Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a hypertensive patient with renal failure

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical and neuroimaging entity characterized by headache, visual field deficits, changes in mentation and seizures, and by typical neuro-imaging features such as areas of sub-cortical edema, occasionally cortical, involving predominantly the occipital and parietal lobes of both hemispheres. Hypertension, uremia, immunosuppressive drugs neurotoxicity, preeclampsia or eclampsia, renal disease, and sepsis are the most common etiologies of PRES. Less common, it has been described in the setting of autoimmune disease. We report a case of PRES which was associated with hypertensive crisis in a patient with renal failure. Antihypertensive therapy and hemodialysis resulted in complete recovery.

[Screening and risk factors of cardiac calcification in hemodialysis: contribution of ultra-fast multi-slice scanner and transthoracic echocardiography]

INTRODUCTION

Cardiovascular disease is the first leading cause of death in hemodialysis patients. In this population, cardiovascular calcifications occur at an earlier age and progress faster than in general population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors of cardiac calcifications, 49 patients on chronic hemodialysis were screened in the coronary arteries and cardiac valves by the 64 multi-slice ultra-fast CT and the transthoracic echocardiography. Different clinical and biological parameters were studied by the SPSS 10.0 statistical software to determine risk factors.

RESULT

Cardiac calcifications were identified in 81.6% of cases in at least one of the two studied sites. The coronary artery involvement was more common than valvular and concerned 69.4% of cases. The mean Agatston coronary artery calcium score (ACACS) was 331.1 and 522.2 in coronary patients and was correlated to alteration of systolic function of LV (r=-0.287, P=0.045). The severity of CACS was positively correlated with age (r=0.332, P=0.02). Coronary calcifications were associated with cardiovascular risk common to those of the general population (age, male sex, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, history of ischemic heart disease), but also to a lesser quality of dialysis. Valvular calcifications were present in 49% of cases and were correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy (P=0.006). The exclusive involvement of the aortic valve was the most common valvular abnormality. Phosphocalcic and lipid parameters, levels of hemoglobin, CRP and uric acid did not predisposed to cardiac calcifications in our patients.

DISCUSSION

In hemodialysis patients, the pathogenesis of cardiovascular calcification is complex and cannot be attributed to a passive process. This process involves several factors that can promote or inhibit calcification. The new multi-slice ultra-fast scanner is a very sensitive method for topographic and quantitative assessment of coronary calcification and is a better alternative to invasive techniques.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms the high prevalence of cardiac calcification in hemodialysis, and highlights the importance of early screening and treatment of predisposing factors.

[Diagnosis and evaluation of hepatitis C virus among haemodialysis patients]

Hepatitis C is a health problem worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 3% of world's population is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). In haemodialysis patients, the prevalence reaches 80% in some countries. In Morocco, HCV prevalence is 32% according to the Moroccan register of dialysis. The natural history of hepatitis C infection in chronic haemodialysis patients is characterized by a silent evolution. There are different methods to diagnose HCV and they are becoming increasingly sensitive. There are indirect tests for antibodies to HCV: these are reproducible but false negatives are common and there is direct testing of viral RNA: this is more sensitive but not always available and is more expensive. The use of these tests has been categorized through new recommendations from learned societies. However, the evaluation of liver disease is still controversial and liver biopsy remains the gold standard. This paper reviews the approaches for diagnosing and evaluating hepatitis C in haemodialysis patients.

The Kt/V by ionic dialysance: Interpretation limits

The availability of hemodialysis machines equipped with online clearance monitoring (OCM) allows frequent assessment of dialysis efficiency and adequacy without the need for blood samples. Accurate estimation of the urea distribution volume (V) is required for Kt/V calculated from OCM to be consistent with conventional blood sample-based methods. A total of 35 patients were studied. Ionic dialysance was measured by conductivity monitoring. The second-generation Daugirdas formula was used to calculate the Kt/V single-pool (Kt/VD). Values of V to allow comparison between OCM and blood-based Kt/V were determined using Watson formula (VWa), bioimpedance spectroscopy (Vimp), and blood-based kinetic data (Vukm). Comparison of Kt/Vw ocm calculated by the ionic dialysance and Vw (Kt/Vw ocm) with Kt/VD shows that using VW leads to significant systematic underestimation of dialysis dose by 24%. Better agreement between Kt/V ocm and Kt/VD was observed when using Vimp and Vukm. Bio-impedancemetry and the indirect method using the second-generation Daugirdas equation are two methods of clinical interest for estimating V to ensure greater agreement between OCM and blood-based Kt/V.

Glomerular diseases in the Military Hospital of Morocco: Review of a single centre renal biopsy database on adults

Epidemiological studies provide useful information for clinical practice and investigations. This report aimed to determine glomerular diseases frequencies in a region of Morocco. All native renal biopsies (January 2000 to December 2007) on adults were reviewed, but only glomerular diseases were analyzed. The diagnosis of each case was based on histological, immunopathological and clinical features. We have performed 171 renal biopsies in 161 patients (101 males and 60 females), the mean age was (range) 40.4 ±15 years (16-72). Clinical indications that lead to renal biopsy were: nephrotic syndrome (60.3%), renal failure of unknown aetiology (31.6%), asymptomatic urinary abnormalities (6.2%) and nephritic syndrome(1.9%). Primary glomerular diseases were reported in 84 patients (52%). The most common histological lesion was minimal change disease (26%). Idiopathic membranous glomerulopathy was the second most common lesion (23%) followed by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (17%), IgA nephropathy (12%), focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (9.4%) and crescentic glomerulonephritis (6%). Secondary glomerular diseases were reported in 53 patients (33%). Lupus nephritis was the secondary glomerular disease most frequent (45%) followed by amyloïdosis (19%), diabetic nephropathy (15%), and Good pasture's syndrome (7.6%). The most common complications of the procedure were pain at biopsy site in 4%, gross hematuria in 11.1%, perirenal hematoma in 5% and hematuria requiring nephrectomy in 0.6% patients. Minimal change disease was the most frequent primary glomerulopathy and lupus nephritis was the most frequent secondary glomerulopathy in our group. The reasons for these findings are unclear. This information is an important contribution to the understanding the prevalence of renal diseases in North Africa.

[Non-diabetic renal disease in type II diabetes mellitus patients in Mohammed V Military Hospital, Rabat, Morocco]

The distinction between diabetic nephropathy lesions and non-diabetic renal lesions is not always obvious and is often based on renal biopsy. This study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of nondiabetic renal disease in people with type 2 diabetes. The study was conducted between January 2008 and October 2010 in the nephrology department of the military hospital in Rabat. The study included 16 patients with type 2 diabetes in whom renal biopsy was indicated. Non-diabetic renal disease was found in 6 of the patients (37.5%); IgA nephropathy was the most frequent non-diabetic renal disease (half of non-diabetic renal diseases). Hypertension was significantly less frequent in the non-diabetic renal disease group than the diabetic nephropathy group (16.7% versus 80.0%, P = 0024), duration of diabetes was a shorter (4.5 versus 15.5 years, P = 0.022) and diabetic retinopathy was absent (100% versus 40%, P = 0.026). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in relation to age, sex, creatinine level, 24-hour proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome and microscopic haematuria.

Predictors of early vascular-access failure in patients on hemodialysis

Vascular access management is key and critical in the successful management of hemodialysis patients, and an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is considered the access of choice. This study was conducted between January 2007 and October 2009 at the Military Hospital in Rabat. Data on 115 patients who underwent 138 AVFs were retrospectively studied. Wrist AVF was the most common site of use. The primary course was uncomplicated in 63% of the patients, while primary failure occurred in 23.9% of the patients. Presence of diabetes was the most important risk factor for primary failure.

Myelodysplastic syndrome and extracapillary glomerulonephritis: is there a link?

Introduction: The association of myelodysplastic syndrome and extracapillary glomerulonephritis is exceptional. Only two other cases have been reported. Reported case: A 52-year-old patient with a history of myelodysplastic syndrome developed rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Renal biopsy identified extracapillary glomerulonephritis.Discussion: The association of myelodysplastic syndrome with glomerulopathy is rare and often regarded as fortuitous. Only a few cases are described in literature on the subject. A relationship between the two diseases is possible but the causal link between these two diseases remains unknown. Conclusion: The notion that myelodysplastic syndrome may be associated with various glomerular nephropathies involves looking for renal disease in this haematologic disorder.

Characteristics of intradialytic hypotension: experience of Agadir Center-Morocco

We report in this retrospective study the experience of our hemodialysis (HD) center in the incidence of intradialytic hypotension (IDH) over 18 months. We first studied the demographic, clinical, biological and morphological data of our 52 HD patients and compared the characteristics of patients with frequent IDH and those without. We found that factors significantly associated with IDH include diabetes, left ventricular hypertrophy, impaired diastolic function, weight gain and high ultrafiltration rates. Despite these results, further larger studies are required to confirm them.

[Non-secreting myeloma associated with nephrotic syndrome]

The non-secreting myeloma is a rare form of myeloma. Its association with a nephrotic syndrome is exceptional. The observation which we report below described the history of a 66 years old patient who presents a non-secreting myeloma revealed by a nephrotic syndrome. Various assumptions on the mechanism of no excretion were put forth. Nevertheless, several points are to be elucidated as for the pathogenesis of the association non-secreting myeloma and nephrotic syndrome.