[Simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (SKPT) in patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic renal failure: experience in 12 patients in Chile]. / Trasplante simultáneo de páncreas y riñon en diabetes mellitus tipo 1: Experiencia de un centro en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (SKPT) is the best alternative for end stage renal disease among patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. AIM: To report our experience with SKPT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 12 recipients of SKPT transplanted in one center starting in 1994, with a mean follow-up period of 6.8 years (2-15). RESULTS: Eleven of 12 recipients were in chronic hemodialysis before SKPT. Mean A, B, DR and HLA mismatch was 4.3. Mean preformed anti HLA antibodies was 3.3 %. Mean cold ischemia times for pancreas and kidney were 6 and 10 hours, respectively. In the first eight cases, the pancreas was drained to the bladder, and in the last four, an enteric drainage was performed. Eleven recipients were induced with antibodies, and maintenance immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporin or tacrolimus plus an antiproliferative agent. Ten year patient survival was 70%. Pancreas and kidney survival, defined by insulin and dialysis independence, were 72 and 73% respectively. Fifty percent of recipients experienced acute graft rejection (cellular or humoral), with good response to treatment except in one case. CONCLUSIONS: This experience shows that SKPT is associated with an excellent patient survival associated to insulin and dialysis independence in 70% of patients at 10 years.

Trasplante simultáneo de páncreas y riñon en diabetes mellitus tipo 1: Experiencia de un centro en Chile / Simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (SKPT) in patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic renal failure: Experience in 12 patients in Chile

Background: Simultaneous kidney and páncreas transplantation (SKPT) is the best alternative for end stage renal disease among patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Aim: To report our experience with SKPT. Material andMethods: Retrospective analysis ofl2 recipients of SKPT transplanted in one center starting in 1994, with a meanfollow-upperiod of6.8years (2-15). Results: Eleven ofl2 recipients were in chronic hemodialysis before SKPT. Mean A, B, DR and HLA mismatch was 4.3. Mean preformed anti HLA antibodies was 3.3 percent. Mean cold ischemia times for páncreas and kidney were 6 and 10 hours, respectively. In the first eight cases, the páncreas was drained to the bladder, and in the last four, an enteric drainage was performed. Eleven recipients were induced with antibodies, and maintenance immunosuppression consisted ofCyclosporine or Tacrolimusplus an antiproliferative agent. Ten year patient survival was 70 percent. Páncreas and kidney survival, defined by insulin and dialysis independence, were 72 and 73 percent respectively. Fifty percent of recipients experienced acute graft rejection (cellular or humoral), with good response to treatment except in one case. Conclusions: This experience shows that SKPT is associated with an excellent patient survival associated to insulin and dialysis independence in 70 percent of patients at 10 years.

Effect of spironolactone on K(+) homeostasis and ENaC expression in lymphocytes from chronic hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac disease is the major cause of death in hemodialysis patients (HD). It is now clear that aldosterone has deleterious effects in the cardiovascular system. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of an aldosterone-antagonist, spironolactone, on the extrarenal regulation of potassium in HD patients. Furthermore, to validate the effectiveness of the spironolactone dose-design, we measured the expression of Na(+)-channel (ENaC alpha subunit) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), before and after a two-week course of spironolactone. METHODS: The study design included a two-week baseline period, followed by spironolactone treatment (50 mg three times weekly for 15 days), and by a two-week washout period and then a two-week placebo period. An oral K(+) load (0.3 mEq/K(+) kg body weight plus carbohydrates) was administered at the end of each period, and time-course of plasma potassium was evaluated. ENaC expression in PBMC was assessed before and after spironolactone. RESULTS: The maximal increase in plasma potassium after the K(+) carbohydrate load was: control 5.33 +/- 0.88 mEq K(+)/L; spironolactone 5.23 +/- 0.68 mEq K(+)/L; placebo 5.38 +/- 0.61 mEq K(+)/L (N= 9). No patients developed hyperkalemia during the spironolactone treatment period. ENaC expression was significantly higher in all six HD patients studied, compared to control subjects (P < 0.05). Treatment with spironolactone in HD patients reduced alpha subunit mRNA expression to values similar to those of normal subjects. CONCLUSION: Spironolactone may be considered for the treatment of selected chronic HD patients. The effect of the drug on a known target of aldosterone, the ENaC, demonstrates the effectiveness of the drug to block aldosterone effects in nonepithelial tissues.

[Epidemiology of severe acute renal failure in Metropolitan Santiago]. / Epidemiología de la insuficiencia renal aguda grave. Un estudio prospectivo multicéntrico en la Región Metropolitana.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of information about the epidemiology of acute renal failure in Chile. AIM: To perform a prospective multicentric survey of severe acute renal failure in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients admitted to ten hospitals in Metropolitan Santiago, during a period of six months with severe acute renal failure, were studied. The criteria for severity was the requirement of renal replacement therapy. All patients information was gathered in special forms and the type of renal replacement therapy and evolution was registeres. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients were studied (65 males, age range 18 to 87 years). The calculated incidence of acute renal failure was 1.03 cases per 1000 hospital discharges. The onset was nosocomial in 79 subjects (69%) and community acquired in the rest. Renal failure was oliguric in 64 cases (56%) and in 60% of patients it had two or more causative factors. Sepsis, isolated or combined with other causes, was present in 51 of patients. Other causes included ischemia in 47%, surgery in 26%, exogenous toxicity in 25%, endocenous toxicity in 11%, acute glomerular damage in 6% and obstructive uropathy in 6%. Cardiac surgery was responsible for 47% of post operative cases of acute renal failure. Intermittent conventional hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement techniques and daily prolonged hemodialysis were used in 66%, 29% and 2% of patients, respectively. Overall mortality was 45% and it was higher in oliguric patients. Gender, age, cause or the type of therapy did not influence survival. Nine percent of surviving patients had some degree of kidney dysfunction at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: There is still a great space for prevention of severe acute renal failure in Chile, considering the main etiologies found in this study.

[Epidemiology of hypertension in chronic hemodialysis]. / Epidemiología de la hipertensión en hemodiálisis crónica.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a common and important cardiovascular risk factor in patients on chronic hemodialysis. AIM: To report the prevalence and characteristics of hypertension among patients on chronic hemodialysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross sectional study of 313 patients (192 male, aged 57 +/- 18 years) dialyzed in 7 representative centers in Santiago, Chile. RESULTS: Patients were on hemodialysis for a mean of 68 +/- 53 months and 67 (21%) were diabetic. 230 (74%) were hypertensive and 223 of these (97%) had predialysis hypertension. A multivariate analysis showed that hypertension was associated with increased weight gain between dialysis, failure to achieve the postdialysis dry weight, increasing age and the presence of diabetes. Among hypertensive patients, 61% were receiving antihypertensive medications, compared with 27% of patients with normal blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: High blood pressure is highly prevalent among patients on chronic hemodialysis and is associated to hypervolemia, age and the presence of diabetes.