Family Aggregation and Heritability of ESRD in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Aggregation of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been observed in families of European origin, as well as those of African origin. However, it is not well documented if this disease aggregates in Asian families. Furthermore, the contribution of genetic factors and shared environmental factors to family aggregation remains unclear. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: All 23,422,955 individuals registered in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database in 2013. Among these, 47.45%, 57.45%, 47.29%, and 1.51% had a known parent, child, sibling, or twin, respectively. We identified 87,849 patients who had a diagnosis of ESRD. PREDICTOR: Family history of ESRD. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS: ESRD and heritability defined as the proportion of phenotypic variance attributable to genetic factors. RESULTS: Having an affected first-degree relative with ESRD was associated with an adjusted relative risk of 2.46 (95% CI, 2.32-2.62). Relative risks were 96.38 (95% CI, 48.3-192.34) for twins of patients with ESRD, 2.15 (95% CI, 2.02-2.29) for parents, 2.78 (95% CI, 2.53-3.05) for offspring, 4.96 (95% CI, 4.19-5.88) for siblings, and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.54-1.78) for spouses without genetic similarities. Heritability in this study was 31.1% to 11.4% for shared environmental factors and 57.5% for nonshared environmental factors. LIMITATIONS: This was a registry database study and we did not have detailed information about clinical findings or the definite causes of ESRD. CONCLUSIONS: This whole population-based family study in Asia confirmed, in a Taiwanese population, that a family history of ESRD is a strong risk factor for this disease. Moderate heritability was noted and environmental factors were related to disease. Family history of ESRD is an important piece of clinical information.

Prophylactic antibiotics for endoscopy-associated peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis may develop after endoscopic procedures, and the benefit of prophylactic antibiotics is unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether prophylactic antibiotics reduce the incidence of peritonitis in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all endoscopic procedures, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, cystoscopy, hysteroscopy, and hysteroscopy-assisted intrauterine device (IUD) implantation/removal, performed in CAPD patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, between February 2001 and February 2012. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty-three patients were enrolled, and 125 endoscopies were performed in 45 patients. Eight (6.4%) peritonitis episodes developed after the examination. Antibiotics were used in 26 procedures, and none of the patients had peritonitis (0% vs. 8.1% without antibiotic use; p=0.20). The peritonitis rate was significantly higher in the non-EGD group than in the EGD group (15.9% [7/44] vs. 1.2% [1/81]; p<0.005). Antibiotic use prior to non-EGD examinations significantly reduced the endoscopy-associated peritonitis rate compared to that without antibiotic use (0% [0/16] vs. 25% [7/28]; p<0.05). Peritonitis only occurred if invasive procedures were performed, such as biopsy, polypectomy, or IUD implantation, (noninvasive procedures, 0% [0/20] vs. invasive procedures, 30.4% [7/23]; p<0.05). No peritonitis was noted if antibiotics were used prior to examination with invasive procedures (0% [0/10] vs. 53.8% [7/13] without antibiotic use; p<0.05). Although not statistically significant, antibiotics may play a role in preventing gynecologic procedure-related peritonitis (antibiotics, 0% [0/4] vs. no antibiotics, 55.6% [5/9]; p=0.10). CONCLUSION: Antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduced endoscopy-associated PD peritonitis in the non-EGD group. Endoscopically assisted invasive procedures, such as biopsy, polypectomy, IUD implantation/removal, and dilatation and curettage (D&C), pose a high risk for peritonitis. Prophylactic antibiotics for peritonitis prevention may be required in colonoscopic procedures and gynecologic procedures.

Comparable ten-year outcome in hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus coinfection and single hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection in comparison with single HBV infection causes more severe liver disease in nonuremic population. The long-term impact of HBV/HCV coinfection on severity of liver diseases and patient survival in hemodialysis patients is unclear. Forty-eight HBV-positive patients and 19 HBV/HCV-positive patients were followed up from February 1996 to September 2006. During 10-year follow-up, there was no difference in acute hepatitis episodes, abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase period, occurrence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and patient survival between the two groups. The serum HBV DNA levels in HBV/HCV-positive patients were significantly lower than those in HBV-positive patients during the first 27-month follow-up. In conclusion, HCV infection suppresses the serum HBV DNA level in hemodialysis patients. Nevertheless, HBV/HCV coinfection in comparison with single HBV infection does not cause more severe liver diseases or reduce patient survival in hemodialysis patients during 10-year follow-up.