Prevalence and staging of chronic kidney disease in renal transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis and staging of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important for management and prevention of renal disease progression. It is unclear whether K/DOQI guidelines of the National Kidney Foundation are applicable to diagnosis of CKD in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) and which method is most appropriate for estimating glomerular filtration. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and staging of CKD in RTRs, according to K/DOQI guidelines, and the prevalence of complications of CKD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included RTRs at least six months post-transplantation followed at a single out-patient service. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated with two different equations: the MDRD equation (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) with four variables (age, creatinine level, gender, and race) and the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) formula. Patients with GFR more than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were diagnosed with CKD only in the presence of renal damage (hematuria, proteinuria, or evidence of injury in renal biopsy). CKD staging was compared to the two equations and the prevalence of complications was determined. RESULTS: The study evaluated 241 RTRs (average age: 40.6 +/- 12.5 yr, 62.2% male; 4.5% black, 50.6% from cadaveric donors). Average follow-up time was 6.8 +/- 6.1 yr and the average baseline creatinine level was 1.48 +/- 0.72 mg/dL. CKD was diagnosed in 70.5% of RTRs, of whom 52.9% (MDRD)/47.6% (CG) were classified as Stage III (GFR: 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m2). The agreement between the two methods was very close with regard to CKD diagnosis (kappa = 0.92) and close for stage-dependent prevalence (kappa = 0.68). The prevalence of anemia, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia (HF), hyperuricemia (HU), and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) was 10.6%, 7.6%, 10.3%, 54%, and 73.4% for patients with CKD. Significant differences were observed for HU, HF and SAH in patients without CKD. Anemia, HU and SAH were associated with CKD stage (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CKD in the study population was high (70.5%). The two equations tested correlated closely when used for GFR estimation. Routine CKD staging in RTRs would provide patients with safer and more appropriate management.

Colestase da gravidez: revisão de literatura / Obstetric cholestasis: review of the literature

Colestase da gravidez (CG) é uma doença hepática específica da gravidez que tipicamente ocorre a partir do final do segundo trimestre. É uma doença de etiologia heterogênea (multifatorial) com contribuição de fatores genéticos e hormonais, caracterizada por prurido generalizado intenso e alterações das provas de função hepática, estando associada ao aumento das taxas de morbidade e mortalidade fetal. A revisão de literatura realizada refere-se à epidemiologia, etiologia, manifestações clínicas, achados laboratoriais e o manejo da CG na qual se conclui que o conhecimento por parte dos profissionais sobre a doença é fundamental para que seja realizado um manejo adequado das gestantes, visando principalmente prevenir complicações fetais. Apesar do número significativo de estudos relacionados com a CG, vários aspectos da sua etiologia e patogênese não foram elucidados. O diagnóstico é feito por meio de achados clínicos e das alterações das provas de função hepática e aumento dos níveis de ácidos biliares. O ácido ursodesoxicólico é a droga atualmente utilizada na terapêutica da CG com eficácia no controle do prurido e no restabelecimento de níveis normais dos ácidos biliares. Porém, há necessidade da condução de pesquisas e ensaios clínicos para a melhor condução desta doença.

Obstetric cholestasis (OC) is a specific hepatic pathology of the pregnancy that typically happens in the end of the second trimester. It is a heterogeneous etiology (multifactorial) disease with contribution from genetic and hormonal factors, characterized by intense itch and abnormal liver function tests, being associated to the increase of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The revision of accomplished literature refers to the epidemiology, etiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and of which management OC concludes that knowledge by professionals about the disease is the key to an appropriate management, undertaken by pregnant women, seeking mainly to prevent fetal complications. In spite of the significant number of studies related with OC, several aspects of its etiology and pathogenesis were not elucidated. The diagnosis is made through the clinical discoveries and abnormal liver function tests and increase of the levels of bile acids. The ursodeoxycholic acid is now the drug used in the therapeutics of OC with effectiveness in the control of the itch and in the re-establishment of normal levels of the bile acids. However, new research and clinical trials are required for best conduction of this pathology

Massas anexiais na gestação / Adnexal masses in pregnancy

O advento da ultrassonografia (US) durante o pré-natal tem contribuído para o aumento da detecção de massas anexiais na gestação. A maior parte dos tumores tem resolução espontânea por volta da 16ª semana de gestação, sendo associada a cistos funcionais. Massas que persistem após esse período podem acarretar riscos de torção, ruptura e obstrução do canal de parto, necessitando, muitas vezes, de uma intervenção cirúrgica de emergência. A ocorrência de tumores malignos é rara. Além da US, que é utilizada como primeira modalidade para o diagnóstico, o estudo do CA-125 e do B-hCG deve ser realizado. Esses marcadores estão normalmente aumentados durante a gestação. No entanto, na presença de massas tumorais, os níveis são bem mais alterados. O manejo dessa patologia na gravidez é desafiante para o médico e acarreta ansiedade para a paciente. A cirurgia, quando indicada, deverá ser realizada entre o segundo e terceiro trimestres da gestação, levando-se em conta os riscos de complicações para a mãe e o feto. Estudos mostram que, havendo indicações precisas de tratamento adjuvante na gravidez, seu uso não deve ser adiado, pois, em longo prazo, o prognóstico para fetos expostos à quimioterapia intra-útero parece ser bom.

The advent of routine prenatal ultrasonography (US) has increased the detection of adnexal masses during pregnancy. The majority of tumors spontaneously resolve around the 16ª week of gestation, usually being associated with functional cysts. Masses that last after this period can complicate on risks of torsion, rupture of obstruction of labor, requiring emergent surgical intervention. The prevalence of malignant tumor is rare. Besides the use of US, which is the primary diagnostic modality, the study of tumor markers, such as CA-125 and B-hCG, must be done. Their levels are already elevated during pregnancy. However, in the presence of certain types of tumors, these levels are much more altered. The management of this pathology during pregnancy is quite challenging to the medical team and involves psychological issues to the patient. When indicated, the surgery must be taken place between the second and third trimester, always considering the risks of complications to the mother and the fetus. Several studies report that if there are strong indications for adjuvant therapy, it should not be delayed, because the longterm fetal outcomes appear to be good for those fetuses exposed to chemotherapy in utero.