Primary membranous nephropathy in the Italian region of Emilia Romagna: results of a multicenter study with extended follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Since primary membranous nephropathy is a heterogeneous disease with variable outcomes and multiple possible therapeutic approaches, all 13 Nephrology Units of the Italian region Emilia Romagna decided to analyze their experience in the management of this challenging glomerular disease. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 205 consecutive adult patients affected by biopsy-proven primary membranous nephropathy, recruited from January 2010 through December 2017. The primary outcome was patient and renal survival. The secondary outcome was the rate of complete remission and partial remission of proteinuria. Relapse incidence, treatment patterns and adverse events were also assessed. RESULTS: Median (IQR) follow-up was 36 (24-60) months. Overall patient and renal survival were 87.4% after 5 years. At the end of follow-up, 83 patients (40%) had complete remission and 72 patients (35%) had partial remission. Among responders, less than a quarter (23%) relapsed. Most patients (83%) underwent immunosuppressive therapy within 6 months of biopsy. A cyclic regimen of corticosteroid and cytotoxic agents was the most commonly used treatment schedule (63%), followed by rituximab (28%). Multivariable analysis showed that the cyclic regimen significantly correlates with complete remission (odds ratio 0.26; 95% CI 0.08-0.79) when compared to rituximab (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our large study, both short- and long-term outcomes were positive and consistent with those published in the literature. Our data suggest that the use of immunosuppressive therapy within the first 6 months after biopsy appears to be a winning strategy, and that the cyclic regimen also warrants a prominent role in primary membranous nephropathy treatment, since definitive proof of rituximab superiority is lacking.

Prevalence, clinical course and outcomes of COVID-19 in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients: a single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION: There are limited data on the effects of COVID-19 on peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This study aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 on the PD population. METHODS: A monocentric retrospective observational study was conducted on 146 consecutive PD patients followed from January 2020 to March 2022 at the University Hospital of Modena, Italy. RESULTS: Twenty-seven (18.4%) PD patients experienced 29 episodes of SARS-CoV-2 infection, corresponding to an incidence rate of 0.16 episodes/patient-year. Median age of COVID-19 patients was 60.4 (interquartile range [IQR] 50.2-66.5) years. In unvaccinated patients (n. 9), COVID-19 was always symptomatic and manifested with fever (100%) and cough (77.7%). COVID-19 caused hospital admission of three (33.3%) patients and two (22.2%) died of septic shock. COVID-19 was symptomatic in 83.3% of vaccinated subjects (n.18) and manifested with fever (61.1%) and cough (55.6%). Hospital admission occurred in 27.8% of the subjects but all were discharged home. Median SARS-CoV-2 shedding was 32 and 26 days in the unvaccinated and vaccinated groups, respectively. At the end of the follow-up, COVID-19 triggered the shift from PD to HD in two subjects without affecting the residual renal function of the remaining patients. Overall, COVID-19 caused an excess death of 22.2%. COVID-19 vaccination refusal accounted for only 1.6% in this cohort of patients. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 incident rate was 0.16 episodes/patient-year in the PD population. About one-third of the patients were hospitalized for severe infection. Fatal outcome occurred in two (7.4%) unvaccinated patients. A low vaccination refusal rate was observed in this population.

Risk of bleeding after percutaneous native kidney biopsy in patients receiving low-dose aspirin: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although discontinuation of antiplatelet agents at least 5 days before kidney biopsy is commonly recommended, the evidence behind this practice is of low level. Indeed, few non-randomized studies previously showed an equivalent risk of bleeding in patients receiving aspirin therapy. METHODS: We conducted a single center retrospective study comparing the risk of complications after percutaneous native kidney biopsy in patients who received low-dose aspirin (ASA) within 5 days from biopsy and those who did not. The main outcome was the difference in the incidence of major complications (red blood cell transfusion, need for selective arterial embolization, surgery, nephrectomy). Secondary outcomes included difference in minor complications, comparison between patients who received ASA within 48 h or within 3-5 days, identification of independent factors predictive of major complications. RESULTS: We analyzed data on 750 patients, of whom 94 received ASA within 5 days from biopsy. There were no significant differences in the proportion of major complications in patients receiving or not receiving ASA (2.59% and 3.19%, respectively, percentage point difference 1%, 95% CI - 3 to 4%, p = 0.74). Groups were also comparable for minor complications; among patients receiving ASA, there were no differences in major bleeding between those who received ASA within 48 h or 3-5 days from biopsy. Significant baseline predictors of major bleeding in our cohort were platelet count lower than 120*103/microliter, higher diastolic blood pressure and higher blood urea. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with low-dose ASA within 5 days from kidney biopsy did not increase the risk of complications after the procedure.

Rethinking Chronic Kidney Disease in the Aging Population.

The process of aging population will inevitably increase age-related comorbidities including chronic kidney disease (CKD). In light of this demographic transition, the lack of an age-adjusted CKD classification may enormously increase the number of new diagnoses of CKD in old subjects with an indolent decline in kidney function. Overdiagnosis of CKD will inevitably lead to important clinical consequences and pronounced negative effects on the health-related quality of life of these patients. Based on these data, an appropriate workup for the diagnosis of CKD is critical in reducing the burden of CKD worldwide. Optimal management of CKD should be based on prevention and reduction of risk factors associated with kidney injury. Once the diagnosis of CKD has been made, an appropriate staging of kidney disease and timely prescriptions of promising nephroprotective drugs (e.g., RAAS, SGLT-2 inhibitors, finerenone) appear crucial to slow down the progression toward end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The management of elderly, comorbid and frail patients also opens new questions on the appropriate renal replacement therapy for this subset of the population. The non-dialytic management of CKD in old subjects with short life expectancy features as a valid option in patient-centered care programs. Considering the multiple implications of CKD for global public health, this review examines the prevalence, diagnosis and principles of treatment of kidney disease in the aging population.

Weekly Rapid Antigen Test Screening for COVID-19 in Patients on Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: COVID-19 is a concerning issue among in-center hemodialysis (HD) patients. To prevent COVID-19 diffusion in our HD facility, weekly rapid nasal antigen test screening was performed for all asymptomatic patients on chronic HD. This study aimed to assess the performance of weekly rapid antigen test in detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection among asymptomatic patients receiving HD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in HD patients who underwent rapid antigen test screening from December 2021 to March 2022. The diagnosis of COVID-19 with rapid antigen test was always confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: During the observational period, 1,748 rapid antigen tests were performed in 220 HD patients. Mean age was 68.4±14.6 years. Fifteen (8.5%) patients resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection using rapid antigen tests. The diagnosis was subsequently confirmed in 14 (93.3%) patients by RT-PCR. During the same period, 12 (5.4%) symptomatic patients, regularly screened with weekly rapid antigen test, resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection using RT-PCR. Overall, weekly rapid antigen test screening identified 14 out of 26 (53.8%) COVID-19 cases and showed a positive predictive value of 93%. CONCLUSION: Weekly antigen test screening of asymptomatic patients on chronic HD detected around half of the COVID-19 cases in our population.

COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Screening in Patients on Hemodialysis.

Introduction: Patients receiving in-center hemodialysis are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. It is unclear if routine screening of asymptomatic hemodialysis patients is an effective strategy to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks within the dialysis unit. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of in-center hemodialysis patients who underwent bimonthly COVID-19 rapid antigen test screening from February 15th to December 26th, 2021. Nasal rapid antigen testing was performed in all asymptomatic patients. All rapid antigen-positive tests were confirmed by RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab. Besides universal rapid antigen screening, RT-PCR testing was conducted in all symptomatic patients and contacts of COVID-19 subjects. Results: Overall, 4079 rapid antigen tests were performed in 277 hemodialysis patients on chronic hemodialysis with a mean age of 68.4 ± 14.6 years. Thirty-eight (0.9%) rapid antigen tests resulted positive. Only five (13.8%) positive-rapid antigen tests were also positive by RT-PCR testing. During the same period, 219 patients regularly screened by rapid antigen tests bimonthly underwent 442 RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swabs for clinical reasons. RT-PCR testing yielded a positive result in 13 (5.9%) patients. The time elapsed between PCR and the negative-rapid antigen test was 7.7 ± 4.6 days (range 1.8-13.9 days). At the end of the follow-up, 6.4% of the population on in-center hemodialysis contracted COVID-19, and routine rapid antigen tests detected only 5 out of 18 (27.7%) COVID-19 cases. No outbreaks of COVID-19 were identified within the dialysis unit. Conclusion: Bimonthly rapid antigen screening led to the early diagnosis of COVID-19 in less than one-third of cases. The short incubation period of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants makes bimonthly test screening inadequate for an early diagnosis of COVID-19. More frequent tests are probably necessary to improve the utility of COVID-19 nasal rapid antigen test in patients on hemodialysis.

Evidence on continuous flow peritoneal dialysis: A review.

Clinical application of continuous flow peritoneal dialysis (CFPD) has been explored since the 1960s, but despite anticipated clinical benefits, CFPD has failed to gain a foothold in clinical practice, among others due to the typical use of two catheters (or a dual-lumen catheter) and large dialysate volumes required per treatment. Novel systems applying CFPD via the existing single-lumen catheter using rapid dialysate cycling may solve one of these hurdles. Novel on-demand peritoneal dialysate generation systems and sorbent-based peritoneal dialysate regeneration systems may considerably reduce the storage space for peritoneal dialysate and/or the required dialysate volume. This review provides an overview of current evidence on CFPD in vivo. The available (pre)clinical evidence on CFPD is limited to case reports/series with inherently nonuniform study procedures, or studies with a small sample size, short follow-up, and no hard endpoints. Small solute clearance appears to be higher in CFPD compared to conventional PD, in particular at dialysate flows ≥100 mL/min using two single-lumen catheters or a double-lumen catheter. Results of CFPD using rapid cycling via a single-lumen catheter are too preliminary to draw any conclusions. Continuous addition of glucose to dialysate with CFPD appears to be effective in reducing the maximum intraperitoneal glucose concentration while increasing ultrafiltration efficiency (mL/g absorbed glucose). Patient tolerance may be an issue since abdominal discomfort and sterile peritonitis were reported with continuous circulation of the peritoneal dialysate. Thus, well-designed clinical trials of longer duration and larger sample size, in particular applying CFPD via the existing catheter, are urgently required.

Reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccine in hemodialysis patients: a single-center retrospective study.

Introduction: Some hemodialysis patients are reluctant to undergo COVID-19 vaccination for the fear of developing adverse events (AEs). The aim of this study was to verify the safety of the mRNA-1273 vaccine in hemodialysis patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of in-center hemodialysis patients who underwent mRNA-1273 vaccine from March 1st to April 30th, 2021. All AEs occurring after the first and the second doses were collected and classified as local or systemic. Results: Overall, 126 patients on chronic maintenance dialysis without a prior COVID-19 diagnosis were vaccinated with two doses of mRNA-1273 vaccine. Mean age was 68 (IQR, 54,7-76) years and 53.6% of patients were aged ≥65 years. During the observational period of 68 (IQR, 66-70) days, AEs occurred in 57.9% and 61.9% of patients after the first dose and second dose, respectively. The most common AEs were: injection-site pain (61.9%), erythema (4.8%), itching (4.8%), swelling (16.7%), axillary swelling/tenderness (2.4%), fever (17.5%) headache (7.9%), fatigue (23.8%), myalgia (17.5%), arthralgia (12.7%), dyspnoea (2.4%), nausea/vomiting (7.1%), diarrhoea (5.6%), shivers (4%) and vertigo (1.6%). The rates of local AEs were similar after the first and second doses (P=0.8), whereas systemic AEs occurred more frequently after the second dose (P=0.001). Fever (P=0.03), fatigue (P=0.02) and nausea/vomiting (P=0.03) were significantly more frequent after the second dose of the vaccine. There were no age-related differences in the rate of AEs. Overall, vaccine-related AEs in hemodialysis patients seem to be lower than in the general population. Conclusion: The RNA-1273 vaccine was associated with the development of transient AEs after the first and second doses in patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis. They were mostly local, whereas systemic AEs were more prevalent after the second dose. Overall, all AEs lasted for a few days, without any apparent sequelae.

Ethical challenges in managing unvaccinated patients receiving chronic in-centre haemodialysis.

Insufficient vaccine coverage and dominance of the more transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants are the leading causes of the continued spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. To curb the surge in infections, COVID-19 vaccination has been advocated as a priority measure, especially for frail populations and people at high risk of exposure. Patients on in-centre maintenance haemodialysis (HD) embody both conditions. They are at high risk of severe COVID-19 consequences due to their advanced age and weakened immune system and carry an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission within shared dialysis rooms and public vehicles. Vaccination of the entire HD population is therefore the most effective strategy to protect patients from the dire consequences of COVID-19. Unfortunately, a minority of patients still express COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The management of this group of patients, who have the full right to HD treatment, poses demanding problems from a patient safety perspective. The placement of unvaccinated patients within the dialysis room and the protection of all vaccinated patients are some of the most urgent problems the nephrologist faces during the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of these COVID-19-driven changes, an ethical reflection on the management of unvaccinated patients appears crucial to act responsibly and contribute to the health promotion of dialysis patients.

Which criteria should we use to end isolation in hemodialysis patients with COVID-19?

Safe and timely discontinuation of quarantine of in-center hemodialysis (HD) patients with a previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a challenging issue for the nephrological community because current guidelines for ending isolation do not mention dialysis patients. To prevent potentially fatal outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a cautionary approach has been adopted by most dialysis units. The criteria for ending the isolation in the HD population generally coincide with those recommended for immunocompromised people. Thus, a test-based strategy relying on two consecutive negative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) nasopharyngeal swabs has been adopted to terminate quarantine. This strategy has the disadvantage of prolonging isolation as RT-PCR positivity does not equate to SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. Consequentially, prolonged positivity of SARS-CoV-2 results in excessive workload for the HD staff who must face an increasing number of COVID-19 patients requiring isolation. This condition leads also to serious implications for the patients and their households including work productivity loss, postponement of health-care appointments and an increased risk of COVID-19 reinfection. To counteract this problem, other diagnostic tests should be used to provide the best care to HD patients. Recent results seem to encourage the use of RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values and rapid antigen tests given their better correlation with cell culture for SARS-CoV-2 than RT-PCR testing. Here, we provide an overview of the current scientific evidence on the tests used to verify the infectiousness of the virus in order to stimulate the nephrological community to adopt a streamlined and pragmatic procedure to end isolation in COVID-19 patients on HD.

Acid base disorders in patients with COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Acid-base derangement has been poorly described in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Considering the high prevalence of pneumonia and kidneys injury in COVID-19, frequent acid-base alterations are expected in patients admitted with SARS-Cov-2 infection. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of acid-base disorders in symptomatic patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19. METHODS: The retrospective study enrolled COVID-19 patients hospitalized at the University Hospital of Modena from 4 March to 20 June 2020. Baseline arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis was collected in 211 patients. In subjects with multiple ABG analysis, we selected only the first measurement. A pH of less than 7.37 was categorized as acidemia and a pH of more than 7.43 was categorized as alkalemia. RESULTS: ABG analyses revealed a low arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PO2, 70.2 ± 25.1 mmHg), oxygen saturation (SO2, 92%) and a mild reduction of PO2/FiO2 ratio (231 ± 129). Acid-base alterations were found in 79.7% of the patient. Metabolic alkalosis (33.6%) was the main alteration followed by respiratory alkalosis (30.3%), combined alkalosis (9.4%), respiratory acidosis (3.3%), metabolic acidosis (2.8%) and other compensated acid-base disturbances (3.6%). All six patients with metabolic acidosis died at the end of the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Variations of pH occurred in the majority (79.7%) of patients admitted with COVID-19. The patients experienced all the type of acid-base disorders, notably metabolic and respiratory alkalosis were the most common alterations in this group of patients.

Immunosuppressive therapy reduction and early post-infection graft function in kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19.

Background: Kidney transplant (KT) recipients with COVID-19 are at high risk of poor outcomes due to the high burden of comorbidities and immunosuppression. The effects of immunosuppressive therapy (IST) reduction are unclear in patients with COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective study on 45 KT recipients followed at the University Hospital of Modena (Italy) who tested positive for COVID-19 by RT-PCR analysis. Results: The median age was 56.1 years (interquartile range,[IQR] 47.3-61.1), with a predominance of males (64.4%). Kidney transplantation vintage was 10.1 (2.7-16) years, and 55.6 % of patients were on triple IST before COVID-19. Early immunosuppression minimization occurred in 27 (60%) patients (reduced-dose IST group) and included antimetabolite (88.8%) and calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal (22.2%). After SARS-CoV-2 infection, 88.9% of patients became symptomatic and 42.2% required hospitalization. One patient experienced irreversible graft failure. There were no differences in serum creatinine level and proteinuria in non-hospitalized patients before and post-COVID-19, whereas hospitalized patients experienced better kidney function after hospital discharge (P=0.019). Overall mortality was 17.8%. without differences between full- and reduced-dose IST. Risk factors for death were age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.19; 95%CI: 1.01-1.39), and duration of kidney transplant (OR: 1.17; 95%CI: 1.01-1.35). One KT recipient developed IgA glomerulonephritis and two ones experienced symptomatic COVID-19 after primary infection and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine, respectively. Conclusions: Despite the reduction of immunosuppression, COVID-19 affected the survival of KT recipients. Age of patients and time elapsed from kidney transplantation were independent predictors of death . Early kidney function was favorable in most survivors after COVID-19.

EDTA and Taurolidine Affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence In Vitro-Impairment of Secretory Profile and Biofilm Production onto Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters.

Peritoneal catheter-associated biofilm infection is reported to be the main cause of refractory peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients. The application of antimicrobial lock therapy, based on results on central venous catheters, may be a promising option for treatment of biofilm-harboring peritoneal catheters. This study investigated the effects of two lock solutions, EDTA and taurolidine, on an in vitro model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm-related peritoneal catheter infection. Silicone peritoneal catheters were incubated for 24 h with a bioluminescent strain of P. aeruginosa. Then, serial dilutions of taurolidine and/or EDTA were applied (for 24 h) once or twice onto the contaminated catheters, and P. aeruginosa viability/persistence were evaluated in real time up to 120 h using a Fluoroskan reader. On selected supernatants, high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis was performed to measure the production of autoinducers (AI), phenazines, and pyocyianines. Taurolidine alone or in combination with EDTA caused a significant decrease of bacterial load and biofilm persistence on the contaminated catheters. The treatment did not lead to the sterilization of the devices, yet it resulted in a substantial destructuration of the catheter-associated P. aeruginosa biofilm. HPLC-MS analysis showed that the treatment of biofilm-harboring catheters with taurolidine and EDTA also affected the secretory activity of the pathogen. EDTA and taurolidine affect P. aeruginosa biofilm produced on peritoneal catheters and profoundly compromise the microbial secretory profile. Future studies are needed to establish whether such lock solutions can be used to render peritoneal catheter-related infections more susceptible to antibiotic treatment. IMPORTANCE An in vitro model allows studies on the mechanisms by which the lock solutions exert their antimicrobial effects on catheter-associated biofilm, thus providing a better understanding of the management of devise-associated infections.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Peritonitis due to Hematogenous Dissemination from Central Venous Catheter in a Maintenance Dialysis Patient.

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium commonly associated with severe infections in hospitalized patients. S. aureus produces many virulence factors leading to local and distant pathological processes. Invasiveness of S. aureus generally induces metastatic infections such as bacteremia, infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, arthritis, and endophthalmitis. Peritoneal localization from extra-abdominal infection can be a potential consequence of S. aureus infection. Two cases of metastatic peritonitis have been described in patients on peritoneal dialysis with concomitant peripheral vascular catheter-related bloodstream infection. We reported a case of peritoneal metastatic infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a patient on maintenance hemodialysis. A 37-year-old man was admitted with fever and chill due to jugular central vascular catheter (CVC)-related bloodstream infection caused by MRSA. CVC was placed after switching the patient from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis for scarce adherence to fluid restriction. Detection of MRSA on the peritoneal effluent combined with a total white blood cell count of 554 cells/mm3 prompted the diagnosis of satellite MRSA peritonitis. Antibiotic treatment with daptomycin and simultaneous CVC and peritoneal catheter removal resolved the infectious process. No further metastatic localizations were detected elsewhere. In conclusion, S. aureus can induce metastatic infections far from the site of primary infection. As reported in this case, peritonitis can be secondary to the hematogenous dissemination of S. aureus especially in hospitalized patients having a central line.

[The treatment of lupus nephritis, between consolidated strategies and new therapeutic options: a narrative review].

Over a half of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus will develop lupus nephritis (LN). The diagnosis of LN, suspected based on clinical data (proteinuria, active urinary sediment, renal dysfunction), is confirmed with renal biopsy. The immunosuppressive treatment of proliferative classes of LN is based on an induction phase, where high-dose steroids are used in conjunction with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclophosphamide, and a subsequent maintenance phase, that combines low-dose steroids with MMF or azathioprine. Different classes of drugs (calcineurin inhibitors, anti-CD20) can be used as an alternative, or in resistant forms of LN, although their role is less well-established. Recently published (or nearing completion) studies have opened up the possibility of using new drugs in LN. In particular, depletion (Obinutuzumab, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) or neutralization (Belimumab, anti-"B-cell activating factor" monoclonal antibody) of B lymphocytes, and the use of a calcineurin inhibitor with a low profile of renal and systemic toxicity (Voclosporin) demonstrated an improvement in renal response in addition to standard therapy.

Clinical Predictors of Nondiabetic Kidney Disease in Patients with Diabetes: A Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Although diabetic kidney disease (DKD) could affect up to one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), these patients can develop kidney diseases different from DKD, or these conditions can superimpose on DKD. Several potential predictors of nondiabetic kidney disease (NDKD) have been proposed, but there are no definitive indications available for kidney biopsy in diabetic patients. METHODS: We designed a single-center, cross-sectional, and retrospective cohort study to identify clinical and laboratory factors associated with a diagnosis of NDKD after native kidney biopsy in diabetic patients and to investigate differences in time to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in patients with a diagnosis of DKD and NDKD. RESULTS: Of 142 patients included in our analysis, 89 (62.68%) had a histopathological diagnosis of NDKD or mixed NDKD + DKD. Patients in the NDKD group had significantly lower HbA1C, lower prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and less severe proteinuria, and there was a lower proportion of patients with nephrotic syndrome; the DKD group had significantly lower proportion of patients with hematological conditions. In the multivariate binary logistic regression, only absence of DR and presence of a hematological condition significantly predicted NDKD after adjustment for age and sex. Time to ESKD was significantly higher in patients with NDKD or mixed forms than in those with DKD. CONCLUSIONS: After a careful selection, more than half of kidney biopsies performed in diabetic patients can identify NDKD (alone or with concomitant DKD). Absence of DR and coexistence of a hematological condition (especially MGUS) were strong predictors of NDKD in our cohort.

The frail world of haemodialysis patients in the COVID-19 pandemic era: a systematic scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing in-centre haemodialysis (HD) are particularly exposed to the dire consequences of COVID-19. The present systematic scoping review aims to identify the extent, range, and nature of articles related to COVID-19 and maintenance HD: it reports specifically the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the HD population, implementation of strategies for the prevention, mitigation and containment of the COVID-19 pandemic in HD centres, demographic and clinical characteristics, and outcomes of the pediatric and adult HD patients. METHODS: A multi-step systematic search of the literature in Pubmed, Scopus, Ovid Medline, Embase and Web of Science, published between December 1, 2019, and January 30, 2021 was performed. Two authors separately screened the titles and abstracts of the documents and ruled out irrelevant articles. A report of the papers that met inclusion criteria was performed; then, a descriptive analysis of the characteristics of the included articles and a narrative synthesis of the results were performed. RESULTS: The review process ended with the inclusion of 145 articles. Most of them were based on single-centre experiences, which spontaneously developed best practices. Most studies were conducted in high-income countries (69.7%) and a part of them (9.6%) were not in English. Prevalence of COVID-19 among dialysis patients accounted for 0%-37.6%. Preventive measures were reported in 54% of the included articles, with particular emphasis on education, triage, hygiene, and containment measures. Patients experienced a heterogeneous spectrum of symptoms that led 35%-88.2% of them to hospital admission. Median and mean hospital length of stay ranged from 8 to 28.5 and 16.2 to 22 days, respectively. Admission to intensive care units varied widely across studies (from 2.6% to 70.5%) and was associated with high mortality (42.8%-100%). Overall, prognosis was poor in 0%-47% of the hospitalized patients. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic scoping review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the impact of COVID-19 on the frail world of HD patients. Furthermore, it may help to implement the existing strategies of COVID-19 prevention and provide a list of unmet needs (safe transport, testing, shelter). Finally, it may be a stimulus for performing systematic reviews and meta-analyses which will form the basis for evidence-based guidelines.

Incidence, risk factors and outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe complication of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to evaluate incidence, risk factors and case-fatality rate of AKI in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We reviewed the health medical records of 307 consecutive patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at the University Hospital of Modena, Italy. RESULTS: AKI was diagnosed in 69 out of 307 (22.4%) COVID-19 patients. Stages 1, 2, or 3 AKI accounted for 57.9%, 24.6% and 17.3%, respectively. AKI patients had a mean age of 74.7 ± 9.9 years. These patients showed higher serum levels of the main markers of inflammation and higher rate of severe pneumonia than non-AKI patients. Kidney injury was associated with a higher rate of urinary abnormalities including proteinuria (0.44 ± 0.85 vs 0.18 ± 0.29 mg/mg; P = < 0.0001) and microscopic hematuria (P = 0.032) compared to non-AKI patients. Hemodialysis was performed in 7.2% of the subjects and 33.3% of the survivors did not recover kidney function after AKI. Risk factors for kidney injury were age, male sex, CKD and higher non-renal SOFA score. Patients with AKI had a mortality rate of 56.5%. Adjusted Cox regression analysis revealed that COVID-19-associated AKI was independently associated with in-hospital death (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.82; CI 95%, 1.36-17.08) compared to non-AKI patients. CONCLUSION: AKI was a common and harmful consequence of COVID-19. It manifested with urinary abnormalities (proteinuria, microscopic hematuria) and conferred an increased risk for death. Given the well-known short-term sequelae of AKI, prevention of kidney injury is imperative in this vulnerable cohort of patients.