Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: The HAKA Multicenter Retrospective Real-World Study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic heart failure (HF) has high rates of mortality and hospitalization in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (aCKD). However, randomized clinical trials have systematically excluded aCKD population. We have investigated current HF therapy in patients receiving clinical care in specialized aCKD units. METHODS: The Heart And Kidney Audit (HAKA) was a cross-sectional and retrospective real-world study including outpatients with aCKD and HF from 29 Spanish centers. The objective was to evaluate how the treatment of HF in patients with aCKD complied with the recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of HF, especially regarding the foundational drugs: renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi), angiotensin receptor blocker/neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI), beta-blockers (BBs), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). RESULTS: Among 5,012 aCKD patients, 532 (13%) had a diagnosis of HF. Of them, 20% had reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 13% mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF), and 67% preserved EF (HFpEF). Only 9.3% of patients with HFrEF were receiving quadruple therapy with RASi/ARNI, BB, MRA, and SGLT2i, but the majority were not on the maximum recommended doses. None of the patients with HFrEF and CKD G5 received quadruple therapy. Among HFmrEF patients, approximately half and two-thirds were receiving RASi and/or BB, respectively, while less than 15% received ARNI, MRA, or SGLT2i. Less than 10% of patients with HFpEF were receiving SGLT2i. CONCLUSIONS: Under real-world conditions, HF in aCKD patients is sub-optimally treated. Increased awareness of current guidelines and pragmatic trials specifically enrolling these patients represent unmet medical needs.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Blockade in Diabetic Nephropathy. Present Evidences.

Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in developed countries and its prevalence has increased dramatically in the past few decades. These patients are at an increased risk for premature death, cardiovascular disease, and other severe illnesses that result in frequent hospitalizations and increased health-care utilization. Although much progress has been made in slowing the progression of diabetic nephropathy, renal dysfunction and the development of end-stage renal disease remain major concerns in diabetes. Dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) results in progressive renal damage. RAAS blockade is the cornerstone of treatment of DKD, with proven efficacy in many arenas. The theoretically-attractive option of combining these medications that target different points in the pathway, potentially offering a more complete RAAS blockade, has also been tested in clinical trials, but long-term outcomes were disappointing. This review examines the "state of play" for RAAS blockade in DKD, dual blockade of various combinations, and a perspective on its benefits and potential risks.

Análisis entre la recirculación medida por termodilución (BTM®) y la presión venosa dinámica inicial como métodos para la detección de estenosis del acceso vascular protésico / Analysis of recirculation measured by thermodilution (BTM®) and initial dynamic venous pressure as methods for the detection of stenosis in prosthetic vascular access

Introducción. Los problemas de acceso vascular suponen la mayor causa de morbilidad y mortalidad en el paciente en hemodiálisis. La estenosis es a su vez la principal causa de disfunción del acceso vascular protésico, y cuando éste problema no se logra detectar a tiempo, puede derivar en trombosis. Existen múltiples procedimientos para la detección de disfunción del acceso vascular desde la exploración física, mediciones de presión y flujo, así como pruebas de imagen no invasivas e invasivas. La Presión Venosa Dinámica inicial, es una herramienta sencilla de seguimiento del acceso vascular. Objetivos. El objetivo del estudio es correlacionar la presión venosa dinámica inicial y la recirculación como métodos de vigilancia del acceso vascular en pacientes en hemodiálisis. Material y métodos. Se evaluaron de forma prospectiva 21 pacientes con prótesis durante 1 año. Se registraron signos clínicos y parámetros de medición objetivos como recirculación por termodilución, presión venosa dinámica inicial con flujo de sangre de 200 ml/min, tiempo de hemostasia, y KT/V por OCM, contrastándose con los hallazgos de las pruebas de imagen. Se realizaron mediciones mensualmente, con un total de 244. Resultados. La prótesis de PTFE representó el 16,6% de los accesos vasculares en nuestra unidad durante el periodo de estudio. La media de edad fue de 63 años con un 57% de mujeres. El tiempo medio de diálisis fue de 225 min con un Kt/V por OCM de 1,44. De los signos clínicos, la mayor incidencia fue presencia de pseudoaneurismas, en un 42,8%. La media de recirculación fue 10,46±2,68% y la presión venosa dinámica inicial 94,51±19,58 mmHg. Se registraron en total 21 eventos: 14 fistulografías+ angioplastia, 4 trombosis con reparación quirúrgica, 2 fistulografías sin necesidad de angioplastia y una trombosis no recuperada. Cuando se compararon las mediciones de recirculación y presión venosa dinámica inicial, con la aparición de eventos, se encontró relación significativa con la presión venosa dinámica inicial (p<0.05), a medida que es más elevada, mayor probabilidad de eventos. No encontramos correlación entre presión venosa dinámica inicial y recirculación. Conclusiones. A la vista de estos resultados podemos concluir que la presión venosa dinámica inicial es un parámetro útil y de fácil medición que se relaciona con la aparición de eventos adversos en las prótesis de PTFE. Sin embargo no encontramos relación entre la presión venosa dinámica inicial y la recirculación del acceso vascular (AU)

Introduction. Vascular access problems represent the highest cause of morbility and mortality in haemodialysis patients. In turn, stenosis is the main cause of dysfunctions of the prosthetic vascular access, and when this problem is not detected in time, it may lead to thrombosis. There are a number of procedures for the detection of vascular access dysfunction, ranging from physical examination, pressure and flow measurements, and non-invasive and invasive imaging tests. Initial Dynamic Venous Pressure is a simple tool for monitoring vascular access. Aims The aim of the study is to correlate initial dynamic venous pressure and recirculation as vascular access monitoring methods in haemodialysis patients. Material and methods A prospective assessment of 21 patients with prostheses was carried out over 1 year. Clinical signs and objective measurement parameters were recorded such as recirculation by thermodilution, initial dynamic venous pressure with a blood flow of 200 ml/min, haemostasis time and KT/V by OCM, which were compared with the findings of the imaging tests. Measurements were taken monthly, with a total of 244. Results PTFE prostheses represented 16.6% of the vascular accesses in our unit during the period of study. The average age was 63 years, and 57% of the patients studied were women. The mean dialysis time was 225 minutes with a Kt/V by OCM of 1.44. Of the clinical signs, the one with the highest incidence was the presence of pseudoaneurysms, in 42.8%. The mean recirculation was 10.46±2.68% and initial dynamic venous pressure 94.51±19.58 mmHg. A total of 21 events were recorded: 14 fistulographies + angioplasty, 4 thromboses with surgical repair, 2 fistulographies that did not require angioplasty and one thrombosis that was not recovered. When the recirculation and initial dynamic venous pressure measurements are compared with the appearance of adverse events, a significant relationship was found with initial dynamic venous pressure (p<0.05): the higher it is, the greater the likelihood of events. We did not find a correlation between initial dynamic venous pressure and recirculation. Conclusions. In light of these results, we can conclude that initial dynamic venous pressure is a useful and easy to measure parameter related to the appearance of adverse events in PTFE prostheses. However, we did not find any relationship between initial dynamic venous pressure and vascular access recirculation (AU)

Embarazo en mujeres en diálisis crónica: revisión / Pregnancy in women on chronic dialysis: a review

La frecuencia de embarazos en mujeres en diálisis es extremadamente baja, aunque el porcentaje de gestaciones con éxito ha aumentado a lo largo de los años, siendo, según distintas series, superior al 70%. Estos embarazos no están exentos de complicaciones tanto para la madre como para el feto, el manejo de las cuales requiere el trabajo conjunto del nefrólogo, el ginecólogo, el enfermero y el nutricionista. A día de hoy no es posible encontrar un tratamiento sistemático nefrológico y ginecológico en este tipo de pacientes. Las principales medidas que se deberían adoptar incluirían: aumento del tiempo de diálisis, mantener bajos niveles de urea prediálisis, evitar hipotensiones e hipertensión materna, así como infecciones urinarias y fluctuaciones electrolíticas. Se requiere, además, una adecuada monitorización fetal (AU)

The frequency of pregnancy in women on dialysis is extremely low, but the percentage of successful pregnancies in this context has increased over the years, with some studies placing the survival rate above 70%. These pregnancies are not exempt from both maternal and foetal complications, and so their management requires the joint efforts of nephrologists, gynaecologists, nurses, and nutritionists. Currently, we have been unable to establish consistent systematic treatment from both nephrological and gynaecological specialists in these patients. The main changes that need to be made are: increased time on dialysis, maintaining low levels of pre-dialysis urea, avoiding: maternal hypertension and hypotension, anaemia, urinary tract infections, and fluctuations in electrolytes. Adequate foetal monitoring is also necessary (AU)

Pregnancy in women on chronic dialysis: a review.

The frequency of pregnancy in women on dialysis is extremely low, but the percentage of successful pregnancies in this context has increased over the years, with some studies placing the survival rate above 70%. These pregnancies are not exempt from both maternal and foetal complications, and so their management requires the joint efforts of nephrologists, gynaecologists, nurses, and nutritionists. Currently, we have been unable to establish consistent systematic treatment from both nephrological and gynaecological specialists in these patients. The main changes that need to be made are: increased time on dialysis, maintaining low levels of pre-dialysis urea, avoiding: maternal hypertension and hypotension, anaemia, urinary tract infections, and fluctuations in electrolytes. Adequate foetal monitoring is also necessary.