Prevalence of Renal Osteodystrophy and its Related Factors among End-stage Renal Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: Report from Imam Reza Referral Hospital of Medical University of Kermanshah, Iran.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the prevalence of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) and its related factors in a group consisting of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: A total of 128 ESRD patients (52 men and 76 women) with a mean age of 59.3 years undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Imam Reza Referral Hospital, Iran were included in this cross-sectional study. We measured serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and determined 150 to 300 pg/mL as the desirable range for the values. Values lower or higher than this range were used to determine ROD. Furthermore, this study investigated the association of ROD with clinical and laboratory variables (age at the onset of renal failure, hemodialysis sessions per week, clinical symptoms associated with ROD, and serum calcium and phosphate levels). RESULTS: ROD was diagnosed in 93 (72.7%) out of 128 patients studied. Of them, 53 (41.4%) patients had PTH levels above 300 pg/mL (high bone turnover, HTO group) and 40 patients (31.3%) had PTH levels below 150 pg/mL (low bone turnover, LTO group). No statistically significant difference was detected in terms of ROD-related clinical findings (p = 0.110), age at the time of ESRD diagnosis (p = 0.200), and the number of hemodialysis sessions per week (p = 0.200). Hyperphosphatemia was more prevalent in the ROD group (n = 52, 57.1%) compared with 11 patients (31.4%) included in the group without ROD (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of ROD in this study was significant, and it was largely consistent with the rate reported in some Asian countries. Hyperphosphatemia were laboratory variables closely related to ROD.

Allopurinol Against Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperuricemia is common in approximately 50% of patients with kidney failure due to decreased uric acid excretion, and it has been recently known as an independent factor in the progression of renal insufficiency. Allopurinol inhibits the production of uric acid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of allopurinol on chronic kidney disease progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a clinical trial, patients with stages 3 and 4 of chronic kidney disease were divided into two groups to receive allopurinol, 100 mg, daily and placebo for 12 months. Patients' kidney function and serum uric acid levels were assessed at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after initial administration. Subgroups of patients with severe and mild glomerular filtration rate (GFR) impairment (GFR, 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively), were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Serum uric acid levels decreased significantly during after 12 months of allopurinol administration (P = .004). In patients with severe GFR impairment, serum creatinine levels did not decrease significantly and there was no significant increase in GFR, but in those with mild GFR impairment, serum creatinine levels decreased and GFR increase significantly (P < .001) after administration of allopurinol. These effects were not observed in the control subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Allopurinol may slow down stage 3 chronic kidney disease progression and could be administered with other effective medications for controlling the kidney disease.

The effect of omega-3 on serum lipid profile in hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: One of the major complications in hemodialysis patients is cardiovascular disease. Lipid abnormality is an important factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of omega-3 supplementation on serum lipid profile in hemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study included 2 groups of patients: those who received omega-3 supplementation (experimental group; 30 cases) and those who received placebo (control group; 30 cases). They received these for 10 weeks and serum lipid profile (triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein [LDL-C], and total cholesterol) was assessed 2 times, first before initiating supplementation and then at the end of 10-week study period. RESULTS: Mean (±SD) serum total cholesterol levels at the beginning was 163 (±47) mg/dL in experimental group and 143 (±25) mg/dL in control group (P> 0.05). These values decreased to 124 mg/dL and 132 mg/dL in control and experimental groups (P< 0.05). There was no significant difference of HDL-C, LDL-C, or triglyceride levels between experimental and control groups after 10 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSION: Omega-3 supplementation in hemodialysis patients only showed significant decrease of serum total cholesterol level, but not other lipids.

The effect of selenium supplementation on acute phase reactants and thyroid function tests in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Selenium deficiency is a common problem in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This micronutrient has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Selenium is also found in high concentrations in the thyroid gland. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of selenium supplementation on thyroid function tests and acute phase reactants in hemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this double-blinded randomized clinical in 3 months, 64 hemodialysis patients with selenium deficiency were divided into experimental (received selenium supplementation; 32 cases) or control group (received placebo; 32 cases). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ferritin, quantitative C-reactive protein (CRP) and thyroid function tests (TFTs) including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T3 resin uptake (T3RU), and free T4 were measured before and after the intervention and compared between experimental and control groups. RESULTS: At baseline, no significant difference was found between experimental and control groups regarding CRP, ESR and ferritin serum levels. Likewise, after intervention, no significant difference was found between experimental and control groups for CRP (14.77 ± 17.93 vs. 18.29 ± 21.56 mg/L), ESR (32.90 ± 32.62 vs. 33.91 ± 31.15 mm/h) and ferritin (528.6 ± 423.07 vs. 519.52 ± 345.59 ng/mL). At baseline, no significant difference was found between experimental and control groups regarding TFTs. Likewise, after intervention, no significant difference was found between experimental and control groups for TSH (3.7 ± 2.22 vs. 2.84 ± 1.88 µU/mL), free T4 (7.19 ± 1.98 vs. 7.02 ± 1.87 µg/dL) and T3RU (30.04 ± 2.28% vs. 29.2 ± 1.98%). CONCLUSIONS: Oral selenium supplementation for three months did not have any significant effect on thyroid function tests or acute phase reactants.

Depression, Anxiety and Disease-Related Variables and Quality of Life Among Individuals With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Living in Kermanshah Province, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is affected by numerous variables including depression and anxiety. However, these associations have not yet been described among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the impact of SLE-related clinical variables remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence of depression and anxiety among Iranian patients with SLE living in Kermanshah province, Iran, has been estimated and the determinants of HRQoL in comparison with healthy subjects have been identified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sampling was performed based on recruitment of subjects according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Systemic lupus erythematosus-related variables including cutaneous manifestations, pericarditis, arthritis, history of seizure and psychosis were recorded. Blood samples were taken to measure antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), Anti-Smith (Anti-SM), anticardiolipin antibody. Matched healthy subjects in demographic characteristics were selected from general population of Kermanshah province, Iran. Depression and anxiety and HRQoL were assessed using the Beck depression inventory-II, Beck anxiety inventory and short-form 36 health survey, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 310 individuals (160 patients with SLE and 150 healthy subjects) participated in this study. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was about 20% among people with SLE, which was noticeably high but not significantly different from healthy individuals. More severe depression was associated with lower scores in domains of physical functioning (PF), role limitation due to physical problems (RP) and subsequently physical component summary (PCS) in the SLE group (P < 0.0001 for all). A higher anxiety level was negatively correlated with PF, RP, social functioning (SF), general health (GH) and PCS in the SLE group (P = 0.01, < 0.0001, 0.004, 0.02 and 0.005, respectively). Scores of PF and PCS were significantly lower among patients with SLE compared to the control group (P = 0.001 for both). Malar rash, photosensitivity, discoid rash, pleuritis, pericarditis, history of seizure and positive Anti-SM Ab were associated with poorer SF (P = 0.003, 0.003, 0.018, 0.001, < 0.0001, 0.021 and 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that patients with SLE have poorer HRQoL in physical components whereas the mental component of QoL is relatively similar to healthy individuals. Depression and anxiety were not related to clinical manifestations of SLE. However, the SF domain of HRQoL was the most susceptible component of QoL, which was affected by SLE clinical variables. The high estimated prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients with SLE requires attention.