Long-Term Efficacy of T3 Analogue Triac in Children and Adults With MCT8 Deficiency: A Real-Life Retrospective Cohort Study.

CONTEXT: Patients with mutations in thyroid hormone transporter MCT8 have developmental delay and chronic thyrotoxicosis associated with being underweight and having cardiovascular dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: Our previous trial showed improvement of key clinical and biochemical features during 1-year treatment with the T3 analogue Triac, but long-term follow-up data are needed. METHODS: In this real-life retrospective cohort study, we investigated the efficacy of Triac in MCT8-deficient patients in 33 sites. The primary endpoint was change in serum T3 concentrations from baseline to last available measurement. Secondary endpoints were changes in other thyroid parameters, anthropometric parameters, heart rate, and biochemical markers of thyroid hormone action. RESULTS: From October 15, 2014 to January 1, 2021, 67 patients (median baseline age 4.6 years; range, 0.5-66) were treated up to 6 years (median 2.2 years; range, 0.2-6.2). Mean T3 concentrations decreased from 4.58 (SD 1.11) to 1.66 (0.69) nmol/L (mean decrease 2.92 nmol/L; 95% CI, 2.61-3.23; P < 0.0001; target 1.4-2.5 nmol/L). Body-weight-for-age exceeded that of untreated historical controls (mean difference 0.72 SD; 95% CI, 0.36-1.09; P = 0.0002). Heart-rate-for-age decreased (mean difference 0.64 SD; 95% CI, 0.29-0.98; P = 0.0005). SHBG concentrations decreased from 245 (99) to 209 (92) nmol/L (mean decrease 36 nmol/L; 95% CI, 16-57; P = 0.0008). Mean creatinine concentrations increased from 32 (11) to 39 (13) µmol/L (mean increase 7 µmol/L; 95% CI, 6-9; P < 0.0001). Mean creatine kinase concentrations did not significantly change. No drug-related severe adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Key features were sustainably alleviated in patients with MCT8 deficiency across all ages, highlighting the real-life potential of Triac for MCT8 deficiency.

Cardiometabolic correlates of sleep-disordered breathing in renal transplant children.

Sleep-disordered breathing, a prevalent condition among adult renal transplant (RTx) recipients, has become an established independent risk factor of MetS, and furthermore, it might contribute to increased CV risk. Despite the proven correlations in adults, there is a lack of evidence for its significance in the pediatric RTx population. In this study, we aimed at assessing the prevalence and the clinical correlates of SDB in RTx children. Data of 13 patients (age [mean ± SD]: 14.2 ± 2.7 years) were analyzed. SDB was evaluated by PSG, as severity score OAHI was applied. Carbohydrate metabolism was characterized by OGTT, whereas CV status was studied by ABPM. Three composite end-points were calculated as sum of z-scores: daytime systolic and diastolic BP; nighttime systolic and diastolic BP; and glucose and insulin levels at 120 minutes. Eight patients (61.5%) were diagnosed with SDB of whom five patients (38.5%) had moderate or severe SDB. In linear regression analysis, OAHI during REM was associated with the CV variables (daytime BP P = 0.032, ß = 0.748; nighttime BP P = 0.041, ß = 0.715), and the correlations remained significant after adjustments for BMI. However, we did not confirm a significant association with the metabolic variables. The prevalence of SDB was high, and its severity during REM was a predictor of the BP suggesting that RTx children with SDB might be at risk of developing CV complications, especially HTN similarly to adults.

First-line therapy in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: consideration on infants with a poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare and heterogeneous disorder. The first line treatment of aHUS is plasma therapy, but in the past few years, the recommendations have changed greatly with the advent of eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti C5-antibody. Although recent recommendations suggest using it as a primary treatment for aHUS, important questions have arisen about the necessity of immediate use of eculizumab in all cases. We aimed to draw attention to a specific subgroup of aHUS patients with rapid disease progression and high mortality, in whom plasma therapy may not be feasible. METHODS: We present three pediatric patients of acute complement-mediated HUS with a fatal outcome. Classical and alternative complement pathway activity, levels of complement factors C3, C4, H, B and I, as well as of anti-factor H autoantibody and of ADAMTS13 activity were determined. The coding regions of CFH, CFI, CD46, THBD, CFB and C3 genes were sequenced and the copy number of CFI, CD46, CFH and related genes were analyzed. RESULTS: We found severe activation and consumption of complement components in these patients, furthermore, in one patient we identified a previously not reported mutation in CFH (Ser722Stop), supporting the diagnosis of complement-mediated HUS. These patients were not responsive to the FFP therapy, and all cases had fatal outcome. CONCLUSION: Taking the heterogeneity and the variable prognosis of atypical HUS into account, we suggest that the immediate use of eculizumab should be considered as first-line therapy in certain small children with complement dysregulation.

[Sleep duration among school-age children in Hungary and Romania]. / Az alvásido felmérése Magyarországon és Romániában élo iskoláskorú gyermekek körében.

INTRODUCTION: Children's sleep duration is decreasing in the last decade. Despite of the well known negative consequences, there are no data on children's sleep duration in Hungary and Romania. AIM: The aim of the authors was to assess sleep duration of school-age children in Hungary and Romania. METHOD: A self-edited questionnaire was used for the study. 2446 children were enrolled. All elementary and secondary schools in a Hungarian city, and one elementary and secondary school in a Romanian city took part in the study. RESULTS: Mean sleep duration was 8.3 ± 1.2 hours on weekdays. There was a significant difference between the two countries (Hungary vs. Romania, 8.5 ± 1.2 hours vs. 7.8 ± 0.9 hours, p = 0.001). Age correlated with sleep duration on weekdays (r= -0.605, p = 0.001), but not during weekend. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on children's sleep duration in Hungary and Romania. The difference between countries may be due to the difference in mean age or cultural and/or geographical differences.

Psychological distress and depression in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Depressive disorders are 1.5-4 times more prevalent in medically ill patients than in the general population. Mood disorders can be regarded as the final common pathway developing from the interaction among multiple pathophysiological, psychological, and socioeconomic stressors that chronic illness imposes on the individual. Symptoms of clinical depression affect approximately 25% patients on hemodialysis and can be associated with low quality of life and increased mortality. The epidemiology of depressive disorders is less well studied in the renal transplant population. However, depression is a risk factor for poor outcomes, such as graft failure and death after renal transplantation. A high prevalence of severe psychological distress in patients with advanced CKD and its impact on CKD outcomes call for screening and intervention integrated in routine renal care. Preliminary data indicate that some of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor agents and time-limited, manualized, structured psychotherapies can be safe and effective for treating depression in this population.

Psychosocial variables are associated with being wait-listed, but not with receiving a kidney transplant in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS).

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial factors are associated with clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease. It is not known if self-reported depression and quality of life influence the likelihood of being wait-listed and receiving a transplant. METHODS: Prevalent cross section of 18- to 65-year-old hemodialysis (HD) patients in the USA (N = 2033) and seven European countries (N = 4350) from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study phase II and III was analyzed. Wait-listed patients (N = 1838) were followed until kidney transplantation. Self-reported depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, 10-item version (CES-D) and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form 12 scale Physical Component Score (PCS). RESULTS: At study entry, 27% (USA) to 53% (UK) of patients were wait-listed in participating countries. Variables associated with lower odds of being on the waiting list included worse HR-QoL, more severe depressive symptoms, older age, fewer years of education, lower serum albumin, lower hemoglobin, shorter time on dialysis and presence of multiple comorbid conditions. Among wait-listed patients, significantly lower transplantation rates were seen for females, blacks, patients having prior transplantation and multiple comorbid conditions but not PCS or CES-D. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer depressive symptoms and better HR-QoL are associated with being on the waiting list in prevalent HD patients but not with receiving a kidney transplant among wait-listed dialysis patients. Regular assessment of subjective well-being may help identify patients with reduced access to wait-listing and kidney transplantation.

Health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important outcome measure in patients with chronic kidney disease. It also has been shown repeatedly to predict mortality in various patient populations. In a prospective cohort study, we assessed the association between HRQoL and long-term clinical outcome in kidney transplant recipients. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective prevalent cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: We collected sociodemographic parameters, medical and transplant history, and laboratory data at baseline from 879 prevalent kidney transplant recipients (mean age, 49 ± 13 [standard deviation] years; 58% men; and 17% with diabetes mellitus). PREDICTOR: We assessed HRQoL using the KDQoL-SF (Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form) questionnaire and assessed depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. OUTCOMES: All-cause mortality and death-censored transplant loss or death with functioning transplant. Cox regression models and semiparametric competing-risks regression analyses were used to measure associations between HRQoL scores and outcomes. RESULTS: Most examined HRQoL domains were associated with clinical outcome in unadjusted models. After adjusting for several important confounders, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) Physical Composite Score and Physical Functioning and General Health Perception subscale scores remained independently associated with clinical outcomes. Every 10-point increase in SF-36 Physical Composite Score and Physical Functioning and General Health Perception scores was associated with 18% (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.95), 11% (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.94), and 7% lower risks of mortality (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-1.00), respectively. LIMITATIONS: Single-center study. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that the SF-36 Physical Composite Score and Physical Functioning and General Health Perception KDQoL-SF domain scores are associated independently with increased risk of mortality in kidney transplant patients. Regular assessment of HRQoL may be a useful tool to inform health care providers about the prognosis of kidney transplant recipients. Additional studies are needed to assess whether interventions aimed at improving HRQoL would improve clinical outcomes in this patient population.

Association between the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score and depressive symptoms in kidney transplanted patients.

OBJECTIVE: Depressive symptoms and the Malnutrition-Inflammation Complex Syndrome (MICS) are prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease. The complex relationship between MICS and depression has never been studied in kidney transplanted (Tx) patients. Here we evaluate the association between the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) (Kalantar score) and depressive symptoms in Tx patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional data of 973 prevalent Tx patients were analyzed. Sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics and clinical and laboratory data were collected, and serum levels of inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)] were measured. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale, the MIS and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were computed. We used linear regression analysis to examine whether the relationship between MIS and CES-D score is independent from sociodemographic and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: The CES-D score, corrected for age, gender and estimated glomerular filtration rate weakly but significantly correlated with serum IL-6 and the CCI (0.124 and 0.103, respectively; P<.05 for both) and marginally significantly with CRP (0.06; P=.06). We found a moderate correlation between CES-D score and MIS (0.262; P<.001). In a multivariable linear regression model, the MIS was independently associated with the CES-D score (B=0.110; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The MIS was significantly associated with depressive symptoms after adjusting for important covariables in patients after renal transplantation.

High risk of obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor of death censored graft loss in kidney transplant recipients: an observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity in the general population. The clinical significance of OSA among kidney transplant patients is unknown. Our aim was to investigate the association of "high risk of OSA" with death-censored graft loss and mortality in a large cohort of kidney transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the Berlin questionnaire 1067 prevalent kidney transplant recipients were assessed for risk of OSA. Socio-demographic variables, laboratory parameters and data about graft loss and mortality were obtained from the medical records. Multivariable-adjusted associations of OSA risk with graft loss and with all-cause mortality was assessed in competing-risks regression models. RESULTS: Of the 823 patients who completed the Berlin questionnaire 28% had high risk of OSA (HRO) at baseline. Patients with HRO were older (52±11 vs. 47±13years, p<0.001), had a higher prevalence of diabetes (22 vs. 15%, p=0.018), worse baseline kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate: 46±18 vs. 51±19ml/min/1.73m(2), p=0.001) and higher BMI (27±5 vs. 24±4kg/m(2), p<0.001). In multivariate models HRO was an independent predictor of graft loss among females after adjusting for age, comorbidity, hypertension, BMI, kidney function, duration of chronic kidney disease, other laboratory parameters and transplant-related data (HR=3.05; CI: 1.24-7.51; p=0.015), while HRO did not predict graft survival among males. HRO at baseline was not independently associated with all-cause mortality in the sample. CONCLUSION: High risk of OSA is an independent predictor of graft loss among female kidney transplant patients.

Sleep disorders, depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life--a cross-sectional comparison between kidney transplant recipients and waitlisted patients on maintenance dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation is believed to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Recent studies suggested that the observed difference in HRQoL between kidney transplant recipients (Tx) vs patients treated with dialysis may reflect differences in patient characteristics. We tested if Tx patients have better HRQoL compared to waitlisted (WL) patients treated with dialysis after extensive adjustment for covariables. METHODS: Eight hundred and eighty-eight prevalent Tx patients followed at a single outpatient transplant clinic and 187 WL patients treated with maintenance dialysis in nine dialysis centres were enrolled in this observational cross-sectional study. Data about socio-demographic and clinical parameters, self-reported depressive symptoms and the most frequent sleep disorders assessed by self-reported questionnaires were collected at enrollment. HRQoL was assessed by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were similar in the Tx vs WL groups: the proportion of males (58 vs 60%), mean ± SD age (49 ± 13 vs 49 ± 12) and proportion of diabetics (17 vs 18%), respectively, were all similar. Tx patients had significantly better HRQoL scores compared to the WL group both in generic (Physical function, General health perceptions, Energy/fatigue, Emotional well-being) and in kidney disease-specific domains (Symptoms/problems, Effect- and Burden of kidney disease and Sleep). In multivariate regression models adjusting for clinical and socio-demographic characteristics, sleep disorders and depressive symptoms, the modality of RRT (WL vs Tx) remained independently associated with three (General health perceptions, Effect- and Burden of kidney disease) out of the eight HRQoL dimensions analysed. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney Tx recipients have significantly better HRQoL compared to WL dialysis patients in some, but not all, dimensions of quality of life after accounting for differences in patient characteristics. Utilizing multidimensional disease-specific questionnaires will allow better understanding of treatment, disease and patient-related factors potentially affecting quality of life in patients with chronic medical conditions.

Depressive symptoms and mortality in patients after kidney transplantation: a prospective prevalent cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze in a prospective cohort study if depressive symptoms are an independent predictor of mortality in kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: Data from 840 transplanted patients followed at a single outpatient transplant center were analyzed. Sociodemographic parameters and clinical data were collected at enrollment (between August 2002 and February 2003). Participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. Depression was defined as CES-D score of > or = 18. Data on 5-year outcomes (death censored graft loss or mortality) were collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression was 22%. Mortality was higher (21% versus 13%; p = .004) in patients with versus without depression. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, both the baseline CES-D score (hazard ratio(for each 1-point increase) = 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.04) and the presence of depression at baseline (hazard ratio(presence) = 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.47) were significantly associated with mortality. The baseline CES-D score also significantly predicted death censored graft loss (hazard ratio(for each 1-point increase) = 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.05). CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms are an independent predictor of mortality in kidney transplanted patients.

Symptoms of depression in kidney transplant recipients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with impaired quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of depression in kidney transplant recipients. In this study, we aimed to compare depressive symptoms between kidney transplant recipients and wait-listed dialysis patients and identify the correlates of depressive symptoms in the transplant recipient population. STUDY DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. A cutoff score of 18 was used to identify the presence of depression. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 1,067 kidney transplant recipients and 214 wait-listed dialysis patients were asked to participate; the final analysis included 854 kidney transplant and 176 wait-listed dialysis patients, respectively. PREDICTORS: Sociodemographic and clinical variables. OUTCOME: Severity of depressive symptoms and presence of depression (CES-D score > or = 18). RESULTS: The prevalence of depression was 33% versus 22% in wait-listed versus transplant patients, respectively (P = 0.002). In multivariate regression, number of comorbid conditions, estimated glomerular filtration rate, perceived financial situation, and marital status were significant and independent predictors of depression in the transplant recipient group. Treatment modality was associated significantly with the presence of depression, even after adjustment for clinical and sociodemographic variables (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.25-3.23; P = 0.004). LIMITATIONS: Self-reported measurement of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depression is lower in transplant recipients than in wait-listed patients. However, one-fifth of transplant patients are still at high risk of clinically significant depression. Comorbid conditions, socioeconomic status, and treatment modality predicted depressive symptoms in patients with end-stage renal disease.

[Mood disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease. Diagnosis, screening and treatment of depression]. / Hangulatzavarok krónikus vesebetegek körében. A depresszió diagnosztikája, szurése és terápiája.

Depression is a common co-morbid condition in patients suffering from a variety of chronic medical conditions. In spite of this, mental health of patients with chronic kidney disease is understudied. Accurate estimation of the prevalence of depressive disorders in this population is difficult due to the different definitions and assessment techniques and the overlap of depressive symptomatology with symptoms of uremia. Several potential pathways link depression and chronic kidney disease. The association between the two conditions is probably bidirectional. Consequently, treatment of mood disorders could impact medical outcome. Very little has been published about the therapeutic options for depression in patients with chronic kidney disease. Available data, however, suggest that several antidepressant medications and psychotherapeutic methods are likely to be safe and effective also in this population. In this review, which is the second of a series of reviews on this topic, we provide an overview of the literature concerning the diagnosis, screening and therapy of depressive disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease.

[Diagnosis and therapy of depression in family practice]. / A depresszió diagnosztikája és kezelése a családorvosi gyakorlatban.

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders, according to Hungarian and international data. In Western- Europe, lifetime prevalence of major depression is 13%, while one-year prevalence is 4%. The prevalence of severe depressive symptoms is similar in Hungary: approximately 5 to 8% of all patients seen by primary care physicians suffer from some kind of depressive disorders. Depression is more prevalent in women and in the elderly. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the third most common disabling disorder. Patients with depression experience impaired quality of life, anxiety, sleep disturbances, alcohol and drug abuse, and different somatic disorders. Furthermore, depression is the most important risk factor for suicide. Primary care physicians have a crucial role in the screening and diagnosing of depressive disorders. Depressive disorders can exist not only in patients complaining about depressed mood, but also in patients with "medically unexplained symptoms" (headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, weight change). Primary care physicians should have appropriate knowledge about the different therapeutic options (including various psychotherapies, antidepressant medications and other treatment options) to be able to treat their patients properly. We review the literature about the significance and epidemiology of depression and summarize the diagnostic and therapeutic options of depressive disorders in primary care practice.

Association between restless legs syndrome and depression in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is reportedly associated with depression. This association may be mediated by both sleep-dependent and sleep-independent mechanisms. Here we analyze the association between RLS and depressive symptoms in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We also assessed whether the relationship is independent of insomnia. In a cross-sectional study, socio-demographic parameters, laboratory data, and medical history were collected from 788 kidney transplant patients and 161 dialyzed patients. Insomnia, depression, and the presence of RLS symptoms were assessed with standard questionnaires. Patients with probable RLS had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than those without RLS (56% vs. 22% with vs. without RLS, respectively; P<.001). Patients presenting RLS symptoms had higher Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores than patients without RLS [median AIS score (interquartile range): 7 (6) vs. 3 (4) with vs. without RLS, respectively; P<.001]. The AIS score correlated with the CES-D score (Spearman's rho=0.54, P<.001). In multivariate analysis, the presence of RLS symptoms was independently associated with depressive symptoms (OR=3.96, 95% CI 2.21-7.1, P<.001). This relationship remained significant even after including insomnia in the model (OR=2.9, CI 1.55-5.43, P<.001). The presence of RLS symptoms is associated with depression in patients with CKD. This relationship remained significant even after accounting for insomnia. Sleep-independent mechanisms may also contribute to the association between RLS and depression in patients with CKD.

[Mood disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease: significance, etiology and prevalence of depression]. / Hangulatzavarok krónikus vesebetegek körében: A depresszió jelentosége, etiológiája és prevalenciája.

Due to the rapidly increasing number of end-stage renal disease patients and the high costs of their treatment, all the aspects of kidney disease that may significantly affect clinical outcome (quality of life mortality) deserve increasing attention. It has been established and accepted that in addition to clinical/somatic factors, also psycho-social factors, including depression, may have a significant impact on the clinical outcome of chronic diseases. Depression is considered to be one of the most prevalent mental health problems in patients with chronic kidney disease. In spite of this fact, there are only few studies on the prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of depression in this population using accurate, well defined diagnostic criteria and appropriate epidemiologic methods. In the last decades we have experienced a significant improvement in the quality and effectiveness of the therapeutic options for chronic kidney disease, but mortality is still very high in this population. Our review provides an overview of the literature regarding the prevalence and etiology of depression, and calls the attention to the interrelation among depression, quality of life and mortality. The second part of our paper to be published later will survey the specific diagnostic and therapeutic features of depression in chronic kidney disease patients.

Restless legs syndrome, insomnia, and quality of life after renal transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is associated with insomnia and impaired quality of life (QoL) in patients on maintenance dialysis; however, no information has been published on the association of RLS and QoL in kidney-transplanted patients. In a cross-sectional study, we analyzed the complex relationship between RLS, insomnia, and health-related QoL in kidney-transplanted patients. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey at a single transplant center, 1067 patients were invited to participate. Complete data set was available from 785 kidney-transplanted patients. The RLS Questionnaire and the Athens Insomnia Scale were used to assess the prevalence of RLS and insomnia, respectively. QoL was measured using the Kidney Disease QoL-SF Questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients with RLS were three times more likely to have insomnia than patients without RLS (29% vs. 9%, P=.001), and the presence of RLS was a significant and independent predictor of insomnia in multivariate analysis. The presence of RLS was independently associated with impaired health-related QoL along several QoL domains after statistical adjustment for clinical and sociodemographic covariables. Importantly, this association remained significant even after adjusting for insomnia for some QoL domains. CONCLUSION: RLS is associated with poor sleep, increased odds for insomnia, and impaired QoL in kidney-transplanted patients. Our results suggest that both sleep-related and sleep-independent factors may contribute to the association of RLS and QoL.

Restless legs syndrome and mortality in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed an association between the presence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and mortality in patients on dialysis therapy. An association between RLS and cardiovascular risk also was reported in the general population. However, no prospective study to date assessed the association between the presence of RLS and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. In a prospective cohort study (Transplantation and Quality of Life-Hungary Study), we tested the hypothesis that the presence of RLS predicts mortality in transplant recipients. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study was performed. SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS: 804 kidney transplant recipients followed up at a single outpatient transplant center were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic parameters, laboratory data, and medical history were collected at baseline. Data for 4-year outcomes were collected prospectively from patient charts. PREDICTOR: Presence of RLS assessed using the RLS Questionnaire. OUTCOME & MEASUREMENTS: We defined 3 primary outcomes: mortality with functioning graft, return to dialysis therapy, and the combined outcome of these 2. RESULTS: Mean age was 49 +/- 13 years, estimated glomerular filtration rate was 49 +/- 19 mL/min/1.73 m(2), and median time after transplantation was 54 months. During the 4 years, 97 patients died and 63 patients returned to dialysis therapy. Mortality at 4 years was significantly greater in patients who had RLS at baseline: univariate hazard ratio for the presence of RLS was 2.53 (95% confidence interval, 1.31 to 4.87). In multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, the presence of RLS significantly predicted mortality (hazard ratio, 2.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 3.95) after adjustment for several covariables. LIMITATIONS: The RLS Questionnaire was not validated in transplant recipients. We lacked information for key variables, including HLA mismatch, panel reactive antibodies, cold ischemic time, acute rejection episodes, viral infections, smoking status, and dyslipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: RLS, a potentially treatable disease, is a significant risk factor for mortality in kidney transplant recipients.

Validation of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form questionnaire in kidney transplant patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the basic psychometric properties, reliability, and validity of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF) questionnaire in kidney transplant patients. METHODS: The reliability and validity of the instrument were determined in 418 kidney transplant patients followed in a single outpatient transplant centre. RESULTS: Internal consistency of all the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) domains was very good, and the Cronbach's alpha value was above .70 for all but three of the disease-specific subscales. We found significant, moderate to strong negative correlations between most of the KDQOL-SF domains and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scores. Finally, substantial differences in KDQOL-SF scores were seen between groups of transplanted patients who were expected to be clinically different, supporting the discriminant validity of the KDQOL-SF instrument. CONCLUSION: We propose that the KDQOL-SF is a reliable and valid tool and most of its subscales can be used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in kidney transplant patients and to compare HRQOL between different end stage renal disease (ESRD) patient populations.

Chronic insomnia in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies confirmed that sleep disorders have a significant impact on various aspects of health in patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease. At the same time, there is an almost complete lack of information on the prevalence and correlates of insomnia in kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the Athens Insomnia Scale was used to assess the prevalence of insomnia in a large sample of kidney transplant recipients compared with wait-listed dialysis patients and also a matched group obtained from a nationally representative sample of the Hungarian population. RESULTS: The prevalence of insomnia was 15% in wait-listed patients, whereas it was only 8% in transplant recipients (P < 0.001), which, in turn, was not different from the prevalence of this sleep problem in the sample of the general population (8%). Prevalences of insomnia in the transplant group were 5%, 7%, and 14% for the groups with glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) greater than 60 mL/min (> 1.00 mL/s), 30 to 60 mL/min (0.50 to 1.00 mL/s), and less than 30 mL/min (< 0.5 mL/s), respectively (P < 0.01). However, estimated GFR was no longer associated significantly with insomnia in the transplant population after statistical adjustment for several covariates. In a multivariate model, insomnia was significantly and independently associated with treatment modality (transplantation versus wait listing), as well as the presence of depression, restless legs syndrome, and high risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and with self-reported comorbidity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of insomnia was substantially less in the transplant group than in wait-listed dialysis patients and similar to that observed in the general population. Because this condition potentially is treatable, attention should be directed to the appropriate diagnosis and management of insomnia in the kidney transplant recipient population.