Chronic kidney disease, pregnancy and haemodialysis: Case reports from a single centre in Kenya and literature review.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage kidney disease are prevalent even in women of reproductive age. These are known to reduce fertility and successful pregnancy. There are chances of conception even in advanced CKD, though laden with complications. We present two cases of women who conceived in advanced CKD and were on haemodialysis in a tertiary hospital in Kenya, and review of literature.

Hemodialysis vascular accesses in patients on chronic hemodialysis at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of our study was to document the level of preparedness for renal replacement therapy assessed by incident hemodialysis vascular access and the access at least 3 months after initiation of hemodialysis at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. METHODS: Between June and July 2018, we carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study on the preparedness for hemodialysis by patients who were on chronic hemodialysis in the Kenyatta National Hospital Renal Department. Sociodemographic, medical history, duration of follow-up, and state of preparedness parameters were obtained through interview and entered into the questionnaire. The data were entered in preprogrammed format in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 for analyses. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were enrolled. Males were 50% (41). The mean age was 45.39 ± 15.96 years but females were 5 years younger than their male counterparts. About 85.4% of the patients were drawn from the hypertension and diabetes clinics, and the mean, mode, and median of the duration of follow-up were 41, 0, and 0 months, respectively, in these clinics. Almost three in every four patients (74.4%) were initiated on hemodialysis as emergency (p value < 0.001). About 80% were initiated hemodialysis via acute catheters placed in the jugular and subclavian veins (p value < 0.001). At least 3 months later, 40% still had acute catheters on the same veins (p value < 0.001). Acute venous catheters in the femoral veins were in 9.2% at initiation and 6.6% of the patients at least 3 months later. Less than 2% of the patients had arteriovenous fistulae at initiation, which rose to 14.5% in 3 months. Tunneled catheters were placed in 11.8% initially and at least 3 months, were almost in 40% of the patients. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our young hemodialysis population mainly drawn from hypertension and diabetes clinic requires more input in hemodialysis vascular access planning. Focused individualized follow-up and early referrals to nephrologists are required. Uptake of arteriovenous grafts for hemodialysis might reduce the prevalence of hemodialysis catheters. As it is, this population is threatened with iterative vascular accesses complications as well as real danger of exhaustion of their vascular capital. There is real danger of increase in mortality from access complications.

Changes in Blood Pressure Levels and Antihypertensive Medication Use before and after Renal Transplantation among Patients in Nairobi, Kenya: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives. To determine the changes in blood pressure levels and antihypertensive medication use in the postrenal transplantation period compared to pretransplantation one. Methods. A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out on renal transplant recipients at the Kenyatta National Hospital, a national referral hospital in Kenya. Sociodemographic details, blood pressure levels, and antihypertensive medication use before and after renal transplantation were noted. Changes in mean blood pressure levels and mean number of antihypertensive medications after renal transplantation were determined using paired t-test. Results. 85 subjects were evaluated. Mean age was 42.4 (SD ± 12.2) years, with a male : female ratio of 1.9 : 1. Compared to the pretransplant period, significantly lower mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels after transplantation were noted (mean SBP 144.5 mmHg versus 131.8 mmHg; mean DBP 103.6 mmHg versus 83.5 mmHg in the pre- and posttransplant periods, respectively, p < 0.001). Mean number of antihypertensive medications also reduced significantly after transplantation, with an average of 3.3 (±1.6) versus 2.1 (±0.9) in the pre- and posttransplant periods, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion. There is a significant reduction in blood pressure levels and number of antihypertensive medications used after renal transplantation. The positive impact of renal transplantation on blood pressure control should be confirmed using prospective cohort studies of patients with end stage renal disease who then undergo renal transplantation.

Factors Associated with Uncontrolled Hypertension among Renal Transplant Recipients Attending Nephrology Clinics in Nairobi, Kenya.

Objective. To determine the factors associated with poor blood pressure control among renal transplant recipients in a resource-limited setting. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out on renal transplant recipients at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Sociodemographic details, blood pressure, urine albumin : creatinine ratio, and adherence using the MMAS-8 questionnaire were noted. Independent factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension were determined using logistic regression analysis. Results. 85 subjects were evaluated. Mean age was 42.4 (SD ± 12.2) years, with a male : female ratio of 1.9 : 1. Fifty-five patients (64.7%) had uncontrolled hypertension (BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg). On univariate analysis, male sex (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.4-9.5, p = 0.006), higher levels of proteinuria (p = 0.042), and nonadherence to antihypertensives (OR 18, 95% CI 5.2-65.7, p < 0.001) were associated with uncontrolled hypertension. On logistic regression analysis, male sex (adjusted OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.1-19.0, p = 0.034) and nonadherence (adjusted OR 33.8, 95% CI 8.6-73.0, p < 0.001) were independently associated with uncontrolled hypertension. Conclusion. Factors associated with poor blood pressure control in this cohort were male sex and nonadherence to antihypertensives. Emphasis on adherence to antihypertensive therapy must be pursued within this population.

Immunosuppression in renal transplantation: current status and application in developing countries.

Renal transplantation has become the most effective treatment for end stage renal failure. The numbers and survival rates of patients undergoing renal transplantation have increased immensely over the past decade. The use of immunosuppressive drugs has contributed greatly to the success of transplantation. Drugs such as azathioprine, corticosteroids, cyclosporin, FK 506, ATG/ALG and OKT3 are being used in several countries on a daily basis. New drugs and other modalities of immunosuppression are under investigation. This paper reviews these medications with respect to dosing, administration and adverse effects. Drugs being relatively expensive, the use of these drugs in developing counties is discussed.

Gromerular diseases in Kenya-another look at diseases characterised by nephrotic proteinura.

Renal biopsies were evaluated in 422 patients with nephrotic syndrome at the Kenyatta National Hospital between 1982 and 1993. Three hundred and fifty five (84.1%) of the patients were less than 30 years old (range: 7 months to 66 years; mean=SD: 28.4 - 9.2 years). The commonest histological lesions were mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (25.1%), minimal change nephropathy (17.5%) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (15.2%). Poststreptococcal aetiology was implicated in diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis while use of skin lightening cosmetics appeared to play a role in the aetiology of minimal change nephrophathy in females. No aetiological role was apparent for hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, malarial or schistosomal infection. All patients with minimal change nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis were treated with steroids and/or cytotoxics with a variable response.