Vascular calcification in dialysis patients.

UNLABELLED: The risk factors for vascular calcification (VC) in dialysis patients include duration of dialysis, diabetes mellitus, aging, hyperphosphatemia, hyperparathyroidism, and calcium or vitamin D supplementation. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for VC in our dialysis population. METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine chronic dialysis patients underwent plain x-rays of the hands for VC. Patients were grouped as either positive (PVC) or negative (NVC) for VC. Age, gender, duration of dialysis, presence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), oral calcium, and 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 supplement, serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), calcium phosphorus product (CaxP), alkaline phosphates (ALP) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (26.35%) showed VC. There were no differences between PVC and NVC patients for duration of dialysis (38.4 +/- 27.7 for PVC and 34.6 +/- 31.2 months for NVC, P = .80), levels of serum Ca (P = .26), P (P = .19), CaxP (P = .33), ALP (P = .89), or iPTH (P = .24). Similarly, oral calcium and 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 intake were not different between the two groups (P = .971 and P = .3710 respectively). Compared to NVC patients, PVC patients were older (56.3 +/- 10.4 versus 47.5 +/- 16.1 years, P = .008) and had a greater incidence of NIDDM (17/34 PVC and diabetic versus 20/95 NVC, P = .001). In conclusion, for patients with a medium length of dialysis, the duration of dialysis as well as the doses of calcium salts and of 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 were not significantly associated with vascular calcifications, but it was not possible to exclude a role for these and other factors in patients with longer dialysis.

Baseline cardiac troponin I in patients on maintenance dialysis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There have been conflicting reports in the medical literature regarding baseline levels of cardiac troponins and their usefulness as specific markers of acute myocardial injury in patients on maintenance dialysis. Hence we undertook a study of the normal range of baseline cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in patients on maintenance dialysis in our center. METHODOLOGY: Seventy-five patients aged 45 years or more on maintenance dialysis for at least 1 month were included in the study. None had had an acute cardiac event requiring admission to the hospital during the preceding month. Samples of blood were collected and cTnI levels were estimated using an immunoenzymatic assay (Access Immunoassay system, Beckmann). Correlation of cTnI with gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and adequacy of dialysis (Kt/v) were also done. RESULTS: Forty-six (61.3%) patients were on maintenance hemodialysis and 29 (38.6%) were on peritoneal dialysis. Twenty-four (32%) were over the age of 65 years and 37 (49.3%) were men. Levels of cTnI ranged from 0.000 to 0.568 ng/mL, with mean of 0.040 +/- 0.080. Only six (8%) had levels above 0.1 ng/mL, which was the cut off level for significance in our laboratory. There was no statistically significant correlation of cTnI levels with gender, age, BMI, or Kt/v. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline cTnI levels were below significant levels in the majority of maintenance dialysis patients aged at least 45 years or more. Hence cTnI can be used as a valid marker of acute myocardial injury in this group of patients.

Profiled hemodialysis reduces intradialytic symptoms.

A prospective study on the effect of profiled hemodialysis on intradialytic symptoms was undertaken among patients recruited between September 2002 and December 2002. Evaluated intradialytic symptoms included hypotension, muscle cramps, dizziness, headache, nausea, discomfort, thirst, and shortness of breath. Symptomatic patients were allocated to one mode of combined sodium and ultrafiltration profile during hemodialysis. The programs were readily available on Fresenius MC 4008 H&E hemodialysis machines. Evaluation was performed before profiling and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks into the profiled hemodialysis. On standard hemodialysis 40 (36.4%) patients were symptomatic. Hypotension was reported in 29 (72.5%) of patients receiving standard treatment. Dizziness, headache, and muscle cramps were reported in 22 (55%), 15 (37.5%), and 9 (22.5%) patients, respectively. These symptoms were significantly (P <.05) improved at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of profiling. Other symptoms, such as discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and thirst, were infrequently reported among patients without or with profiling. There was no significant difference between the applied profiles when compared with each other. In conclusion, sodium and ultrafiltration profiling are effective techniques to reduce acute adverse side effects of hemodialysis. They improve patient well-being and dialysis tolerance, minimize interventions during dialysis.

High incidence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus in Kuwait.

Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) has been reported to occur in 5-15% of non-diabetic renal transplant recipients. During a 15-year period (January 1983-January 1998), 631 renal transplant recipients (TxR) were followed-up in our Centre of whom 79 (12.5%) had pre-transplant diabetes mellitus. Among the 552 TxR who were non-diabetic at pre-transplantation, 117 (21.2%) developed PTDM. The gender, native renal disease and the mode of pre-transplant dialysis did not differ in those with and without PTDM. Of the 117 TxR who developed PTDM, 63 (53.8%) were above the age of 45 years where as only 90 (20.7%) of the 435 who remained non-diabetic (NDM) were above this age (P<0.05). PTDM occurred in 115 (29.6%) recipients of Arab origin (Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis) where as only two (1.7%) non-Arabs developed it. There was no difference in the incidence of PTDM when prednisone and azathioprine (two drug regime) were used or with cyclosporine (triple drug regime). The incidence of acute rejection episodes did not differ among PTDM and NDM groups. The over all incidence of infections requiring hospitalisation was higher in PTDM group (1.8 episodes per patient) compared to NDM group (one episode per patient) during the study period (P<0.001). Coronary heart disease was also more frequent in PTDM (15 vs. 6%, P<0.05). The cumulative graft survival at 1, 5, 10 and 14 years in the PTDM (97, 92, 74 and 67%, respectively) and NDM groups (97, 91, 80 and 73%, respectively) was similar. However, an important cause of graft loss was death of the recipient in PTDM compared to NDM (10.7 vs. 3.6%). Similarly, the patient survival up to 14 years did not differ between PTDM and NDM groups (80 and 82%, respectively), although infection related deaths were more frequent in the PTDM group (65 vs. 49%) although not statistically significant. In conclusion, there is a high incidence of PTDM in Kuwait; age and race being the two important contributory factors. The overall patient and graft survival are not adversely affected by PTDM although infections and coronary heart disease are more frequently encountered in this group.

Plasma 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol concentration and its relation to other plasma components in renal failure and renal transplant recipients.

Plasma levels of 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (AG) were measured in non-diabetic patients with renal failure or following renal transplant. For patients with renal failure (n = 20) from various causes, the plasma level of AG was found to be positively associated with urate and negatively with both urea and prior dialysis. The results for seven renal transplant recipients, serially assessed during the post-transplant period, verified an increase in plasma AG with time, approaching normal levels (> or = 70 mumol/l) after 60 days, and which was adversely affected by rejection episodes. The actual mean rate of plasma AG rise ranged from 0.35 to 1.29 mumol/l per day. AG levels for long term (> 1000 days) surviving renal transplant recipients (n = 16) were predominantly related to renal function as assessed by plasma creatinine.

Primary IgA nephropathy in adults.

IgA nephropathy was found in 9.6% of 649 adults with primary glomerulonephritis. Hypertension was detected in 51.6% and renal failure in 32.3%. A nephrotic presentation was seen in 22.6% and recurrent macroscopic hematuria in 17.7%. On light microscopy, mesangial hypercellularity and an increase in mesangial matrix were frequently seen (74.2%). Immunofluorescence studies demonstrated IgA in all patients along with C3 in 61.3%, IgM in 27.4% and IgG in 11.3%. Followup was possible in 61.3% for mean period of 17.3 months. No clinical or biochemical abnormalities were detected on followup in 26.3%. Progression to end stage renal disease was noted in 7.9%.

A comparative study of methods of estimating renal size in normal adults.

One hundred live related voluntary kidney donors were studied prospectively. During donor nephrectomy the actual kidney bipolar length was measured and compared to the renal bipolar length estimated from abdominal sonogram, abdominal plain X-ray, intravenous pyelogram, and renal angiogram. Ultrasound was found to measure the kidney more accurately (mean difference between estimated size and actual = -3.4 mm +/- SD 6.96), than plain X-ray (mean difference from actual 13mm +/- SD 5.24), IVP (mean difference from actual 16.9 mm +/- SD 5.74), and renal angiogram (mean difference from actual 15.2 mm +/- SD 5.77).