Analysis of intimal extent and predictors of renal atrophy in patients with aortic dissection

Postoperative nomogram and risk calculator of acute renal failure for Stanford type A aortic dissection surgery

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore the risk factors of acute renal failure (ARF) after Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAD) surgery, establish a nomogram prediction model and calculate the risk of ARF.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

241 AAD patients who received aortic surgery in the department of cardiovascular surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University were enrolled in this study. All enrolled patients were divided into the ARF group and non-ARF group. The clinical data of the two groups were collected and compared. The independent risk factors of ARF after aortic surgery were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Moreover, a nomogram prediction model was generated. The calibration curve, ROC curve and independent external validation were performed to evaluate the nomogram prediction model.

RESULTS

67 patients were diagnosed with ARF within 48 h after the operation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that hypertension, preoperative renal artery involvement, CPB time extension and postoperative decreased platelet lymphocyte ratio were the independent risk factors of ARF after AAD surgery. The nomogram model could predict the risk of ARF with a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 78.6%. The calibration curve displayed good agreement of the predicted probability with the actual observed probability. AUC of the ROC curve was 0.839. External data validation was performed with a sensitivity of 79.2% and a specificity of 79.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension, preoperative renal artery involvement, CPB time extension and postoperative decreased platelet lymphocyte ratio could predict the risk of ARF after AAD surgery.

Renal artery involvement in acute aortic dissection: Prevalence and impact on renal atrophy in non-interventional treatment patients

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the frequency of renal artery dissection (RAD) and renal hypoperfusion in aortic dissection (AD) and its effect on subsequent renal atrophy in patients who did not undergo therapeutic intervention.

METHODS

Initial CT data of 155 patients with acute AD (Stanford type A = 88, B = 67) were retrospectively analyzed. The false lumen statuses were patent (n = 94), partially thrombosed (n = 25), and completely thrombosed (n = 36) (also called as intramural hematoma (IMH)). Follow-up CT images of the surviving 122 patients (6-62.6 months, median, 28.9 months) were reviewed for analysis of sequential changes in renal volume. A regional decrease of ≧20 Hounsfield units in the renal cortex was defined as a renal hypo-enhancement sign (RHS). Simplified CT estimations of renal volume and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) were calculated. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) method was used to predict renal atrophy.

RESULTS

Fifty of the 122 patients presented with 59 RAD in the current study, and a positive RHS was noted in 33.9% (20/59) of these involved kidneys. GEE analysis showed hypertension, surgical treatment for AD, presence of RAD, and positive RHS as significant risk factors for renal atrophy. Patients with RHS had the most severe form of renal atrophy. The severity of renal atrophy was mildly correlated with GFR change (γ2 = 0.044, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Renal atrophy in AD was predicted by the CT findings of RAD and RHS. The severity of renal atrophy was weakly reflected by eGFR.

The clinical course of patients with IgG4-related kidney disease

Long-term follow-up for IgG4-related kidney disease, including relapse information, is sparse. To gather data on this we retrospectively examined the clinical course of 43 patients with IgG4-related kidney disease, in which most patients were treated with, and maintained on, corticosteroids. One month after the start of treatment, most of the abnormal serology and radiology parameters had improved. In 34 of the steroid-treated patients whose follow-up period was more than 12 months (median 34 months), excluding one hemodialysis patient, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before treatment was over 60 ml/min in 14 patients (group A) and under 60 ml/min in 20 patients (group B). In group A, there was no difference between the eGFR before therapy and at the last review. In group B, the mean eGFR before treatment (34.1 ml/min) was significantly improved after 1 month (45.0 ml/min), and renal function was maintained at a similar level through last follow-up. Among 24 evaluated patients at the last review, however, renal atrophy had developed in 2 of 9 in group A and in 9 of 15 in group B. Relapse of IgG4-related lesions occurred in 8 of 40 treated patients. Thus, the response of IgG4-related kidney disease to corticosteroids is rapid, not total, and the recovery of renal function persists for a relatively long time under low-dose maintenance. A large-scale prospective study to formulate more useful treatment strategies is necessary.