Recent Pattern of Acute Kidney Injury in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the major public health issues with constantly increasing incidence, with epidemiology and outcomes that vary substantially across the world. AIM: Aim of our study was to determine epidemiological characteristics and causes of AKI and to provide a comparison of our findings with data from other low and middle income countries. METHODS: This retrospective observational study conducted during an 18-month period included 84 patients. Data were collected from hospital information system and patients' medical records. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: More than two-thirds of patients were older than 56 years. Most cases of AKI (54,76%) were hospital-acquired and predominantly developed in intensive care units (32,14%). Dominant risk factor was underlying chronic kidney disease (48,81%) and chronic heart failure (45,24. In majority of patients (73,81%) were identified multiple factors that may have contributed to AKI: infection (90,48%), prerenal factors (77,38%), nephrotoxic agents (69,05%), and sepsis (28,57%). Multiple organ failure was identified in 94,05% of patients: cardiovascular (64,56%), respiratory (58,23%) and hematological (56,96%) system. Half of all patients were alive at last observation day. Leading cause of death was infection/sepsis (21,43%), followed by cancer (16,67%) and shock (14,28%). CONCLUSION: Data on AKI show great variation, but general picture of AKI resembles more that from high income countries. The need for dialysis and overall mortality remains high. This highlights the importance of early recognition of AKI, timely referral to nephrologist and need for national guidelines and standardized protocols for AKI.

Incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism in renal transplant patients.

UNLABELLED: Thyroid disorders are common in chronic kidney disease. THE AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare thyroid gland disorders among healthy participants and renal transplant patients and to assess the duration of dialysis on thyroid disorders before transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study during 12 months period included 80 participants divided into two groups. Study group of 40 patients with transplanted kidney was divided in two subgroups, according to the time spent on dialysis (i.e. under and over 72 months). The control group included 40 healthy participants. The exclusion criteria was represented by the previous thyroid disorders and systemic illnesses and treatment with drugs that interfere with thyroid function (amiodarone, propranolol, lithium). The blood samples were taken for standard laboratory analysis, total thyroid hormone levels. Serum level of free thyroxine (T4) and free triiodothyronine (T3) were assayed by RIA using commercially available kits. Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined by the finding of elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) > 4.4 mmol/L and normal values of T3 and T4. RESULTS: The relative distribution of the functional thyroid disorders is statistically significantly higher in the experimental group: the low T3 syndrome in 12.5% (n = 5) patients (p = 0.017); low T4 syndrome in 7.5% (n = 3) patients (p = 0.072) and subclinical hypothyroidism in 17.5% (n = 7) patients (p = 0.021). There is statistically significant difference in the relative representation (percentage) between respondents to 72 months and respondents over 72 months duration of hemodialysis, namely: low T3 syndrome, which is a higher percentage was recorded in patients up to 72 months duration of dialysis (19.23%), then subclinical hypothyroidism where a greater percentage recorded in subjects over 72 months duration of dialysis (35.71%) before transplantation. CONCLUSION: Considering that we are found in kidney transplant patients a significant link of subclinical hypothyroidism with decreased level of T3 and higher incidence of low T3 syndrome, which are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and act as markers of survival patients after transplantation, it is necessary to conduct a periodically measuring levels of T3, T4 and TSH in these patients in order to assess the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and mortality risk in this population.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) as a complication of immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantation in children.

Although kidney transplantation is by far the best method of renal replacement therapy, organ receiver is still not spared of eventual toxic consequences of drugs that are in charge of keeping the transplanted kidney functional. Both calcineurin inhibitors, of which tacrolimus more often, occasionally lead to neurotoxic side effects, mostly mild and reversible and dose-dependent in nature, but they can also be very severe or even fatal. It is very important to be aware of possible neurotoxic effects, to confirm them radiologically, and to prevent or reduce drug effects on nervous system. Sometimes the reduction of dose or substitution with another drug with similar mechanism effect is sufficient to terminate the neurotoxic effects of the drug and still not jeopardize the function of transplanted organ.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) as a Complication of Immunosuppressive Therapy in Renal Transplantation in Children.

Although kidney transplantation is by far the best method of renal replacement therapy, organ receiver is still not spared of eventual toxic consequences of drugs that are in charge of keeping the transplanted kidney functional. Both calcineurin inhibitors, of which tacrolimus more often, occasionally lead to neurotoxic side effects, mostly mild and reversible and dose-dependent in nature, but they can also be very severe or even fatal. It is very important to be aware of possible neurotoxic effects, to confirm them radiologically, and to prevent or reduce drug effects on nervous system. Sometimes the reduction of dose or substitution with another drug with similar mechanism effect is sufficient to terminate the neurotoxic effects of the drug and still not jeopardize the function of transplanted organ.

Role of renal anemia in the functional, morphological and autoimmune thyroid disorders in patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Thyroid disorders are common in chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to examine the role of renal anemia on thyroid function, morphology and autoimmunity in clinically euthyroid patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). Prospective study during 12 months period included 40 stable patients on chronic HD treatment. Patients were divided into two groups according to the serum hemoglobin level (group A Hgb > 125 g / L and group B Hgb < 125 g / L). Blood samples were taken for determination total and free thyroid hormones, thyroid antibodies and standard biochemical tests. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed with a 7.5 MHz transducer, 50 mm linear transducer. Thyroid volume was calculated, echostructure assessed and presence of nodular changes. In group A, was found significantly lower levels of total T3 (1.29 +/- 0469 vs. 1.55 +/- 0352, p < 0.1); higher prevalence of low T3 syndrome (17.24% (n = 5) vs. 0.00 (n = 0), p < 0.05); ultrasound findings suggestive for Hashimoto thyroiditis (13.79 (n = 4) vs. 0.00% (n = 0), p < 0.05) and multinodular goiter (13.79% (n = 4) vs. 0.00% (n = 0), p < 0.05). We found no statistically significant difference in the mean values of of thyroid antibodies levels, as well as in their percentage representation among groups. Morphological, functional and autoimmune disorders of thyroid gland are more common in patients on HD with Hgb level < 125 g/L. These findings suggest a role of renal anemia in the pathogenesis of these, and need for periodical screening of thyroid function, morphology, and titer of thyroid antibodies in patients HD, as well as more effective diagnosis and more aggressive treatment of renal anemia.