The Diabetic Foot in End Stage Renal Disease

Diabetic foot lesions remain a major cause of morbidity in patients with renal failure, especially those on dialysis. Foot complications are encountered at a more than twofold frequency in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease, and the rate of amputations is 6.5–10 times higher in comparison to the general diabetic population. The causal pathways of the diabetic foot in renal failure are multiple and inter-related. Three major pathologies—neuropathy, ischemia, and infection—are the main contributory factors. Increased awareness of this condition and careful clinical examination are indispensable to avoid serious complications. Appropriate management needs to address all contributory factors. Treatment options include revascularization, off-loading to relieve high-pressure areas, and aggressive control of infection. Equally important is the collaboration between health care providers in a multidisciplinary foot care setting. Moreover, patient education on the measures required to achieve both primary and secondary prevention is of great value. Certainly, technical innovations have made considerable progress possible, but there is a need for further improvement to reduce the number of amputations.     

Comparison of Echocardiographic Changes Associated with Hemodialysis and Renal Transplantation

Abstract: Long-term hemodialysis has been reported to cause progression of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with a tendency toward asymmetric septal hypertrophy. Renal transplantation is believed to reverse some of these changes. The aim of this prospective study was to compare the effects of long-term hemodialysis and of successful renal transplantation on cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography. Fifty-three patients were submitted to two echocardiographic evaluations separated by a 30 ± 8 month interval. At the first control, all patients were on hemodialysis; at the second, 36 patients remained on dialysis while 17 had been submitted to renal transplantation. Age (44 ± 13 vs. 40 ± 10 years), gender (male, 50% vs 53%), and duration of dialysis at the initiation of the study (43 ± 34 vs. 47 ± 32 months) were comparable in the 2 groups. The prevalences of LV hypertrophy were 83% (first control) and 69% (second control) in the dialysis group and 82% and 71% in the transplant group. Comparisons between the two periods within each group showed that hemodialysis was associated with a significant reduction of the E/A ratio (1.25 ± 0.4 vs. 1.02 ± 0.4, p < 0.001) and systolic (155 ± 28 vs. 137 ± 26 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and diastolic (94 ± 21 vs. 84 ± 16 mm Hg, p < 0.05) blood pressure, and no change in LV mass index (171 ± 51 vs. 156 ± 43 g/m², NS). In the transplanted group, there were reductions in the E/A ratio (1.42 ± 0.6 vs. 1.10 ± 0.4, p < 0.05) and in LV diastolic dimension (50 ± 7 vs. 46 ± 5 mm, p < 0.05), but not in systolic (155 ± 27 vs. 152 ± 31 mm Hg, NS) or diastolic (97 ± 11 vs. 97 ± 20 mm Hg, NS) blood pressure. The LV mass index also did not change significantly (157 ± 51 vs. 133 ± 31 g/m², NS). Left atrium dimension, LV posterior wall thickness, interventricular septum thickness, and fractional shortening were not significantly changed in either group. Asymmetric septal hypertrophy was not observed. It is concluded that patients treated by long-term hemodialysis did not present progression in the degree and prevalence of LV hypertrophy over time while systolic function was preserved and diastolic function deteriorated. Contrary to previous reports, successful renal transplantation did not cause a reduction in LV hypertrophy and also failed to improve LV diastolic function.     

Prevalence and Predictors of Arrhythmia in End Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis

Background. Sudden death is common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Cardiac arrhythmia is observed frequently in patients with ESRD and is thought to be responsible for this high rate of sudden death. This study investigated the prevalence and the predictors of arrhythmia in patients on maintenance dialysis. Methods. Ninety-four patients on hemodialysis program were enrolled in the study. Routine laboratory results were noted. Arrhythmia, periods of silent ischemia, and heart-rate variability analyses were obtained from 24-hour Holter monitor recordings. Corrected QT (QTc) dispersion was calculated from 12-lead surface EKG. Echocardiographic and tissue Doppler examinations were performed on interdialytic days as well. Ventricular arrhythmia was classified according to Lown classification; classes 3 and above were accepted as complex ventricular arrhythmia (CVA). Results. The mean age was 52.5±13.2 years; 44 (46.8%) were women. Ventricular premature contractions were detected in 80 (85.1%) patients, of whom 35 (37.2%) were classified as complex ventricular arrhythmia (CVA). Coronary artery disease, hypertension, and QTc dispersion appeared as independent factors predictive of CVA development. Atrial premature contractions (APC) were detected in 53 patients (56.4%) and supraventricular arrhythmia in 15 (16%) patients; all were identified as atrial fibrillation. Duration of dialysis therapy was found as an independent predictor of APC. Conclusion. Arrhythmia is frequently observed in ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis and may be responsible for the high rate of sudden mortality. Hypertension, CAD, and QTc dispersion are independent predictors of CVA, and duration of dialysis therapy is an independent factor affecting APC development in these patients.     

Management of vesicoureteral reflux in children

Background. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children has been reported in many studies. However, the management of VUR is still controversial. Methods. One hundred and fourteen children with primary VUR were divided into two treatment groups: medical (group A) and surgical (group B). The clinical courses and X-ray films of cystography and intravenous pyelography of these children were reviewed retrospectively, using the International Reflux Study Committee Classification. Results. In children less than 1 year of age, VUR was observed more frequently in boys. However, this ratio was reversed in children aged 2 years or more. Sixty-three percent of all refluxing ureters had reflux of grade III or higher at the initial examination. Spontaneous cessation of VUR was observed in 17% of group A ureters, and all had grade III or less reflux. Renal parenchymal scars were already present at the initial examination in 23% of kidneys with refluxing ureters. Recurrent urinary tract infections became less frequent after anti-reflux surgery. The progression of renal scars and renal growth retardation was observed more frequently in group B children. Conclusions. From these observations, it appeared that surgical management of VUR did not prevent the progression of renal scarring or renal growth retardation. Early detection of and intervention in VUR may prevent the progression of renal scarring and renal growth retardation. However, a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled study would be necessary to confirm these findings. Received: October 4, 1999 / Accepted: January 15, 2000     

A Patient with Classical Polyarteritis Nodosa Evolving into End Stage Renal Failure

Classical polyarteritis nodosa (c-PAN) is a form of systemic necrotizing vasculitis mainly affecting medium-size arteries, is not associated with renal glomerular disease and acute renal failure. Perirenal hematoma can be seen in up to fifty percent of c-PAN patients and minority of them develop mild renal impairment. Herein, we describe a 34-year-old male with c-PAN who presented with rapidly progressive renal failure and evolved into end stage renal disease.     

高龄尿毒症患者血液透析的临床探讨

目的:探讨80岁以上慢性肾衰竭患者血液透析的可行性和有效性.方法:回顾性总结和分析血液透析治疗85例80岁以上慢性肾衰竭患者的临床效果及死亡原因.结果:血透能有效延缓80岁以上慢性肾衰竭患者的生命,其死亡原因主要为心血管疾病,其次是感染.成活期≥12月与＜12月的患者比较,开始透析前年龄更小,内生肌酐清除率和血浆蛋白水平更高,贫血程度较轻,而透析期间的营养状况更好,透析更充分,另外,心血管和感染并发症更少,均有统计学差异(P<0.05),经Cox回归分析进一步表明透析前年龄、原发病为糖尿病、透析中发生心血管或感染并发症、血浆白蛋白水平、贫血纠正程度等是高龄血液透析患者死亡的独立危险因素.结论:血液透析是治疗高龄(≥80岁)慢性肾衰竭患者的有效手段.     

Aspects of Brazilian paediatric nephrology

Brazil is a large country with different population densities in its five geographical regions, each of which has severe but unevenly distributed socioeconomic problems which affect the health care system. This makes the accurate assessment of renal disease in the large paediatric population which comprises 40% of the total population especially difficult. This paper analyses the experience of one paediatric nephrology unit. Urinary tract infection affecting 44% of the patients was the most common disease. There was a high incidence of vesicoureteric reflux and renal scarring. The proportion of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis did not exceed 11% whilst nephrotic syndrome in its various forms represented 20% of the patients. End-stage renal failure was common and difficult to manage. Renal transplantation could not meet the demand for a variety of reasons, thus there has been an alarming annual increase in the number of patients on dialysis. Other disease encountered in smaller numbers included acute renal failure, other glomerulopathies (mainly IgA), tubulopathies and renal lithiasis.     

Intrinsic Coagulation Pathway in End-Stage Renal Disease Associated with Spinal Cord Injury Treated with Hemodialysis

Plasma procoagulant activities of factors XII, XI, IX, and VIII and plasma concentrations of factor XII antigen and high molecular weight kininogen (HMK) were determined in nine men with chronic renal failure (CRF) associated with long-standing spinal cord injury (SCI) treated with hemodialysis. The results were compared with those obtained in a group of 10 ambulatory CRF patients and 8 normal volunteers (control group). Congenitally deficient plasmas were used as the substrate for the measurement of procoagulant activities in a one-stage clotting assay. Monospecific antibodies were employed in the measurement of factor XII antigen and HMK using gradient plate immunodiffusion and rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Factor XII coagulant activity and antigen concentration were significantly increased in the SCI group. The mean values for plasma factor XI and IX activities in the SCI group were comparable with those observed in the ambulatory patients and normal control group. However, marked variations in factor XI and IX levels were noted among the SCI patients with a few instances of mild to moderate factor deficiencies and several cases of markedly elevated levels. Factor VIII activity was markedly increased, with only two of the nine patients exhibiting normal values. HMK concentration in the SCI group was comparable with values obtained for the other groups. Following dialysis, factor XII antigen concentration rose and factor XI activity fell slightly but significantly. The results indicate that the combination of CRF and long-standing SCI is associated with marked aberrations of intrinsic coagulation pathway. The underlying mechanisms and the clinical consequences of these abnormalities are not known and require further investigation.     

Mortality trends in pediatric patients with chronic renal failure

Mortality trends were analyzed in 441 children and adolescents with chronic renal failure (CRF) observed over a 24-year period before and after institution of renal replacement therapy (RRT). A total of 93 patients died. Overall mortality rate (MR) per 100 patient years decreased from 6.6 in 1969–1978 to 2.5 in 1979–1988 and increased slightly to 2.9 in 1989–1992. The fall involved all four modes of treatment: conservative hemodialysis (HD), continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD), and transplantation (TX). From 1979–1988 to 1989–1992 MR on conservative and on dialysis treatment changed only slightly and was similar on HD and CPD. An alarming rise in MR was noted after TX in 1989–1992, mainly due to malignant tumors. In 44 patients who died on conservative treatment, the reasons for non-acceptance for RRT were analyzed: in 22 multi-morbidity was the main reason, usually because of a congenital neurological disorder. Some patients died from advanced uremia or unexpected events after the decision to institute RRT. Our experience demonstrates a persistent mortality in pediatric patients with CRF, which in recent years is primarily ascribed to congenital multi-morbid conditions which make RRT unfeasible, infections on dialysis treatment, and malignancies after TX.     

Recovery of Renal Function in a Dialysis-Dependent Patient Following Gastric Bypass Surgery

There is increasing evidence that obesity, independently from other comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, can cause renal dysfunction. While this indolent dysfunction may be asymptomatic, it can render patients more susceptible to renal insufficiency when the kidneys are further injured by other pathological processes. Here, we present a morbidly obese patient whose type-A aortic dissection was complicated by acute renal failure that subsequently progressed into end-stage renal disease. However, his renal function improved dramatically following substantial weight reduction after gastric bypass surgery obviating the need for dialysis and transplantation. The potential mechanisms by which a patient’s obesity may lead to renal dysfunction are discussed. This case and other similar reports suggest that obese patients with renal failure can safely undergo bariatric surgery and that bariatric surgery may have a role in treating chronic kidney disease in select morbidly obese patients. Funding Source  None. The authors have no commercial association that might be a conflict of interest in relation to this article.     

综合护理干预在慢性肾功能衰竭血液透析患者皮肤瘙痒中的应用效果

探讨综合护理干预在慢性肾功能衰竭血液透析患者中的应用及对皮肤瘙痒的改善效果。方法 选取2021年3月-2023年3月山东大学附属威海市立医院收治的60例慢性肾功能衰竭血液透析患者为研究对象,随机分为对照组和观察组,各30例。对照组实施常规护理,观察组实施综合护理干预,比较两组皮肤瘙痒改善效果、肾功能指标、负面情绪及护理满意度。结果 观察组皮肤瘙痒改善总有效率为96.67%,高于对照组的70.00%,差异有统计学意义（P ＜0.05）;观察组干预后肾功能指标BUN、Cr水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P ＜0.05）;观察组干预后SAS、SDS评分均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P ＜0.05）;观察组护理满意度为96.67%,高于对照组的73.33%,差异有统计学意义（P ＜0.05）。结论 综合护理干预在慢性肾功能衰竭血液透析患者中应用效果确切,可减轻患者皮肤瘙痒状况,缓解负面情绪,改善肾功能,提高护理满意度。     

Kidney-Alone Transplantation in Diabetic Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

From January 1989 to December 1995, 5 diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease (1 woman, 4 men) underwent kidney-alone transplantation. The mean age of the recipients at the time of transplantation was 37.4 years (range, 32 to 43). Graft function and glucose tolerance was evaluated for 5 to 72 months after surgery. Postoperative complications were seen in 2 patients; nonspecific subcutaneous infections and an asymptomatic partial allograft infarction. All renal allografts were functioning 1 year after transplantation, with a mean serum creatinine level of 1.10mg/dL (range, 0.8 to 1.8mg/dL), and a mean urinary protein level of 1 7.8mg/dL (range, 5 to 27mg/dL). The postoperative daily dose of insulin was higher than the preoperative dose, while the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) increased after surgery and peaked 6 months after transplantation; 1 year after transplantation it had reverted to the preoperative level. As long as the diabetic complications of the renal allograft recipients are not severe, the short-term survival and the renal function of diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease improves after kidney-alone transplantation, which is still the standard method of treatment in Japan.     

Successful Sorafenib Treatment for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Case with Chronic Renal Failure

Treatment options for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are limited. We report the case of a 69-yr-old male who was treated with sorafenib after failure of immunotherapy. The treatment has resulted in remission with stable disease for 13 mo so far. Sorafenib seems to be a safe treatment option for patients with ESRD and mRCC, but further studies are required.     

Incidence of Demodex Folliculorum in Patients with End Stage Chronic Renal Failure

Background. Demodex folliculorum (DF), found in the pilosebaceous unit, is the most common ectoparasite in humans. It has been implicated in various clinical lesions such as pustular folliculitis, papulopustular scalp eruption, perioral dermatitis, and skin lesions of immunosuppressed patients on chemotherapy or with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Objective. We aimed to determine DF carriers and location of DF among patients on chronic dialysis because of end stage renal failure (ESRF), to compare them with healthy controls, and to examine the relationship between DF incidence and dialysis method and symptoms. Methods. Sixty-seven patients on dialysis and 67 healthy controls were taken into the study. The patient groups were classified according to the diseases causing ESRF [diabetes mellitus (DM), polycystic disease (PCD), glomerulonephritis (GN), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HTNS), others (OT), unknown etiology (UE)], and mode of dialysis. Five standardized skin surface biopsies (SSSB) were taken. The determination of five and more living parasites/cm² area was diagnosed as infestation. Results. The mean mite count in the ESRF group, 6.12/cm², was significantly higher than that in controls, 0.31/cm², (Independent Samples Test, p = 0.000). The DF positivity according to primary disease causing ESRF revealed that it was most frequent in DM with 12 patients (44.4%), followed by UE with nine patients (33.4%). Conclusions. Our findings indicate that the DF number is increased in ESRF patients on dialysis treatment. We recommend that demodicidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of facial eruptions in patients with ESRF.     

慢性肾衰竭患者白细胞介素13水平及血液透析对其影响

目的：探讨慢性肾衰竭(CRF)不同损害期患血浆白细胞介素13(IL—13)水平和临床意义以及血液速析(HD)对其影响。方法：应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测CRF患血浆IL—13水平对IL不同肾功能损害期患血浆IL—13水平，并与肌酐清除率(Ccr)做直线相关分析，观察HD对尿毒症患血浆IL—13水平的影响。结果：CRF患血浆IL—13水平较正常对照组增高，且随着肾功能损害程度的加重而增高，至尿毒症期达到最高，与Ccr呈负相关；初次HD使尿毒症患血浆IL—13水平降低，维持HD2个月后，血浆IL—13水平降低更为明显。结论：IL—13可能参与CRF患免疫炎症调节进程，HD可使其水平降低。     

慢性肾衰竭患者血液透析前后氨基酸谱和蛋白质水平的变化

目的：观察慢性肾衰竭（CRF）患者血液透析（HD）前后血清蛋白质和氨基酸（AA）谱变化。方法：对20例CRF患者HD前后蛋白质和氨基酸浓度进行比较。结果：透析后血清视黄醇结合蛋白（RBP）、白蛋白（Alb)和前白蛋白（PA）较透析前有所下降，而转铁蛋白有所增高，但均无统计学意义。血清丝氨酸（Ser)、苏氨酸（Thr)、谷氨酸（Glu)、脯氨酸（Pro)、甘氨酸（Gly)、丙氨酸（Ala)、半胱氨酸（Cys)、赖氨酸（Lys)浓度，透析后下降显著（P＜0．01），余无显著性改变。结论：HD影响机体蛋白质、氨基酸代谢，可使部分血清氨基酸蛋白质丢失，加重机体营养不良。     

Predictive factors of chronic kidney disease in severe vesicoureteral reflux

The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate independent predictive factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children with severe bilateral primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Between 1970 and 2004, 184 patients were diagnosed with VUR (grades III–V) and were systematically followed up at a single tertiary renal unit. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <75 ml/min per 1.73 m² body surface area in two consecutive examinations. Risk of CKD was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox’s regression model. The probability of CKD for patients with bilateral severe reflux was estimated at 15% by 10 years after VUR diagnosis. After adjustment, four variables remained independently associated with CKD during follow-up: age at diagnosis >24 months [relative risk (RR)=4.8, 95% confidence interval (95%CI), 1.8–12.7, P<0.001], VUR grade V (RR=3.5, 95%CI, 1.5–7.9, P=0.002), bilateral renal damage (RR=2.86, 95%CI, 1.3–6.1, P=0.007), and decade of admission after 1990 as a protective factor (RR=0.16, 95%CI 0.06–0.43, P<0.001). A delay in the diagnosis of VUR more than 12 months after urinary tract infection (UTI) was also a predictive factor in an alternative model (RR=2.2, 95%CI, 1.1–6.6, P=0.03). Prognosis regarding renal function was relatively poor after a long-term follow-up of patients with bilateral severe reflux.     

Risk Factors and Prevention of End Stage Renal Disease in Uruguay

Uruguay is a developing country with a privileged established program for renal replacement therapy (RRT) for all patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) since 1981. In December 2004, the RRT prevalence reached 916 patients per million population. The ESRD incidence has not changed significantly in the last eight years, differing with what is observed in other countries. In contrast, the ESRD incidence secondary to diabetic nephropathy has shown a permanent increase. The prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD) began in 1989 with the Program of Prevention and Treatment of Glomerulonephritis (PPTG), being extended in 2002 to all CKD and canalized through the National Program of Renal Healthcare (NPRH) since 2004. The registry of glomerulonephritis has been demonstrated in recent years: patients are referral to nephrologists earlier, there is an increase of the frequency of patients with “clinical remission,” and thus there is a decrease of the frequency of ESRD in the first three months after referral. The NPRH has been developed in a progressive way with the involvement of government authorities and the active participation of the nephrologists. A global prevention program, integrating the prevention of CKD, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes was developed. The first steps of the program have had important achievements: a rational reorientation of nephrologic care in the first level of attention, patient access to renoprotective medications without cost; a registration system of patients, the creation of a formal multidisciplinary team, and the instauration of a continuous medical education program.     

低分子肝素对糖尿病肾衰竭透析患者血脂代谢的临床观察

目的 :通过应用低分子肝素及普通肝素对糖尿病肾衰进行血透 ,了解低分子肝素对糖尿病肾衰血脂代谢的影响。方法 :将 32例糖尿病肾衰患者随机分成实验组 (LMWH组 ,n =16 )和对照组 (UFH组 ,n =16 ) ,LMWH组和UFH组分别使用低分子肝素和普通肝素进行血液透析一年 ,观察两组患者血脂变化情况。结果 :实验过程中LMWH组患者血清胆固醇 (CH)及甘油三酯 (TG)水平明显下降 ,高密度脂蛋白 (HDL)、载脂蛋白A(ApoA1)明显升高 ,均有明显差异 ,具统计学意义。UFH组中CHOL无明显变化 ,TG及LDL明显升高 ,HDL明显降低 ,均有统计学差异。同时对LMWH组和UFH组之间进行比较显示 ,在透析开始时CH、TG、HDL、LDL、ApoA1及ApoB均无统计学差异 ;透析一年后LMWH组与UFH组相比 ,CH、TG、LDL进一步下降 ,HDL、ApoA1明显上升 ,而且具有统计学意义。结论 :LMWH透析可以改善糖尿病肾衰患者的血脂代谢。     

Renal function in predialysis children with chronic renal failure treated with erythropoietin

To assess the effect of long-term administration of human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) on renal function, 11 anemic children aged 1.4 – 17.2 years were followed for 10 – 61 (mean 31) months on treatment. During EPO therapy the mean hemoglobin rose from 8.1 to 11.1 g/dl at the last observation. The final maintenance dose ranged between 70 and 300 U/kg per week. The rate of deterioration of renal function was calculated by comparing the slope of the regression lines of reciprocal serum creatinine values (SCr) derived from a mean of 20 values per patient obtained over 8 – 50 (mean 29) months before and a mean of 24 SCR values during EPO therapy. The individual slopes improved after initiation of EPO therapy in all but 3 patients, but the mean change of slope (from –0.0521 to –0.0299) was not significant. The study suggests that in most children with predialysis chronic renal failure long-term administration of EPO is not associated with accelerated deterioration but rather with delayed deterioration of renal function. Received August 30, 1995; received in revised form November 16, 1995; accepted April 10, 1996