APOL1 Gene Variants and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease.

INTRODUCTION: The association of APOL1 risk variants with cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in observational and clinical trials has had inconsistent results. We aim to assess the relationship between the presence of APOL1 risk variants and the CVD risk in Afro-descendant patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: We performed an observational, cross-sectional study of Afro-descendant adult patients with ESRD who were on the waitlist for a kidney transplant. Associations of APOL1 genotypes (high-risk [HR] = 2 alleles; low-risk [LR] = 0 or 1 allele) with cardiovascular risk were the primary clinical endpoint. The relation was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 102 patients with ESRD; 37% (38 patients) had APOL1 HR status with two alleles in homozygous (G1/G1 = 21 and G2/G2 = 3) or compound heterozygote (G1/G2 = 14) form and 63% (64 patients) had APOL1 LR status. No significant association was found between HR APOL1 genotypes and high cardiovascular risk (in adjusted Colombia Framingham Risk Score). APOL1 HR versus LR variants were not independently associated with left ventricular hypertrophy or systolic dysfunction. No cardiovascular deaths occurred during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: In Afro-descendent patients with ESRD, APOL1 HR status is not associated with the increase in cardiovascular risk profile and metabolic disturbances.

COVID-19 en receptores de trasplante renal: la experiencia inicial en Colombia

Contexto: los pacientes con trasplante de riñón parecen tener un riesgo particularmente alto de enfermedad grave por COVID-19 debido a la inmunosupresión y la presencia de comorbilidades. Objetivo: describir las características clínicas, paraclínicas y desenlaces de los pacientes trasplantados renales que presentan infección por SARS-COV-2 en un hospital de cuarto nivel en Cali, Colombia. Metodología: realizamos un estudio observacional de receptores de trasplante renal con infección por SARS-CoV-2 ingresados ​​en la Fundación Valle del Lili, de junio a diciembre del 2020. Para ser elegibles en el estudio, los pacientes debían presentar síntomas compatibles, RT-PCR positiva y manejo hospitalario. Se excluyó a los pacientes asintomáticos. Resultados: inscribimos a un total de 50 pacientes, donde el 64 % eran hombres y la edad media fue de 53,5 años (rango 46-60). Las comorbilidades fueron: 36 (70 %) con hipertensión, 16 (32 %) con diabetes mellitus y 5 (10 %) con obesidad y los regímenes inmunosupresores más comunes fueron: tacrolimus, micofenolato y prednisona. La mediana de tiempo desde el inicio de los síntomas hasta la RT-PCR positiva fue de siete días. Los síntomas iniciales más comunes fueron fiebre (64 %), fatiga (58%), tos (44%) y disnea (36%). Los niveles basales de proteína C reactiva (PCR) fueron de 6,43 mg/dl (3,25-11,22), la mediana del recuento de linfocitos fue de 785 mm3/uL (550-1230), el dímero D basal fue de 0,767 ug/ml (0,484-1153,5) y el nivel medio de ferritina fue de 1011 ng/ml (670-2145). El 40 % desarrolló lesión renal aguda (20 pacientes), de los cuales 11 pacientes necesitaron terapia de remplazo renal, 6 de los pacientes fallecieron (12 %), 4/6 por insuficiencia multiorgánica relacionada con la sepsis y 2/6 por el síndrome de dificultad respiratoria agudo (SDRA). Conclusiones: las complicaciones mayores como la lesión renal aguda, el síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda y la mortalidad relacionada con la infección por COVID-19 observadas en nuestro estudio son significativas, pero menos frecuentes que las reportadas en otros países.

Background: Patients with kidney transplants seem to be at particularly high risk for severe COVID19 disease due to their impaired immune responses and comorbidities. Purpose: This study aims to describe kidney transplant patients' clinical characteristics and outcomes with SARSCOV-2 infection in a fourth-level hospital in Cali, Colombia. Methodology: We performed an observational study of kidney transplant recipients with SARS-CoV2 infection admitted at Fundación Valle del Lili from June to December 2020. To be eligible for this study, patients have symptoms compatible, a positive RT-PCR and inpatient management. Asymptomatic patients were excluded. Results: We enrolled a total of 50 patients. 64% were male, and the median age was 53.5 years (range 46-60). The comorbidities were 36 (70%) hypertension, 16 (32%) diabetes mellitus, 5 (10%) obesity. The most common immunosuppressive regimen was tacrolimus, mycophenolate and prednisone. The median time from symptoms onset to the positive RT-PCR was 7 days. The most common initial symptom was fever (64%), and fatigue (58%), cough (44%) and dyspnea (36%). Baseline levels of CRP was 6.43 mg/dL (3.25-11.22). The median lymphocyte count was 785 mm3/uL (550-1230). Baseline D-Dimer was 0.767 ug/ml (0.484-1153.5), ferritin median level was 1011ng/ml (670-2145). Six of the patients died (12%), 4/6 were by sepsis-related multi-organ failure and 2/6 were by ARDS. Conclusions: Major complications such as acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome and mortality related to COVID-19 infection observed in our study are lower than those reported in other countries.

Trasplante renal con HLA idéntico de donante vivo y cadavérico: experiencia de la Fundación Valle de Lili, Cali, Colombia / Renal transplant with identical HLA with living and cadaver donor: Experience at Fundación Valle de Lili, Cali, Colombia

Introducción: En el trasplante renal con HLA idéntico los episodios de rechazo agudo son menores y tienen mejores tasas de supervivencia del injerto, comparado con los receptores con HLA no idéntico; a pesar de esto, persiste el dilema en cuanto al retiro o la disminución de la dosis de inmunosupresión. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la experiencia de los trasplantes renales con HLA idéntico de donante vivo y cadavérico que se han realizado en la Fundación Valle del Lili desde 1995 hasta 2014. Material y métodos. De los 1.462 trasplantes renales realizados se incluyeron aquellos con HLA idéntico. Se hizo un análisis estadístico descriptivo para todas las variables consideradas y, para subgrupos seleccionados, el análisis de supervivencia y de rechazo agudo se hizo con el método de Kaplan-Meier. Para el análisis se usó Stata 12.0®. Resultados. Se practicaron 29 trasplantes renales con HLA idénticos. La mayoría fueron en hombres de raza mestiza y lo más frecuente fue una etiología desconocida de la enfermedad renal terminal. Dos pacientes presentaron rechazo agudo, y la supervivencia de los injertos a 1, 5, 10 y 15 años, fue de 100%, 93,7 %, 75 % y 75 %, respectivamente; la supervivencia de los pacientes a los 1, 5, 10 y 15 años, fue de 100%, 93,7 %, 84,3 % y 84,3 %, respectivamente. Conclusiones. Los receptores HLA idénticos poseen una supervivencia prolongada del injerto con menos tasas de rechazo agudo.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Graft rejection is much lower in terms of acute rejection and improved graft survival in renal transplantation with HLA-identical compared to non-identical HLA receptors. The aim of this work is to describe the experience of HLA identical kidney transplantation from live and deceased donors that have been performed at Valle de Lili Foundation since 1995 to 2014. Material and methods. From the 1,462 kidney transplants performed those with HLA-identical were identified, a descriptive statistical analysis was performed for all variables considered in the analysis and for selected subgroups, the analysis of survival and acute rejection was made with the Kaplan-Meier method. Stata 12.0 was used for the analysis. Results: A total of 29 HLA-identical kidney transplants were performed. Most were men of mixed race; the main etiology of ESRD was unknown. Two patients had acute rejection and graft survival at five, ten and fifteen years was 93.7%, 75% and 75% respectively, patient survival at five, ten and fifteen years was 93.7%, 84.3% and 84.3% respectively. Conclusion: HLA-identical receptors have a prolonged survival of the graft with less acute rejection rates.

Derivación exocrina al duodeno en trasplante simultáneo de riñón y páncreas, experiencia en la Fundación Valle de Lili, Cali, Colombia / Exocrine bypass to the duodenum in simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant, experience at Fundación Valle de Lili, Cali, Colombia

Introducción: El trasplante simultáneo de riñón y páncreas es reconocido como un tratamiento eficaz para el manejo de pacientes con diabetes mellitus, principalmente de tipo I, e insuficiencia renal crónica. Sin embargo, hoy en día aún existe dificultad para el seguimiento del injerto pancreático, ya que no existe un marcador serológico definitivo que lo permita y persiste la dificultad para la toma de biopsias. Se ha descrito una modificación en la técnica quirúrgica que permitiría el acceso endoscópico mediante una duodeno-duodenostomía. Material y métodos. Se seleccionaron los pacientes que recibieron un trasplante simultáneo de riñón y páncreas con derivación exocrina al duodeno, evaluando la seguridad del procedimiento, la evolución y las complicaciones médico-quirúrgicas. Resultados. Nueve pacientes fueron sometidos a trasplante simultáneo de riñón y páncreas con derivación exocrina al duodeno. La mediana de la edad fue de 36 años y la mayoría era del sexo masculino. El tiempo de isquemia en frío fue de 10 horas para el injerto pancreático y de 11 horas para el renal. El tiempo total de hospitalización fue de 21 días. Se presentó una pérdida del injerto pancreático y una pérdida del injerto renal. Hubo una sola muerte, causada por aspergilosis pulmonar. Conclusiones. La derivación exocrina duodenal permite y facilita la evaluación y el seguimiento endoscópico del injerto pancreático. No supone una mayor exigencia técnica en el trasplante simultáneo de riñón y páncreas, ni un incremento en el número de complicaciones en relación directa con la modificación del procedimiento quirúrgico.

Introduction: Despite its recognition as an effective therapy for the management of patients with Type I diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure, simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant encounters difficulties in monitoring the pancreatic graft, and there is no strong serologic marker coupled with the difficulties in taking biopsies. We describe a modification of a surgical technique that allows endoscopic access through a duodenostomy. Material and methods. Patients who received simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation with exocrine bypass to the duodenum were selected to evaluate the safety of the procedure, the clinical postoperative course, and the medical and surgical complications. Results: Nine patients were submitted to simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation with exocrine bypass to the duodenum. Median age was 36, most patients where male. Cold ischemia time was 10 hours for the pancreatic graft and 11 hours for the kidney graft. Total hospital stay was 21 days. There was one death caused by pulmonary aspergillosis. Conclusion: The duodenal exocrine derivation permits and facilitates the evaluation and endoscopy follow-up of the pancreatic graft. It neither imposes greater technical demands in simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation, nor an increase in the number of complications directly related to the modification of the surgical procedure.

Características clínicas, epidemiológicas y microbiológicas de una cohorte de pacientes con tuberculosis pulmonar en Cali, Colombia / Clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of a cohort of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Cali, Colombia

Introducción. El tratamiento acortado estrictamente supervisado hace parte de una estrategia multifactorial adoptada por la Organización Mundial de la Salud para controlar la tuberculosis y en Colombia alcanza una cobertura de 70%. Objetivo. Establecer las características clínicas, epidemiológicas y microbiológicas y el desenlace de la terapia antituberculosa, en una cohorte de pacientes nuevos con diagnóstico de tuberculosis pulmonar con baciloscopia positiva en Cali, Colombia.Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo, anidado en un ensayo clínico de multicéntrico, en el que se incluyeron 106 pacientes con tuberculosis pulmonar con baciloscopia positiva entre abril de 2005 y junio de 2006, a través de instituciones de salud de la red pública de Cali que administraron el tratamiento antituberculoso. Se practicó baciloscopia seriada, cultivo para micobacterias, prueba de sensibilidad a medicamentos antituberculosos de primera línea, radiografía de tórax postero-anterior y lateral y prueba ELISA para VIH. Se recolectó información clínica y epidemiológica, y se hizo seguimiento por 30 meses, haciendo uso de incentivos de transporte y alimentación.Resultados. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron hombres jóvenes, con diagnóstico hecho más de nueve semanas después del inicio de los síntomas y con baciloscopia muy positiva (2+ o 3+). La resistencia a cualquier medicamento fue de 7,5% y la resistencia inicial a los medicamentos de primera línea fue de 1,9%. La incidencia de efectos secundarios asociados al tratamiento fue de 8,5%. La infección concomitante con VIH fue de 5,7%. El 86,8% de los pacientes completó la terapia con diagnóstico de curación.

Introduction. The World Health Organization recommended strategy for global tuberculosis control is a short-course, clinically administered treatment, This approach has approximately 70% coverage in Colombia. Objective. The clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics along with drug therapy outcomes were described in newly diagnosed, pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Materials and methods. This was a descriptive study, conducted as part of a multicenter clinical trial of tuberculosis treatment. A cohort of 106 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were recruited from several public health facilities in Cali between April 2005 and June 2006. Sputum smear microscopy, culture, drug susceptibility tests to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs, chest X- ray and HIV-ELISA were performed. Clinical and epidemiological information was collected for each participant. Treatment was administered by the local tuberculosis health facility. Food and transportation incentives were provided during a 30 month follow-up period.Results. The majority of patients were young males with a diagnostic delay longer than 9 weeks and a high sputum smear grade (2+ or 3+). The initial drug resistance was 7.5% for single drug treatment and 1.9% for multidrug treatments. The incidence of adverse events associated with treatment was 8.5%. HIV co-infection was present in 5.7% of the cases. Eighty-six percent of the patients completed the treatment and were considered cured. The radiographic presentation varied within a broad range and differed from the classic progression to cavity formation. Conclusion. Delay in tuberculosis diagnosis was identified as a risk factor for treatment compliance failure. The study population had similar baseline epidemiologic characteristics to those described in other cohort studies.

[Clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of a cohort of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Cali, Colombia]. / Características clínicas, epidemiológicas y microbiológicas de una cohorte de pacientes con tuberculosis pulmonar en Cali, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization recommended strategy for global tuberculosis control is a short-course, clinically administered treatment, This approach has approximately 70% coverage in Colombia. OBJECTIVE: The clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics along with drug therapy outcomes were described in newly diagnosed, pulmonary tuberculosis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive study, conducted as part of a multicenter clinical trial of tuberculosis treatment. A cohort of 106 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were recruited from several public health facilities in Cali between April 2005 and June 2006. Sputum smear microscopy, culture, drug susceptibility tests to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs, chest X- ray and HIV-ELISA were performed. Clinical and epidemiological information was collected for each participant. Treatment was administered by the local tuberculosis health facility. Food and transportation incentives were provided during a 30 month follow-up period. RESULTS: The majority of patients were young males with a diagnostic delay longer than 9 weeks and a high sputum smear grade (2+ or 3+). The initial drug resistance was 7.5% for single drug treatment and 1.9% for multidrug treatments. The incidence of adverse events associated with treatment was 8.5%. HIV co-infection was present in 5.7% of the cases. Eighty-six percent of the patients completed the treatment and were considered cured. The radiographic presentation varied within a broad range and differed from the classic progression to cavity formation. CONCLUSION: Delay in tuberculosis diagnosis was identified as a risk factor for treatment compliance failure. The study population had similar baseline epidemiologic characteristics to those described in other cohort studies.