Serum Interleukin-18, Kidney Injury Molecule-1, and the Renal Resistive Index for Predicating Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that rises approximately 24-48 h before a diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is one of the most promising early biomarkers. It participates in the process of both kidney injury and healing, although the precise mechanism of the restoration of tubular integrity after injury still remains unclear. The renal resistive index (RRI) is used for evaluating changes in intrarenal perfusion occurring in renal parenchyma diseases. The study included 80 critically ill patients with sepsis, divided into 40 patients who developed AKI and 40 patients without AKI. All patients were evaluated through their history, clinical examination, laboratory investigations of serum IL-18 and KIM-1, and the RRI. Serum IL 18, serum KIM-1, and the RRI were significantly higher in critically ill patients with sepsis and AKI. Receiver operating characteristic analysis for detecting AKI 1 day after admission showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for serum IL-18 was 86.1%, the AUC for serum KIM-1 was 86%, and the AUC for the RRI was 88%, demonstrating statistical significance for the diagnosis of AKI within the next 24 h. Serum IL-18, KIM-1, and the RRI represent early predictors of AKI in critically ill septic patients.

Evaluation of Serum Visfatin as a Biomarker of Lupus Nephritis in Egyptian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

One of the most significant consequences of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is lupus nephritis (LN). Visfatin, an adipokine that is significantly expressed in visceral fat and is a marker of endothelial dysfunction in chronic kidney disease, has multiple proinflammatory actions. We aimed to evaluate the state of serum visfatin in SLE patients and to detect its possible correlation with the disease's activity and effects on the kidney affection. Fifty patients with active LN, 50 patients with inactive lupus, and 50 healthy people had their serum visfatin levels tested. Chemical and immunological markers of SLE and LN were measured. The SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) was used to measure the disease's activity. Renal biopsies from the LN subgroup were collected and classified using the modified classification of the World Health Organization. The serum visfatin of patients with active LN was significantly greater than that of inactive lupus patients and the healthy controls (20.56 ± 1.07 ng/mL, 16.77 ± 1.02 ng/mL, and 9.96 ± 1.46 ng/mL, P <0.001). SLEDAI and serum visfatin levels were shown to be significantly correlated (P = 0.000057). Serum visfatin levels were likewise significantly correlated with the index of histological activity in the active group (P <0.00001). Serum visfatin was raised in individuals with active LN and was related to the SLEDAI and disease severity scores. Serum visfatin could be utilized as a noninvasive biomarker for evaluating the severity of LN and risk stratification of the risk.

Spectrum of glomerulonephritis in Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A University Hospital experience.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is accompanied by a variety of nephropathies. It is often difficult to distinguish between disease-associated and drug-associated renal diseases. Three hundred and seventy-six RA patients with renal involvement were included in our study; they were subjected to full history and clinical examination, kidney function, 24-h urinary protein, and kidney biopsy. All our patients were on methotrexate, low dose steroids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in addition to the previous medications. About 79.3%, 20.7%, 6.9%, and 5.9% of our patients were on leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, etanercept, and infliximab, respectively. Renal presentation was in the form of nephrotic syndrome (33.5%), persistent subnephrotic proteinuria (12.2%), persistent proteinuria and recurrent hematuria (13.3%), acute nephritis (23.9), recurrent hematuria (7.4%), and creatinine >1.5 mg/dL (10.6%). Renal biopsies were glomerular amyloidosis (28.1%), mesangioproliferative (19.1%), membranous (6.1%), crescent (16.8%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (18.6%), and minimal changes (11.7%). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of membranous nephritis between patients who took leflunomide, and hydroxychloroquine and those did not. Etanercept in our study seems not to be related to any form of renal involvement, while infliximab is related to focal segmental sclerosis and amyloidosis of tubulointerstitial type. Kidney involvement in RA is not a rare complication. Any type of histopathological changes can be present, with amyloidosis on top of the list. Hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide are accused in membranous nephropathy. Infliximab is associated with focal segmental sclerosis and amyloidosis of tubulointerstial type, and etanercept appear to be safe as regards kidney affection.

Impact of correction of anemia in end-stage renal disease patients on cerebral circulation and cognitive functions.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have been associated with accelerated vascular disease of the cerebral circulation due to uremic toxins. Furthermore, anemia increases cerebral oxygen extraction fraction which impairs the cerebral vasodilatory capacity. We evaluated the effect of correction of anemia on cerebral blood flow by measuring the mean blood flow velocity, resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in relation to cognitive functions. We measured the mean blood flow velocity, RI, and PI in MCA of 120 ESRD patients when the hemoglobin (Hb) ranges between 8 and 10 g/dL and after correction of anemia to two Hb ranges between 10-11.5 g/dL and 11.5-12.5 g/dL in the same patients using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound in relation to cognitive functions assessment by Mini-Mental State Examination. We observed that there is a mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment in hemodialysis (HD) patients associated with anemia. With the improvement of anemia, the cognitive functions improved. There was an improvement of blood flow of MCA with improvement of Hb. The improvement was obvious at Stage 3 (Hb 11.5-≤12.5 g/dL) in comparison to Stage 2 (Hb 10-<11.5 g/dL) with P <0.001 at all. The optimal Hb for HD patients ranges from 11.5 to ≤12.5 g/dL which associated with better improvement of cognitive function and cerebral circulation investigated by TCD ultrasound for MCA.

Fibroblast growth factor-23 as a predictor biomarker of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.

Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The lack of early biomarkers for predicting AKI has hampered our ability to initiate preventive and therapeutic measures in an opportune way. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) is elevated in chronic kidney disease, but data on FGF-23 in humans with AKI are limited. Herein, we tested whether FGF-23 levels rise early in the course of AKI following cardiac surgery. We prospectively evaluated eighty adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Patients were divided into two groups (AKI and non-AKI group) on the basis of whether they developed postoperative AKI within 24 h after surgery. Plasma FGF-23 levels were measured before surgery and 24 h after surgery. The primary outcome was AKI diagnosed using the AKI Network criteria. Forty-five patients (56.2.5%) developed AKI after surgery. Plasma FGF-23 increased significantly from a mean of 26.8 ± 2.47 ng/mL at baseline to 341.7 ± 38.1 ng/mL 24 h after cardiopulmonary bypass. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between AKI and the following: percent change in plasma FGF-23, postoperative serum level of creatinine, FGF-23, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that, for percent change in plasma FGF-23 concentrations at 24 h, the area under the curve was 0.9, sensitivity was 100%, and specificity was 97.1%. Plasma FGF-23 percent change is more valid compared with FGF-23 before or after procedure in the prediction of AKI and represents a novel and highly predictive early biomarker for AKI after cardiac surgery.

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Outcomes in Cairo University Hospitals: 6 Years Experience.

Therapeutic plasma exchange is used in treating different immunological and non-immunological diseases. We analyzed the outcome of 308 patients treated by 1783 membrane plasma exchange sessions from January 2011 until January 2017 at Cairo University Hospital. Thrombotic microangiopathies were the commonest indication [73 (23.7%) patients] with response in 63/73 patients (86.3%), followed by systemic vasculitis with pulmonary-renal involvement [40(13%) patients] with recovery in 32/40 patients (80.0%), Guillain-Barré syndrome [39(12.7%) patients] with recovery in 30/39 patients (76.9%), myasthenia gravis [31(10.1%) patients] with response in 26/31 patients (83.9%), and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome [28(9.1%) patients] with recovery in only 6/28 patients (21.4%). Complications included hypotension [276/1783 (15.5%) sessions], hypocalcemia [26/308 (8.5%) patients], and 37/308 (12%) patients died. Sepsis caused mortality in 29/37 (78.4%) of patients. In conclusion, our therapeutic plasma exchange experience shows a favorable outcome for thrombotic microangiopathies, systemic vasculitis, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Sepsis was the leading mortality cause.