Confirmed clinical case of chronic kidney disease of nontraditional causes in agricultural communities in Central America: a case definition for surveillance / Caso clínico confirmado de enfermedad renal crónica de causas no tradicionales en comunidades agrícolas de Centroamérica: una definición de caso para la vigilancia

Over the last 20 years, many reports have described an excess of cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Pacific coastal area of Central America, mainly affecting male farmworkers and signaling a serious public health problem. Most of these cases are not associated with traditional risk factors for CKD, such as aging, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. This CKD of nontraditional causes (CKDnT) might be linked to environmental and/or occupational exposure or working conditions, limited access to health services, and poverty. In response to a resolution approved by the Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in 2013, PAHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Latin American Society of Nephrology and Hypertension (SLANH) organized a consultation process in order to expand knowledge on the epidemic of CKDnT and to develop appropriate surveillance instruments. The Clinical Working Group from SLANH was put in charge of finding a consensus definition of a confirmed clinical case of CKDnT. The resulting definition establishes mandatory criteria and exclusion criteria necessary for classifying a case of CKDnT. The definition includes a combination of universally accepted definitions of CKD and the main clinical manifestations of CKDnT. Based on the best available evidence, the Clinical Working Group also formulated general recommendations about clinical management that apply to any patient with CKDnT. Adhering to the definition of a confirmed clinical case of CKDnT and implementing it appropriately is expected to be a powerful instrument for understanding the prevalence of the epidemic, evaluating the results of interventions, and promoting appropriate advocacy and planning efforts

En los 20 últimos años, en muchos informes se ha descrito un número inusual de casos de enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) en la costa del Pacífico de Centroamérica, que afecta principalmente a trabajadores agrícolas varones y señala un grave problema de salud pública. La mayoría de estos casos no se asocia con los factores de riesgo tradicionales de ERC, como envejecimiento, diabetes mellitus e hipertensión. Esta ERC de causas no tradicionales (ERCnT) podría estar vinculada con la exposición laboral o ambiental o las condiciones de trabajo, el escaso acceso a los servicios de salud y la pobreza. En respuesta a una resolución aprobada por el Consejo Directivo de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) en el 2013, la OPS, los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de los Estados Unidos y la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Nefrología e Hipertensión (SLANH) organizaron un proceso de consulta para ampliar los conocimientos sobre la epidemia de ERCnT y elaborar instrumentos apropiados para la vigilancia. El Grupo Clínico de Trabajo de la SLANH tuvo la responsabilidad de consensuar una definición de caso clínico confirmado de ERCnT. En la definición resultante se establecen criterios obligatorios y criterios de exclusión necesarios para clasificar un caso como de ERCnT. La definición incluye una combinación de definiciones de ERC universalmente aceptadas y las principales manifestaciones clínicas de ERCnT. Sobre la base de los mejores datos científicos disponibles, el Grupo Clínico de Trabajo también formuló recomendaciones generales acerca del manejo clínico, que se aplican a cualquier paciente con ERCnT. Se espera que la adopción de la definición de caso confirmado de ERCnT y su aplicación adecuada sean una herramienta poderosa para conocer la prevalencia de la epidemia, evaluar los resultados de las intervenciones y promover acciones apropiadas de sensibilización y planificación.

Caracterización de los programas de especialización en nefrología de América Latina / Characterization of nephrology training programs in Latin-America

Objetivo: Caracterizar los componentes curriculares aplicados para la formación de médicos nefrólogos en Latinoamérica. Sujetos y métodos: Estudio descriptivo que incluye nueve países latinoamericanos. Se solicitó a cada uno los programas vigentes de especialización en nefrología. Se analizaron diferentes variables curriculares y se adoptó, como marco epistemológico, el modelo de educación médica basada en competencias, y como referencia, las dimensiones del Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) de Estados Unidos. Resultados: Los programas de los nueve países (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, México, Perú y Uruguay) buscan mejorar el perfil del especialista y cubrir demandas sanitarias. Las plazas se adecuan a la capacidad de los centros y los aspirantes se seleccionan por concursos abiertos. Todos contemplan formación de internista como condición de ingreso o dentro del programa, que causa disparidad en cargas horarias. Algunos no explicitan perfil del graduado. El modelo dominante es 'posgrado con residencia', con estructuras y organización heterogéneas. Los contenidos son pertinentes y existe equivalencia en las competencias que se deben desarrollar, que mayoritariamente coinciden con las del ACGME, salvo 'habilidades interpersonales y comunicación' y 'práctica basada en sistemas de salud’, que tienen menor peso. Todos destinan el 75% de la carga horaria para tareas de 'formación en servicio con responsabilidades crecientes bajo supervisión' e incluyen actividades académicas. Las evaluaciones están integradas en el programa con herramientas adecuadas para evaluar competencias. Conclusiones: Se debería unificar el nivel de posgrado y duración, definir claramente las competencias del 'producto que se va a formar', incluir más 'habilidades interpersonales' y 'práctica en sistemas de salud', y establecer actividades de atención primaria de la salud

Aim: To characterized curricular components apply for nephrology medical training in Latin-America. Subjects and methods: Descriptive study including nine countries. It was request to current Nephrology Training Programs. We analized different curricular variables, taking as epistemological hallmark the competence-based medical education and dimensions from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) from USA as reference. Results. Programs from nine countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay) look to improve the specialist profile and cover sanitary demands. The positions suit the centers capacity and applicants are selected in open competition. The programs include internal medicine training causing disparity in duty hours. Some of them don’t explicit graduate profile. The predominant model is ‘postgraduate course with residency’ with heterogeneous structures and organization. Contents are pertinent and there is equivalence within competences to develop that generally match with ACGME except for 'interpersonal and communication skills' and 'system-based practice' with less impact. All programs destiny 75% of duty hours for clinical practice-based learning with progressive responsibilities under guidance and supervision including academic activities. Evaluations are integrated to the program with adequate tools for competence assessment. Conclusions: Postgraduate level and duration should be unified, defining clearly competences of program’s graduate and establishing primary health care activities into the curriculum

Confirmed clinical case of chronic kidney disease of nontraditional causes in agricultural communities in Central America: a case definition for surveillance.

Over the last 20 years, many reports have described an excess of cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Pacific coastal area of Central America, mainly affecting male farmworkers and signaling a serious public health problem. Most of these cases are not associated with traditional risk factors for CKD, such as aging, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. This CKD of nontraditional causes (CKDnT) might be linked to environmental and/or occupational exposure or working conditions, limited access to health services, and poverty. In response to a resolution approved by the Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in 2013, PAHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Latin American Society of Nephrology and Hypertension (SLANH) organized a consultation process in order to expand knowledge on the epidemic of CKDnT and to develop appropriate surveillance instruments. The Clinical Working Group from SLANH was put in charge of finding a consensus definition of a confirmed clinical case of CKDnT. The resulting definition establishes mandatory criteria and exclusion criteria necessary for classifying a case of CKDnT. The definition includes a combination of universally accepted definitions of CKD and the main clinical manifestations of CKDnT. Based on the best available evidence, the Clinical Working Group also formulated general recommendations about clinical management that apply to any patient with CKDnT. Adhering to the definition of a confirmed clinical case of CKDnT and implementing it appropriately is expected to be a powerful instrument for understanding the prevalence of the epidemic, evaluating the results of interventions, and promoting appropriate advocacy and planning efforts.

Renal replacement therapy in Latin American end-stage renal disease.

The Latin American Dialysis and Renal Transplant Registry (RLADTR) was founded in 1991; it collects data from 20 countries which are members of Sociedad Latinoamericana de Nefrología e Hipertension. This paper presents the results corresponding to the year 2010. This study is an annual survey requesting data on incident and prevalent patients undergoing renal replacement treatment (RRT) in all modalities: hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD) and living with a functioning graft (LFG), etc. Prevalence and incidence were compared with previous years. The type of renal replacement therapy was analyzed, with special emphasis on PD and transplant (Tx). These variables were correlated with the gross national income (GNI) and the life expectancy at birth. Twenty countries participed in the surveys, covering 99% of the Latin American. The prevalence of end stage renal disease (ESRD) under RRT in Latin America (LA) increased from 119 patients per million population (pmp) in 1991 to 660 pmp in 2010 (HD 413 pmp, PD 135 pmp and LFG 111 pmp). HD proportionally increased more than PD, and Tx HD continues to be the treatment of choice in the region (75%). The kidney Tx rate increased from 3.7 pmp in 1987 to 6.9 pmp in 1991 and to 19.1 in 2010. The total number of Tx's in 2010 was 10 397, with 58% deceased donors. The total RRT prevalence correlated positively with GNI (r2 0.86; P < 0.05) and life expectancy at birth (r2 0.58; P < 0.05). The HD prevalence and the kidney Tx rate correlated significantly with the same indexes, whereas the PD rate showed no correlation with these variables. A tendency to rate stabilization/little growth was reported in the most regional countries. As in previous reports, the global incidence rate correlated significantly only with GNI (r2 0.63; P < 0.05). Diabetes remained the leading cause of ESRD. The most frequent causes of death were cardiovascular (45%) and infections (22%). Neoplasms accounted for 10% of the causes of death. The prevalence of RRT continues to increase, particularly in countries with 100% public health or insurance coverage for RRT, where it approaches rates comparable to those displayed by developed countries with a better GNI. The incidence also continues to increase in both countries that have not yet extended its coverage to 100% of the population as well as in those that have an adequate program for timely detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its associated risk factors. PD is still an underutilized strategy for RRT in the region. Even though renal Tx is feasible, its growth rate is still not as fast as it should be in order to compensate for the increased prevalence of patients on waiting lists. Diagnostic and prevention programs for hypertension and diabetes, appropriate policies promoting the expansion of PD and organ procurement as well as transplantation as cost-effective forms of RRT are needed in the region. Regional cooperation among Latin American countries, allowing the more developed to guide and train others in starting registries and CKD programs, may be one of the key initiatives to address this deficit.

Policies and health care financing issues for dialysis in Latin America: extracts from the roundtable discussion on the economics of dialysis and chronic kidney disease.

During the 2008 Congress of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis, academic nephrologists, nephrology societies, and government officials from Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Central America, Ecuador, and Mexico participated in a roundtable discussion on the Economics of Dialysis and Chronic Kidney Disease in Latin America. The main focus was policy and health care financing. The roundtable promoted open discussion between policymakers and clinicians on how to find viable solutions to contain spending on treatment for end-stage renal disease into the future. A number of options were proposed, including early medical intervention (disease management programs) to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease in high-risk patients, promotion of pre-emptive renal transplantation, and use of the most cost-effective dialysis therapy that can be offered to a patient without compromising outcome. It was concluded that the burden of treating more patients in the future could be alleviated by wider utilization of peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, important changes in health care reimbursement systems and realignment of incentives in the region are required to support wider PD penetration.

Acceso vascular central en hemodialisis / Central vascular access in hemodialysis

Los cateteres para hemodialisis de colocacion en el sistema venoso central son una alternativa importante en el manejo de pacientes con insuficiencia renal aguda o cronica que requieren hemodialisis de urgencia y no cuentan con otra via de acceso. En el Hospital Mexico este tipo de cateteres de utiliza desde 1987, y desde entonces hasta abril de 1989 se habian colocado aproximadamente treinta. La revision retrospectiva de veinte de los pacientes a quienes se les habia colocado veinticuatro cateteres mostro que los mismos estan siendo utilizados en pacientes jovenes ( edad promedio 35 años), con insuficiencia renal cronica terminal o insuficiencia renal aguda, especialmente la relacionada con accidente obstetrico o "schock"septico los cuales requerian hemodialisis en forma aguda. La mayoria de los cateteres fueron colocados por via subclavia al primer intento de canulacion; en el 58 por ciento de los casos estuvieron colocacdos por diez dias o menos, y el numero de dialisis realizadas fue de 9 o menos en mas del 60 por ciento de ellos. Un 21 por ciento de los casos presento algun tipo de complicaciones, la mayoria de los cuales fueron menores, presentandose un solo caso de lesion vascular grave que contribuyo a la muerte del paciente. En el 60 por ciento de los casos, el resultado obtenido con el uso del cateter fue eficaz, puesto que logro sacar al paciente de su estado critico para ofrecerle luego otras laternativas de tratamiento definitivo.

La inhibición de la síntesis de prostaglandinas suprime la reserva funcional renal en pacientes con nefropatía lúpica / Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in suppression of renal functional reserve in patients with lupus nephritis

La nefropatía lúpica se atribuye al depósito y formación "in situ" de complejos inmunitarios y cursa con aumento en la síntesis de prostaglandinas, las cuales contribuyen a mantener la función renal. La progresión del daño renal en el curso de una nefropatía está determinada en parte por las adaptaciones hemodinámicas que ocurren a medida que disminuyen las nefronas funcionantes. En este trabajo se evalúa la respuesta hemodinámica renal a la ingestión de proteínas en pacientes con nefropatía lúpica y su relación con la síntesis de prostaglandinas, como una medida indirecta para evaluar la presencia de alteraciones hemodinámicas renales que pueden contribuir a la progresión de la lesión renal. Se estudiaron 10 pacientes con nefropatía lúpica subclínica y 13 sujetos normales a los que se midió la excreción urinaria de "PGEZ" y actividad plasmática de renina (APR) además se evaluó la reserva funcional renal midiendo la respuesta de filtración glomerular (I yodotalamato) y flujo plasmático renal (125I hipuran) a la ingesta aguda de proteínas (caseína 1g/Kg). Los estudios se repitieron después de recibir indometacina 150mg/día durante 4 días. En los pacientes con LES se demostró aumento en PG E2 orina (14.7 ñ 3.0 vs. 5.8 ñ 0.6 ng/h p<0.5) e hiperreninemia (13.5 ñ 2.5 vs. 2.9 ñ 0.6 ng/ml/hr p<0.5). La filtración glomerular basal se encontró disminuida respecto a los controles (86.2 ñ 3.8 vs. 109.7 ñ 2.4 ml/min p<0.5), sin embargo, la respuesta a IAP fue normal. La indometacina suprimió PG y APR en ambos grupos, en los controles no modificó la hemodinámica pero en LES aunque no disminuyó la FG basal, sí suprimió totalmente la respuesta a IAP. En la nefropatía LES la reserva funcional renal depende de la síntesis de PG; la inhibición crónica de estos autocoides puede generar alteraciones hemodinámicas que contribuyan a la progresión de la lesión renal