[The antiproteinuric effect of the blockage of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in obese patients. Which treatment option is the most effective? ]

BACKGROUND

Obesity increases the risk of proteinuria and chronic renal insufficiency and hastens the progression of renal diseases. Increased activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and elevated levels of aldosterone are common in obese patients. No studies have compared the efficacy of the currently available antiproteinuric strategies (ACE inhibitors -ACEI-, angiotensin receptor blockers -ARB-, aldosterone antagonists) in obese patients with proteinuric renal diseases.

METHODS

Single centre, prospective, randomized study. Twelve obese patients (body mass index > 30 Kg/m2) with proteinuria > 0.5 g/24 h were selected from our outpatient renal clinic. Patients were consecutively treated during 6 weeks with an ACEI (lisinopril 20 mg/day), combined therapy ACEI+ARB (lisinopril 10 mg/day + candesartan 16 mg/day) and eplerenone (25 mg/day) in random order. A drug washout period of 6 weeks was established between the different treatment periods. The primary outcome point was the change in 24-h proteinuria at the end of each treatment period and the number of patients showing a proteinuria reduction greater than 25% of baseline.

RESULTS

The reduction in proteinuria induced by lisinopril (11.3+/-34.8%) was not statistically significant with respect to baseline, whereas that of lisinopril plus candesartan (26.9+/-30.6%) and eplerenone (28.4+/-31.6%) showed a statistically significant difference both with respect to baseline values and to lisinopril group. The number of patients who showed a greater than 25% proteinuria reduction was significantly higher with eplerenone (67%) and lisinopril+candesartan (67%) than with lisinopril (25%).

CONCLUSIONS

Monotherapy with an aldosterone antagonist and combination therapy with ACEI+ARB were more effective than ACEI monotherapy to reduce proteinuria in obese patients with proteinuric renal diseases.

[Floppy-iris syndrome associated with tamsulosin. A prospective case-control study]

OBJECTIVE

The main objectives of this study were: To assess the incidence of the intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome associated with tamsulosin and to analyse the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications as compared to a control group. Secondary objectives were: to describe the pupillary modifications associated with tamsulosin and to quantify the endothelial cell loss.

METHODS

A prospective review of 38 eyes of 38 patients was performed. Patients were assigned to two different groups. Group 1 (cases) included 19 eyes of 19 male patients taking tamsulosin, and group 2 (controls) included 19 eyes of 19 male patients not taking tamsulosin.

RESULTS

Only two patients (10%) of our study had the complete triad seen in floppy-iris syndrome; 9 patients (47%) showed 2 of the 3 main features of the syndrome and only 2 patients showed iris billowing during phacoemulsification. None of the patients in group 2 showed any of the characteristic intraoperative features. The complication rate was similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome occurred in 67% of the patients treated with tamsulosin. The only postoperative secondary effect was a lower pupil reactivity in patients taking tamsulosin.

Is an emergency heart transplantation justified?

INTRODUCTION

Emergency heart transplantation remains an important controversy due to the shortage of donors and the previously demonstrated results inferior to other patients. These recipients display a worse clinical status and their donors are more often considered suboptimal. Nevertheless, it is the only therapeutic option for patients with advanced cardiomyopathy and acute decompensation with no response to other therapies. We compared results among the emergency indication with those of elective transplants.

METHODS

We analyzed the 213 patients who underwent cardiac transplantation in our center up to December 2004 to compare emergency with elective heart transplantations for preoperative and surgical variables as well as outcomes.

RESULTS

A higher percentage of emergency patients were New York Heart Association class IV, displayed renal dysfunction, and were women. Regarding donors, a higher percentage were over 40 years of age. No differences were observed in the early and first-year mortality or morbidity rates, although we noted a greater 5-year mortality rate among emergency cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In our center emergency heart transplantation was associated with only slightly worse results compared with elective transplantations. Both donors and recipients should be carefully selected to improve results.

[Glomerulopathies associated to HIV infection: a Spanish perspective]

HIV nephropathy (HIVAN) is the most frequent cause of chronic renal failure in HIV-infected black patients. However, the prevalence of other glomerulopathies mediated by immunocomplexes has increased in the last years. We report on the glomerular diseases observed in HIV patients in our Hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective study of all patients with HIV infection and glomerular diseases diagnosed by renal biopsy.

RESULTS

We found 27 patients with the following glomerular diseases: membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 8 patients, non-collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 7, IgA nephropaty (IgA N) in 6, collapsing glomerulosclerosis in 4 (HIVAN, and membranous nephropaty (MN) in 2. Most of patients were young white men. A high prevalence of coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) (77.8%) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) (37%) was found. At diagnosis, most of patients (90%) had proteinuria, with nephrotic syndrome in 52% of them; 59% presented with acute renal failure. Nine patients (33%) showed malignant hypertension at diagnosis: this complication was particularly common among IgA N patients (4/6, 66%).

CONCLUSION

In our Hospital, immunocomplex-mediated glomerulonephritis were more frequent than HIVAN among HIV-infected patients. HCV-associated MPGN was the most frequently detected glomerular disease. A high prevalence of malignant hypertension was observed at diagnosis, particularly among patients with IgAN.

Early handling reduces vulnerability of rats to activity-based anorexia

Resistance to restricted feeding with and without wheel access was tested in rats handled (H) for 20 days since birth. Weight loss produced by 1.5-hr restricted food access was less in H than in non-handled (NH) males when tested aged 41 days. At this age combining food restriction with access to a running wheel (a procedure commonly known as activity-based anorexia, ABA) produced very rapid weight loss and no effect of handling was detected. When 75-day females were tested in the same way, under the ABA procedure H rats took longer than NH controls to reach the removal criterion. Simply restricting food access in these females produced variable weight loss, without detection of any handling effect. No differences in food intake or running were detected between H and NH rats in either males or females. In conclusion, handling seems to have a direct effect on rats' later response to either food deprivation alone or to an ABA procedure.

Anti-CD25 Monoclonal Antibody Sequential Immunosuppressive Induction Therapy in Renal Transplants With High Risk of Delayed Graft Function

There is little experience on the use of monoclonal antibodies that block the high-affinity interleukin-2 receptor (basiliximab and daclizumab) in sequential therapy in renal transplants with risk of delayed graft function. This study sougth to test the efficacy and safety of the substitution of anticalcineurins with two doses of basiliximab or daclizumab in the immediate posttransplant period for recipients at risk of delayed renal graft function. Immunosuppression consisted of steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, and two doses of basiliximab (20 mg/day) on days 0 and 4 posttransplant or daclizumab (1 mg/kg per day) on days 0 and 15 posttransplant. Anticalcineurins were not administered until the beginning of graft function. Among 49 recipients (mean age 63.5 +/- 10.5 years), 40 received a kidney from a donor over 60 years of age, three from a non-heart-beating donor, and six from donors with an acute elevation of serum creatinine to 2.4 +/- 0.86 (1.7-3.7). At a mean follow-up of 14.2 +/- 8.4 months, five patients experienced acute rejection episodes. Only 15 patients needed posttransplant dialysis (2.7 +/- 1.6). In 11 patients, cyclosporine (CsA) was introduced at 6 +/- 2.9 days posttransplant and in 37, tacrolimus on 8.6 +/- 3.6 days posttransplant. The incidence of kidney graft loss was 16.3%. Patient survival was 96%. Thirty-nine recipients are alive with functioning grafts, with mean serum creatinine of 1.4 mg/dL. In conclusion, substitution for anticalcineurins with interleukin-2-receptor blockade in the immediate posttransplant period for patients at risk of delayed graft function minimizes nephrotoxicity and reduces tubular necrosis, without increasing the risk of an acute rejection episode.

Tacrolimus as Basic Immunosuppression in Pregnancy After Renal Transplantation. A Single-Center Experience

Renal transplantation restores fertility within an average of 6 months, so women of childbearing age are able to consider pregnancy. Successful pregnancies have been reported in recent years under different immunosuppressive regimens, but the optimal treatment to achieve the maximum safety for both the mother and fetus remains unclear. Tacrolimus has been demonstrated to provide long-term immunosuppression and prevent rejection in most renal transplants. It seems safe, but experience is limited compared with cyclosporine. We report our experience highlighting the high rate of successful pregnancies attained in women treated with tacrolimus as the basic immunosuppressant and advised of recommendations to achieve a healthy newborn. Renal function was preserved during the pregnancy. The puerperal period and the rate of gestation-related difficulties appeared similar to that of the general population.

Analysis of worldwide earthquake mortality using multivariate demographic and seismic data

In this paper, mortality in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake is studied on a worldwide scale using multivariate analysis. A statistical method is presented that analyzes reported earthquake fatalities as a function of a heterogeneous set of parameters selected on the basis of their presumed influence on earthquake mortality. The ensemble was compiled from demographic, seismic, and reported fatality data culled from available records of past earthquakes organized in a geographic information system. The authors consider the statistical relation between earthquake mortality and the available data ensemble, analyze the validity of the results in view of the parametric uncertainties, and propose a multivariate mortality analysis prediction method. The analysis reveals that, although the highest mortality rates are expected in poorly developed rural areas, high fatality counts can result from a wide range of mortality ratios that depend on the effective population size.

[Digestive haemorrhage due to angiodysplasia in dialysis patients. Treatment with conjugated estrogens]

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia is a very common cause of digestive hemorrhage among elderly patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Therapeutic possibilities are scarce, as well as information available. Here we present our experience with 8 cases of dialysis patients that were treated with conjugated estrogens because of digestive hemorrhage due to angiodysplasia. Dissapearance of bleeding was observed after the onset of estrogen therapy, with a significant decrease of blood transfusions. This type of non-invasive treatment can avoid aggressive therapeutic interventions in patients with a high prevalence of co-morbid conditions (old patients undergoing chronic dialysis).

[Treatment of steroid-dependent minimal change-nephrotic syndrome with mycophenolate mofetil]

Here we report two male patients, 16 and 20 years-old respectively, with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome showing frequent relapses and steroid dependence. Treatment with cyclosporin did not prevent the appearance of new relapses and both patients developed cyclosporin-dependence. The introduction of mycophenolate mofetil (500-15,000 mg/day) was followed by a sustained complete remission in both cases, without secondary effects.

[Antiproteinuric effect of renin-angiotensin system blockade in patients with normal/lower than 115 mmHg systolic blood pressure]

The renoprotective effect of renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) blockade by ACE inhibitors (ACEI) or AT1 receptor antagonists (ARA) in chronic proteinuric nephropathies is well known. Most studies have related this beneficial effect with the antihypertensive and antiproteinuric properties of these drugs, but this aspect has not been extensively analyzed in patients with normal/low values of blood pressure. We studied nineteen patients with different chronic proteinuric nephropathies that started ACEI or ARA because of proteinuria and despite systolic blood pressure (SBP) < or = 115 mmHg. Short and long-term tolerance to treatment as well as evolution of renal function parameters were recorded.

RESULTS

At baseline, SBP was 110.2 +/- 2.6 mmHg (105-115) an diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 68.6 +/- 4.3 (60-75). Initial low doses of ACEI or ARA were well tolerated. After 6 months of treatment, proteinuria decreased by 46% of baseline, from 2.1 +/- 1.8 g/day to 1.1 +/- 0.8 g/day, without significant changes in BP or renal function. After a 48 +/- 27 months follow up, proteinuria decreased to 0.7 +/- 0.6 g/day (68% of basal values). Renal function and BP did not show significant changes during follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

RAAS blockade by ACEI/ARA induces a significant antiproteinuric and renoprotective effect in proteinuric patients with normal/low levels of BP Initial doses of ACEI/ARA were well tolerated.

[Acute hyperphosphatemia secondary to phosphate administration for bowel preparation]

We report a 75-years-old woman, stable on a three-weekly hemodialysis program over a period of 3 years, who develop acute hyperphosphatemia secondary to phosphate administration for bowel preparation. The quick clinical diagnosis and the treatment with intensive hemodialysis resulted in a correction of hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, acidemia and other electrolyte abnormalities. The phosphate cathartics are contraindicated in patients with severe renal insufficient or in dialysis program. Our case shows the severe side effects secondary to injudicious use of sodium phosphate cathartics.

[Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with autoimmune thyroiditis]

Several cases of glomerular disease have been associated to thyroid diseases. The most frequent lesion described is membranous glomerulopathy, presented as a nephrotic syndrome. Here we report a 67-year-old man who developed a nephrotic syndrome accompanied by rapid derangement of renal function shortly after the onset of a primary hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis. High titers of circulating anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal thyroid antigen antibodies were detected. Serum levels of C3 and C4 fractions of complement were markedly decreased. Renal biopsy showed a membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with severe mesangial proliferation, a type of glomerular involvement non-described previously in the literature, in relation with thyroid diseases. Four boluses of intravenous steroids were administered, followed by oral prednisone for three months. A dramatic recovery of renal function, together with normalization of urinary sediment, proteinuria decrease and normalization of serum complement were observed. Three years later, the patient suffered from a similar event, with a positive response to steroids again. One year later, the patient had a new recurrence and was treated with mycophenolate mofetil , improving his clinical situation.

Results of kidney transplantation in recipients over 70 years of age: experience at a single center

We performed 41 kidney transplants in patients >70 years (35 single and 6 dual), with a mean recipient age of 72+/-2 years, from January 1990 to December 2001. Mean age of the donors was 69+/-12 years. Immunosuppression used triple therapy with steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Cold ischemia time was 23+/-3 hours. The incidence of primary nonfunction was 4.8%, and delayed graft function 58.5%. Acute rejection incidence was 12%. The actuarial patient survival rates at 12, 24, and 36 months were 82.5%, 82.5%, and 75%, respectively. Actuarial survival rates of the grafts censuring for death of the recipient with a functioning graft were 89.5%, 86%, and 68%, respectively. Nine of the 18 graft losses were due to recipient death. Overall, renal transplant recipients >70 years showed good results. The principal cause of graft loss was recipient death.

[Immunoallergic interstitial nephritis vs. cholesterol atheroembolism. Differentiating characteristics]

The commonest clinical presentation of both immunoalergic interstitial nephritis (IIN) and atheroembolic renal disease (ATD) is an acute renal failure accompanied by skin lesions and eosinophilia. As a consequence, differential diagnosis between both entities is often very difficult. We have performed a comparative retrospective study of those patients diagnosed as having IIN or ATD in our Hospital in the period 1980-2000. A total of 42 patients have been diagnosed of IIN and 16 of ATD. Demographic data, as well as clinical and laboratory parameters and outcomes of every studied patient were analysed. We found a significantly higher prevalence of male sex (100% vs 57%, p < 0.01), previous history of hypertension (100% vs 55%, p < 0.01), chronic renal insufficiency (56% vs 17%, p < 0.01), ischemic heart disease (56% vs 14%, p < 0.001), peripheral ischemic disease, endovascular procedures (87% vs 7%, p < 0.001) and anticoagulant treatments (25% vs 5%, p < 0.001) among patients with ATD as compared with IIN, respectively. On the contrary, previous infections (45% vs 12%, p < 0.01) and exposure to new drugs (100% vs 40%, p < 0.001) were significantly more frequent among IIN patients in compare with ATD. ATD patients showed skin lesions consisting of livedo reticularis and digital infarcts (63% vs 31%, p < 0.05) accompanied by blood pressure increase (100% vs 24%, p < 0.001), whereas IIN patients showed fever (41% vs 19%, p < 0.05) and cutaneous rash as significant clinical manifestations, respectively. The number of ATD patients with proteinuria > 1 g/24 h was significantly higher, but no differences between both groups in the prevalence of urinary sediment abnormalities were observed. The prevalence of absolute eosinophilia was high in both groups (88% among ATD patients, 64% among IIN patients; pNS). Prognosis of both entities was clearly different: Almost all patients with ATD died (69%) or evolved to end-stage renal failure, whereas most patients with IIN showed a recovery of renal function after withdrawal of responsible drugs and steroid treatment. In summary, the analysis of clinical and laboratory data allows an initial differential diagnosis in patients suspected as having IIN or ATD.

[Evaluation of methods to calculate dialysis dose in daily hemodialysis]

Daily dialysis has shown excellent clinical results because a higher frequency of dialysis is more physiological. Different methods have been described to calculate dialysis dose which take into consideration change in frequency. The aim of this study was to calculate all dialysis dose possibilities and evaluate the better and practical options. Eight patients, 6 males and 2 females, on standard 4 to 5 hours thrice weekly on-line hemodiafiltration (S-OL-HDF) were switched to daily on-line hemodiafiltration (D-OL-HDF) 2 to 2.5 hours six times per week. Dialysis parameters were identical during both periods and only frequency and dialysis time of each session were changed. Time average concentration (TAC), time average deviation (TAD), normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), Kt/V, equilibrated Kt/V (eKt/V), equivalent renal urea clearance (EKR), standard Kt/V (stdKt/V), urea reduction ratio (URR), hemodialysis product and time off dialysis were measured. Daily on-line hemodiafiltration was well accepted and tolerated. Patients maintained the same TAC although TAD decreased from 9.7 +/- 2 in baseline to a 6.2 +/- 2 mg/dl after six months, p < 0.01. No significant changes were observed in weekly Kt/V and eKt/V throughout the study. However EKR, stdKt/V and weekly URR were increased during D-OL-HDF in 24-34%, 46% and 50%, respectively. Hemodialysis product was raised in a 95% and time off dialysis was reduced to half.

CONCLUSION

Dialysis frequency is an important urea kinetic parameter which there are to take in consideration. It's necessary to use EKR, stdKt/V or weekly URR to calculate dialysis dose for an adequate comparison between different frequency dialysis schedules.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Dougados Functional Index (DFI) in a Spanish speaking population with spondyloarthropathies

OBJECTIVES

The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and the Dougados Functional Index (DFI) are the most commonly used instruments to measure disease activity and functioning in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of this study was to translate, adapt and validate these instruments into the Spanish language.

METHODS

The BASDAI, BASFI, and DFI questionnaires were translated into Spanish by three independent bilingual physicians who were familiar with the medical aspects of AS and by one professional translator. Two rheumatologists familiar with instrument validation, and who were aware of the purpose of the study, examined semantic, idiomatic and conceptual issues and produced by consensus unified versions of each instrument. English back-translations from the Spanish were done by a professional translator unaware of the original version. Both English versions were compared, and where needed, modifications to the Spanish versions were made. The Spanish versions were administered to 61 ambulatory patients with AS and to 80 patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy for validation purposes. Reliability and responsiveness were measured in 28 patients participating in a physiotherapy program.

RESULTS

Reliability showed an acceptable 24-hour test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)--BASFI ICC: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.29-0.85; BASDAI ICC: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.52-0.88 and DFI ICC: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.73-0.94. The construct validity of the instruments was evaluated, and BASDAI was correlated with disease activity measured by the total enthesis count (rs: 0.34); general well being in the last week (rs: 0.7); spinal pain (rs: 0.53) and duration of morning stiffness (rs: 0.64). BASFI correlated with Schöber's test (rs: -0.4); occipital-wall distance (rs: 0.38) and thoracic expansion (rs: -0.3). DFI correlated with Schöber's test (rs: -0.36); occipital-wall distance (rs: 0.29) and chest expansion (rs: -0.3). The correlation among DFI and BASFI was rs: 0.83. All instruments showed clinical responsiveness in the physiotherapy program (baseline and end of program; mean +/- SD): BASDAI: 6.25 +/- 1.97 and 3.07 +/- 2.04 (p = 0.0001); BASFI: 5.68 +/- 2.29 and 2.88 +/- 1.77 (p = 0.0001); DFI: 16 +/- 7.6 and 8.0 +/- 5.5 (p = 0.001) with effect sizes and standardized effect sizes > 1.

CONCLUSIONS

The Mexican Spanish versions of the BASDAI, BASFI, and DFI showed adequate reliability, validity and responsiveness to clinical change. These instruments can be used in the clinical evaluation of Spanish-speaking patients with AS.