[A multicenter study on profile of hypertension in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in Tunisia]

Hypertension in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is frequent and responsible for the progression of the disease. It could be a circumstance of the diagnosis of FSG or a complication of the nephrotic syndrome.

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence of hypertension among patients with FSG diagnosed in Tunisia and to describe the profile of patients with FSG having hypertension in contrast with who do not.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

It was a retrospective multicentric study based on 116 patient files having FSG located in 5 specialized centers in Tunisia.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hypertension among our patients was 41%, with a feminine predominance, their mean age was 36.34 ± 15.71 years. The systolic blood pressure among the patients with hypertension was 153.18 mmHg. The nephrotic syndrome was impure due to hypertension in 14.5% of the cases. The patients affected by hypertension were more obese. Proteinuria was higher among those not having hypertension than those with it, who score an average value of 5.67 ± 4.51 g/24h, with an insignificant difference. Serum creatinine at presentation was significantly higher among patients with hypertension. Vascular lesions were present at the renal biopsy among 39.45% of patients affected by hypertension, associated with renal failure in 58.50% of patients. The etiopathogenic treatment of FSG was essentially based on steroids full dose.

CONCLUSION

Hypertension is often present in FSG and its' treatment must be as soon as possible in order to slow the progression of kidney chronic disease.

Acute post-infectious glomerulonephritis in adults: a single center report

Acute post-infectious glomerulonephritis (APIGN) is uncommonly seen in adults; its incidence is progressively declining, particularly in developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and biologic features of APIGN in a Tunisian center. A retrospective descriptive analytic study was carried out on 50 patients aged more than 15 years who were admitted to the Monastir Hospital between 1991 and 2007, with a diagnosis of APIGN. There were more males than females (66% vs. 34%), and the mean age of the patients was 36.8 ± 10 years. Only 10% had an immunocompromised background, including diabetes. The most common site of infection was upper respiratory tract, followed by skin and pneumonia. The most common causative agent was Streptococcus (66%), followed by Staphylococcus (12%). 73.8% of the patients had low C3 complement levels. The mean peak serum creatinine was 190 μmol, and 4% of patients required acute dialysis. The patients were followed-up for a mean period of 18 months (range, 0.16-97 months). During follow-up, of the 46 patients reviewed in the consultation, the majority showed complete remission, 12 patients had persisting abnormalities such as hypertension in 17%, chronic renal failure in 8% and proteinuria in 6.5%, and one patient had concomitant hypertension and chronic renal failure. Our study suggests that APIGN is still endemic in some parts of the world such as Tunisia, and our data showed a favorable prognosis in adults.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis in a diabetic patient on maintenance hemodialysis: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EP) is an uncommon acute infection characterized by the presence of gas in the renal parenchyma. It is extremely rare in hemodialysis (HD) patients and diabetics account for most cases. It is a rapidly progressive and life threatening infection with a high mortality rate. We report a case of emphysematous pyelonephritis in a HD patient who was treated successfully with radical nephrectomy and antibiotic therapy.

CASE REPORT

A 46-year-old diabetic male with end stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to diabetic nephropathy and on maintenance HD for the last five years presented with a two weeks history of fever and loin pain. He was treated with oral ciprofloxacin for one week with no improvement. His blood culture isolated Escherichia coli. Computed tomography scan of the abdominal disclosed an enlarged left kidney with massive gaseous collections. Accordingly, the diagnosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis was put forward, the patient underwent left nephrectomy together with intravenous imipenum and amikacin with good clinical response. The removed kidney showed features of acute pyelonephritis with micro-abscesses on histopathology. .

CONCLUSION

Emphysematous pyelonephritis should always be considered in diabetics presenting with fever, loin pain, and features of sepsis not responding to antibiotic therapy; even though being on dialysis. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen remains an early diagnostic tool. Early treatment with potent antibiotics with or without surgical intervention can save patients' life.

Predictors of early post-operative hypocalcemia after parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism

We sought to identify predictors of development of early post-operative hypocalcemia after parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism. The patients were divided into two groups according to their serum calcium (Ca) levels within 24 hours of undergoing para-thyroidectomy: the hypocalcemia group (22 patients) with post-operative serum Ca levels of 2 mmol/L or less, and the normocalcemia group (48 patients), with post-operative serum Ca levels higher than 2 mmol/L. By using multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, high pre-operative serum Ca level had the strongest predictive value of development of early hypocalcemia with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 3.01, followed by hypo-albuminemia (aOR = 2.72), younger age (aOR = 2.56), and high pre-operative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (aOR = 2.28). We conclude that among patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, age, levels of pre-operative serum Ca, ALP and albumin correlate positively with the development of early post-operative hypocalcemia. Patients with one of these factors should be monitored more closely in the early post-parathyroidectomy period.

[Desmoid cervical tumour following the placing of an internal jugular catheter]

INTRODUCTION

A desmoid tumour is a rare fibroblastic tumour and generally located in the abdomen. However, it can also develop on surgical scars.

OBSERVATION

A 36 year-old woman on chronic dialysis consulted for a cervical mass on the left side that was progressively increasing in volume, on the site of a scar of an internal jugular catheter placed 7 months earlier. Histological analysis of a sample of this mass concluded in a benign fibroblastic proliferation and led to the diagnosis of a desmoid tumour. Study of the patient's history revealed that a left jugular catheter had been placed on two occasions to be used for the hemodialysis approach, the lesion provoked by the latter would explain the development of the desmoid tumour.

COMMENTS

The potential severity of this tumour is related to its proximity with the carotid, trachea and base of the skull. In general, desmoid tumours, rare benign tumours of the connective tissue, exhibit a complex multifactor etiopathogenesis. A surgical trauma can often trigger-off such tumours.

[Acute renal insufficiency in Boutonneuse Mediterranean fever: description of three cases]

Boutonneuse fever is a bacterial infection caused by Rickettsia conorii. It occurs mainly in countries around the Mediterranean basin. Most cases are benign. However severe forms with major morbidity and a high mortality risk have been described. Severe forms often involve altered mental status, hepatic cytolysis, hemostatic disturbances, pneumopathy, and kidney failure. The causes of renal complications are unclear. The purpose of this report is to describe three cases of boutonneuse fever associated with acute kidney failure due to different underlying mechanisms, i.e., acute renal function failure, acute tubular necrosis, and extracapillary glomerulonephritis. While the first two mechanisms of kidney failure have been reported frequently in association with Boutonneuse fever, extracapillary glomerulonephritis has, to our knowledge, been mentioned only once. This case supports speculation that Rickettsia conorii has a toxic effect on glomeruli.

The predictors of early mortality in patients starting chronic hemodialysis

To evaluate the predictors of early mortality in patients on chronic hemodialysis, we reviewed the records of 192 patients starting chronic hemodialysis at our centre between January 1996 and September 1999. The overall incident mortality within 90 days was 32 (16.7%) patients. The cardiovascular causes accounted for 50% of all the causes of mortality. By using multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, early mortality rate was not significantly increased in the comparison of age or gender groups but increased in patients with diabetes mellitus, as well as those with reduced dialysis frequency. The most powerful predictor of survival was serum albumin level of less than 30 g/l. Thus, the survival rates in patients with serum albumin less than 30 g/l and those with serum albumin equal to or greater than 30 g/l were 67.8% and 90.2%, respectively, (p< 0.001). The odds ratio was 4.68. We conclude that these findings suggest that the important predictors of early mortality in the first 90 days of starting hemodialysis include the presence of diabetes mellitus, the decreased frequency of dialysis sessions and the presence of low serum albumin. The low serum albumin below 30 g/l was the strongest predictor of early mortality.

[Anxiety and depression in the hemodialysis patient]

Terminal renal failure and haemodialysis are precarious statute which put to the test capacities of adaptation of all patients. In this context, authors tempted to evaluate, using several instruments of measure, the importance and features of minor psychiatric disorders among 109 patients on chronic haemodialysis. Results of Goldberg test (GHQ) confronted to those of the medical interview reveal that anxio-depressive morbidity is frequent. According to results of the adaptation test to stress, our patients preserve a good mood but are often invaded by black ideas. In the field of the personal life, dissatisfaction concerns by decreasing order the lodging and the environment of the patient, the relation with parents, friends, the conjoined and medical care. This work, if it raises problems relatively unknown as much by the psychiatrist that by nephrology specialist, insist on the importance of multidisciplinary in order to assure holistic care and to improve the quality of life of patients on dialysis.

[Psychological aspects and details of care of patients on hemodialysis]

Chronic renal failure and periodic hemodialysis, by the physical reach and the therapeutic imperatives that they mislead disrupt by several ways the universe of the patient. This one is confronted to changes, or even to aggressions that undergo his body, his domestic and socio-professional life, which is accepted in general with difficulty. Indeed, our survey that concerned 109 patients on chronic hemodialysis shows that the minor psychiatric pathology is frequent and can represent a source of problems as well for the patients that for the medical and nursing staff. Besides the analysis of minor psychiatric specificities revealed by a known measure instrument (the GHQ), this work insists on the importance to take account of this aspects with the aim to enhance management and holistic care of these patients.

[Adrenocortical insufficiency in renal amyloidosis]

Renal involvement in amyloidosis leads to chronic renal failure. Prognosis is poor. Although amyloid deposits are frequent in adrenal glands, symptomatic adrenal dysfunction is uncommon. We report the case of a 63-year-old man with chronic renal failure (serum creatinine: 202 micromol/L) subsequent to amyloidosis who was referred to our unit for vomiting, dehydration despite a persistent nephrotic syndrome, acidosis, hyponatremia (121 mmol/l) and hyperkaliemia (7.1 mmol/l). A synacthen test was performed and disclosed adrenal insufficiency. Despite the initiation of substitution therapy, the patient died one month later from Addisonian crisis. Features of adrenal insufficiency may be masked by those of chronic renal failure, emphasizing the importance of adrenal explorations in patients with chronic renal failure due to amyloidosis.

[Pregnancy with delivery at term in hemodialyzed women]

Genital disturbances are frequent in chronic renal failure with amenorrhea anovulatory cycles, elsewhere a good hemodialysis improve these disturbances pathogenesis of there; derived from central gonado stimuline dysfunction. We stated 13 pregnancies in our hemodialysed population. Only one successful delivery of a (baby alive and in due time) is registered. Residual diuresis and blood pressure are the most important predictor pregnancy factors in spite of a good dialysance the fetal prognosis in still unclear. Complications were observed in the mother as well as new babies.

[The nephrotic syndrome in kala-azar]

Glomerular nephropathy is unusually known in kala-azar. We present 3 cases and we report a review on the clinical, biological and immunohistological aspects of this glomerulonephritis. The immunologic mechanisms of this parasitic nephropathy and its reversibility after specific treatment are characteristic.