Etiology Of End-stage Renal Disease Research Articles

#1853 Comparative analysis of atherosclerotic risk factors in dialysis patients

Abstract Background and Aims Prevailing studies indicate a correlation between elevated serum phosphate levels and an augmented incidence of cardiovascular events. In patients undergoing dialysis, hyperphosphatemia contributes to vascular and valvular calcifications. This study analyzes the interrelation of phosphate levels, inflammatory markers, and additional risk determinants in the development of carotid artery atherosclerosis in individuals receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) versus hemodialysis (HD). Method A cohort of 39 PD and 53 HD patients were recruited, all undergoing stable renal replacement therapy (RRT) for three to thirty-six months. B-mode ultrasonography assessed the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and detected plaque and calcification occurrences. Patients were specified as having atherosclerosis when CIMT was greater than 1 cm, and the presence of plaque was identified. Logistic regression analysis was employed to discern the connection between potential risk factors and the incidence of atherosclerosis. Results The study encompassed 92 participants, 61% undergoing HD and an average age of 53.4 years (standard deviation ± 14.5 years). The tubulo-interstitial disease was the predominant initial pathology, followed by chronic glomerulonephritis and nephroangiosclerosis. Diabetic nephropathy was identified as the etiology of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 23.1% of PD and 11.4% of HD subjects (p = 0.047). Notably, PD patients showed better residual renal function (RRF) (p < 0.001), urine volume over 24 hours (p < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.047), alongside diminished phosphate (p = 0.01), parathyroid hormone (PTH) (p < 0.05), alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.05), and albumin levels (p < 0.001) relative to their HD counterparts. Atherosclerosis prevalence was 66.3%, inclusive of the entire diabetic cohort. The incidence of atherosclerosis did not significantly diverge between PD and HD groups [56.4% vs 73.6% in HD, respectively]. Atherosclerotic patients were older (p < 0.001) and exhibited heightened phosphate levels (p = 0.012), pulse pressure (p = 0.01), and calcium index (Ci) (p = 0.034). Multiple regression analysis elucidated age, phosphate, RRF, PTH, pulse pressure, diabetes, and HD modality as autonomous factors linked to atherosclerosis. Conclusion Beyond conventional risk factors like age and diabetes, metabolic disorders arising from renal insufficiency were identified as contributing to atherosclerotic development. Multivariate analysis identified phosphate, RRF, and pulse pressure (PP) as independent atherosclerotic risk factors. The HD modality carried an elevated atherosclerotic risk compared to PD. It was thought that preserving RRF in PD patients would improve phosphate regulation and maybe even improve endothelial function, explaining the differences found.

#2431 Vascular access outcomes among patients on maintenance hemodialysis in Perpetual Succour Hospital: a 3-year cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Background and Aims Hemodialysis (HD) is the most widely used treatment modality worldwide in the care of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The success of the therapy depends largely on the quality of the VA and its proper functioning, which has a bearing on the patient's quality of life. Vascular access dysfunction remains one of the leading causes of excessive morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in this group. A functional vascular access is mandatory to achieve good levels of dialytic efficiency, and it is considered the lifeline of patients on maintenance HD. The ideal vascular access should have specific characteristics among which the most important are the following: ease of placement; delivery of adequate blood flow for effective dialysis; good primary patency rates; low rates of complications and side effects; long-lasting life; and low economic costs. There are 3 types of vascular accesses (VAs): the internal arteriovenous fistula (IAVF); the central venous catheter, which can be tunneled (CVC-T) or not (CVC-nT); and the synthetic vascular graft. Internal arteriovenous fistula is considered the best option because it is safer, more durable, and less expensive. The catheter is essential for emergency onset in HD but is associated with a higher number of infections, higher mortality, and greater costs. Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) have advantages over arteriovenous grafts (AVG) and central venous catheters (CVC), but whether AVF are associated independently with better survival is unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the vascular access outcomes of ESRD patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Specifically, this study (1) described the clinicodemographic profile of the patients in terms of age, sex, primary etiology of ESRD, employment status, comorbidities, hepatitis status and family history of the disease; (2) determined the vascular access used on the HD patients (AVF/AVG, CVC or IJ; (3) identified interventions performed to maintain vascular access for hemodialysis; (4) determined the categories of the vascular access site; (5) assessed the vascular access outcome; (6) determined the reason and number for vascular access change and the (7) clinical outcome of the HD patients. Method This is a single center, cross-sectional study of ESRD patients on maintenance hemodialysis enrolled in Perpetual Succour Hospital Hemodialysis Unit from April 1, 2021, to November 30, 2023. Results There were 260 hemodialysis patients included, with successful vascular access outcome (73.13%) and were younger (57.2 ± 14.1). Those who had failed vascular access were females (54.2%), unemployed (61.4%) and had diabetes mellitus (50.6%) as the primary etiology of their ESRD. Those with failed vascular access were hypertensive (86.7%), with history of CAD and MI (57.8%) and were having diabetes mellitus (56.6%). Proportion of those with failed and successful vascular access significantly differ among hypertensives $(p = .012)$, diabetics $(p = .039)$, with chronic glomerulonephritis $(p = .011)$, and among those with malignancy $(p = .003)$. Most of those who were alive had successful vascular access (76.8%), however, among those who had failed vascular access died (57.6%). And the association of clinical outcomes (death or not) and failure or success of vascular access is statistically significant, $(p = .001)$. Conclusion Our study showed that failed vascular access were more associated with female gender, diabetes mellitus as the primary etiology of ESRD and with other co-morbid conditions such as hypertension and CAD or MI. Successful vascular outcome were among those of younger age group compared to those whose vascular access failed, probably due to better vascular condition and fewer co-morbidities. As shown in Table 2, type of access, interventions performed, and vascular access site significantly differ among HD patients with failed vascular access outcome and with those who were successful $(p = .001)$Those with failure on the vascular access were changed to CVC (44.6%) while others had changed to IJ (22.9%). Eighty of those with failed vascular (96.4%) access has changed site due to no bruit (65.0%) and thrombosis (33.8%).

Predictive Factors of Renal Graft Failure in Tunisian Children and young adults: A Retrospective Study.

Pediatric end-stage renal disease is a rare but severe condition that causes numerous complications and impairs the quality of life of children. Kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice in pediatric end-stage renal disease. Our study aimed to identify the predictive factors of renal graft failure after kidney transplantation in Tunisian children and young adults. We conducted a retrospective bicentric study of children and young adults (age≤20 years) who had undergone renal transplantation between 1989 and 2019 in Tunisia. We analyzed long-term survival rates and complications after pediatric kidney transplantation and searched for predictive parameters for graft dysfunction. We used a univariate and a multivariate analysis to identify predictive factors of graft survival. A total of 112 patients underwent 115 kidney transplantations. Graft failure occurred in 30% of the cases. The overall 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year graft survival rates were 92%, 89.1%, 85.9% and 74.5% respectively. The following parameters strongly influenced graft survival: immunosuppressive regimen including an association other than Mycophenolate mofetil- tacrolimus and corticosteroids (p=0.002), year of transplant (p<0.0001 for 1987-2000), deceased donor (p = 0.039), underlying etiology of end-stage renal disease (p=0.045), occurrence of acute or chronic rejection (p<0.001), a urine protein greater than 0.3 g/l per day (p=0.002), post-transplant urologic complications (p=0.002), five-year creatinine level>1.28 mg/dl (p<0.001). The overall 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year patients survival rates were 97%, 95%, 90.2% and 84.4% respectively. Our study identified several predictive factors of graft failure in Tunisian children and young adults undergoing renal transplantation.

Risk factors and mortality in dialysis patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm: A retrospective cohort study.

In the general population, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is synonymous with vascular disease and associated with increased mortality. Vascular disease is common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis, but there is limited information on AAA in this population. To address this issue, we queried the United States Renal Data System for risk factors associated with a diagnosis of AAA as well as the impact of AAA on ESRD patient survival. Incident dialysis patients from 2005 to 2014 with AAA and other clinical comorbidities were identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Time to death was defined using the time from the start of dialysis to the date of death or to December 31, 2015. Cox proportional hazards (CPH) modeling was used to determine the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for death. From a total cohort of 820,826, we identified 21,631 subjects with a diagnosis of AAA. When compared to patients without AAA, AAA patients were older and more likely to be of white race and male gender, have a higher mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), have hypertension as the ESRD etiology, and use tobacco. Although a bivariate CPH model showed that AAA patients had an increased mortality risk compared to patients without the diagnosis, in the final CPH model, AAA patients had a decreased risk of mortality (aHR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.81-0.84) due to confounding with age. These results suggest that AAA is not associated with increased risk of death in ESRD patients after controlling for various demographic and clinical risk factors.

Leading Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease Among Dialysis Patients in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) represent a growing health concern globally, with hypertension and diabetes commonly identified as primary etiological factors. This study evaluates the demographic and health profiles of individuals undergoing dialysis treatment in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia, aiming to identify the predominant causes of ESRD and the associated socioeconomic and healthcare-related factors. Methodology This cross-sectional study analyzed data from patients receiving dialysis in Al-Baha. We assessed variables including etiology of ESRD, demographic data, presence of comorbid conditions, initial symptoms, and pre-dialysis health care engagement. Statistical analysis focused on the prevalence and correlations between the different variables and ESRD. The study also examined patients' educational background and employment status to ascertain ESRD's socioeconomic impact. Results The study found hypertension and diabetes as the leading causes of ESRD. Unknown etiologies accounted for 10.1% of cases, highlighting an area for further research. Notably, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and cardiogenic shock emerged as potential new contributors, each representing 1.7% of cases. Most patients resided in urban areas, with the largest age group being 46 to 55 years. Men had a higher prevalence of ESRD than women. Low educational attainment was significant among patients, and unemployment due to ESRD was prevalent, pointing towards the need for vocational support. Clinical findings revealed late referrals to nephrologists, with a substantial proportion of diagnoses occurring in emergency settings. Family history suggested a higher-than-expected genetic component of CKD in the region. Conclusion The study confirms hypertension and diabetes as principal contributors to ESRD in Al-Baha while also pointing to the emergence of COVID-19 as a potential risk factor. Socioeconomic factors, including educational and employment status, are critical to patient management and outcomes. The high percentage of unknown etiologies and familial CKD prevalence warrants additional research. Improving early detection, enhancing patient education, and fostering timely nephrology consultations could mitigate the progression to ESRD and enhance patient quality of life.

Investigation of dermatological manifestations in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Aims: Skin findings are common in patients with both chronic kidney disease and undergoing hemodialysis. These findings are observed as nonspecific and specific dermatological manifestations. Our study aimed to describe the characteristics of dermatologic findings of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis treatment and to investigate the relationship between these findings and the demographic and clinical features of those patients.&#x0D; Methods: Patients who were admitted to a private hemodialysis clinic in August 2023 were prospectively analyzed. Age, gender, type of vascular access, hemodialysis duration, etiology of end-stage renal disease, duration and frequency of hemodialysis sessions, dermatological findings, and the most recent complete blood count, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus, urea, and creatinine levels were examined and the findings were documented. Calcium x phosphorus levels were calculated. Statistical significance was accepted as p

Predictive Factors Associated with Delayed Graft Function Following Renal Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Kidney transplantation has become a routine procedure for end-stage renal disease. Although improvement in short term graft patency has been achieved, delayed graft function (DGF) is one of the important complications following kidney transplantation. DGF results from ischemia-reperfusion injury and involves a multitude of contributing elements including donor characteristics and etiology of the end-stage renal disease. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are easily applicable methods for evaluation of systemic inflammation. We hypothesized that these parameters could refine the detection of the patients with DGF in post- renal transplantation and guide management. To test our hypothesis, we investigated whether the NLR, PLR, and creatinine reduction ratio CRR could serve as prognostic indicators for identifying patient cohorts at an elevated risk of negative treatment outcomes following renal transplantation. We also assessed demographic and clinical factors as an independent predictor to detect negative early graft function outcomes in patients after renal transplantation. This single center retrospective cohort trial comprising 55 patients who received a kidney graft from deceased or living donors was performed in Northern Cyprus Ministry of Health’s Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu State Hospital, over a 6 year period. The demographic and clinical variables included age, gender, body mass index, the etiology of end-stage renal disease, kidney graft from living or deceased donors, NLR, PLR and CRR. DGF was defined as GFR&lt;60 on the 21th day following renal transplantation. Of the patients included in this study, 26 (47.3%) and 29 (52.7%) received deceased and living donor kidney transplantation, respectively. On the 21st day following transplantation, 27 patients (49%) had an eGFR&lt;60, whereas 28 patients (51%) had an GFR≥60. None of the patients had undergone dialysis within the first week after transplantation. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between the patients with eGFR 60 and eGFR 60. In logistic regression analysis, none of the predictors including etiology of the end-stage renal disease, source of donor, or demographic baseline characteristic were associated with DGF. We suggest that the NLR and PLR parameters are not associated with the presence of DGF after renal transplantation. Keywords: Renal transplantation, Delayed graft function, Renal failure, Glomerular filtration rate, End-stage renal disease.

Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir Regimen Outcome for Chronic Hepatitis C Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Background Patients on hemodialysis (HD) are most likely to contract hepatitis C (HCV) infection, which is associated with significant morbidity and disease progression. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are safe and tolerable in chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a 90-100% cure rate, and limited data exist regarding their efficacy in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), particularly for HDpatients in South Asia. The study aimed to assess the outcome of a 12-week sofosbuvir (SOF) and velpatasvir (VEL) treatment regimen on ESRD patients with chronic HCV infection undergoing HDin the Pakistani Asian population. Methodology This prospective cohort study was conducted between January 2022 and January2023 at the outpatient nephrology and gastroenterology clinic of Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. This study included a total of 220 ESRD patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, aged 20-55 years, who had been undergoing weekly HD sessions for at least two years, with acquired HCV infection. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics were collected through patient interviews. Laboratory and dialysis profiling was executed to assess ESRD and discover the underlying cause by ultrasound abdomen, blood pressure measurement by sphygmomanometer, random blood sugarfor diabetes, and taking note of the duration and frequency of dialysis. HCV RNA PCR was done at selected intervals to evaluate the virological response to treatment. Sustained virological response (SVR), liver cirrhosis status, and number of weekly HD sessions were compared at one year of SOF/VEL regimen. Results The mean age of patients with ESRD was 41.8 with a standard deviation (SD) of 9.3 years, and HCV diagnosis was 1.3 years with SD of 0.4 years; 52.7% (n=116) were males, 47.3% (n=104) were females, 75% (n=165) were urban dwellers, and 93.6% (n=206) were married.CKD that requires dialysis was caused mainly by hypertension (78, 35%), diabetes mellitus type 2 (52, 24%), bilateral small kidney disease (40, 18%), and others (34, 16%). One hundred and six (48.2%) received dialysis thrice weekly, 83 (37.7%) twice, and 31 (14.1%) once weekly. The study monitored the rapid virological response (RVR) at four weeks of SOF/VEL regimen in 89.5% of ESRD patients, observed end-of-treatment response (ETR) at 12 weeks in 93.2%, and noted 91.4% SVR response at one year. Only four (1.8%) relapses were observed in the study, which was statistically insignificant. The status of liver cirrhosis showed a 50% improvement, decreasing from 40% to 20%. The frequency of weekly HD sessions decreased from thrice to twice-thrice a week. Conclusion The prevalence of contracting HCV is high among CKD and dialysis ESRD patients. All-oral DAA therapy has revolutionized HCV treatment with co-morbidities. Renal functions improved after the SOF/VEL regimen for chronic HCV infection in ESRD patients undergoing HD, with the number of weekly dialysis sessions reduced and SVR reaching 91.4%. Thus, a single-tablet, pan-genotypic DAA regimen of SOF/VEL for 12 weeks is safe, effective, and tolerable regardless of the underlying etiology of ESRD, complications of cirrhosis, HCV genotype, or previous treatment exposure. The successful treatment of HCV and achieving SVR lowers the risk of ESRD complications, improves extra-hepatic manifestations, and greatly enhances survival. Further studies are warranted after the availability of other DAAs to confirm findings with no limitations.

Clinical Profile of End Stage Renal Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal

BACKGROUND Maintenance hemodialysis is a popular treatment modality of renal replacement therapy for end stage renal disease patients. The clinical profile of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and dialysis in Mid Western Nepal are scarce. This study aimed to study the clinical profile of ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis at the tertiary care Hospital.&#x0D; METHODS This study was a single center based cross sectional observational study carried out over a period from 15th December 2022 to 15th February 2023 in Department of Medicine. A total of 40 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled in the study. Data about Socio demographic profiles , clinical data, duration of chronic kidney disease (CKD), major comorbidity, the presumed etiology of ESRD, duration of haemodialysis, laboratory parameters including Renal function tests etc were entered in MS Excel and analyzed through SPSS 21.&#x0D; RESULTS A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the study. Males were 25(62.5%) and females were 15(37.5%). The mean age of the patient was 45.75±15.2 years. The most common cause of end stage renal disease and reasons for admission were hypertension nephropathy 36(90%) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus 9(22.5%) respectively. Anemia was the most common hematological findings in ESRD patients (&gt;90%) followed by hypocalcemia in 65%.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS Hypertensive nephropathy was the commonest cause for CKD followed by diabetic nephropathy and glomerulonephritis. Early detection and effective management of these illnesses can delay the onset, progression of CKD to end stage and subsequent morbidity and the requirement of renal replacement therapy.

#2905 CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF ORAL ANTICOAGULATION AND NO ANTICOAGULATION AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Abstract Background and Aims The delicate balance of risk versus benefit of oral anticoagulation in the general population is well established but the decision to use these agents in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains complex and difficult owing to the paucity of clinical trials and lack of substantial evidence in literature for its safe and effective use in the haemodialysis population. This study aims to determine the difference in clinical outcomes between oral anticoagulation and no anticoagulation therapy among ESRD patients on maintenance haemodialysis with atrial fibrillation. Method This is a prospective, single-center, observational study conducted in Perpetual Succour Hospital that included all ESRD patients on maintenance haemodialysis for at least 3 months with atrial fibrillation. Out of the 188 identified patients, only 69 patients were included in the study and were grouped according to how the cardiac dysrhythmia was approached either with oral anticoagulation or no use of oral anticoagulation. Basic demographic information were obtained as well as the aetiology of ESRD, CHA2DS2-VASc Score and the HAS-BLED Score. Lastly, patients were prospectively followed for a period of 12 months and were then assessed for new onset of thromboembolic events, hemorrhagic events, calciphylaxis and all-cause mortality. Results At enrolment, 59 (85.5%) patients were identified to have no oral anticoagulation therapy and 10 (14.5%) were already receiving oral anticoagulation. Ischemic strokes was more prevalent among patients who were on oral anticoagulant (80%, p &amp;lt;0.0001). Patient outcomes differ significantly in terms of intracranial hemorrhage (30%, p= 0.0004) and gastrointestinal bleeding (50%, p &amp;lt;0.00001) which were noted among patients on oral anticoagulation. In relation to over-all mortality, acute myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial occlusive disease and calciphylaxis, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion This study suggests that the use of oral anticoagulation did not prevent ischemic strokes in ESRD patients on maintenance haemodialysis with atrial fibrillation and its use was associated with increased risk for intracranial haemorrhage and gastrointestinal bleeding. There was no significant difference in relation to all-cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial occlusive disease and calciphylaxis between the two study groups.

#4376 THE ASSOCIATION AMONG CAROTID IMT, PWV AND VASCULAR ACCESS FAILURE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end stage renal disease (ESRD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. We aimed to compare the value of IMT with tests such as coronary CT and Pulse wave velocity(PWV) as predictors of cardiovascular risk in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance dialysis and examine their association with cardiovascular disease. Method We reviewed the participants’ medical records, including height, body weight, smoking status, alcohol intake, medication history, etiology of ESRD, HD vintage, and blood pressure which were measured during hemodialysis. Carotid dopplerwas performed by an skilledsonographer who are unaware of the aims of the study and blinded to the laboratory findings. For PWV measurement, Patients lie down, rest for at least 5 minutes, and prohibit smoking and coffee for 3 hours before the measurement. BaPWV is measured by recording pulse waves of both arm and both ankles from the pressure signal obtained by measuring 4-extremitiy blood pressure. Results One hundred patients were included, of whom 51 (50.5%) were men. The median age was 66years (interquartile range 58-76 years). The median vintage of hemodialysis was 47.5 months (range 31.3-89.1 months). There were no significant differences between high IMT groupand low IMT group in sex, hemodialysis vintage, end-stage renal disease etiology, and type of vascular access. However, age was significantly older in the high IMT group. IMT was significantly associated with PWV. (hazard ratio [HR] 2.109; 95% CI 1.037-4.291, P = 0.039). After adjusting for age, sex and presence of diabetes, IMT was independently associated with PWV (HR 2.110, 95% CI 1.036-4.298, P = 0.040). The risk of recurrent vascular access failure was higher in the high IMT group (HR 1.615, 95% CI 1.460-5.669, P = 0.034). Conclusion IMT was associated with PWV and recurrent access failure. Thus IMT may be suggested as a potential predictor of vascular access failure.

#4923 ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULAS AS HEMODIALYSIS ACCESS IN A PEDIATRIC POPULATION – IS YOUNGER AGE A REASON TO MAINTAIN CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER?

Abstract Background and Aims In the pediatric population, transplantation remains the first-line therapy in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, it is not always possible, increasing the need for other kidney replacement therapy (KRT) modalities, and hemodialysis (HD) has been growing as a modality choice in recent years. To provide quality HD treatment, efficient vascular access is mandatory, and the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is advocated as the best long-term access option. However, its creation is technically challenging, and its development and maintenance are some of the most difficult elements in the pediatric population. In this study, we describe our experience in the utilization of AVFs in children and adolescents on HD. Method We conducted a retrospective study including all the AVFs performed in our center on underage patients between January 2006 and December 2022. We reviewed the medical records, collected data on demographic variables, AVF characteristics, blood test results, and clinical outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results Forty-three AVFs were performed in 32 pediatric patients. The median age at first AVF construction was 13.5 years (min 4.8; max 17.9). The most frequent etiology of ESRD was congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract (n = 20, 62.5%) and most patients (n = 24, 75.0%) were already receiving KRT. Median follow-up time was 16.4 months (min 1; max 98.4) and, at the end of the follow-up period, most patients (n = 22, 68.8%) were transplanted. The mortality rate was 6.3% (n = 2). In what concerns to the location of the AVF, radiocephalic was the first choice in 46.9% of the cases (n = 15), accounting for 34.9% of the total AVFs. Brachiocephalic location was used in 34.4% (n = 11) of first fistulas and 6 subsequent accesses, accounting for 39.5% of the total AVFs. The brachiobasilic location was chosen in 18.8% (n = 6) of the first AVFs and 25.6% of the total AVFs. Primary AVF failure occurred in 26.6% (n = 11) cases and, in 4 of these (36.4%), it was possible to successfully use the same location for a second AVF. We observed no statistical association between primary AVF failure dysfunction and gender, age at the construction of the first fistula, AVF location, or dialysis vintage. Platelet-lymphocyte (PLR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte (NLR) ratios also did not differ between groups. Primary and secondary patency rates at one year were, respectively, 62.5% and 93.8%. With respect to total AVF complications, we observed: thrombosis (27.9%), stenosis (18.6%), distal ischemia induced by vascular access (4.7%), and high flow/aneurismatic dilations (18.6%). The presence of complications was statistically related to age (p = 0.046), with more events in older patients at the time of AVF construction. There was no statistical difference between complications’ occurrence and AVF type, sex, gender, PLR, and NLR. Conclusion The utilization of AVF for HD has been growingly recognized as a safe and efficient alternative for the performance of KRT in pediatric patients. Although larger studies are needed, we demonstrate positive results in its usage in a pediatric population, with high primary and secondary patency rates. These outcomes were independent of the AVF location. We also advocate AVF usage in younger patients, as complications were associated with older age. PLR and NLR, which are emerging biomarkers for systemic inflammation, were not associated with AVF dysfunction, aligning with the results of other studies in pediatrics.

Aetiology of end-stage renal disease at the National Referral Hospital of Bhutan

Introduction: End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a late stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) requiring chronic dialysis or renal transplant to survive. End stage renal disease is a growing problem worldwide. In Bhutan too, there are anecdotal evidence showing increasing number of ESRD patients every year, which has become a cause of serious concern for the country. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the National Referral Hospital of Bhutan, from 2019 to 2020 to find out the aetiology of ESRD in the country. The demographic information and aetiology of ESRD were collected from the past record of the patients. A total of 202 eligible ESRD patients were enrolled in this study. Results: The study showed that the mean age of patients was 47.3 ±13.20 years. The majority of the patients 139 (68.8%) were in the age group 24-60 years. Of the total patients, 107 (53.0%) were females. The common aetiologies of ESRD were hypertension (HTN), chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) constituting 20.8%, 12.9%, and 8.9% of the total patients respectively. In 50.0% of the patients, the aetiology of ESRD were unexplained. Conclusions: The most common aetiologies of ESRD were HTN (20.8%), CGN (12.9%) and DM (8.9%); in 50.0% of the patients, the aetiologies remained unexplained. The majority of ESRD patients (68.8%) in this study were from middle age group, with female predominance (53.0%).

Sleep apnea in end-stage renal disease patients: risk factors and mortality.

Sleep apnea (SA) is highly prevalent in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population. However, the impact of SA on mortality in ESRD is unclear. This study investigates the relationship between SA and mortality in ESRD. The United States Renal Data System was queried in a retrospective cohort study to identify ESRD patients aged 18-100 years who initiated hemodialysis between 2005 and 2013. Diagnoses of SA and comorbidities were determined from International Classification of Disease-9 codes and demographic variables from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Form-2728. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association of SA with mortality controlling for multiple variables. Of 858,131 subjects meeting inclusion criteria, 587 were found to have central SA (CSA) and 22,724 obstructive SA (OSA). The SA cohort was younger and more likely to be male and Caucasian compared to the non-SA cohort, with more diagnoses of tobacco and alcohol use, hypertension, heart failure, and diabetes. Both CSA (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29-1.56) and OSA (aHR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.32-1.37) were associated with increased mortality. Other variables associated with increased mortality included age, dialysis initiation with a catheter or graft, alcohol use, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Factors associated with decreased mortality included female sex, black race, Hispanic ethnicity, diagnosis of heart failure or diabetes, and an ESRD etiology of glomerulonephritis or polycystic kidney disease. Since a diagnosis of either OSA or CSA increases mortality risk, early identification of SA and therapy in this ESRD population may improve survival.

Longitudinal Patterns of Renal Function in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

A spectrum of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may occur in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). The longitudinal trajectory of renal function in AAV is poorly understood. Patients with ≥2 creatinine measurements, including at baseline (±30 days of treatment initiation), were included from the Mass General Brigham AAV Cohort. We calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We incorporated longitudinal changes in eGFR into a group-based trajectory model to identify patients with similar patterns of change in renal function. The chi-square test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to evaluate differences between groups in categorical variables and non-normally distributed continuous variables, respectively. In 255 AAV patients, we identified 4 renal trajectory groups: rapid decline (n=20), impaired (n=82), preserved (n=129), and recovery (n=24). The rapid decline and impaired groups had greater baseline comorbidity (P=0.01) and lower prevasculitis eGFR (P=0.02). Clinically significant CKD (eGFR <60 ml/minute/1.73 m2 ) persisted over 5 years in >75% of the impaired group, compared to <40% of patients in the preserved group (P < 0.001). ESRD occurred most frequently in the rapid decline (100%), followed by the impaired and preserved groups (7% each). Baseline AAV renal involvement was present prior to 95% of ESRD. However, ESRD etiology varied, with 90% of rapid-onset ESRD attributed to vasculitis, versus 17-44% in impaired or preserved groups (P=0.001). We identified 4 longitudinal patterns of renal function after AAV diagnosis. Our findings highlight the burden of CKD in AAV and provide a framework for future research into personalized care in this vulnerable population.

Transplant or dialysis: What's the better choice for RCC-induced ESRD patients? A 20-year analysis of OPTN/UNOS data.

PurposeThe incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) caused by renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is increasing with the high prevalence of RCC as well as those with treatment-related renal function impairment. Worries about tumor recurrence after transplant-related immunosuppression hinder the recommendation of kidney transplantation for RCC-induced ESRD patients. However, no direct analysis has been performed to identify whether kidney transplantation can offer better survival than maintaining dialysis.Materials and methodsThis retrospective population-based cohort study was based on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data released in March 2021. Characteristics and outcomes were compared, including the patient and graft survival of candidates and recipients with RCC-induced ESRD etiology as well as other primary diseases.ResultsPatients with RCC-induced ESRD were older; more likely to be male, White, and obese; and more likely to have a history of diabetes and dialysis. They also had higher creatinine levels, more delayed graft function, more primary non-function, and higher Kidney Donor Profile Index score donors, compared with the glomerulonephritis (GN) group. While waiting, RCC candidates suffered the worst outcomes of all groups, a 44% (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.44 [1.27–1.62]) higher risk of removal than GN patients. After transplantation, RCC recipients demonstrated comparable patient survival and better graft survival (p=0.21 and p=0.13, respectively). Compared with still-waiting RCC patients, the RCC recipients who received kidney transplants had significantly better outcomes (13.6 [9.3–17.8] vs. 61 [52–68.4] %), decreasing the death or deteriorating risk by 84% (aHR, 0.16 [0.13–0.20]).ConclusionsPatients with RCC-induced ESRD can dramatically benefit from kidney transplantation. Hence, these patients should not be limited to transplantation by strict strategies or a delayed waiting time out of their malignancy history.

Using publicly available data to describe multiple environmental pressures and explore the link with end-stage renal disease.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the final stage of chronic kidney disease, where renal function is highly impaired leading to the need of a long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant. Etiology of ESRD remains partly unknown and in particular the role of the environment. The objective of this work is to identify new etiological hypothesis related to the environment. The main argument supporting its influence is the spatial and temporal heterogeneity observed in ESRD incidence at various geographical scales. Since 2005, in Northern France, newly detected ESRD cases are recorded in a health register called Nephronor. On this basis, standardized incidence ratios were calculated at the municipal level after being adjusted for age, sex, social deprivation and distance to dialysis centers. Using an isotonic spatial scan statistic, six significant spatial clusters were detected : three of high incidence and four of low incidence. In parallel, a complete environmental database was built using publicly available data. After an exhaustive inventory of existing data, the most appropriate databases were selected and a long data management process was achieved. Finally, more than one hundred variables were included and allocated in one of the six following dimensions : Contamination levels (air, water, soils), Emission levels, Source locations, Land use, Agricultural practices and Climate. Therefore, physical environment was described as completely as possible and for each dimension, a composite indicator was built at the municipal level. Each of these composite indicators were used to test etiological hypothesis, by comparing high-incidence with low-incidence ESRD spatial clusters. With this territorial approach, the ambition is not to demonstrate causal effects but rather to identify hypothesis that could be tested at the individual level in future epidemiological studies. KEYWORDS : spatial composite indices, multiple environmental pressures, publicly available data, spatial heterogeneity of incidence, end-stage renal disease.

A Single-Center Experience with Forearm Arteriovenous Loop Grafts for Hemodialysis

Autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) remains the standard of hemodialysis (HD) access; however, it cannot be reasonably obtained in all patients. For patients with contraindications to AVFs, prosthetic arteriovenous graft (AVG) remains an alternative. AVGs are plagued by high failure rates; however, there is a paucity of literature examining this. This study aims to examine a single-center review of outcomes of forearm loop AVGs in patients requiring HD access. A single institution, retrospective chart review was completed from 2012 to 2019, including demographics, end-stage renal disease etiology, brachial vessel diameters, and comorbidities. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were evaluated. Outcomes were defined as primary patency (time elapsed from graft creation until it was utilized as the patient's primary access), primary-assisted patency (time from primary access to intervention to maintain patency), and functional patency (time from graft placement until graft failure). Additionally, multinomial regression models were used to evaluate associations with categorical number of required interventions. Ninety-eight patients [mean age 61.8 (13.9) years, 42.9% female] were identified as having brachial artery to brachial vein AVG creation during the study period, of which 75% achieved primary patency. Primary-assisted patency was 0.36 [standard error (SE) 0.07] at 6months and 0.12 (SE 0.05) at 1year. Functional patency was 0.75 (SE 0.07) at 6months and 0.43 (SE 0.09) at 1year. No association between preoperative vessel diameters and primary-assisted or functional patency was observed. Interestingly, there was a significant negative association between previous ipsilateral access and achievement of primary patency with a 60% decrease in odds of achieving primary patency in patients with previous ipsilateral access [odds ratio 0.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1-0.9, P=0.03]. There was also noted to be a significant association between the presence of an ipsilateral catheter and increased risk of subsequent abandonment of the AVG (hazard ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-5.8, P=0.02). Prosthetic forearm loop AVGs remain hindered in their utility as they show high rates of graft failure within a year of creation. A significant patient-specific factor leading to this was not clearly demonstrated. As guidelines change regarding the nature of dialysis access for patients on HD, these results draw into question the utility of prosthetic forearm loop grafts in patients requiring long-term HD access.

MO768: The Association among Carotid IMT, Pulse Wave Velocity and Vascular Access Failure in Haemodialysis Patients

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. We aimed to compare the value of IMT with tests such as coronary CT and pulse wave velocity (PWV) as predictors of cardiovascular risk in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance dialysis and examine their association with cardiovascular disease. METHOD We reviewed the participants’ medical records, including height, body weight, smoking status, alcohol intake, medication history, aetiology of ESRD, HD vintage and blood pressure which were measured during haemodialysis. Carotid doppler was performed by a skilled sonographer who was unaware of the aims of the study and blinded to the laboratory findings. For PWV measurement, patients lie down, rest for at least 5 minutes and stop smoking and coffee for 3 h before the measurement. BaPWV is measured by recording pulse waves of both arms and ankles from the pressure signal obtained by measuring 4-extremity blood pressure. RESULTS A total of 100 patients were included, of whom 51 (50.5%) were men. The median age was 66 years (interquartile range 58–76 years). The median vintage of haemodialysis was 47.5 months (range 31.3–89.1 months). There were no significant differences between the high IMT group and the low IMT group in sex, haemodialysis vintage, ESRD aetiology and type of vascular access. However, age was significantly older in the high IMT group. IMT was significantly associated with PWV [hazard ratio (HR) 2.109; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.037–4.291, P = 0.039). After adjusting for age, sex and presence of diabetes, IMT was independently associated with PWV (HR 2.110, 95% CI 1.036–4.298, P = 0.040). The risk of recurrent vascular access failure was higher in the high IMT group (HR 1.615, 95% CI 1.460–5.669, P = 0.034). CONCLUSION IMT was associated with PWV and recurrent access failure. Thus, IMT may be suggested as a potential predictor of vascular access failure.

MO769: Utility of Doppler Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Arteriovenous Fistula, a Nephrologists Perspective

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is preferred for long-term haemodialysis vascular access. AV fistula creation requires adequate arterial and venous anatomy to support its creation and a sufficient time interval to allow the AV fistula to mature prior to its use. Failure to mature remains a problem highlighting the importance of the perioperative evaluation of the fistula. Ultrasound and colour doppler are a rapid, non-invasive and repeatable tools that can be used for the early diagnosis of vascular complications. METHOD A prospective, observational study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in South India. All the patients with arteriovenous fistulas made in the upper limb between the time period of June 2021–August 2021 were included. A preoperative doppler mapping and assessment of the upper lime was done by the nephrology team and two DUS exams in the post-operative period. RESULTS In our study, a total of 134 patients were evaluated with a mean age of 51.89 ± 13.7 years. The total number of males in the study was 115 (85.8%). The aetiology of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was predominantly nondiabetic in origin seen in 56.7% of the patients. Ischaemic heart disease was seen in 36 patients. There were 116 brachiocephalic,18 radiocephalic AV fistulas in our group of patients. The overall success rate of the fistula was 79.9%. The average vein diameter in patients with successful AV fistula was 3.03 ± 1.05 mm and was 2.25 ± 0.9 mm in those who had a failed fistula. The average blood flow measurement in the proximal artery supplying the fistula was 479.42 ± 113.1 mL/min in the immediate post-op period and 1055.88 ± 227.6 mL/min at 6 weeks. There was a significant difference (P&amp;lt;0.05) in the blood flow measurement between those who achieved primary patency versus those with failure to mature. CONCLUSION It is essential for a practicing nephrologist to be acquainted with the technique of doppler to assess AV fistula to assess for maturity and to see for.