The changing landscape in nephrology education in India.

Digital tools have revolutionized education in nephrology in India. All forms of in-person learning are moving online. Social media have taken over the world, with clinicians learning and promoting multidirectional education methods. E-learning is better equipped to keep up with the rapid pace of new knowledge generation and dissemination. The use of digital multimedia tools to enhance rapid learning is backed by science, viz., dual-coding theory. Digital tools such as Twitter, blogs, podcasts, YouTube, and Nephrology Simulator (NephSIM) have had an impact in facilitating nephrology education among medical professionals and the general public. Digital tools, such as NephMadness, have resulted in the gamification of nephrology learning. Social media usage by the nephrology community in India is growing at a rapid pace. Everyday Cases in Nephrology (#ECNeph), a monthly Twitter-based discussion focused on academically challenging clinical cases, has its origins in India. The Women in Nephrology, India (WIN-India) initiative is very active in facilitating digital education in India and has, in a short space of time, created phenomenal momentum. Furthermore, non-governmental organizations in India, such as the Kidney Warriors Foundation and the Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network (MOHAN) Foundation, have successfully tapped into social media to educate and aid kidney disease patients. All technologies come with some drawbacks. Despite their acceptance and validation, digital tools have their own pitfalls. These relate to (1) accessibility and connectivity, (2) accuracy of the scientific information, (3) social media noise, and (4) patient privacy. All pitfalls of digital education can be addressed by avoiding excessive social media overload and adopting an appropriate peer-review process. It is advisable to seek written consent from patients whenever patient data are posted online, to avoid privacy issues.

Hemodialysis at Doorstep - "Hub-and-Spoke" Model of Dialysis in a Developing Country.

End-stage kidney disease has become a huge burden in our country. There has been an increase in dialysis centers across the country. State-funded dialysis has been initiated in many states of India. However, most of the centers are concentrated in the cities. Patients living in the peripheral districts have to travel long distance to reach the dialysis centers. In addition, there is a dearth of nephrology services in the peripheral areas. To address this problem, the hub-and- spoke model of dialysis has been initiated in Telangana state in South India, which has brought dialysis at the doorstep for people residing in remote districts. This study highlights the important features of this model.

Patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants: is early transcatheter closure a paradigm shift?

The optimal management approach of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants remains uncertain owing the lack of evidence for long-term benefits and the limited analyses of the complications of medical and surgical interventions to date. In recent years, devices suitable to plug the PDA of premature infants (including extremely low birthweight, <1000 g) have become available and several trials have demonstrated successful and safe transcatheter PDA closure (TCPC) in this population. Whether TCPC represents a paradigm shift in PDA management that will result in improved short- and long-term outcomes, less bronchopulmonary dysplasia, improved neurodevelopment, or better long term renal function remains to be seen. Careful rigorous study of the potential benefits of TCPC in this highly vulnerable population in the context of well-designed adequately powered trials is needed prior to widespread adoption of this approach.

Mycophenolate versus Cyclophosphamide for Lupus Nephritis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is common in our country, and renal involvement is an important cause of chronic kidney disease. This study was aimed at comparing the three regimens, i.e., cyclophosphamide-based regimes (low dose and high dose) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based regime and determining if cyclophosphamide (CPM)-based regime can be an effective, safe, and cheap alternative to MMF-based regime in a resource-limited setting. Out of 144 patients, females constituted 89%. Nephrotic nephritic presentation was the most common. Rapidly progressive renal failure was seen in in 42 (29.1%) patients. Class IV was the most common 66 (45.8%) histological class. Crescentic glomerulonephritis was seen in 18 (12.5%). Overall remission (complete + partial) at 6 months was seen in 71.4% in National Institute of Health regime, 65% in European lupus nephritis trial protocol and 72.9% in MMF regime. End-stage renal disease and switching to other therapies were comparable among the three groups. Although infections were more with CPM, the difference was not statistically significant. CPM-based therapies were associated with a significantly lower cost.

An unusual case of nephrotic syndrome.

Nephrotic syndrome can be rarely due to inherited disorders of enzymes. One such variety is lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency. It leads to accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in the eye and other organs. We report a case of nephrotic syndrome with cloudy cornea and hypocholesterolemia with foam cells and lipid deposits on renal biopsy. Awareness about this rare disease may help in the early institution of specific measures to prevent progression to end-stage renal disease.

Splenorenal graft: A safe and effective treatment for renovascular hypertension.

Renovascular hypertension can be managed medically in most cases. However, in cases of failed medical therapy revascularization is indicated. Splenorenal grafting is one such method for revascularization. We present a report of splenorenal grafting for the management of resistant hypertension.

Renal histology in diabetic nephropathy: A novel perspective.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease all over the world. India has a high incidence and prevalence of diabetes and >30% have nephropathy. Recently, a histological classification has been proposed. This study analyzed the renal histology in 114 diabetic patients with renal dysfunction. Nearly 75% of patients had DN. Fifty five (63.95%) were males. Mean duration of diabetes was 7.04 ± 4.9 years. Mean serum creatinine in study group was 5.2 ± 2.9 mg/dl, with mean estimated glomerular filtration rate of 23.43 ± 21.48 ml/min/1.732 m(2). Forty eight patients (55.81%) had diabetic retinopathy (DR); prevalence of DR was more in patients who had diabetes for > 10 years than patients who had diabetes for <6 years (P = 0.022). The most common histological class was Class IV observed in 37 (43.02. %) cases, Class III DN in 24 (27.90%) cases, Class IIa and Class IIb in 11 (12.79%) cases each and Class I DN in 3 (3.48%) cases. Higher histological class was associated with higher proteinuria, lower glomerular filtration rate (P < 0.001) and was more likely to be associated with retinopathy (P = 0.012) and hypertension (P = 0.0003) but did not correlate with duration of diabetes (P = 0.85). There was a poor correlation between retinopathy and DN. Biopsy helps to stage the renal lesions in diabetics with renal dysfunction.

Maternal drugs and neonatal renal failure.

Maternal use of drugs during pregnancy may cause irreversible renal failure in the newborn. This report highlights the adverse effect of telmisartan during the last trimester of pregnancy. The neonate presented with oliguric renal failure and the renal histology showed proximal tubular dysgenesis.

Renal disease in human immunodeficiency virus - Not just HIV-associated nephropathy.

The aim of the study was to determine the various histopathological lesions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with renal dysfunction and to establish clinicopathological correlation. Over a period of two years from January 2008 to March 2010, 27 HIV positive patients with renal dysfunction were subjected to renal biopsy. Of the 27 patients, 23 were males and four were females (85.2% males, 14.8% females). Mean age was 38.2 ± 10.36 (range 20 - 60) years. The probable mode of acquisition of HIV infection was sexual in 22 patients (81.5%). Thirteen patients (48%) had nephrotic proteinuria. The CD4 count ranged from 77 to 633/microliter. The kidneys were of normal size in 19 (70.4%) and bulky in eight (29.6%) patients. Thirteen patients required renal replacement therapy. Eleven patients had acute tubule-interstitial lesions (40.7%) while 15 (55.5%) had glomerular lesions. The various glomerular lesions were, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in five, amyloidosis in three, diffuse proliferative GN in two, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (GN), membranous GN, minimal change disease, diabetic nephropathy, crescentic GN, and thrombotic microangiopathy were seen in one each. None of the clinical or laboratory variables, except hypertension, was found to predict glomerular versus non-glomerular lesions on biopsy. In conclusion we show that a variety of glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions can be seen on renal histology. Hence, renal biopsy is indicated in renal dysfunction associated with HIV for making proper diagnosis and therapy.