease (ACD) were assessed. RESULTS: HD patients were older than PD patients (p=0.035) and duration of dialysis was longer in HD patients (p=0.001). CVD was present in 18 patients (9 HD, 9 PD). There was no difference in presence of CVD between HD and PD patients (p=0.455). Valvular diseases (n=15), diastolic dysfunction (n=8), left ventricular hypertrophy (n=5), ischemic heart disease (n=3) and congestive heart failure (n=1) were investigated. Uraemic peripheral neuropathy was observed in 14 of the patients (8 HD, 6 PD patients). Eight patients had mixed type sensory motor neuropathy and 3 patients had mixed type sensorial neuropathy, 2 patients had demyelinating PNP, 1 patient had axonal PNP and 3 of them had CTS related to peripheral neuropathy. Parathyroid adenoma was detected in 4 patients (2 HD, 2 PD) and 3 patients (1 HD, 2 PD) had history of parathyroidectomy. Serum phosphate and iPTH levels were higher in HD patients (p=0.003, p=0.04, respectively). ACD was detected in 14 patients (7 HD, 7 PD). There was no difference between PD and HD patients (p=0.75). CONCLUSION: HD patients were older than PD patients and had longer duration of dialysis. The prevalence of long term complications was similar in HD and PD modalities. CVD especially valvular diseases were common complication in both modalities.

Familial Mediterranean Fever is associated with abnormal ventricular repolarization indices / La fiebre mediterránea familiar se asocia a anomalías en la repolarizacıón ventricular

Background: Cardiac arrhythmias can be a part of cardiovascular involvement in some rheumatic diseases, but data about familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) are conflicting. Aim: To search for abnormalities in ventricular repolarization indices in FMF patients. Patients and Methods: Seventy seven FMF patients and 30 age/gender comparable healthy controls were included. All patients were attack free and subjects with disease or drugs that are known to alter cardiac electrophysiology were excluded. Electrocardiographic data were obtained and analyzed. Results: Twelve FMF patients had amyloidosis. QT and QTc intervals were within the normal ranges and similar between FMF patients and healthy controls. QT dispersion, peak to end interval of T wave (Tpe), Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc ratios were significantly higher in FMF patients than in healthy controls. Patients with amyloidosis had significantly higher QT dispersion, Tpe, Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc than their counterparts without FMF. Levels of proteinuria were moderately correlated with QT dispersion, Tpe, Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc. Conclusions: FMF patients may have an increased risk for arrhythmias.

Antecedentes: Las arritmias cardíacas pueden ser parte del compromiso cardíaco en enfermedades reumáticas, sin embargo, no se sabe con certeza si esto ocurre en la fiebre mediterránea familiar (FMF). Objetivo: Buscar anomalías en la repolarización ventricular en pacientes con FMF. Pacientes y Métodos: Sesenta y siete pacientes como FMF y 30 controles sanos pareados por edad y género fueron estudiados. Todos los pacientes estaban en período intercrítico y no usaban medicamentos o tenían enfermedades concomitantes que pudieran causar anomalías electrocardiográficas. Se analizaron los electrocardiogramas de estos participantes. Resultados: Veinte pacientes con FMF tenían amiloidosis. Los intervalos QT y QTc eran normales y similares entre pacientes y controles. La dispersión del intervalo QT, el intervalo desde el peak al final de la onda T (Tpe), las razones Tpe/QT y Tpe/QTc fueron significativamente más altos en los pacientes que en los controles. Los pacientes con amiloidosis tenían una dispersión de QT, Tpe, Tpe/QT y Tpe/QTc mayores que sus pares sin la condición. Los niveles de proteinuria se correlacionaron moderadamente con los parámetros antes mencionados. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con FMF tienen mayor riesgo de arritmias.

Clinical outcomes and mortality in elderly peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and identify the predictors of mortality in elderly patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including all incident peritoneal dialysis cases in patients ≥65 years of age treated from 2001 to 2014. Demographic and clinical data on the initiation of peritoneal dialysis and the clinical events during the study period were collected. Infectious complications were recorded. Overall and technique survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients who began peritoneal dialysis during the study period were considered for analysis, and 50 of these patients were included in the final analysis. Peritoneal dialysis exchanges were performed by another person for 65% of the patients, whereas 79.9% of patients preferred to perform the peritoneal dialysis themselves. Peritonitis and catheter exit site/tunnel infection incidences were 20.4±16.3 and 24.6±17.4 patient-months, respectively. During the follow-up period, 40 patients were withdrawn from peritoneal dialysis. Causes of death included peritonitis and/or sepsis (50%) and cardiovascular events (30%). The mean patient survival time was 38.9±4.3 months, and the survival rates were 78.8%, 66.8%, 50.9% and 19.5% at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years after peritoneal dialysis initiation, respectively. Advanced age, the presence of additional diseases, increased episodes of peritonitis, the use of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, and low albumin levels and daily urine volumes (<100 ml) at the initiation of peritoneal dialysis were predictors of mortality. The mean technique survival duration was 61.7±5.2 months. The technique survival rates were 97.9%, 90.6%, 81.5% and 71% at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively. None of the factors analyzed were predictors of technique survival. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality was higher in elderly patients. Factors affecting mortality in elderly patients included advanced age, the presence of comorbid diseases, increased episodes of peritonitis, use of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, and low albumin levels and daily urine volumes (<100 ml) at the initiation of peritoneal dialysis.

Relationship between relative interdialytic weight gain and serum leptin levels, nutrition, and inflammation in chronic hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Excessive relative interdialytic weight gain (RIDWG, %) is an important risk factor for long-term adverse cardiovascular outcomes in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. On the other hand, it may also be an index of good appetite and nutritional status. We aimed to assess the relationship between RIDWG and appetite, nutrition, inflammation parameters of chronic HD patients. METHODS: 100 chronic anuric HD patients were enrolled in this prospective study between January 2013 and January 2014. Patients with hospitalization, major surgery, obvious infectious/inflammatory disease, end-stage liver disease, malignancies, and malabsorption syndromes were excluded. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their RIDWG levels; group 1 = RIDWG < 3%, group 2 = RIDWG: 3 - 5%, and group 3 = RIDWG > 5%. RESULTS: Group 3 patients were younger (p = 0.011) and had a lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.014). Nutrition and inflammation parameters including malnutrition inflammation score (MIS), serum albumin, prealbumin, triceps skinfold thickness, hs-CRP, and TNF-α ere not significantly different between the groups. Leptin and leptin/BMI ratio were significantly lower in group 3 (p = 0.001). RIDWG was negatively correlated with age (p = 0.001, r = -0.371), BMI (p = 0.001, r = -0.372), leptin (p = 0.001, r = -0.369), leptin/BMI (p = 0.001, r = -0.369). After adjustment for BMI in linear regression analyis, leptin/BMI remained significantly correlated with RIDWG (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that RIDWG was associated with younger age, lower BMI and dry weight, and lower serum leptin levels. More detailed studies are needed to validate and dissect the mechanisms of these findings.

Elevated serum leptin levels are associated with good nutritional status in non-obese chronic hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Leptin is a hormone and a proinflammatory cytokine secreted from adipocytes, which functions to suppress appetite in healthy persons. Serum leptin levels are significantly elevated in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) primarily due to decreased clearance by the kidneys The consequence of hyperleptinemia in ESRD is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the association between serum leptin levels and nutrition/inflammation status in non-obese chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: 65 chronic, anuric, nonobese (body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2) HD patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were obtained from all patients to determine nutrition and inflammation status. Patients were classified into the 3 groups according to serum leptin levels; group 1 (low leptin, n = 9), group 2 (normal leptin, n = 31), and group 3 (high leptin, n = 25). RESULTS: Mean age and duration on dialysis of 65 patients (male/female: 34/31) were 51.6 ± 17.8 years and 78.0 ± 67.9 months, respectively. Serum leptin levels increased with older age, female gender, higher BMI and triceps skinfold thickness. Elevated serum leptin levels were significantly associated with good nutritional status parameters, such as higher albumin (p = 0.001), prealbumin (p = 0.033), total iron binding capacity (p = 0.045), total cholesterol (p = 0.041), and lower malnutrition inflammation score (MIS) (p = 0.002). Serum leptin levels remained a negative correlation with MIS after adjustments made for BMI. No correlation was established between leptin and inflammation parameters including ferritin, highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and tumor necorsis factor alpha (TNF-α). CONCLUSION: Elevated serum leptin levels seem to be associated with good nutritional status. However, there was no correlation between leptin and inflammatory status.

Familial Mediterranean Fever is associated with abnormal ventricular repolarization indices.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrhythmias can be a part of cardiovascular involvement in some rheumatic diseases, but data about familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) are conflicting. AIM: To search for abnormalities in ventricular repolarization indices in FMF patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy seven FMF patients and 30 age/gender comparable healthy controls were included. All patients were attack free and subjects with disease or drugs that are known to alter cardiac electrophysiology were excluded. Electrocardiographic data were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve FMF patients had amyloidosis. QT and QTc intervals were within the normal ranges and similar between FMF patients and healthy controls. QT dispersion, peak to end interval of T wave (Tpe), Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc ratios were significantly higher in FMF patients than in healthy controls. Patients with amyloidosis had significantly higher QT dispersion, Tpe, Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc than their counterparts without FMF. Levels of proteinuria were moderately correlated with QT dispersion, Tpe, Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc. CONCLUSIONS: FMF patients may have an increased risk for arrhythmias.

Outcome of 121 patients with renal amyloid a amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is a multisystem, progressive and fatal disease. Renal involvement occurs early in the course of AA. We aimed to investigate the etiology, clinical and laboratory features, and outcome of patients with biopsy-proven renal AA amyloidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 121 patients (male/female: 84/37, mean age 42.6 ± 14.4 years) were analyzed retrospectively between January of 2001 and May of 2013. Demographic, clinical and laboratory features and outcomes data were obtained from follow-up charts. RESULTS: Familial Mediterranean fever (37.2%) and tuberculosis (24.8%) were the most frequent causes of amyloidosis. Mean serum creatinine and proteinuria at diagnosis were 2.3 ± 2.1 mg/dL and 6.7 ± 5.3 g/day, respectively. Sixty-eight (56.2%) patients were started dialysis treatment during the follow-up period. Mean duration of renal survival was 64.7 ± 6.3 months. Age, serum creatinine and albumin levels were found as predictors of end-stage renal disease. Fifty patients (%41.3) died during the follow-up period. The mean survival of patients was 88.7 ± 7.8 months (median: 63 ± 13.9). 1, 2 and 5 years survival rates of patients were 80.7%, 68.2% and 51.3%, respectively. Older age, male gender, lower levels of body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, serum albumin, calcium, and higher levels of phosphor, intact parathyroid hormone and proteinuria were associated with a higher mortality. Higher serum creatinine, lower albumin, dialysis requirement and short time to dialysis were predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: The outcome of patients with AA amyloidosis and renal involvement is poor, particularly in those who had massive proteinuria, severe hypoalbuminemia and dialysis requirement at the outset.

Effects of AA amyloidosis on survival in peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of ESRD etiologies on mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients. METHODS: We included patients who initiated therapy between 2001-2011 and classified them according to etiologies including amyloidosis, diabetes mellitus, chronic glomerulonephritis and polycistic renal disease. Socio-demographic data, clinical courses and infectious complications were compared between groups, and the reasons for peritoneal dialysis withdrawal were recorded. Patient and technique survival analysis were performed. RESULTS: 354 patients were included to the study. Thereafter, 154 patients were excluded. Totally, 29 patients with AA-amyloidosis (mean age 37.9±16.4 years, follow-up time 21.7±20.2 months), 78 patients with diabetes mellitus (mean age 56.9±13.6 years, follow-up time 35±28.6 months), 68 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (mean age 37.2±12 years, follow-up time 47.7±29.9 months), 29 patients with polycystic renal disease (mean age 35.6±13.8 years, follow-up time 45.4±36.8 months) were evaluated. Albumin level was lower in patients with amyloidosis at initiation and the end of study (for both p<0.001). Incidence of peritonitis and catheter exit site/tunnel infection attacks were higher in patients with amyloidosis (p=0.002 and 0.018 respectively). There was statistical difference among groups with respect to the last status of patients (p<0.001). Deaths were frequent in amyloidotic and diabetic patients. The majority of deaths were due to peritonitis and/or sepsis and, cardiovascular reasons. The mortality rate was found higher in patients with amyloidosis (log rank=0.005), especially at first 2-3 years. Presence of anyone helping to administer peritoneal dialysis (OR:6.244, p=0,025), initial serum albumin level (OR:0.352, p=0,034) and presence of catheter exit site/tunnel infection(OR:0.250, p=0,015) were independent predictors of patient survival. CONCLUSION: Renal failure etiology has effects on peritoneal dialysis patients' survival. Patients with amyloidosis have the worst survival. Because of loss of PD survival advantage seen in first years of therapy in patients with amyloidosis, peritoneal dialysis may not be suitable as first choice therapy in this group.