Direct hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B column versus vasopressin for gram negative septic shock: a matched cohort study of the effect on survival.

BACKGROUND: Vasopressin and direct hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B column (PMX) have emerged recently as treatments for septic shock. This study assessed the impact of these two treatments on the survival of patients with septic shock. METHODS: A retrospective, matched cohort study was performed to compare patients who had septic shock and were treated with PMX or vasopressin. The primary endpoint was the 90-day mortality rate. 30 patients receiving PMX were matched to 30 treated with vasopressin. RESULTS: The 90-day survival rate was significantly higher in the vasopressin group than the PMX group (83% vs. 53%; p = 0.008). In the PMX group, the subgroup with gastrointestinal surgery had a significantly higher survival rate than the subgroup without surgery (76.9% vs. 52.9%; p = 0.01). Cox multivariate analysis showed that vasopressin therapy (versus PMX; HR = 0.27; p < 0.01). The estimated hazard ratio for the SOFA score was 1.44 (p < 0.01), and total pressor dosage an baseline was 1.26 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: We found a significant reduction of the mortality rate in septic shock patients who received vasopressin compared with PMX. In the PMX group, the subgroup with gastrointestinal surgery had a significantly higher survival rate than the subgroup without such surgery.

Renal intravascular large B-cell lymphoma localized only within peritubular capillaries. Report of a case.

We report a 35-year-old Japanese woman with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma diagnosed by percutaneous renal biopsy. The patient was referred to our institution for further examination of fever of unknown origin. She had renal dysfunction with a creatinine clearance of 44.1 mL/min, and daily urinary excretion of 0.22 g of protein and 21.5 mg of beta 2 microglobulin. Computed tomography showed markedly enlarged kidneys bilaterally. Percutaneous renal biopsy showed that an island-like atypical lymphoid cell accumulation was encircled with the peritubular capillary walls in many areas of the tubulo-interstitium, resulting in marked destruction of tubular structure. However, almost all the glomeruli were intact. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma. Shortly after diagnosis, she was treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunomycin, oncovin, and prednisolone, and her renal function and size improved. Renal involvement by lymphoma has been classified into two categories: intraglomerular intravascular lymphoma and tubulointerstitial diffuse invasion type that is distinct from intravascular lymphoma. For the latter cases with renal dysfunction and marked bilateral nephromegaly but without proteinuria, intravascular lymphoma within intra-peritublar capillaries should be considered as a possible diagnosis.