Acute cortical necrosis in pregnancy still an important cause for end-stage renal disease in developing countries.

Renal cortical necrosis (RCN) is a serious complication of acute kidney injury (AKI) and pregnancy is a clinical state closely associated with it with poor renal outcomes. The incidence is much higher in obstetrical AKI compared to other causes of RCN. Despite better medical care facilities available, this continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. This is a retrospective analysis among all pregnant females presenting with AKI from January 1999 to December 2014 at a tertiary care center in the northern part of India. We looked for the incidence of obstetrical-related RCN in our renal biopsies performed in the last 15 years and to evaluate precipitating factors responsible for RCN. RCN constituted 8.3% of pregnancy-related AKI cases in our institution. The overall incidence has been declining which was 9.09% from 1999 to 2008 to 7.8% from 2009 to 2014. The patient's median age was 29.3 ± 5.2 years. The average time to presentation from the day of delivery was 8.7 ±2.1 days. The mortality was observed in 11.7% of them with sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction present in all of them. The most common etiology for RCN was found to be septic abortion and puerperal sepsis accounting for - 15.3% each. Postpartum hemorrhage was a cause in 9.09% of patients. The most important cause of RCN was postpartum thrombotic microangiopathy which was observed in 48.7% of patients. Kidney biopsy was helpful in diagnosis in 31 patients while computed tomography scan abdomen alone helped in diagnosis in five patients. Patchy cortical necrosis in histology was seen in 35.4% of patients and morbidity in terms of prolonged hospitalization was seen in 22.7% while dialysis dependency in 61.5% of the study population. In conclusion, strategies need to be implemented in reducing the preventable causes for RCN which is not only catastrophic in terms of renal outcomes but also for social and psychological perspectives as well.

Patterns of renal involvement in a cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Egypt.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Renal complications are frequent extraintestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed in our study to describe the spectrum of renal affection in our IBD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of renal biopsies done for IBD patients who developed renal diseases, at Cairo University Hospital, from June 2005 to Jan. 2016. Results : Among 896 IBD patients, 218 patients (24.3%) developed renal affection. The onset of renal disease mandated renal biopsy at 5.6 ± 7.4 years after IBD diagnosis. Nephrotic range proteinuria was the most common indication for a renal biopsy [81 (37.15%) patients]. Amyloidosis was the most common renal pathological diagnosis [56 patients (25.7%)] followed by immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy [35 patients (16.1%)], focal segmental glome- rulosclerosis (FSGS) [32patients (14.7%)], crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) [32 patients (14.7%)], membranous nephropathy (MN) [18 patients (8.25%)], minimal change disease [17 patients (7.7%)], chronic interstitial nephritis (CIN) [10 patients (4.6%)], acute tubular necrosis (ATN) [8 patients (3.7%)], thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) [6 patients (2.75%)], and acute interstitial nephritis (AIN)[4 patients (1.8%)]. Variable renal histopathology diagnoses did not correlate with age, duration of IBD diagnosis, or drugs used for IBD treatment. Crescentic GN was significantly correlating with ASCA, ANCA-p, and ANCA-c in serum. CONCLUSION: Amyloidosis is a common renal pathological diagnosis in our patients, and is followed by IgA nephropathy, and FSGS.

The Impact of Kidney Disease on Acute Tubular Necrosis and Surgical Site Infection After Lumbar Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Kidney disease in spine surgery can be associated with serious complications. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate of acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and surgical site infection (SSI) after lumbar fusion in patients with kidney disease. METHODS: A review of the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2011 was performed to identify patients who underwent lumbar fusion for degenerative spine disease or disk herniation. Four groups were established: no kidney disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and posttransplant. A multivariate analysis was performed to control for age, sex, and comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 268,158 patients met the criteria; 263,757 with no kidney disease (98.4%), 3576 with CKD (1.3%), 586 with ESRD (0.2%), and 239 posttransplant (0.1%). Rates of ATN were 0.1%, 2.9%, 3.6%, and 0.0% for the 4 groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Rates of SSI were 0.3%, 0.4%, 1.0%, and 0.0%, respectively (P = 0.002). After controlling for patient age, sex, and medical comorbidities, patients with CKD (odds ratio [OR], 5.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.14-7.09; P < 0.001) and ESRD (OR, 6.32; 95% CI, 3.89-10.33; P < 0.001) were significantly more likely to develop ATN compared with patients without kidney disease. However, CKD (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.20-3.12; P = 0.754) or ESRD (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 0.38-10.00; P = 0.415) did not increase the risk for SSI on multivariate analysis. DISCUSSION: The rate of ATN significantly increases based on severity of kidney disease. However, patients with transplants have ATN and SSI rates comparable with patients without kidney disease.

Postpartum acute kidney injury: a review of 99 cases.

Postpartum acute kidney injury (PPAKI) constitutes an important cause of obstetric AKI. It is associated with high maternal and fetal mortality in developing nations. The aim of this study is to survey the etiology and outcomes of PPAKI in a tertiary care Indian hospital. Ninety-nine patients, without prior comorbidities, treated for PPAKI, between 2005-2014 at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, were included for analysis in this retrospective, observational study. AKI was analyzed in terms of maximal stage of renal injury attained as per RIFLE criteria. Outcomes included requirement for renal replacement therapy (RRT), maternal and fetal outcomes. PPAKI constituted 60% of all obstetric AKI cases. Median maternal age was 23 years and 52% of patients were primigravidas. Mean serum creatinine was 4.1 mg/dL. Failure (33%) and injury (31%) were the major categories as per RIFLE criteria. Thirty-nine percent of cases required RRT. Sepsis, particularly puerperal sepsis, was the leading causes of PPAKI (75% of cases) and maternal mortality (94% of deaths). Maternal and fetal mortality were 19% and 22% respectively. The incidence of cortical necrosis was 10.3%. Three patients required long-term RRT. In conclusion, consistent with other Indian literature, we report a high incidence of PPAKI. We found incremental mortality on moving from "Risk" to "Failure" category of RIFLE. PPAKI was associated with high maternal and fetal mortality with sepsis being the leading cause. Our study highlights the need for provision of better quality of maternal care and fetal monitoring to decrease mortality associated with PPAKI in developing countries.

Acute kidney injury in pregnancy--a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication in pregnancy, resulting in significant maternal morbidity/mortality and fetal loss. Although the incidence of pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PRAKI) has decreased in developed countries, it is still common in developing nations. METHODS: A prospective observational study was done between January 2010 and December 2014 to report the incidence, clinical spectrum, maternal and fetal outcome of AKI in pregnancy. RESULTS: Total number of patients: 130; mean age: 25.4 ± 4.73 years. The incidence of AKI in pregnancy was 7.8%. Most of the AKI was noted in postpartum period (68%). Etiology of AKI was sepsis (39%), pre-eclampsia (21%), placental abruption (10%), acute diarrheal disease complicating pregnancy (10%), thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) (9%), postpartum hemorrhage (2%) and glomerular diseases (9%). Renal biopsy (n = 46) done in these patients showed renal cortical necrosis (16), TMA (11), acute tubular injury (9), acute tubulointerstitial disease (1) and glomerular disease (9). Live births occurred in 42% of patients with vaginal delivery in 34% cases. Thirty-four patients were managed conservatively, while 96 required dialysis. Complete recovery occurred in 56% and about 36% had persistent renal failure at 3 months. Mortality rate observed was 8%. In univariate analysis, low mean platelet count, higher peak serum creatinine, dialysis dependency at presentation and histopathologically presence of cortical necrosis and TMA predicted the progression to chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSION: AKI in pregnancy was common in postpartum period and sepsis being the commonest cause.

Early complications related to the transplanted kidney after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPKTx) is the most often performed multiorgan transplantation. The main source of complication is transplanted pancreas; as a result, early complications related to kidney transplant are rarely assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence, types, and severity of postoperative complications due to kidney graft among the simultaneous pancreas and kidney recipients. METHODS: Complications related to transplanted kidney among 112 SPKTx recipients were analyzed. The indication for SPKTx was end-stage diabetic nephropathy due to long-lasting diabetes type 1. The cumulative survival rates for kidney graft function and cumulative freedom from complication on days 60 and 90 after transplantation were assessed. Severity of complications was classified according to the modified Dindo-Clavien scale. RESULTS: The 12-month cumulative survival rate for kidney graft was 0.91. Cumulative freedom from complication on the 60th day after transplantation was 0.84. The rates for II, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, and IVB severity grades were: 34.9%, 4.3%, 26.1%, 26.1%, and 8.6%, respectively. Acute tubular necrosis and rejection were the most frequent (43.4%) cause of complication. The most frequent reasons for graft nephrectomy were infections (2/7; 28.6%) and vascular thrombosis due to atherosclerosis of recipient iliac arteries (2/7; 28.6%). The most severe (IVB) complications were caused by fungal infection. CONCLUSION: Rate and severity of complications due to renal graft after SPKTx was low; however, to prevent the most serious ones reduction of fungal infection was necessary.

[Acute kidney injury in children].

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical condition considered to be the consequence of a sudden decrease (> 25%) or discontinuation of renal function. The term AKI is used instead of the previous term acute renal failure, because it has been demonstrated that even minor renal lesions may cause far-reaching consequences on human health. Contemporary classifications of AKI (RIFLE and AKIN) are based on the change of serum creatinine and urinary output. In the developed countries, AKI is most often caused by renal ischemia, nephrotoxins and sepsis, rather than a (primary) diffuse renal disease, such as glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, renovascular disorder and thrombotic microangiopathy. The main risk factors for hospital AKI are mechanical ventilation, use of vasoactive drugs, stem cell transplantation and diuretic-resistant hypervolemia. Prerenal and parenchymal AKI (previously known as acute tubular necrosis) jointly account for 2/3 of all AKI causes. Diuresis and serum creatinine concentration are not early diagnostic markers of AKI. Potential early biomarkers of AKI are neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), cystatin C, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), interleukins 6, 8 and 18, and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP). Early detection of kidney impairment, before the increase of serum creatinine, is important for timely initiated therapy and recovery. The goal of AKI treatment is to normalize the fluid and electrolyte status, as well as the correction of acidosis and blood pressure. Since a severe fluid overload resistant to diuretics and inotropic agents is associated with a poor outcome, the initiation of dialysis should not be delayed. The mortality rate of AKI is highest in critically ill children with multiple organ failure and hemodynamically unstable patients.

Acute renal failure in children in a tertiary care center.

In this retrospective study, records of all patients aged one month to 12 years who presented with acute renal failure (ARF) between May 2005 and August 2010 were retrieved. Clinical details, biochemistry, need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), cause of ARF and outcome at discharge were recorded. During this period, 230 children presented with ARF; their median age at presentation was 30 months (range: five-144 months); 120 (52.2%) were males. The causes of ARF were acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in 121 (52.6%), glomerular disorders in 5.7%, structural anomalies of the urinary tract in 9.6% and hemolytic uremic syndrome in 27 (11.7%). The mean duration of hospital stay was 17.8 ± 7.6 days. RRT was required for 54 patients (23.6%); peritoneal dialysis in 49 and hemodialysis in five patients. Complete recovery was noted in 99 study patients (43.2%) and sequelae remained in 84 patients (36.7%). Forty-six patients (20.1%) with ARF died. ATN secondary to septicemia was the most common cause of ARF in our study.

Correlation between Doppler parameters and renal cortical fibrosis in lupus nephritis: a preliminary observation.

To assess the relationship between renal Doppler parameters and renal cortical fibrosis in lupus nephritis (LN), we retrospectively reviewed 24 patients with LN underwent both renal color Doppler sonography and renal biopsy. The angle-corrected Doppler parameters, including peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) at the main and interlobar renal arteries were measured. The Doppler parameters and PSV and EDV ratios of the interlobar artery to main renal artery were compared with histopathologic analysis of the kidney biopsy specimen. On the basis of renal cortical fibrosis, the 24 cases of LN were divided into two groups: mild (6%-25%) renal cortex fibrosis (n = 13) and moderate (26%-50%) renal cortex fibrosis (n = 11). An independent-samples two tailed t test was used to statistically analyze the differences in PSV, EDV and RI between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic was analyzed for assessing the accuracy of interlobar artery PSV and EDV in predicting moderate renal cortical fibrosis. In our result, both PSV and EDV in moderate renal cortex fibrosis were lower than that in mild renal cortex fibrosis. There were statistically significant differences in PSV and EDV at the interlobar artery, EDV and RI at the main renal artery, and PSV and EDV ratios of the interlobar artery to main renal artery between the two groups (all p < 0.05). The area under receiver operating characteristic curves of PSV and EDV for predicting >26% renal cortical fibrosis was 0.96 and 0.90, respectively. The optimal cutoff values for differentiating >26% renal cortical fibrosis from those <25% were PSV 30 cm/s (sensitivity = 0.92; specificity = 1) and EDV 13 cm/s (sensitivity = 0.77; specificity = 1). Therefore, the values of PSV and EDV at the interlobar artery can potentially be used as hemodynamic indicators of renal cortical fibrosis, which may non-invasively assist in monitoring the progression of renal cortical fibrosis in LN, especially in patients with contraindications to renal biopsy.

[Acute tubular necrosis in kidney transplantation]. / La nécrose tubulaire aiguë en transplantation rénale.

BACKGROUND: The acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is common after kidney transplantation. Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is multifactorial and represents one of the main causes of the delayed graft function. Its impact on graft and patients survival is documented. AIMS: To study the prevalence of the ATN in kidney transplanted patients, the acute rejection rate and their impact on the graft and the patient survival. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the frequency of ATN, its causes and its impact on patient and graft survival in 255 kidney transplanted patients between 1986-2006. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients had ATN (15.29%). They are 25 men and 14 women with mean age of 30.1 ± 12.6 years (8-61) followed for an average of 98 ± 61.76 months. The majority was treated by hemodialysis (79.48%) and half of them were transplanted from kidney of deceased donor. All patients received anti lymphocyte serum and the majority anticalcineurins (69.23%). The outcome was favorable in 26 patients (66.66%) with recovery of diuresis and normalization of renal function after 6 weeks on average. An acute rejection was diagnosed in 21 patients (53.48%). The mean creatinine at 1, 5 and 10 years was 135.3, 159.9 and 121.4 µmol / l. Eight patients had creatinine ² 130 µmol / l at 10 years. Ten patients died from infectious and cardiovascular causes. By comparing the 2 groups ATN + and ATN - we found a statistically significant correlation between ATN and cold ischemia (10 ± 10.9 vs 1.2 ± 4.7 hours, p <0.0001) and the interval between the start of dialysis and transplantation (42.18 ± 38.44 vs. 31.1 ± 25.2 months, p= 0.02). No statistical correlation was found between the ATN and gender, age of recipient and donor, warm ischemia, acute rejection, chronic rejection and graft and patient survival at 1, 5 and 10 years. CONCLUSION: The ATN is more common among transplanted patients from deceased donors. It had good evolution in the majority of cases and it's correlated to cold ischemia and duration of dialysis. Finally, it has no impact on patients and graft survival.

Obstetrical associated renal, cortical necrosis: uncommon but not rare!

BACKGROUND: Renal cortical necrosis (RCN) carries high morbidity and mortality in South East Asia. The purpose of this study was to look specifically at the incidence of obstetrical related RCN in renal biopsies and to evaluate its precipitating factors. In addition, prognosis, impact of aetiology and outcomes on discharge were also considered. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Department of Nephrology, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan. Renal biopsies of 1,670 patients were analysed during the study period of 1998 to 2008. All the patients with obstetrical related RCN were included. Patient records, demographic data, urine output on admission and preceding history of ante-partum haemorrhage (APH), post-partum haemorrhage (PPH), septicaemia, operative interventions and retained product of conception (ROPC) was noted and need for dialysis was considered. RESULTS: Out of 1670 kidney biopsies analysed, 48 turned out to be RCN. Among them 39 patients (81.3%) had diffuse cortical necrosis, 6 patients (12.5%) had patchy cortical necrosis with ATN while 3 patients (6.3%) had predominant ATN with partial patchy cortical necrosis. Out of 48 patients, 25 (52.1%) were oliguric, 18 (37.5%) were anuric while 5 (10.4%) had urine output > 800 ml 24 hr. Operative interventions were found in 29 patients while 19 patients had normal vaginal delivery (NVD). 16 (55.2%) patients with operative intervention had PPH. Thus the association proved to be significant (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Overall incidence of RCN was 2.9%. Oliguria/anuria on admission and dialysis dependency are associated with RCN. PPH and history of operative intervention have significant association and are contributing factors to development of RCN.

Effect of type 2 diabetes on mortality risk associated with end-stage kidney disease.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and patients with diabetes mellitus experience higher mortality rates than the general population. Whether ESKD imparts the same excess in mortality risk for those with diabetes as it does for those without diabetes is unknown. METHODS: Included in the study were all white patients aged > or =25 years with incident ESKD and type 2 diabetes (n = 4,141) or with incident ESKD but without diabetes (n = 13,289) in Australia from 1991 to 2005, and all the individuals aged > or =25 years without ESKD and with type 2 diabetes (n = 909) or without ESKD without diabetes (n = 10,302) enrolled in the AusDiab Study--a nationwide Australian representative cohort--from 1999 to 2005. Excess mortality was analysed in patients with ESKD by diabetes status, using age-, sex- and diabetes-status-specific standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) in the first 8 years after first renal replacement therapy among ANZDATA patients relative to AusDiab participants. RESULTS: The SMRs in patients with ESKD were, in non-diabetic patients and in those with type 2 diabetes, respectively: 14.2 (95% CI 13.9-14.6) and 10.8 (95% CI 10.4-11.2) (p < 0.01); in people aged <60 years, 28.7 (95% CI 27.2-30.4) and 18.6 (95% CI 17.1-20.4) (p < 0.01); in people aged > or =60 years, 12.5 (95% CI 12.1-12.9) vs 9.7 (95% CI 9.3-10.1) (p < 0.01); in men, 11.0 (95% CI 10.7-11.4) vs 8.9 (95% CI 8.4-9.3) (p < 0.01); and in women, 23.4 (95% CI 22.5-24.3) vs 16.2 (95% CI 15.2-17.3) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: ESKD was associated with a greater relative increase in mortality in the non-diabetic study populations than in the type 2 diabetes population. Excess mortality was greater among younger people and women.

Acute kidney injury in HIV-infected patients.

Acute kidney injury is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Before the introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy, acute kidney injury in HIV-positive patients was most commonly the result of volume depletion, septicemia, or nephrotoxic medications. Acute kidney injury remains a significant problem in the antiretroviral era, and still commonly is attributed to infection or nephrotoxic medications. Less common causes such as direct infectious insults, immune restoration inflammatory syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, and obstruction should be considered when the underlying process is not obvious. In addition to advanced HIV disease, several other patient characteristics have emerged as potential risk factors for acute kidney injury in the antiretroviral era, including older age, diabetes, pre-existing chronic kidney disease, and hepatitis co-infection or liver disease.

Renal cortical deterioration in children with spinal dysraphism: analysis of risk factors.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Because hydronephrosis and reflux are reversible, we believe cortical loss represents true renal deterioration in children with spinal dysraphism. Our goal was to better define risk factors for cortical loss. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, we reviewed the medical records of 272 children with spinal dysraphism. The following factors were evaluated: age, sex, renal and bladder imaging, urodynamic parameters, medications, catheterization program, continence, infections, and surgical history. Renal cortical loss was defined by scarring or a differential function greater than 15% using a nuclear scan. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to test the associations of specific variables with cortical loss. RESULTS: Renal cortical loss was found in 41% of children with high-grade reflux vs. 2% of children without reflux. Univariate analysis showed only high-grade reflux and female sex to be independent risk factors. Controlling for age and sex, reflux and initiation of catheterization after 1 year of age are significant risk factors. High bladder pressure and hydronephrosis in the absence of reflux were not associated with cortical loss. Multivariate analysis showed that girls with reflux have a 55-fold increased risk of cortical loss. CONCLUSION: By limiting the definition of renal deterioration to cortical loss, we identified relevant risk factors: reflux, female sex, and delayed initiation of clean intermittent catheterization. We have also discounted other suspected risk factors: hydronephrosis and elevated bladder pressure. Rather than continuing our focus on hydronephrosis and urodynamics, we believe more research and management debate should be afforded to females with reflux.

Decreasing incidence of renal cortical necrosis in patients with acute renal failure in developing countries: a single-centre experience of 22 years from Eastern India.

BACKGROUND: Renal cortical necrosis (RCN) accounts for 2% of all cases of acute renal failure (ARF) in adults and 15-20% of ARF during the third trimester of pregnancy in developed nations. However, RCN incidence is higher in developing countries ranging from 6-7% of all cases of acute renal failure. The present study describes changing trends in the clinical spectrum of RCN in patients with ARF in Eastern India. METHODS: Patients with ARF suspected to have RCN on clinical grounds underwent percutaneous renal biopsy. Patients showing cortical necrosis on histology were included in the present study. Diffuse and patchy cortical necrosis was classified based on standard histological criteria. The patients with cortical necrosis were studied over a period of 22 years; from July 1984 to December 2005. The results of our observation were compared with respect to etiology, incidence, prognosis and outcome of renal cortical necrosis in two study periods; namely, 1984-1994 and 1995-2005. RESULTS: The incidence of RCN was 3.12% of all cases of ARF of diverse etiology. RCN was observed in 57 patients; obstetric 32 (56.2%); non-obstetric 25 (43.8%). Diffuse cortical necrosis was the dominant lesion in 41 (71.9%) patients and the remaining 16 (28%) patients had patchy cortical necrosis. The overall incidence of RCN in obstetric ARF was 15.2%; the incidence being higher (11.9%) in the post-abortal group in comparison to 3.3% in late pregnancy. RCN had occurred complicating abruptio placentae, puerperal sepsis and postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) in late pregnancy, while septic abortion was the sole cause of RCN in early pregnancy. Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) was the major (31.5%) cause of RCN in the non-obstetric group and miscellaneous factors were responsible in seven (12.3%) patients. Partial recovery of renal function was observed in 11 (19.2%), and 16 (28%) patients had progressed to ESRD. The incidence of RCN decreased from 6.7% in 1984-1994 to 1.6% in 1995-2005 of total ARF cases. RCN following obstetrical complication decreased significantly; 4.7% in the 1990s to 0.5% of the total ARF cases, in the 2000s. The mortality decreased to 19% in 1995-2005 from the initial high mortality of 72% in 1984-1994. The renal prognosis improved as a result of the decreased mortality of patients. CONCLUSION: We observed a decreasing trend in the incidence of RCN in patients with ARF in recent years, which is associated with increased patient survival and better renal prognosis. This improvement was mainly due to declining incidence and severity of RCN in obstetrical ARF.

Incidence of renal infarctions after transrenal stent placement in an animal model.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and appearance of renal infarctions after transrenal stent placement in an animal model. METHODS: An aortic stent was placed via a femoral approach in 20 female Merino sheep. Ten animals had intentional coverage of one renal ostium with the bare struts, 1 sheep had both renal artery ostia covered, and the other 9 sheep had no stent impingement on the renal orifices. Animals were sacrificed after 3 to 12 months (mean 6) for gross pathological and histological evaluation. Infarction locations and patterns were evaluated and correlated to stent placement. RESULTS: Of the 40 renal arteries, coverage was proven at autopsy in 12 cases; the remaining 28 arteries were free of any stent overlay. Overall, 14 (35%) renal infarctions were detected; 7 were found in the 12 arteries with a transrenal stent (58.3% incidence in covered renal arteries). By comparison, the other 7 infarctions were found in the 28 unaffected arteries (25% incidence in noncovered renal arteries; p = 0.04). All infarctions appeared to be well-defined punctate lesions. CONCLUSIONS: A transrenal stent position in the abdominal aorta is related to increased renal infarctions in an animal model.

Management and outcome of living kidney grafts with multiple arteries.

PURPOSE: Kidney allografts with multiple renal arteries (MRAs) have been used with increasing frequency since the advent of laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy. To determine if MRA grafts affect the short- and long-term outcomes of grafts and patients, we analyzed 340 grafts procured by open nephrectomy. METHODS: We divided the graft recipients into five groups according to the methods used for vascular reconstruction. We compared patient and graft survival, serum creatinine levels, total (rewarm) ischemic times (TIT), incidence of acute tubular necrosis (ATN), need for antihypertensive drugs, incidence of acute rejection episodes, and vascular and urologic complications, between the MRA group and a control group of patients with single-artery renal grafts. RESULTS: In patients who underwent multiple anastomoses in situ, prolonged TIT resulted in an increased incidence of ATN, but there was no significant difference between the MRA groups and the control group (P = 0.45). The incidence of vascular complications was higher in the MRA groups (P < 0.01), but there were no significant differences in the other variables among the groups. CONCLUSION: Multiple renal artery grafts procured by open nephrectomy can be transplanted as successfully as those with single arteries, by using meticulous suturing techniques.

Acute renal failure due to intrinsic renal diseases: review of 1122 cases.

In this study we have analyzed incidence, causes and clinical course of ARF due to primary intrarenal disease other than acute tubular necrosis. Thousand hundred and twenty two cases of ARF of diverse etiology were studied over a period of 16 years; July 1984 to Dec, 1999. Surgical ARF 231 (20.6%) were not included in the present study. Intrinsic renal diseases were responsible for ARF in 891 (79.4%) of cases. The most common intrinsic renal diseases 705 (79.4%) causing ARF were ischemic/toxic acute tubular necrosis, but not included in this study. Acute renal failure was related to acute glomerulonephritis (9.3%), acute interstitial nephritis (7%), and renal cortical necrosis in (4.6%) of cases. Therefore intrinsic renal diseases other than ATN were the causative factor for acute renal failure in 186 (20.8%) patients in our study. Crescentic (51.8%) and endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis (34.9%), were the main glomerular diseases responsible for ARF and 75.9% of GN was related to infectious etiology. Fifty three percent of acute interstitial nephritis was drug induced and in 25 (40%) patients it was related to an infectious etiology. Renal cortical necrosis due to HUS was observed in 16 (39%) children and majority (76.47%) of the cases had a diarrhoeal prodrome. Obstetrical complications were the main causes (61%) of cortical necrosis in adults with acute renal failure. Thus, intrinsic renal diseases other than ATN were responsible for ARF in 186 (20.8%) cases. Post-infectious glomerulonephritis, acute interstitial nephritis and renal cortical necrosis (complicating HUS in children and obstetrical complications in adult) are the main causes of acute renal failure in our study. Both acute GN and interstitial nephritis had excellent prognosis, however renal cortical necrosis was associated with a very high mortality.

CT scan as an important diagnostic tool in the initial phase of diffuse bilateral renal cortical necrosis.

The serious clinical circumstances and coagulopathy generally accompanied by diffuse bilateral renal cortical necrosis (BRCN), especially during the early period, do not allow renal biopsy being well known as a gold standard diagnostic method for BRCN. Therefore, other noninvasive diagnostic modalities in the initial phase of BRCN have been tried, and, among them, contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CT) was found to provide very characteristic representative findings, i.e., low attenuation of cortex sparing thin rim of subcapsular cortex and medulla, correlating well with histological findings of renal biopsy performed in the late somewhat stable clinical status or at autopsy. These specific CT findings were reported consistently with or without renal biopsy in several articles recently. Herein, we present a 38-year-old woman of massive automobile accident victim, developed protracted total anuria as well as shock with disseminated intrasvascular coagulation (DIC), and diagnosed as BRCN by the specific CT findings without renal biopsy in the second day of admission. Simultaneously, all the scattered cases of BRCN diagnosed by CT are reviewed and contrast to the findings of other diagnostic procedures performed for the same cases. The importance of contrast-enhanced CT as noninvasive diagnostic procedure during the initial phase of BRCN is stressed.

Bilateral renal cortical necrosis with the changes in clinical features over the past 15 years (1980-1995).

A rare case of bilateral renal cortical necrosis (BRCN) diagnosed only by the characteristic and specific findings of a contrast-enhanced CT scan during the acute initial phase of the disease is presented in this paper. Furthermore, twenty-eight patients of BRCN in the world literatures in English after 1980 were analyzed to investigate the changes in its clinical features over the past 15 years in comparison with the reported data before 1980 from two large centers in France (F) and India (I). Obstetric causes decreased from 68% (F) and 71% (I) before 1980 to 28% after 1980, whereas nonobstetric causes increased from 32% (F) and 29% (I) to 72% after 1980. Among the nonobstetric causes of BRCN, the leading causes were sepsis in 4 out of 12 patients (F) and snake bite in 6 out of 14 patients (I) before 1980, but, in contrast, drugs in 4 out of 21 patients after 1980. As a definite diagnostic procedure for BRCN, 95 to 100% before 1980 but 86% after 1980 performed renal biopsy, of which renal biopsy while living was done in only 42% (F) and 16% (I) before 1980 and 67% after 1980. None showed renal calcification in abdominal X-ray, and only 25% (3/12) had nonspecific echo findings in renal ultrasonography, whereas the high sensitivity for BRCN was noted in renal arteriography in 100% (6/6) and contrast-enhanced CT scan in 88% (7/8). The mortality of BRCN decreased from 55% (F) and 86% (I) before 1980 to 36% after 1980. This review of BRCN, in conclusion, revealed the distinctive changes over the past 15 years in the etiology with a higher incidence of non-obstetric causes than obstetric ones, diagnostic procedures with less dependence on renal biopsy but new trials of non-invasive radioimagings including CT scan and even MRI, and a further declining mortality rate.