Predictors of oliguric acute kidney injury in leptospirosis. A retrospective study on 196 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 10 to 60% of patients with leptospirosis. The aim of this study is to investigate markers for oliguric AKI in leptospirosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed with 196 consecutive patients with leptospirosis-associated AKI. These patients were categorized into either oliguric or non-oliguric according to their urine output. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among these patients, 64 (32.6%) were oliguric and 132 (67.4%) nonoliguric. Markers for oliguria were age higher than 40 years (OR = 1.02, p = 0.04), hyponatremia (OR = 0.94, p = 0.03), elevated serum creatinine (OR = 1.11, p = 0.04), low arterial pH (OR = 1.0002, p = 0.01), high levels of AST (OR = 1.005, p = 0.01), crackles (OR = 3.83, p < 0.001) and direct bilirubin (OR = 1.03, p = 0.03). Elevated activated prothrombin time (OR = 0.97, p = 0.03) was a factor associated with nonoliguric AKI. Independent markers for oliguria were crackles (OR = 5.17, p = 0.0016) and direct bilirubin levels (OR = 1.051, p = 0.04). Mortality was significantly higher in oliguric than nonoliguric (27 vs. 8%, p < 0.001). Renal function at discharge was similar in oliguric and nonoliguric patients. CONCLUSION: Age higher than 40 years, hyponatremia, elevated serum creatinine, low arterial pH, high levels of AST, crackles and direct bilirubin levels would be useful to early identify patients with oliguric AKI in leptospirosis.

Comparison between early and delayed acute kidney injury secondary to infectious disease in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Results from a number of studies suggest that the delayed manifestation of acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with higher in-hospital mortality, while other studies were unable to demonstrate any difference among early and delayed AKI in terms of in-hospital mortality. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in outcome among patients with AKI upon admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and those who develop AKI post-admission. METHODS: We studied patients with AKI secondary to infectious diseases admitted to the ICU. We retrospectively compared data on patients admitted with AKI (early AKI) with data on those who developed AKI 24 h after admission (delayed AKI). RESULTS: Acute kidney injury occurred in 147 of 829 (17.7%) patients admitted to the ICU. Of these, 96 (65%) had early AKI and 51 (35%) had delayed AKI. Renal failure was classified according to RIFLE criteria-an AKI-specific severity score that is used to place patients into one of five categories: risk, injury, failure, loss or end-stage renal disease. Based on these criteria, 6% of the early AKI and 4% of the delayed AKI patients were in risk category, 18% of the early AKI and 27% of the delayed AKI patients were in the injury category and 76% of the early AKI and 69% of the delayed AKI patients were in the failure category. We found no significant association between RIFLE and death. On admission, patients with early AKI had statistically significantly higher serum urea and creatinine levels than delayed AKI patients (P<0.0001). Arterial bicarbonate was lower in early AKI (P=0.02). Sepsis, hypotension and use of mechanical ventilation were more frequent in delayed AKI (P<0.05). The APACHE II score was higher in early AKI (P=0.05) patients. In total, 98 (66.7%) patients died, with a tendency towards higher mortality in patients with delayed AKI (61.5 vs. 76.5%, P=0.07). CONCLUSION: Mortality among patients with infectious diseases-associated AKI admitted to the ICU is high, with a trend to be higher in those who developed delayed AKI.

Sleep disturbances in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: role of dialysis shift.

OBJECTIVES: Subjective sleep complaints have been reported in up to 80% of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). In these patients, sleep disturbances manifesting as insomnia, sleep apnea syndrome, restless leg syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movement disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) have been frequently reported. Moreover, studies about the role of dialysis shift on sleep abnormalities, morbidity and mortality are still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of dialysis shift on the quality of sleep and sleep abnormalities in patients with ESRD. METHODS: We studied one hundred consecutive patients from a dialysis center. Quality of sleep was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and subjective EDS by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Restless leg syndrome was diagnosed using the four minimum criteria defined by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained by interview and chart review. Adequacy of dialysis was evaluated by the Kt/V index. RESULTS: Poor quality sleep (PSQI>6) was found in 75% of cases and was associated with RLS (p=0.004) and with snoring (p=0.016). EDS (ESS>10) was present in 28% of cases. Patients with EDS (1.33+/-0.29) had lower values of the Kt/v index (P=0.01) than those without EDS (1.52+/-0.32). RLS was present in 48% of cases. Irrespective of dialysis shift, poor quality sleep, EDS and RLS were not different among patients. CONCLUSION: Poor quality sleep, EDS and RLS were common and not related to dialysis shift.

Clinical and laboratory features of disseminated histoplasmosis in HIV patients from Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the main clinical and laboratory features of disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and compare them with those of HIV patients with other opportunistic diseases. METHODS: Retrospective study of HIV patients comparing the clinical and laboratory data of patients with and without DH. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to verify the risk factors related to DH. RESULTS: In total, 378 HIV patients were included, 164 with DH and 214 with other opportunistic diseases. Acute renal failure, respiratory insufficiency and septic shock were more frequent in DH patients, who also had a higher mortality (32%vs. 14%, P < 0.001). Independent risk factors for DH were: acute renal failure [odds ratio (OR) 5.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2-8.5; P < 0.001], splenomegaly (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.19-9.9; P < 0.001), respiratory insufficiency (OR 2.7 95% CI 1.5-5.0; P < 0.001), proteinuria (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.3-5.2; P = 0.03), hypotension (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.2-5.0; P = 0.008), hepatomegaly (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.2-4.8; P = 0.01), cutaneous lesions (OR, 1.9; 95% CI 1.0-3.3; P = 0.02) and weight loss (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.0-3.1; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that DH is a severe opportunistic disease with high mortality rate, which should be promptly recognized in order to provide early specific treatment.

Sleep disturbances in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: role of dialysis shift

OBJECTIVES: Subjective sleep complaints have been reported in up to 80 percent of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). In these patients, sleep disturbances manifesting as insomnia, sleep apnea syndrome, restless leg syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movement disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) have been frequently reported. Moreover, studies about the role of dialysis shift on sleep abnormalities, morbidity and mortality are still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of dialysis shift on the quality of sleep and sleep abnormalities in patients with ESRD. MÉTHODS: We studied one hundred consecutive patients from a dialysis center. Quality of sleep was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and subjective EDS by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Restless leg syndrome was diagnosed using the four minimum criteria defined by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained by interview and chart review. Adequacy of dialysis was evaluated by the Kt/V index. RESULTS: Poor quality sleep (PSQI>6) was found in 75 percent of cases and was associated with RLS (p=0.004) and with snoring (p=0.016). EDS (ESS>10) was present in 28 percent of cases. Patients with EDS (1.33±0.29) had lower values of the Kt/v index (P=0.01) than those without EDS (1.52±0.32). RLS was present in 48 percent of cases. Irrespective of dialysis shift, poor quality sleep, EDS and RLS were not different among patients. CONCLUSION: Poor quality sleep, EDS and RLS were common and not related to dialysis shift.

OBJETIVOS: Alterações do sono têm sido relatadas em até 80 por cento dos pacientes com Insuficiência renal crônica dialítica (IRCD). Insônia, síndrome da apnéia do sono, síndrome das pernas inquietas (SPI), movimentos periódicos de extremidades e sonolência excessiva diurna (SED) têm sido descritos. A influência que o turno da diálise exerce sobre as alterações do sono e sobre a morbidade e mortalidade ainda é desconhecida. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência do turno da diálise sobre as anormalidades do sono em pacientes com IRCD. MÉTODOS: Estudamos 100 pacientes consecutivos provenientes de um centro de diálise. A qualidade do sono foi avaliada através do Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh (IQSP) e a SED através da Escala de sonolência de Epworth (ESE). A SPI foi avaliada utilizando os quatro critérios mínimos definidos internacionalmente pela International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Os parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais foram obtidos através de entrevistas e revisão de prontuários. A qualidade da diálise foi avaliada pelo índice Kt/V. RESULTADOS: Má qualidade do sono (IQSP>6), encontrada em 75 por cento dos casos, associou-se à SPI (P= 0.004) e à presença de ronco (P= 0.016). Pacientes com SED (ESE>10) (1.33±0.29) apresentaram valores do índice Kt/v menores (P=0.01) do que aqueles sem SED (1.52±0.32). Observou-se a presença de SPI em 48 por cento dos pacientes. Má qualidade do sono, SED e SPI não diferiram entre os pacientes agrupados quanto ao turno de diálise. CONCLUSÃO: Má qualidade do sono, SED e SPI são freqüentes e não se relacionam com o turno da diálise.