Initiation Of Dialysis Therapy Research Articles

The Legacy Effect of Intensive versus Standard Blood Pressure Control on the Incidence of Dialysis or Kidney Transplantation.

The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) showed that intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure (BP) increased the risk of incident chronic kidney disease and episodes of acute kidney injury. Whether intensive treatment changes the risk of kidney failure is unknown. The goal of this study was to estimate the legacy effect of intensive versus standard systolic BP lowering on the longer-term incidence of kidney failure. Secondary analysis of a randomized, open-label clinical trial with observational follow-up. Between 2010 and 2013, patients 50 years and older with hypertension and higher cardiovascular risk excluding those with diabetes mellitus, history of stroke, proteinuria >1g / day or polycystic kidney disease were recruited from 102 clinic sites in the United States and Puerto Rico. Participants were randomized to a systolic BP goal of <120 mm Hg (intensive treatment) or <140 mm Hg (standard treatment group). We linked participants with the US Renal Data System to ascertain kidney failure (initiation of dialysis therapy or transplantation) and the US National Death Index to ascertain all-cause mortality through 2020. Based on analysis of 9279 (99.1%) of 9361 randomized participants, 101 cases of kidney failure occurred over a median follow-up of 8.6 years (interquartile range 8.0 to 9.1 years), with the majority occurring in 74 (73.3%) participants with an eGFR<45 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline. Intensive treatment did not significantly increase the risk of kidney failure either overall (cause-specific Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.81 - 1.78) or in the subgroup of participants with baseline eGFR<45 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.89 - 2.30). Overall, and in patients with eGFR <45 ml/min/1.73 m2, there were higher rates of dialysis or transplantation among SPRINT participants randomized to intensive treatment, but the modest differences observed were not statistically significant.

NT-pro BNP level at dialysis initiation is a useful biomarker for predicting hospitalization for ischemic heart disease.

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are at high risk of cardiovascular disease including stroke, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease (IHD). To prevent the occurrence and progression of CVD, a reliable prognostic cardiac biomarker is essential. We investigated the prognostic value of NT-proBNP for each incident type of CVD. Male patients from the Ibaraki Dialysis Initiation Cohort (iDIC) study with preserved serum samples from dialysis initiation day (n = 212) were analyzed. Patients were classified into four groups according to quartiles of baseline NT-pro BNP levels. The relationship between NT-proBNP levels at the initiation of dialysis and the subsequent incidence of hospitalization events due to IHD, heart failure, and stroke was analyzed. The incidence rate for hospitalization due to IHD was significantly higher in the highest NT-proBNP category (Log rank p = 0.008); those of stroke and heart failure showed no significant differences among quartiles. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that serum NT-proBNT was the only prognostic factor for hospitalization for IHD after adjustment by major known IHD risk factors. (HR, 1.008; 95% confidence interval, 1.002-1.014; p = 0.01) The ROC curve analysis for the incidence of hospitalization due to IHD showed that NT-proBNP had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.759 (95% CI 0.622-0.897; p = 0.004) at a cut-off value of 956.6pg/mL. NT-proBNP measurement at the initiation of dialysis therapy is useful to predict later hospitalization for IHD. UMIN000010806.

Deep neck space infections in end-stage renal disease patients: Prevalence and mortality.

Deep neck space infections (DNSI) are severe infections within the layers of neck fascia that are known to be associated with underlying immunocompromised states. Although uremia associated with kidney disease is known to cause immune system dysfunction, DNSI in patients with kidney disease has been poorly studied. This study investigated the prevalence of DNSI and the associated risk of mortality within the United States end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population, using a retrospective cohort study design and the United States Renal Data System database of patients (ages 18-100) who initiated dialysis therapy between 2005 and 2019. International Classification of Disease-9 and -10 codes were used to identify the diagnosis of DNSI and comorbid conditions. Of the 705,891 included patients, 2.2% had a diagnosis of DNSI. Variables associated with increased risk of DNSI were female sex, black compared to white race, catheter, or graft compared to arteriovenous fistula (AVF) access, autoimmune disease, chronic tonsillitis, diagnoses in the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), tobacco use, and alcohol dependence. DNSI diagnosis was an independent risk factor for mortality, which was also associated with other comorbidity factors such as older age, catheter or graft compared to AVF access, comorbidities in the CCI, tobacco use, and alcohol dependence. Because of the increased mortality risk of DSNI in the ESRD population, health professionals should encourage good oral hygiene practices and smoking cessation, and they should closely monitor these patients to reduce poor outcomes.

Sustainability of peritoneal dialysis and renal function with proactive combination therapy.

Most combined peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis therapies are used to compensate for the lack of dialysis volume and efficiency in pre-started peritoneal dialysis patients. The aim was to determine the effects on both peritoneal dialysis and residual renal function when proactively combined therapy is started at dialysis induction. This report was based on observation of 10 patients who initiated dialysis therapy with a combination of peritoneal and hemodialysis at induction, and the control group consisted of 24 patients with peritoneal monotherapy in a single dialysis center. The technical survival of peritoneal dialysis therapy and urinary volume and creatinine clearance as residual renal function were assessed. Technical survival of peritoneal dialysis during the 5-year observation period was much better in patients who started with proactive combination therapy than with peritoneal dialysis monotherapy. Between induction and 24months later, median urinary volume (interquartile value) changed from 1500 (1100-1583) to 800 (545-1875) mL/day and from 1600 (1300-2150) to 1480 (115-1885) mL/day for peritoneal alone and for combination therapy, respectively. Creatinine clearance values changed from 7.0 (6.0-8.7) to 2.0 (1.0-3.0) mL/min for peritoneal alone and from 6.0 (4.0-7.3) to 3.0 (0.5-4.0) mL/min for combination therapy. Though some possible confounding factors, including selection bias, cannot be ruled out, this investigation suggests the benefit of proactive combination dialysis therapy on the sustainability of peritoneal dialysis and residual renal function.

Impact of unplanned peritoneal dialysis start on patients' outcomes-A multicenter cohort study.

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) who start unplanned dialysis therapy are more likely to be treated with hemodialysis (HD) using a central venous catheter, which has been associated with a greater risk of infections and other complications, as well as with a higher long-term risk of death. Urgent-start PD is an alternative that has been suggested as an option for starting dialysis in these cases, with potentially better patient outcomes. However, the definition of urgent-start PD is not homogeneous, and no study, to our knowledge, has compared clinical outcomes among urgent start, early start, and conventional start of PD. In this study, we aimed to compare these types of initiation of dialysis therapy in terms of a composite outcome of patient survival and technique failure. This is a retrospective, multicenter, cohort study, involving data from 122 PD clinics in Brazil. We used the following: Urgent-start groups refer to patients who initiated PD within 72 h after the PD catheter insertion; early-start groups are those starting PD from 72 h to 2 weeks after the catheter insertion; and conventional-start groups are those who used the PD catheter after 2 weeks from its insertion. We analyzed the composite endpoint of all causes of patient's mortality and technique failure (within the initial 90 days of PD therapy) using the following three different statistical models: multivariate Cox, Fine and Gay competing risk, and a multilevel model. We included 509 patients with valid data across 68 PD clinics. There were 38 primary outcomes, comprising 25 deaths and 13 technique failures, with a total follow-up time of 1,393.3 months. Urgent-start PD had no association with the composite endpoint in all three models. Unplanned PD seems to be a safe and feasible option for treatment for patients with non-dialysis ESKD in urgent need of dialysis.

MO764: Type of Vascular Access in Incident Hemodialysis Patients in Morocco: Predialysis Nephrology Care Should be Improved

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Current guidelines recommend early placement of an autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) before initiation of chronic hemodialysis therapy. Also, several studies showed that optimal pre-dialysis care is crucial to prepare a functioning permanent dialysis access. However, despite these recommendations, incident patients in Morocco usually initiate dialysis therapy using temporary catheters. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to identify the types of vascular access used by incident hemodialysis patients in Morocco and to determine the effect of pre-dialysis renal care on native AVF utilization. METHOD We conducted a cross-sectional study at the nephrology department of Mohammed VI university hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 among adult incident hemodialysis patients. Clinical and demographic characteristics, as well as data on vascular access type and nephrology care prior to dialysis initiation, were recorded. RESULTS A total of 210 patients were enrolled in our study. The mean age of the participants was 51.6 ± 12.3 years (19–78) with a male predominance (71.4%). The leading cause of the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was diabetic nephropathy in 41.4% of the patients. At hemodialysis therapy initiation, 173 patients (82.4%) were dialyzed using a temporary central venous catheter (CVC), 20 (9.5%) with a tunneled hemodialysis catheter (TDC) and 17 (8.1%) with an AVF. Out of all participants, only 81 (38.5%) received prior nephrology care. Patients who reported being seen by a nephrologist at least 1 month before starting hemodialysis therapy (75%) were more likely than those referred later to use an AV access at initiation (22.2% versus 1.5%; P &amp;lt; 0.001). This association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, geographical origin, education, insurance coverage, comorbidity status and underlying renal diagnosis. CONCLUSION Our findings showed a high incidence of CVC use among incident hemodialysis patients which is contrary to all recommendations. Also, we found that patients who received pre-dialysis nephrology care were significantly more likely to start their HD through AVF. Therefore, further efforts to improve both referral patterns and preparation for dialysis after referral are needed.

POS-646 TYPE OF VASCULAR ACCESS IN INCIDENT HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS IN MOROCCO: PREDIALYSIS NEPHROLOGY CARE SHOULD BE IMPROVED

Current guidelines recommend early placement of an autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) before initiation of chronic hemodialysis therapy. Also, several studies showed that optimal predialysis care is crucial to prepare a functioning permanent dialysis access. However, despite these recommendations, incident patients in Morocco usually initiate dialysis therapy using temporary catheters. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to identify the types of vascular access used by incident hemodialysis patients in Morocco and to determine the effect of predialysis renal care on native AVF utilization. We conducted a cross-sectional study at nephrology department of Mohammed VI university hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 among adult incident hemodialysis patients. Clinical and demographic characteristics, as well as data on vascular access type and nephrology care prior to dialysis initiation were recorded. A total of 210 patients were enrolled in our study. The mean age of the participants was 51.6 ±12.3 (19-78) with a male predominance (71.4%). The leading cause of ESRD was diabetic nephropathy in 41.4% of the patients. At hemodialysis therapy initiation, 173 patients (82.4%) were dialyzed using a temporary central venous catheter (CVC), 20 (9.5%) with a tunneled hemodialysis catheter (TDC) and 17 (8.1%) with an AVF. Out of all participants, only 81 (38.5%) received prior nephrology care. Patients who reported being seen by a nephrologist at least 1 month before starting hemodialysis therapy (75%) were more likely than those referred later to use an AV access at initiation (22.2% versus 1.5%; P < 0.001). This association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, geographical origin, education, insurance coverage, comorbidity status and underlying renal diagnosis. Our findings showed a high incidence of CVC use among incident hemodialysis patients which is contrary to all recommendations. Also, we found that patients who received predialysis nephrology care were significantly more likely to start their HD through AVF. Therefore, further efforts to improve both referral patterns and preparation for dialysis after referral are needed.

Factors that lead to dialysis as the preferred treatment modality for patients with chronic kidney disease.

To describe forces that lead to dialysis as the preferred treatment modality for patients with chronic kidney disease. Although chronic dialysis is life-saving and the only option available for many individuals, treatment of the underlying causes of kidney disease and transplantation may be preferable options for many patients. Factors that favor dialysis instead of treatment of underlying kidney disease or transplantation include lack of proper diagnosis, lack of proper treatment of underlying kidney disease, poor compliance, lack of consideration for transplantation, early initiation of dialysis therapy, and financial incentives. New developments that may reverse this trend include genetic panels that improve diagnosis of kidney disease, new methods of transplantation, and legislation that will encourage kidney transplantation. By recognizing factors that favor dialysis over other therapies, nephrologists may be better able to provide care to their patients and prevent dialysis, researchers may be able to focus on research that will prevent the need for dialysis, and professional societies may work to prevent unneeded dialysis.

Muscle fibrosis and maladaptation occur progressively in CKD and are rescued by dialysis.

BACKGROUNDSkeletal muscle maladaptation accompanies chronic kidney disease (CKD) and negatively affects physical function. Emphasis in CKD has historically been placed on muscle fiber–intrinsic deficits, such as altered protein metabolism and atrophy. However, targeted treatment of fiber-intrinsic dysfunction has produced limited improvement, whereas alterations within the fiber-extrinsic environment have scarcely been examined.METHODSWe investigated alterations to the skeletal muscle interstitial environment with deep cellular phenotyping of biopsies from patients with CKD and age-matched controls and performed transcriptome profiling to define the molecular underpinnings of CKD-associated muscle impairments. We examined changes in muscle maladaptation following initiation of dialysis therapy for kidney failure.RESULTSPatients with CKD exhibited a progressive fibrotic muscle phenotype, which was associated with impaired regenerative capacity and lower vascular density. The severity of these deficits was strongly associated with the degree of kidney dysfunction. Consistent with these profound deficits, CKD was associated with broad alterations to the muscle transcriptome, including altered ECM organization, downregulated angiogenesis, and altered expression of pathways related to stem cell self-renewal. Remarkably, despite the seemingly advanced nature of this fibrotic transformation, dialysis treatment rescued these deficits, restoring a healthier muscle phenotype. Furthermore, after accounting for muscle atrophy, strength and endurance improved after dialysis initiation.CONCLUSIONThese data identify a dialysis-responsive muscle fibrotic phenotype in CKD and suggest the early dialysis window presents a unique opportunity of improved muscle regenerative capacity during which targeted interventions may achieve maximal impact.TRIAL REGISTRATIONNCT01452412FUNDINGNIH, NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA), and Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center

Assessment of nutritional status in patients with chronic kidney disease in Nigeria.

In Nigeria, there is paucity of data on malnutrition among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients especially before the initiation of dialysis therapy, necessitating this study. The study subjects consisted of 96 CKD patients recruited from the renal unit of our hospital. Forty age-and sex-matched controls were also studied. Nutritional status was assessed using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), weight change over six months of follow-up, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, and serum albumin concentration. A three-day food diary was used to determine the average daily protein intake of the patients. Sixty-six CKD patients completed the study. The age range of CKD patients was 23-65 years with a mean of 47.1 ± 13.2 years while the age range of the controls was 23-65 years with a mean of 44.1 ± 14.3 years. Out of the 66 CKD patients studied, four lost >10% of their body weight. The body mass index (BMI) was low (<20 kg/m2) in eight (12.1%) of CKD patients, while three (7.5%) subjects in the control population had BMI of <20 kg/m2. The serum albumin was less than 3 g/dL in seven (10.6%) of the CKD patients, SGA identified malnutrition in 30 (46%) of the CKD patients. The prevalence of malnutrition in predialysis CKD patients was high in this study.

Preserved peritoneal function by short-term two-day peritoneal rest in hemodialysis combination therapy patients.

Several reports have demonstrated that peritoneal rest (PR) is considered to preserve the peritoneal function in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. However, there has been no report that examines the peritoneal permeability before and after a short-term PR of two days. We examined the effect of the two-day PR on peritoneal permeability. We observed and compared the daily PD ultrafiltration changes in the four PD and hemodialysis (HD) combination patients from the start of dialysis therapy throughout the total observation period of each case. Next, 6months after the initiation of dialysis therapy we performed a set of peritoneal equilibrium tests (PET) before and after the 2-day PR. D/P creatinine, daily urine volume, daily ultrafiltration volume in PD, weekly residual renal creatinine clearance, and weekly PD creatinine clearance were measured. The daily PD ultrafiltration volume increased significantly after the 2-day PR, and gradually decreased over the last four days throughout the observation period in each patient. In the PET results, D/P creatinine in all patients decreased after the short-term PR, and accordingly the peritoneal ultrafiltration volume increased. However, urine volume, residual renal creatinine clearance, and peritoneal creatinine clearance did not change. The peritoneal permeability clearly decreased after the short-term PR. The repeated improvement in the PD ultrafiltration volume after the short-term PR implies that the peritoneal permeability alteration might be due to a reversible functional change in the initial dialysis period. These results suggest that a short-term PR may preserve the peritoneal function.

Impact of initial dialysis modality on the survival of patients with ESRD in eastern China: a propensity-matched study

BackgroundThere are conflicting research results about the survival differences between hemodialysis(HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). The present study estimated the survival and the relative mortality hazard for incident HD and PD patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) in eastern China.MethodsThis study examined a cohort of patients with ESRD who initiated dialysis therapy in Zhejiang province between Jan of 2010 and Dec of 2014, followed up until the end of 2015. PD patients were matched in a 1:1 fashion with HD patients, and Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to explore the survival of them. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was applied to identify the factors that predict survival by treatment modality. Subgroup analyses were conducted by stratifying patients according to gender, age, causes of ESRD and comorbidities.ResultsAmong a total of 22,379 enrolled patients (17,029 HD patients and 5350 PD patients), 5350 matched pairs were identified, and followed for a median of 29 months (3 ~ 72 months). Kaplan-Meier survival curve revealed that overall mortality rate was significantly higher in HD patients than in PD patients (log-rank test, P < 0.001), after adjusting by gender, age, primary causes of ESRD and comorbidities. HD was consistently associated with an increased risk for morality compared with PD in the matched cohort (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 1.140, 95%CI: 1.023 ~ 1.271). In subgroup analyses, male, younger patients, or nondiabetic patients aged less than 65 years after adjustment of covariates, initiating with PD was associated with a significantly lower mortality compared with HD. In the multivariate Cox proportional risks model, age, diabetic nephropathy (DN), other/unknown causes of ESRD, and patients with a history of cardiovascular disease or cancer showed statistical significance in explaining survival of incident ESRD patients.ConclusionsESRD patients who initiated dialysis with PD yielded superior survival rates compared to HD. Increased use of PD as initial dialysis modality in ESRD patients could be encouraged in Chinese population.

Incidence of Fractures Before and After Dialysis Initiation.

ABSTRACTFractures are common in dialysis patients, but little is known about the trajectory of incidence rates of different types of fractures before and after dialysis initiation. To address this, we investigated the incidence of major fractures before and after dialysis initiation. We performed a retrospective statistical analysis using the Swedish Renal Registry of 9041 incident dialysis patients (median age 67 years, 67% men) starting dialysis 2005 through 2015 to identify major fractures (hip, spine, humerus, and forearm) occurring during the dialysis transition period from 1 year before until 1 year after dialysis initiation. Using flexible parametric hazard models and the Fine‐Gray model, we estimated adjusted fracture incidence rates and predictors of major fractures. We identified 361 cases with primary diagnosis of major fracture, of which 196 (54%) were hip fractures. The crude incidence rate of major fractures before dialysis initiation was 17 per 1000 patient‐years (n = 157) and after dialysis initiation it was 24 per 1000 patient‐years (n = 204). The adjusted incidence rate of major fractures began to increase 6 months before dialysis initiation, and then stabilized at a higher rate after 1 year. The adjusted incidence rate of hip fractures started to increase sharply 3 months before dialysis initiation, peaked at initiation, and declined thereafter. In contrast, the adjusted incidence rate of non‐hip fractures was stable during the transition period and gradually increased over time. Higher age, female sex, and history of previous major fractures were associated with increased fracture incidence both before and after dialysis initiation. We conclude that the incidence of major fractures, especially hip fractures, start to rise 6 months before initiation of dialysis therapy, indicating that heightened surveillance with implementation of preventive measures to avoid fractures is warranted during the transition period to dialysis. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

P0741CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PROGRESSION IN A LARGE PREVENTION COHORT IN COLOMBIA

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a syndrome that today has important implications for the health of populations and the economic sustainability of health systems around the world, therefore strategies to slow disease progression are necessary. Aims: To estimate the incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in a cohort of patients included in a CKD secondary prevention program and to describe the decrease of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Method This is a historical, multicenter, observational cohort study in a prevention program between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017, with follow-up until December 31, 2018, at the Renal Care Services (RCS) network. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were summarized descriptively. We estimated the incidence of RRT rate with Kaplan Meier analysis. Progression rate to RRT was analyzed by mixed-effects model adjusted for the eGFR reduction rate at 180 days; the model considered the diagnosis of diabetes. Results 7131 patients met the inclusion criteria for data analysis. The mean age was 65 years, 50.5% were female, (Table 1). There were 577 events of RRT with a rate of 2.02 events of RRT per 100 patients-year [95% CI,1.86 to 2.19], characteristics at the RRT initiation are presented in Table 2. At the beginning of the program the eGFR was 45.3 ml / min / 1.73m2 in non-diabetics, and 40.9 3 ml / min / 1.73m2 in diabetics. The CKD progression was - 0.48 ml / min / 1.73m2 per 180 days in diabetics and - 0.20 ml / min / 1.73m2 per 180 days in non-diabetics. The final events of the cohort are presented in Figure 1; the mortality rate was 0.89 events per 100 patients-year [95% CI, 0,79 to 1,01]. Conclusion This population of patients in a CKD prevention program presented a low rate of initiation of dialysis therapy and a slight decrease of eGFR; the diabetic status influences the CKD progression.

The Impact of a Social Networking Service-Enhanced Smart Care Model on Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease: Quasi-Experimental Study.

BackgroundStage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents a high risk for dialysis initiation and for complications such as uremic encephalopathy, uremic symptoms, gastrointestinal bleeding, and infection. One of the most common barriers to health care for patients with stage 5 CKD is poor continuity of care due to unresolved communication gaps.ObjectiveOur aim was to establish a powerful care model that includes the use of a social networking service (SNS) to improve care quality for patients with CKD and safely delay dialysis initiation.MethodsWe used a retrospective cohort of CKD patients aged 20-85 years who received care between 2007 and 2017 to evaluate the efficacy of incorporating an SNS into the health care system. In 2014, author F-JY, a nephrologist at the National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, started to use an SNS app to connect with stage 5 CKD patients and their families. In cases of emergency, patients and families could quickly report any condition to F-JY. Using this app, F-JY helped facilitate productive interactions between these patients and the health care system. The intention was to safely delay the initiation of dialysis therapy. We divided patients into four groups: group 1 (G1) included patients at the study hospital during the 2007-2014 period who had contact only with nephrologists other than F-JY; group 2 (G2) included patients who visited F-JY during the 2007-2014 period before he began using the SNS app; group 3 (G3) included patients who visited nephrologists other than F-JY during the 2014-2017 period and had no interactions using the SNS; and group 4 (G4) included patients who visited F-JY during the 2014-2017 period and interacted with him using the SNS app.ResultsWe recruited 209 patients with stage 5 CKD who had been enrolled in the study hospital’s CKD program between 2007 and 2017. Each of the four groups initiated dialysis at different times. Before adjusting for baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the G4 patients had a longer time to dialysis (mean 761.7 days, SD 616.2 days) than the other groups (G1: mean 403.6 days, SD 409.4 days, P=.011 for G4 vs G1; G2: 394.8 days, SD 318.8 days, P=.04; G3: 369.1 days, SD 330.8 days, P=.049). After adjusting for baseline eGFR, G4 had a longer duration for each eGFR drop (mean 84.8 days, SD 65.1 days) than the other groups (G1: mean 43.5 days, SD 45.4 days, P=.005; G2: mean 42.5 days, SD 26.5 days, P=.03; G3: mean 3.8.7 days, SD 33.5 days, P=.002).ConclusionsThe use of an SNS app between patients with stage 5 CKD and their physicians can reduce the communication gap between them and create benefits such as prolonging time-to-dialysis initiation. The role of SNSs and associated care models should be further investigated in a larger population.

Urinary Liver-Type Fatty-Acid-Binding Protein Predicts Long-Term Adverse Outcomes in Medical Cardiac Intensive Care Units.

We prospectively investigated the prognostic value of urinary liver-type fatty-acid-binding protein (L-FABP) levels on hospital admission, both independently and in combination with serum creatinine-defined acute kidney injury (AKI), to predict long-term adverse outcomes in 1119 heterogeneous patients (mean age; 68 years) treated at medical (non-surgical) cardiac intensive care units (CICUs). Patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease were excluded from the study. Of these patients, 47% had acute coronary syndrome and 38% had acute decompensated heart failure. The creatinine-defined AKI was diagnosed according to the “Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes” criteria. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death or progression to end-stage kidney disease, indicating the initiation of maintenance dialysis therapy or kidney transplantation. Creatinine-defined AKI occurred in 207 patients, with 44 patients having stage 2 or 3 disease. During a mean follow-up period of 41 months after enrollment, the primary endpoint occurred in 242 patients. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed L-FABP levels as independent predictors of the primary endpoint (p < 0.001). Adding L-FABP to a baseline model with established risk factors further enhanced reclassification and discrimination beyond that of the baseline model alone, for primary-endpoint prediction (both; p < 0.01). On Kaplan–Meier analyses, increased L-FABP (≥4th quintile value of 9.0 ng/mL) on admission or presence of creatinine-defined AKI, correlated with an increased risk of the primary endpoint (p < 0.001). Thus, urinary L-FABP levels on admission are potent and independent predictors of long-term adverse outcomes, and they might improve the long-term risk stratification of patients admitted at medical CICUs, when used in combination with creatinine-defined AKI.

Is Metabolic Acidosis a Novel Risk Factor for a Long-Term Graft Survival in Patients after Kidney Transplantation?

Background: Results of both experimental and clinical studies suggest that metabolic acidosis (MA) contributes to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mortality in CKD patients. It is unknown whether the same relationship exists in kidney transplantation (KTx) patients. The aim of this observational study was to examine this relationship between MA and both mortality and renal outcomes in patients after KTx. Methods: Four hundred eighty-six (290 male; 196 female) patients aged 48 ± 12 years, at least 1 year after KTx, were analyzed. Blood HCO₃^– was measured, and patients were then observed over 3 years. MA was defined as the blood HCO₃^– concentration <22 mmol/L. The end points of survival analysis were death and initiation of dialysis therapy. In patients who did not reach the above-mentioned end points, the difference between final (after 3 years of follow-up) and initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. Results: MA was initially diagnosed in 57 (12%) patients after KTx. Three-year patient survival was 89.5% in the MA group and 97.4% in the non-MA group (p = 0.001). Three-year graft survival was 73.7% for patients with MA and 93.0% for patients without MA (p < 0.001). In patients with MA who did not reach study end points, blood bicarbonate concentration at baseline correlated positively with a change in eGFR (R = 0.48, p = 0.002, n = 36). Such a correlation was not found in patients without MA (n = 388). Conclusions: (1) MA significantly increases the risk of mortality in patients after KTx. (2) The intensity of MA may be associated with progression of transplanted kidney dysfunction in KTx patients.

Double purse-string around the inner cuff of the peritoneal catheter: A novel technique for an immediate initiation of continuous peritoneal dialysis.

International guidelines recommended a delayed start of peritoneal dialysis at least 2 weeks between catheter insertion and continuous peritoneal dialysis therapy initiation (break-in period). Up to now, the optimal duration of the break-in period is still unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate in patients, with immediate initiation of continuous peritoneal dialysis, the efficacy of a double purse-string around the inner cuff in preventing mechanical and infectious complications either in semi-surgical or surgical catheter implantation. From January 2011 to December 2018, 135 peritoneal dialysis catheter insertions in 125 patients (90 men and 35 women, mean age 62.02 ± 16.7) were performed. Seventy-seven straight double-cuffed Tenckhoff catheters were implanted semi-surgically on midline under the umbilicus by a trocar, and 58 were surgically implanted through the rectus muscle. In all patients, continuous peritoneal dialysis was started immediately after catheter placement. Mechanical and infectious catheter-related complications during the first 3 months after initiation of continuous peritoneal dialysis were recorded. The overall incidence of leakages, catheter dislocations, peritonitis, and exit-site infections was 4/135 (2.96%), 2/135 (1.48%), 14/135 (10.3%), and 4/135 (2.96%), respectively. Regarding the incidence of catheter-related complications, no bleeding events, bowel perforations, or hernia formations were observed with either the semi-surgical or surgical technique. Double purse-string technique around the inner cuff allows an immediate start of continuous peritoneal dialysis both with semi-surgical and surgical catheter implantation. This technique is a safe and feasible approach in patients needing an urgent peritoneal dialysis.

Association between timing of dialysis initiation and clinical outcomes in the paediatric population: an ESPN/ERA-EDTA registry study.

There is no consensus regarding the timing of dialysis therapy initiation for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in children. As studies investigating the association between timing of dialysis initiation and clinical outcomes are lacking, we aimed to study this relationship in a cohort of European children who started maintenance dialysis treatment. We used data on 2963 children from 21 different countries included in the European Society of Pediatric Nephrology/European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry who started renal replacement therapy before 18 years of age between 2000 and 2014. We compared two groups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at start: eGFR ≥8 mL/min/1.73 m2 (early starters) and eGFR <8 mL/min/1.73 m2 (late starters). The primary outcomes were patient survival and access to transplantation. Secondary outcomes were growth and cardiovascular risk factors. Sensitivity analyses were performed to account for selection- and lead time-bias. The median eGFR at the start of dialysis was 6.1 for late versus 10.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 for early starters. Early starters were older [median: 11.0, interquartile range (IQR): 5.7-14.5 versus 9.4, IQR: 2.6-14.1 years]. There were no differences observed between the two groups in mortality and access to transplantation at 1, 2 and 5 years of follow-up. One-year evolution of height standard deviation scores was similar among the groups, whereas hypertension was more prevalent among late initiators. Sensitivity analyses resulted in similar findings. We found no evidence for a clinically relevant benefit of early start of dialysis in children with ESKD. Presence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, should be taken into account when deciding to initiate or postpone dialysis in children with ESKD, as this affects the survival.

Pentoxifylline, progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular mortality: long-term follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.

Pentoxifylline could reduce proteinuria and slow renal disease progression. We previously conducted a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial that showed that pentoxifylline decreases inflammatory markers and stabilizes renal function. 91 participants (46 in the pentoxifylline group and 45 in the control group) followed up for 7 additional years. Post hoc analysis of a long-term follow-up after completion of the 12-months trial. Pentoxifylline treatment (400mg/twice a day) or standard treatment. Renal event (defined as starting dialysis therapy and/or doubling serum creatinine and/or ≥ 50% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate) and cardiovascular mortality. During follow-up, a renal event was recorded in 24 patients from control group (13 initiated dialysis therapy and serum creatinine doubled in 11) and 11 patients from PTF group (7 initiated dialysis and serum creatinine doubled in 4) (log Rank: 5.822, p = 0.016). The possible protector effect of PTF was more significant in albuminuric patients and was independently of diabetes mellitus presence. Treatment with PTF reduced the renal events by 35% compared to the control group in a Cox model adjusted for diabetes mellitus, albuminuria and basal renal function (HR 0.65 (0.45-0.94), p = 0.022). Cardiovascular mortality was significantly reduced in PTF treatment (2 patients vs. 10 in control group) (log Rank 5.0977, p = 0.024). PTF treatment reduced cardiovascular mortality in 55% adjusted for diabetes mellitus and age (HR 0.45 (0.21-0.98), p = 0.044) (Table3). Small sample size, single center, not double blind and post hoc follow-up analysis. Long-term treatment with pentoxifylline may slow the rate of progression of kidney disease and reduce cardiovascular risk.