Nighttime Blood Pressure Abnormalities in Iranian CKD Patients: Necessity to Perform Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring.

INTRODUCTION: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a valuable tool for detecting abnormalities in nighttime blood pressure (BP), including non-dipping and nighttime hypertension. These abnormalities are independent predictors of a poor prognosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of our study  was to analyze ABPM data and evaluate nighttime BP abnormalities in an Iranian CKD population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on sixty two patients at stages III and IV of CKD who were referred to a nephrology clinic in Tehran, Iran. The patients were classified as either dippers (19.4%) or non-dippers (80.6%), as well as nighttime normotensives (38.7%) or hypertensives (61.3%), based on ABPM  data and in accordance with 2023 ESC/ESH guidelines. We compared demographic data, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and daytime BP levels among these groups. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 56.34 years, with 61.1% of them being male. Daytime pulse pressure was significantly greater in non-dippers compared to dippers (52.67 vs. 44 mmHg, P = .02). We found a significant correlation between the extent of BP dipping and eGFR (R = 0.281, P = .02). Systolic and diastolic daytime BP levels were significantly higher in individuals with nighttime hypertension. Diabetic patients were more likely to be non-dippers and have nighttime hypertension. After adjusting for age, diabetes mellitus, and daytime pulse pressure in a multivariable model, we determined that eGFR independently predicted the  extent of BP dipping. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that both non-dipping and nighttime hypertension are highly prevalent in CKD patients, but they have distinct contributing factors. The eGFR was identified as an independent predictor of BP dipping, whereas nighttime BP levels were primarily determined by daytime BP levels. DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.7559.

Alteration in body water compartments following intermittent fasting in Ramadan.

Concerning the health outcomes of intermittent fasting in Ramadan, loss of fat-free mass (FFM) and changes in the content of body water are of paramount importance. In this study, we aimed to assess the concomitant alterations in body water compartment and composition following Ramadan fasting in healthy individuals. We conducted an open-label cohort with longitudinal follow-up, involving 73 healthy medical staff who planned to fast for at least 20 consecutive days during Ramadan. The primary outcomes of the cohort were changes in parameters related to body composition and water content, which were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis by InBody S10 (InBody, Seoul, South Korea). Based on the results, the participants' weight decreased significantly by approximately 1,030 g after the fasting period (p < 0.001). There was a significant reduction in the fat mass of an average 828 g (p < 0.001), which accounted for more than 80% of the weight loss. The decline in FFM was not significant (190 g; p = 0.234). The amount of total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) did not change, while intracellular water (ICW) decreased significantly by about 160 mL (p = 0.027). A strong correlation was observed between the reduction of phase angle and the increase in ECW/TBW ratio (R = -0.71, p < 0.001). Overall, our findings revealed a minimal amount of weight loss after Ramadan fasting, which was mainly due to the loss of fat mass. The parallel decrease in ICW and phase angle indicated impaired cell membrane integrity, with subsequent movement of water from the intracellular to the extracellular compartment.

Acute Kidney Injury After Liver Transplant: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Impact on Patient Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication of liver transplant. Here, we assessed the rate and contributing factors of acute kidney injury and need for renal replacement therapy in patients undergoing liver transplant at a transplant center in Tehran, Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We identified all patients who underwent liver transplant at the Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex from March 2018 to March 2019 and who were followed for 3 months after transplant. Acute kidney injury was defined based on the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. We collected demographic and pretransplant, intraoperative, and posttransplant data. Univariable and multivariable models were applied to explore independent risk factors for acute kidney injury incidence and need for renal replacement therapy. RESULTS: Our study included 173 deceased donor liver transplant recipients. Rates of incidence of acute kidney injury and need for renal replacement therapy were 68.2% and 14.5%, respectively. The 3-month mortality rate among those with severe and mild or moderate acute kidney injury was 44.0% (14/25) and 9.7% (9/ 93), respectively (P < .001). Multivariable analyses indicated that serum albumin (relative risk of 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.87; P = .021), baseline serum creatinine (relative risk of 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.56-2.90; P = .037), and intraoperative mean arterial pressure (relative risk of 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.82; P = .008) were independent factors for predicting posttransplant acute kidney injury. Independent risk factors for requiring renal replacement therapy were pretransplant serum creatinine (relative risk of 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.89-4.47; P = .044) and intraoperative vasopressor infusion (relative risk of 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-2.00; P = .021). CONCLUSIONS: We found a high incidence of acute kidney injury among liver transplant recipients in our center. There was a significant association between severity of acute kidney injury and 3-month and in-hospital mortality.

Discordance Between Using Estimated and Measured Glomerular Filtration Rate for Drug Dosing in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using different formulas is common clinical practice for evaluating kidney function and drug dosing. But, the performance of available eGFR equations is questionable during early days after kidney transplantation. METHODS: This study compared the performance of three common eGFR equations (Cockcroft-Gault (CG), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI)) in relation with measured GFR (mGFR) using clearance of Tc-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, 7 to 10 days post kidney transplantation. Agreement of mGFR and different eGFR equations in the staging of kidney function and dosing of 8 common antimicrobials were assessed. RESULT: Thirty kidney and 5 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients were included. CG applying total body weight (CGTBW) had the lowest bias (-12 mL/min/ 1.73 m2) and the highest percentage of estimation within 30% of mGFR (71.4%). MDRD showed the best precision (13.14 mL/min/ 1.73m2) and linear correlation with mGFR. CKD-EPI and MDRD acted better than CG for staging the level of kidney function. CGTBW had the lowest discordance rate with mGFR for antimicrobials dosing (33.6%). Discordance rates of drug dosing between mGFR and eGFR formulas were greater for drugs that have higher dosing levels such as (val)-ganciclovir (≥ 54.3%). CONCLUSION: Until developing more accurate methods for estimating kidney function during first 1 to 2 weeks after kidney transplantation, CGTBW method is suggested for drug dose adjustment and MDRD or CKD-EPI equation for the staging of kidney function in these patients, keeping in mind that these formulas underestimate the level of kidney function in new transplant recipients.

Chronic kidney disease progression in elderly Iranian patients: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In the past few decades, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) - a disease with progressive decline in renal function - has become an important problem of global public health, not only in developed countries, but also in developing countries with less economic power. OBJECTIVES: In this study, CKD progression to death or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in elderly Iranian patients was compared with younger counterparts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on CKD patients with estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min, in a nephrology clinic in Tehran from December of 2006 until December of 2012. eGFR trend, death and need to renal replacement therapy (RRT) were evaluated as outcomes and compared between patients younger and older than 60 years. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13. RESULTS: Five-hundred and two patients were enrolled and followed up for an average of 37.6 months. Two thirds of the patients were older than 60 years. The incidence density of ESRD in patients younger and older than 60 years were 6.3 and 3.6 for 100 persons per year, respectively. Younger ones showed more rapid decline in their eGFR, while older patients had more stable renal function. CONCLUSIONS: It seems necessary to conduct more researches in order to redefine CKD and identify its prognostic markers in elderly population.

Iranian Breast Cancer Bio-Bank: the activity and challenging issues.

The information gained from the Human Genome Project has facilitated molecular as well as cellular studies not only to find the origins of Breast Cancer (BC), but also to create novel, and effective treatments. In order to provide an infrastructure for local and international research in this area, Iranian Center for Breast Cancer (ICBC) has established a Bio-Bank (BB) for BC. This article describes the aim, structure, and activities in general, and the challenging issues confronting the bank as a model for the establishment of Bio-Banks in developing countries in particular. The methods employed by the Bank could be explained in the following categories: Blood and Tissue sampling, Preparation and Banking of collected Samples, Clinical and Histopathology data collection, Collaboration Protocol, Challenging issues, and the programs to confront the problems. During the five-year activity of the bank, 110 families were enrolled for genetic counseling, from whom 600 biologic samples were obtained, including 387 blood samples and 213 tissue samples. Of 387 blood samples, 317 (82%) were found to belong to the BC patients and the remaining 70 (18%) belonged to their available relatives. The number of samples increased over the study period partly as a result of the programs designed to confront the problems. During the study period, there were some finished research studies using the samples of BB, and many other studies which are still ongoing. ICBC-BB is a model of biologic sample banking which provides a significant number of biological samples for local and international collaborative research projects regarding molecular and cellular aspects of BC. In establishing the ICBC-BB we have experienced problems and challenges, some general and some local. Some were expected and others not, but we have identified solutions.