Significance of Obstetrical History with Future Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

The maternal cardiovascular system undergoes profound changes to support the increasing demands of fetal growth during pregnancy. An accumulating body of evidence has shown that common pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, low birth weight, and preterm delivery, can be associated with future cardiovascular adverse events in mothers. Factors such as glucose metabolism, hyperlipidemia, inflammatory markers, and large- and small-vessel stiffness/functionality have been linked with these pregnancy conditions. Critically, there are no established guidelines to account for these maternal factors when considering future cardiovascular disease risk, one of the leading causes of female mortality. This article reviews the study of cardiovascular disease and pregnancy, and proposes possible connections that should spur future investigation in an area of medicine that requires significant research.

Renal Function and Outcomes With Use of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation and Inotropes in End-Stage Heart Failure: A Retrospective Single Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and inotrope therapy serve as a bridge to transplant (BTT) or as destination therapy in patients who are not heart transplant candidates. End-stage heart failure patients often have impaired renal function, and renal outcomes after LVAD therapy versus inotrope therapy have not been evaluated. METHODS: In this study, 169 patients with continuous flow LVAD therapy and 20 patients with continuous intravenous inotrope therapy were analyzed. The two groups were evaluated at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after LVAD or inotrope therapy was started. The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), BTT rate, and mortality for 6 months following LVAD or inotrope therapy were studied. Results between the groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square with continuity correction or Fischer's exact at the significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was not statistically different between the two groups, with P = 0.471, 0.429, and 0.847 at baseline, 3 and 6 months, respectively. The incidence of AKI, RRT, and BTT was not statistically different. Mortality was less in the inotrope group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Intravenous inotrope therapy in end-stage heart failure patients is non-inferior for mortality, incidence of AKI, need for RRT, and renal function for 6-month follow-up when compared to LVAD therapy. Further studies are needed to compare the effectiveness of inotropes versus LVAD implantation on renal function and outcomes over a longer time period.

Thrombotic Microangiopathy With Granulomatosis Interstitial Nephritis in an Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) is a rare complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with variable presentations. TA-TMA has often been described as a diagnosis of exclusion but a renal biopsy is rarely pursued to confirm the diagnosis, an essential step for our patient with renally limited TMA. We report a case report from the onconephrology clinic and review the literature associated with TA-TMA as it relates to diagnosis and treatment. A 45-year-old woman with acute myeloid leukemia and stage 3 chronic kidney disease underwent a matched unrelated donor allogenic HSCT. Postoperatively, she developed gastrointestinal graft versus host disease (GvHD) and was treated with tacrolimus, sirolimus, budesonide, and beclomethasone. Following discharge, she developed uncontrolled hypertension and required losartan, amlodipine, carvedilol, clonidine patch, and hydralazine as needed. On day 180 post-transplant, she developed lower extremity edema and acute kidney injury (AKI) with creatinine increasing to 2 mg/dL. On day 480 post-transplant, she developed worsening thrombocytopenia, anemia, new hematuria, left flank pain, and worsening renal function with creatinine peaking to 6 mg/dL. Peripheral smear revealed no schistocytes, lactate dehydrogenase of 265 mg/dL, and urinalysis with 100 mg/dL protein. ADAMTS 13 activity was normal (92%) and no inhibitor was detected. She became anuric and was started on hemodialysis. Renal biopsy revealed glomerular changes consistent with TA-TMA. During HSCT, systemic vascular endothelial injury triggers microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, platelet consumption, injury of glomerular endothelial cells and fibrin occluded renal capillaries. Thus, TA-TMA should be considered in HSCT patients with elevated LDH, proteinuria, hypertension, and AKI. However, a diagnosis is difficult to confirm without a renal biopsy. Treatment involves discontinuing potentially toxic agents such as calcineurin inhibitors and sirolimus, prescribing adequate antimicrobial treatment, and using renal replacement therapy if needed. A renal biopsy early in the course of disease not only confirms the diagnosis, but may limit the extent of disease.

Minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas interbody fusion for L4-5 spondylolisthesis: clinical outcomes.

OBJECT: In this study the authors report on the clinical outcomes, safety, and efficacy of lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas minimally invasive surgery-lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-LIF) at the L4-5 disc space in patients with spondylolisthesis. This approach has become an increasingly popular means of fusion. Its most frequent complication is lumbar plexus injury. Reported complication rates at the L4-5 disc space vary widely in the literature, bringing into question the safety of MIS-LIF for the L4-5 region, especially in patients with spondylolisthesis. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed prospectively acquired multicenter databases of patients with Grade I and II L4-5 spondylolisthesis who had undergone elective MIS-LIF between 2008 and 2011. Clinical follow-up had been scheduled for 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Outcome measures included estimated blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay, integrity of construct, complications, fusion rates, visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: Eighty-four patients with L4-5 MIS-LIF were identified, 31 of whom met the study inclusion criteria: 26 adults with Grade I and 5 adults with Grade II L4-5 spondylolisthesis who had undergone elective MIS-LIF and subsequent posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation without surgical manipulation of the posterior elements (laminectomy, foraminotomy, facetectomy). The study cohort consisted of 9 males (29%) and 22 females (71%) with an average age of 61.5 years. The mean total blood loss was 94 ml (range 20-250 ml). The mean hospital stay and follow-up were 3.5 days and 18.2 months, respectively. The average score on the ODI improved from 50.4 preoperatively to 30.9 at the last follow-up (p < 0.0001). The SF-36 score improved from 38.1 preoperatively to 59.5 at the last follow-up (p < 0.0001). The VAS score improved from 69.9 preoperatively to 38.7 at the last follow-up (p < 0.0001). No motor weakness or permanent deficits were documented in any patient. Correction of deformity did not have any neurological complications. All patients had improvement in anterolisthesis. Residual postoperative listhesis across cases was noted in 4 patients (12.9%). Transient anterior thigh numbness (Sensory Dermal Zone III) was noted in 22.5% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: With its established surgical corridors through the retroperitoneum and psoas muscle, the MIS-LIF combined with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation/reduction is a safe, reproducible, and effective technique for patients with symptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis at the L4-5 vertebral segment.