Acute Deterioration Of Renal Function Research Articles

A Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Clarithromycin and Sirolimus in Kidney Transplant Recipient

Bacterial infection is a frequent event in renal transplant recipients and often requires the use of antimicrobial agents. In this paper it is reported an evidence of pharmacokinetic interaction between clarithromycin and sirolimus in a kidney transplanted woman, suffering from pulmonary infection sustained by a bacterial pathogen, in particular Hemophilus Influenzae. In the present case report, the concomitant administration of clarithromycin and sirolimus determined impressive increase of sirolimus trough blood concentrations from 6.2 up to 54 ng/mL and this increase was associated with an acute impairment of renal function, almost completely reversed upon both drugs discontinuation. This drug-drug interaction is due to a likely inhibition of activity of both cytochrome P450 3A4 and P-glycoprotein. Although this interaction could be predicted, it represents the first reported clinical evidence.

The Utility of Splenectomy as Rescue Treatment for Severe Acute Antibody Mediated Rejection

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after desensitization for a positive crossmatch (+XM) live donor renal transplant can be severe and result in sudden onset oliguria and loss of the allograft. Attempts to rescue these kidneys using plasmapheresis (PP) and IVIg may be ineffective due to the magnitude of antibody burden that must be controlled to prevent renal thrombosis or cortical necrosis. We review our experience using splenectomy combined with PP/IVIg as rescue therapy for patients experiencing an acute deterioration in renal function and a rise in donor-specific antibody within the first posttransplant week after desensitization for a +XM. Five patients underwent immediate splenectomy followed by PP/IVIg and had return of allograft function within 48 h of the procedure. Emergent splenectomy followed by PP/IVIg may be an effective treatment for reversing severe AMR.

Electrolytes Disturbances and Seizures

Electrolytes Disturbances and Seizures

Renal artery stent revascularization with embolic protection in patients with ischemic nephropathy

A prospective analysis of renal artery stent revascularization with distal embolic protection in a high-risk patient population with ischemic nephropathy is presented. A total of 63 patients (median age 70.2 years, range 54-86 years) had significant atherosclerotic stenosis of 83 renal arteries documented on pre-procedural imaging. All patients had baseline chronic renal insufficiency with a documented deterioration in renal function in the 6 months before revascularization. The endovascular technique used in all patients involved primary passage of an embolic filter into the distal main renal artery followed by primary stent deployment with a balloon expandable stainless steel stent. The filter baskets were recaptured and contents submitted for pathological analysis. At 6 months post-intervention, 97% of patients demonstrated stabilization or improvement in renal function. Only 3% of patients had an inexorable decline in renal function, unchanged by the intervention. After a mean follow up of 16.0 months (6-27), 94% of patients demonstrated stabilization or improvement in renal function. One patient suffered an acute post-procedural deterioration in renal function. In total, 60% of the filter baskets contained embolic material. This study confirms the technical feasibility of renal artery stent deployment with adjuvant embolic protection. The excellent results for renal preservation at 6 months post-intervention also suggest that a distal embolic protection device may improve the impact of percutaneous renal revascularization on progressive deterioration in renal function. The postulated mechanism is through the prevention of atheromatous embolization and the embolic yield from the distal filters supports this hypothesis. Patients most likely to receive the greatest benefit are those with mild baseline chronic renal insufficiency and a recent decline in renal function.

An assessment of the RIFLE criteria for acute renal failure in hospitalized patients*

The Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative (ADQI) Group published a consensus definition (the RIFLE criteria) for acute renal failure. We sought to assess the ability of the RIFLE criteria to predict mortality in hospital patients. Retrospective single-center study. University-affiliated hospital. All patients admitted to the study hospital between January 2000 and December 2002. Patients were excluded if they were younger than 15 yrs old, were on chronic dialysis, or had kidney transplant or if their length of hospital stay was <24 hrs. None. We included 20,126 patients. Mean age was 64 yrs, 14.7% of patients required intensive care unit admission, and hospital mortality was 8.0%. According to the RIFLE criteria, 9.1% of all patients were in the Risk category for acute renal failure, 5.2% were in the Injury category, and 3.7% were in the Failure category. There was an almost linear increase in hospital mortality from Normal to Failure (Normal, 4.4%; Risk, 15.1%; Injury, 29.2%; and Failure, 41.1%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that all RIFLE criteria were significantly predictive factors for hospital mortality, with an almost linear increase in odds ratios from Risk to Failure (odds ratios, Risk 2.5, Injury 5.4, Failure 10.1). The RIFLE criteria for acute renal failure classified close to 20% of our study patients as having some degrees of acute impairment in renal function and were useful in predicting their hospital mortality.

The Porcine Remnant Kidney Model of Chronic Renal Insufficiency

The purpose of the present study was to develop and characterize a porcine model of chronic renal insufficiency created by renal artery embolization. The model was created using 42 castrated juvenile male pigs (7-8 months old) in two parts (pilot (N = 10) group, definitive (N = 26) group, and control group (N = 6). In the pilot group, the embolization procedure was optimized with respect to the size of polyvinyl acrylide (PVA) particles, coils, and amount of kidney embolized. The animals were followed serially for 4 weeks after the embolization procedure to determine the renal function and hypertensive response. In the definitive group, these results were extended to later time points and a left total nephrectomy and a right partial nephrectomy (remnant) were performed and these animals were followed for 28 to 84 days. The kidney function after the embolization was characterized by acute deterioration in renal function, followed by improvement, and "stable" chronic renal insufficiency with statistically significant elevation in creatinine and BUN being observed until day 42. The mean arterial blood pressure remained significantly elevated until day 7 after which it began to decrease to pre-embolization value. The remnant kidney developed fibrosis in the tublointerstitial compartment as it hypertrophied and increased its weight which remained significantly elevated after embolization. A reproducible remnant kidney model of chronic renal insufficiency in pigs was developed. In this model, stable renal insufficiency develops by 4 weeks that lasts until 12 weeks.

Contrast-Induced Nephropathy

Contrast medium–induced nephropathy (CIN) is a common cause of acute renal dysfunction. During the past few years, several publications have provided clinical and experimental data on this topic. Our review focuses on 4 major concerns of CIN relevant in clinical practice: (1) What is the evidence that CIN is a clinically relevant and a dangerous condition for the patient? (2) Is there a difference in CIN rate among different contrast media, and how is that related to the physicochemical properties of different available contrast media? (3) What is the evidence that periprocedural hydration is an effective, appropriate, and safe method to prevent CIN? (4) What is the evidence for the use of a drug, in particular acetylcysteine, to prevent CIN? CIN has gained increased attention in the clinical setting, particularly during cardiac intervention but also in many other radiological procedures in which iodinated contrast media are used. There is at present good clinical evidence from well-controlled randomized studies that CIN is a common cause of acute renal dysfunction.1,2 CIN is the acute deterioration of renal function after parenteral administration of radiocontrast media in the absence of other causes. CIN is generally defined as an increase in serum creatinine concentration of >0.5 mg/dL (>44 μmol/L) or 25% above baseline within 48 hours after contrast administration.3–7 Although the exact mechanisms of CIN have yet to be fully elucidated, several causes have been described. Increased adenosine-, endothelin-, and free radical–induced vasoconstriction and reduced nitric oxide– and prostaglandin-induced vasodilatation have been observed. These mechanisms cause ischemia in the deeper portion of the outer medulla, an area with high oxygen requirements and remote from the vasa recta supplying the renal medulla with blood. Contrast agents also have direct toxic effects on renal tubular cells, causing vacuolization, altered mitochondrial function, and apoptosis.8 Atopy …

Contrast-induced nephropathy: Pharmacological prophylaxis

Contrast media-associated acute renal failure represents the third most common cause of in-hospital renal function deterioration after decreased renal perfusion and post-operative renal insufficiency. Although generally benign, this complication is associated with a mortality rate ranging from 3.8 to 64%, depending on the increase of creatinine concentration. Multiple drugs have been tested in an attempt to prevent this complication. Central to the pathophysiology of contrast-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) is an alteration in renal hemodynamics. In an effort to reverse these hemodynamic changes, vasodilators and diuretics have been tested as prophylactic drugs. However, their effectiveness has not been confirmed. Recently, considerable interest has resulted from the initial positive data on the effectiveness of prophylactic administration of antioxidant compounds, such as acetylcysteine and ascorbic acid. In this review, we focus on the effectiveness of pharmacologic therapies for preventing CIN.

The aciclovir metabolite CMMG is detectable in the CSF of subjects with neuropsychiatric symptoms during aciclovir and valaciclovir treatment

Neuropsychiatric symptoms related to aciclovir or valaciclovir treatment have been a problem since aciclovir was introduced in the early 1980s. We have previously found that subjects with aciclovir-related neuropsychiatric symptoms have increased serum concentrations of aciclovir's main metabolite, 9-carboxymethoxymethylguanine (CMMG). The aim of this study was to investigate whether CMMG was present in the CSF of aciclovir- or valaciclovir-treated subjects with or without neuropsychiatric side effects that appeared during therapy. We investigated retrospectively CSF collected from 21 aciclovir- or valaciclovir-treated subjects. Of these, 9 were subjects with neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms and 12 were asymptomatic subjects, including 10 subjects from a valaciclovir multiple sclerosis trial and 2 subjects with recurrent herpes encephalitis. CMMG could only be detected in the CSF of subjects with neuropsychiatric symptoms and signs (median CMMG concentration 1.0 micromol/L, range 0.6-7.0). The concentration of CMMG was below the limit of quantification (<0.5 micromol/L) in asymptomatic subjects (P < 0.001). All patients with neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms, except one, had acute renal function impairment or chronic renal failure. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CMMG is involved in the development of neuropsychiatric side effects in aciclovir- or valaciclovir-treated patients. Measurement of CMMG in CSF and/or serum is a promising tool in the diagnostic procedure for aciclovir- or valaciclovir-treated patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms and may help to differentiate between side effects and herpes encephalitis.

Microalbuminuria and deterioration of renal function after elective repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm

Renal dysfunction affects the prognosis of patients after aortic surgery. However, the factors associated with the postoperative deterioration of renal function has not been clarified precisely. We prospectively examined renal function in 80 patients (age: 73 +/- 7 years, 66 males) who required the elective repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Serum creatinine (Scr) was measured. 24-h-creatinine clearance (Ccr) and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were determined. Renal volume and mean renal length were calculated using the data obtained by ultrasonography. 48 patients showed normal UAE (< 30 mg/day), and 24 had microalbuminuria (30-300 mg/day) and 8 had overt proteinuria (> 300 mg/day). Scr were 0.9 +/- 0.4, 1.0 +/- 0.3 and 2.1 +/- 1.3 mg/dl, respectively. On Day 5 after surgery, 12 patients (15%) showed deterioration of renal function as defined either by an increase in Scr (> or = 0.5 mg/dl) or by a decrease in Ccr > or =20%). The acute deterioration of renal function was related to mean renal volume, mean renal length, duration of operation and the use of antibiotics. At Month 12 after surgery, Scr increased in the overt proteinuria group. The deterioration of renal function at Month 12 was found in 8 patients (10%) with microalbuminuria or overt proteinuria, and related to preoperative Ccr, UAE, mean renal volume, mean renal length, smoking status and blood pressure. We conclude that the deterioration of renal function occurred in considerable number of patients with AAA after elective operation on acute and chronic phase, although the development of end-stage renal failure is rare. Factors related to the acute and late deterioration appears to be different. UAE and renal size should be measured, even if Scr is in normal range at preoperative observation.

Shiga Toxin 1 Causes Direct Renal Injury in Rats

Infection with Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli has been implicated to cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is characterized by histological abnormalities such as microvascular thrombi and tubular cell damage in the kidney. Although Stx is known to be the major virulence factor of the pathogen, it is still unclear whether Stx directly impairs renal cells in vivo to cause such histological changes and deterioration of renal function. To assess the consequence of the direct action of Stx on renal cells, left kidneys of rats were perfused with Stx1 from the renal artery through the renal vein and then revascularized. Kidneys of control animals were perfused with the vehicle alone. On day 1, apoptosis and induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene expression were noticed to occur in the medulla of the Stx1-perfused kidneys. On day 3, extensive tubular injuries were observed by light microscopy: aggregated platelets and monocytic infiltrates in both glomeruli and the medullary interstitium were detected by immunostaining. Tubular changes were more extensive on day 9, with areas of infarction seen in the cortex and medulla. These changes were not found to occur in the sham-operated kidneys. No obvious glomerular changes were detected by light microscopy at any time point. When nonperfused right kidneys were removed after the Stx1 perfusion of the left kidneys, the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels were increased from day 2, and acute renal failure followed on day 3. These results indicate that Stx1 caused glomerular platelet aggregation, tubular damage, and acute deterioration of renal function by acting directly on renal cells.

Steroid Maintenance Therapy after Transplantation-Quo Vadis?: Long-Term Prospective Study of Steroid Withdrawal in Kidney and Heart Transplant Recipients. Am J Transplant 5: 720-728, 2005.

Steroid Maintenance Therapy after Transplantation-Quo Vadis?: Long-Term Prospective Study of Steroid Withdrawal in Kidney and Heart Transplant Recipients. Am J Transplant 5: 720-728, 2005.

Zoledronic Acid and Renal Toxicity: Data from French Adverse Effect Reporting Database

Zoledronic acid-associated renal impairment leading to renal failure has been recently reported in a cohort of US patients. However, the presence of such toxicity in other populations has not yet been determined. To analyze French cases of zoledronic acid-associated nephrotoxicity. We evaluated available cases with acute deterioration of renal function associated with zoledronic acid therapy drawn from the French Adverse Event Reporting System database until July 1, 2004. We identified 4 men and 3 women between the ages of 52 and 70 years, with multiple myeloma or different types of metastatic cancer, who had experienced renal impairment during zoledronic acid therapy. Four patients developed de novo acute renal failure, while the other 3 patients experienced acute deterioration of preexisting chronic renal failure. Renal failure occurred after various durations of zoledronic acid therapy (1-120 days). Three patients completely recovered and one partially recovered their previous renal function after discontinuation of zoledronic acid, but renal impairment was associated with a fatal outcome in 2 cases; the outcome of the other case was unknown. Our data confirm the previously reported risk factors for zoledronic acid-associated nephrotoxicity such as advanced cancer, multiple myeloma, preexisting renal failure, diabetes, hypertension, and concomitant use of nephrotoxic drugs. These cases emphasize the need for regular monitoring of renal function during zoledronic acid treatment, with particular attention to patients with preexisting impaired renal function.

Poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis superimposed on bilateral renal hypoplasia

An 8-year-old girl with preexisting chronic renal failure (CRF) due to bilateral renal hypoplasia presented with edema, gross hematuria and acute deterioration of renal function. The diagnosis of poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) was made based on clinical presentation, red blood cell casts, low level of C3 and elevated antistreptolysin 0 titer. Her course was prolonged with serum creatinine increased from the baseline level of 1.1 mg/dl to 2.2 mg/dl, returning toward the baseline level (1.2 mg/dl) after one month. Serum creatinine then started to increase again. The slope of creatinine clearance over time became steeper after the episode of PSAGN. A severe course of PSAGN and subsequent deterioration of renal function have previously been reported in patients with diabetic nephropathy or focal glomerulosclerosis. The present case along with a literature review suggests that individuals with fewer nephrons are at higher risk of severe course and outcome of PSAGN. Conversely, patients with severe PSAGN may be born with fewer nephrons due to low birth weight, unrecognized renal hypoplasia or other unknown causes.

Effect of Parathyroidectomy on Renal Graft Function

Some authors have reported acute impairment of renal transplant function after parathyroidectomy (PTx). Since 1996 PTx has been performed in 22 renal transplant recipients (follow-up, 24.2 ± 15 months; serum creatinine concentration (SCr) pre-PTx, 1.26 ± 0.4 mg/dL). We analyzed the serum levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone, calcitriol, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, SCr, and hemoglobin, as well as proteinuria, blood pressure, and immunosuppressive treatment at several times: before PTx and at 7 days, 1 month, and then every 3 months post-PTx. After PTx we observed acute renal function deterioration until the third post-PTx month, when SCr levels returned to baseline values. We found no changes in blood pressure, although there was a trend toward a reduced dosage of antihypertensive drugs. We compared the patients who showed more significant increases (>30% from baseline) in SCr (group A, n = 7) with those who did not (group B, n = 15). Group A had higher SCr levels pre-PTx. We observed no other significant differences, either pre-PTx or post-PTx. In 2 patients in group A, SCr returned to baseline at the third month after PTx, but in the other 5 the renal function impairment persisted. Taking into account this risk and that severe hyperparathyroidism does not revert after transplantation, it would seem more appropriate in such cases to perform PTx while the patient is on the waiting list. The causes of this renal functional impairment are not clear, but the patients who showed worse deterioration also had a worse renal function pre-PTx.

Application of GFR-estimating equations in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease

To evaluate whether the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations could be applied accurately to Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) estimated by using MDRD equation 7 (7GFR), the abbreviated MDRD equation (aGFR), and the Cockcroft-Gault equation (cGFR) were compared in patients with different stages of CKD. The study enrolled patients with CKD diagnosed according to the National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. All patients were older than 18 years and without acute renal function deterioration, edema, skeletal muscle atrophy, or amputation. Sex, age, body height, and body weight were recorded, and plasma creatinine levels were measured by means of Jaffe's kinetic method using a Hitachi 7600 analyzer (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan; reagents from Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Creatinine, urea, and albumin were measured in a single clinical laboratory. Dual plasma sampling of technetium Tc 99m-labeled diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid plasma clearance was used as the reference standard GFR (sGFR) for comparison of 7GFRs, aGFRs, and cGFRs at different stages of CKD. The study enrolled 261 patients, including 146 men and 115 women. Causes of CKD included primary or secondary glomerular disease, obstructive kidney disease, chronic tubulointerstitial disease, and others. Values for 7GFR, aGFR, and cGFR were significantly greater than for sGFR in patients with CKD stages 4 to 5 (the lower the sGFR, the greater the difference); whereas 7GFR, aGFR, and cGFR were significantly lower than sGFR in patients with CKD stage 1. Our results show that in a Chinese population with CKD, MDRD equation 7 and the abbreviated MDRD equation overestimated GFR in patients with CKD stages 4 to 5 and underestimated GFR in those with CKD stage 1. These results indicate that careful modification of these equations may be necessary in Chinese populations with CKD.

Insuffisance rénale aiguë et grossesse

Acute renal failure (ARF) in pregnancy includes all causes of acute impairment of renal function, from the beginning of pregnancy to delivery. The threshold-level of plasma creatinin that indicates ARF in the pregnant woman is lowered to 80 μmol l –1 due to the physiological increase of the glomerular flow during normal pregnancy. In clinical practice, specific pregnancy ARFs follow a bi-modal distribution: ARFs of the 1 st trimester include those ARFs associated to septic abortions and gravidic emesia. 3 rd trimester ARFs include essentially those renal complications related to severe pre-eclampsia and, more exceptionally, to acute gravidic steatosis. The other causes of ARFs remain more rare. In countries where abortion is legal and where pregnancies are bound to strict follow-up, the incidence of this dangerous obstetrical complication has considerably regressed (from 1/ 3,000 births to less than 1/ 20,000). This incidence remains highly variable from a country to another, and differs according to the local legislation. The vital prognosis, both for the foetus and the mother, is related to the earliness of the diagnosis, and the rapidity of treatment initiation. The management of such patients at the 3 rd trimester of pregnancy should be undertaken in a sanitary environment fully equipped with follow-up and treatment means, both for the mother and the foetus, and combining competences in obstetrics, paediatrics, nephrology, and intensive care as well. Gestational ARF is to be suspected in any case of increased creatinin level (>80 μmol l –1) and/ or oliguria since the blood creatinin level is normally lowered during pregnancy.

Acetylcysteine for Prevention of Acute Deterioration of Renal Function Following Elective Coronary Angiography and Intervention

Survey of Anesthesiology: April 2004 - Volume 48 - Issue 2 - p 95-96 doi: 10.1097/01.sa.0000119076.92230.60

Renal angioplasty and stenting with distal protection of the main renal artery in ischemic nephropathy: early experience.

We present a retrospective review of a single tertiary hospital experience in renal artery stent revascularization with distal protection in patients with ischemic nephropathy. The objectives of the study included preliminary assessment of the effect of distal protection on procedure-related acute deterioration in renal function and on renal salvage. All patients had significant atherosclerotic main renal artery stenosis, documented at preprocedural imaging, and a degree of chronic renal impairment before revascularization. Forty-six renal arteries were treated in 37 patients with preprocedural renal impairment, which was mild in 10 patients, moderate in 19 patients, and severe in 8 patients. Median patient age was 72 years (range, 59-85 years). All patients underwent primary stenting of renal artery ostial stenoses with adjuvant use of a filter device (Angioguard guide wire system; Cordis Corp, Division of Johnson & Johnson, Miami, Fla) in the distal main renal artery. The filter baskets were recaptured for pathologic analysis. Overall, in 95% of patients, including all patients with preprocedural mild or moderate renal impairment, renal function was stabilized or improved after revascularization. In 5% of patients decline in renal function was unchanged. No patients had acute postprocedural deterioration. Mean follow-up was 12.5 months (range, 2-28 months). These results are better than in most reports in the literature and also better than in a historical group of similar patients with ischemic nephropathy who underwent stent revascularization without distal protection at the same institution. The improved results are thought to be due to prevention of cholesterol atheroembolization during the procedure by the distal filter baskets. Sixty-five percent of the distal protection baskets contained embolic material, including fresh thrombus, chronic thrombus, atheromatous fragments, and cholesterol clefts. A distal protection device may significantly improve results during stent revascularization. There are a number of unique demands on a renal protection device, and the ideal device has not yet been developed.

Acetylcysteine prevented acute deterioration in renal function after coronary angiography in moderate renal insufficiency

Acetylcysteine prevented acute deterioration in renal function after coronary angiography in moderate renal insufficiency