Thyroid function in patients with acute renal failure

Thyroid function was evaluated in a group of 36 patients with acute renal failure (ARF) during the oliguric/anuric, polyuric and postpolyuric phase. Serum thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations were significantly decreased in the oliguric/anuric phase, as compared with the mean values obtained in the postpolyuric phase and with controls.In contrast to T₃ and T₄, the concentration of serum reverse triiodothyronine (rT₃) was elevated in the oliguric/anuric phase and normal in the polyuric phase. The sephadex-T₃-binding index (T₃I) was significantly increased in oliguric/anuric patients and in the polyuric phase. The levels of serum thyreotropin were significantly elevated during all phases of ARF as compared with the controls. From the results obtained it is concluded that abnormal peripheral metabolism of T₄ seems to be the primary cause of altered plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones in patients with ARF.     

Aetiology and outcome of acute renal failure secondary to war related trauma and infectious disease in Croatia

Summary: The aim of our study was to explore the aetiology and the outcome of acute renal failure (ARF) during the war in Croatia. of the 2132 patients admitted to our hospital between April 1990 and November 1992 due to war related trauma, 11 (0.5%) developed ARF. We believe that the development of ARF in these patients was secondary to an overwhelming septic process. Most of our patients suffered from multiple organ failure. of the 11 patients suffering from ARF due to war related trauma only four recovered (63.6% had died). We attribute the lethal outcome to the progression of the septic process. Patients who developed ARF due to infectious diseases unrelated to trauma had a different prognosis. Acute renal failure caused by the Hantan virus ran a benign course, in both its oliguric and non-oliguric form. Patients who developed ARF as a complication of leptospirosis also had a good prognosis. Although ARF is usually of a multifactorial genesis, our study aimed to emphasize the importance of disseminated septic processes as a cause of ARF.     

The study of oliguric and polyuric acute renal failure

A simple laboratory model for acute renal failure (ARF) induced by warm ischemia was studied in an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms for oliguria. It was observed that unilateral warm ischemic injury with contralateral nephrectomy or bilateral warm ischemic injury resulted in a high output (polyuric) form of ARF. In contrast, when unilateral warm ischemic injury was induced and the contracolateral kidney was left intact, low output (oliguric) ARF was observed in the injured kidney. Ligation of the ureter of the normal contralateral kidney reversed the oliguric state. Replacement of the urine output by the normal kidney with Ringer's lactate solution failed to reverse the low output state in the injured kidney. Reinfusion of the urine itself from the intact contralateral kidney, while increasing urine output, did not entirely alleviate the oliguric phenomenon in the injured kidney during a 24-hr period during which the animals underwent volume expansion. Although the basis for the oliguria in the injured kidney when functioning renal tissue remains is unclear, indirect evidence suggests that the excretion of a diuretic factor in urine by the normal kidney contributes to the oliguria observed in the injured kidney.     

Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme in Glycerol-Induced Acute Renal Failure in Rats

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) activity was measured in serum, urine, and tissues of rats with acute renal failure (ARF) induced by glycerol. Glycerol-injected rats were subdivided in three groups according to the urinary volume: oliguric, nonoliguric, and polyuric. The damage to the proximal tubule was evident by (a) the histological analysis at light and electron microscopy level, (b) the augmented urinary excretion of the enzymes dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, and (c) the low molecular weight proteinuria pattern. On the other hand, the appearance of the glomeruli at the ultrastructural level was normal. These data suggest that the increased urinary excretion of enzymes and proteins in these rats is a consequence of the tubular injury. ARF was markedly higher in the oliguric rats. Urine ACE activity increased in the rats of the three groups, but statistical significance was reached only in the oliguric rats. Serum ACE activity increased in the oliguric rats and tissue ACE activity did not change. It is concluded that the high urinary ACE in glycerol-treated rats is associated with the damage to the kidney tubules. These data support the contention that urinary ACE may be another marker of injury to the proximal tubule.     

Acute renal failure in leptospirosis in the black-see region in Turkey

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic leptospires and is characterized by a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, varying from inappearent infection to fulminant, fetal disease. Eighty-five to 90% of leptospirosis infections are self-limiting. However, 5–10% of infection by L.interrogans can cause renal tubular damage, microvascular injury, acute renal failure (ARF), and interstitial nephritis.We studied 36 patients with leptospirosis. Twenty-seven (65%) cases of 36 patients had ARF. Fourteen (51%) had nonoliguric ARF. In thirteen (48%) oliguria appeared on the third or fourth days of hospitalization. Serum BUN, creatinine, serum bilirubine, ALT, AST, potassium and thrombocytopenia levels were higher in oliguric than nonoliguric patients (p < 0.05). However, serum sodium, CPK levels were not different between oliguric and nonoliguric groups (p > 0.05). Thirteen patients (48%) needed in renal replacement therapy (RRT). 8 of them were treated by hemodialysis (HD) alone and 5 patients by HD in combination with hemoperfusion. Twenty-five patients (92%) recovered completely after 3–5 weeks. Two patients (7.4%) who had severe hepatorenal and hemorrhagic syndromes, died.We concluded that till now leptospirosis is actual problem for nephrologist in the developing countries because of very high percentage of renal disease, with good prognosis in patients without multiorgan failure and early treatment.     

Acute renal failure in a child after chewing of match heads

A few days after ingestion of 40 match heads, a 3-year-old boy was admitted to hospital with oliguric acute renal failure (ARF) requiring peritoneal dialysis during 9 days. A renal biopsy showed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis; the outcome was rapidly favorable and the child recovered normal GFR. It seems to be the first published case of ARF after match poisoning, probably because of the presence of potassium bichromate.     

Acute Renal Failure in Open Heart Surgery

A case–control study was performed to establish possible risk factors for acute renal failure (ARF) and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A consecutive series of 704 patients were included in the study. A randomized sample of 255 patients was taken to analyze risk factors for ARF and mortality. Incidence of acute renal failure was 3.8% (27/704). Low cardiac output (LCO) was observed in all patients who developed ARF and in 72/255 without ARF (p < 0.0005). When LCO was isolated, no difference was found between groups. Association to prolonged perfusion time and sepsis increased the probability of developing ARF: 5/27 versus 0/255, p < 0.001; and 9/27 versus 0/255, p < 0.001, respectively. Overall mortality was 7.2% (51/704). Significant difference was found between ARF (55.6%, 15/27) and non-ARF patients (5.4%, 36/704), p < 0.005. Neither age nor sex was associated to outcome. Nonsurvivor patients were more oliguric (11/15 vs. 0/12, p < 0.005), required dialysis more frequently (7/15 vs. 0/12, p < 0.005), and were complicated with sepsis more often (9/15 vs. 0/12, p < 0.005), compared to survivors. We concluded that ARF was an uncommon complication in this group of patients, but mortality rate was dramatically high. This study identified LCO associated to prolonged perfusion time and sepsis as risk factors for ARF. Severity of ARF (oliguric forms and dialysis requirement) and postoperative events (sepsis) were associated with mortality.     

Five cases of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis with acute renal failure and nephrotic syndrome

During the period of 27 years from 1974 to 2000, acute episodes were studied retrospectively in 130 patients under 14 years of age with poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis(PSAGN). PSAGN cases have a variable clinical presentation from asymptomatic to severe oliguric acute renal failure(ARF). Proteinuria is nearly always present, but is less than 3.5 g/day. Nephrotic syndrome(NS) is not commonly observed in PSAGN. Among 130 patients, 5 cases had NS with ARF. The present study investigated a spectrum of NS with ARF and the significance of clinical features in PSAGN.     

Renal Functional and Metabolic Studies on the Role of Preventive Measures in Experimental Acute Ischemic Renal Failure

In the present study 1 h of total occlusion of the left renal artery in conscious rats was chosen as experimental model of ischemic acute renal failure (ARF), while the contralateral kidney was left intact. Chronic high dietary sodium intake, acute isotonic saline infusion, or administration of saralasin did not protect from ARF. Furosemide, mannitol, and verapamil converted oliguric into non-oliguric ARF in 100%, 75%, and 60% of the animals, resp. Protection from oliguria and preservation of GFR inversely correlated with the depression of cortical ATP-concentration (control: 1.32 ± 0.07 μmoles/g wet weight) 6 h after ischemia by 16%, 41%, and 58% in mannitol- and verapamil- treated rats and in untreated rats, resp. At this time, Na-K-ATPase enzyme activities in renal cortex and papilla were unaffected, while enzyme activity in outer medulla was suppressed from 15.4 ± 1.4 to 9.4 ± 1.0 μmoles Pi/mg protein h in all groups of animals. The results suggest that in this model of ARF renal ischemia not only affects cellular energy supply in renal cortex but also causes severe structural and functional impairment in the outer medulla, probably leading to tubular obstruction and depression of glomerular function. Pharmacological protection from ischemic oliguric ARF cannot be achieved by prior induction of high urine flow rates alone but depends on the degree of metabolic and functional reserve of the injured tubular epithelium.     

Erythropoietin deficiency in acute renal failure

Erythropoietin (Epo) was sequentially measured by radioimmunoassay in 11 patients with acute renal failure (ARF) of varied aetiology. Epo rapidly decreased to a level inappropriately low for the haemoglobin, the reduced Epo value persisting throughout the oliguric phase and for up to 2 weeks after the restoration of apparently normal renal function. Epo values found in ARF were: at referral 18.2 +/- 9.5, mid-oliguria 14.4 +/- 6.8, diuresis 15.6 +/- 5.8, and recovery 25.1 +/- 15.8 mU/ml. Results are compared with 34 patients with end-stage chronic renal failure, 42 with non-renal anaemia, and 96 normal subjects. Epo deficiency alone is an inadequate explanation of the rapid reduction in haemoglobin at the onset of ARF, but would appear to be an important factor in the maintenance of anaemia in prolonged ARF and accounts for the slow increase in haemoglobin following recovery.     

COMPLICATION OF OLIGURIC ACUTE RENAL FAILURE IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH LOW-MOLECULAR WEIGHT DEXTRAN

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a well-documented but infrequent complication in patients treated with low-molecular weight dextran (LMWD). We herein report 3 cases of oliguric ARF following the administration of dextran-40. One case developed ARF totally after 1.200 g of LMWD administration. In contrast, two cases having increased serum creatinine developed oliguria despite the acceptable therapeutic doses (totally 450 and 650 g). Contrast media was also co-administered in these patients. Plasma exchange (PE), double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP), or continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) but not hemodialysis (HD) reduced circulating dextran concentrations by 35–44% during a single session. All patients completely recovered from ARF by 14–32 days after the treatment. Our cases suggested that radiocontrast could predispose to the development of LMWD-induced ARF especially in patients having pre-existing renal dysfunction. In addition, PE, DFPP and CHDF afforded a beneficial effect for removing accumulated LMWD from the circulation.     

Mortality in Elderly Patients with Acute Renal Failure

In a retrospective study, we identified 55 elderly patients with acute renal failure (ARF) admitted to our hospital during an 8-year period from 1985 to 1993. Information about the etiology, complications, laboratory data, and treatment course were obtained from the clinical history. Of the 200 patients with ARF admitted to the hospital during this period, 28% were patients more than 60 years old (41 male and 14 female) with an average age of 68.5 ± 7 years. The main causes of ARF were sepsis, volume depletion, low cardiac output, arterial hypotension, nephrotoxicity by antibiotics, and obstructive uropathy. The global mortality of elderly patients with ARF was 53%. The mortality rate of the different types of the ARF were: prerenal 35%, intrinsic 64% (oliguric 76%, nonoliguric 50%), and postrenal 40%. Mortality as a result of sepsis occurred in 18 patients (62%), by cardiovascular disease in 4 patients (13%), by acute respiratory failure in 2 patients (7%), and by other causes in 5 patients (18%). In the cases of sepsis, Pseudomonas was detected in 7 cases (39%), Escherichia coli in 2 cases (11%), Gram-negative nonspecific in 3 cases (17%), Klebsiella in 1 case (5%), and in 5 cases (16%), the hemoculture was negative. The patient survival rate was 47% (26 of 55 patients). Of these patients, 19 recovered their normal renal function (73%), but 7 patients remained with renal failure (27%). In conclusion, the global mortality in the elderly patients without considering the types of ARF was 53%. The oliguric form had the highest mortality rate with 76%. The main causes for mortality were sepsis with 62%, cardiovascular disease with 13%, and other causes 18%.     

Acute Renal Failure Complicating Severe Acute Pancreatitis

The records of 563 patients admitted to the hospital with diagnosis of acute pancreatitis have been studied retrospectively. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of acute renal failure (ARF) in these patients, and to evaluate the most important risk factors for ARF development and mortality. The prevalence of ARF in studied population was 14%, but only 3.8% of ARF patients with acute pancreatitis had isolated renal failure. Other patients had additional failure of other organ systems, 68.4% of whom had multiorgan failure (MOF) before the onset of ARF. In only 8.9% of ARF patients was the renal system the first organ system to fail. Patients with ARF were significantly older, had more preexisting chronic diseases (including chronic renal failure), usually had MOF, and local pancreatic complications relative to these in the group with normal renal function. The development of ARF was directly influenced by severity of acute pancreatitis. The mortality rate in ARF patients was 74.7%, compared to an 7.4% mortality of patients with acute pancreatitis and normal renal function. Preexisting chronic disease, the presence of MOF and their number, local pancreatic complications, and older age of the patients increased mortality in ARF patients. The prognosis of patients with oliguric ARF requiring renal replacement therapy was extremely poor, indicating the importance of prevention of ARF in the patients with acute pancreatitis.     

Acute renal failure in neonates: Incidence,etiology and outcome

Acute renal failure (ARF) occurs in as many as 8% of neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Most often, ARF is recognized because of oliguria (urinary flow rate <1 ml/kg per hour) although nonoliguric neonatal ARF is being detected with increasing frequency. Among urinary indices utilized to differentiate oliguric neonatal ARF from prerenal oliguria, a fractional excretion of sodium greater than 3% or a renal failure index (RFI) greater than 3 are helpful in confirming ARF. Such indices must be viewed with caution in very premature infants who may have a physiologically high sodium excretion rate and in neonates with the nonoliguric form of ARF. The mortality of oliguric neonatal renal failure may be as high as 60% in medical ARF and even higher in neonates with congenital heart disease, or with anomalies of the genitourinary system. In contrast, nonoliguric renal failure in neonates has an excellent prognosis. Long-term abnormalities in glomerular filtration rate and in renal tubular function are common in survivors of neonatal ARF.Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, 5 May 1986, organized by Dr. R. N. Fine, Los Angeles.     

Complication of oliguric acute renal failure in patients treated with low-molecular weight dextran.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a well-documented but infrequent complication in patients treated with low-molecular weight dextran (LMWD). We herein report 3 cases of oliguric ARF following the administration of dextran-40. One case developed ARF totally after 1.200 g of LMWD administration. In contrast, two cases having increased serum creatinine developed oliguria despite the acceptable therapeutic doses (totally 450 and 650 g). Contrast media was also co-administered in these patients. Plasma exchange (PE), double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP), or continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) but not hemodialysis (HD) reduced circulating dextran concentrations by 35-44% during a single session. All patients completely recovered from ARF by 14-32 days after the treatment. Our cases suggested that radiocontrast could predispose to the development of LMWD-induced ARF especially in patients having pre-existing renal dysfunction. In addition, PE, DFPP and CHDF afforded a beneficial effect for removing accumulated LMWD from the circulation.     

Assessment of acute renal failure patients treated in our nephrology clinic between 1996 and 2002

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a cause of high morbidity and mortality associated with long hospital stay, and expensive treatment. The initial approach to patients with ARF should be focused on preventing future injury to the kidney. Two hundred eighty-three ARF patients, treated from January 1996 to June 2002, were retrospectively investigated for their etiology, clinic features, and laboratory characteristics, as well as treatment results and mortality rate. The mean age was 52.3 +/- 18.7 years. Patients with hospital-acquired ARF comprised 38.8% of the sample. Renal causes (60%) were responsible for most ARF patients. They were medical (63.95%), surgical (23.67%), and obstetric (12.4%) causes. Twenty-five percent of patients with ARF had multiple etiologies. Hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelets (HELLP) syndrome was seen in the most of the obstetric-related ARF cases. Signs of hypervolemia were present in approximately 50% of the cases. Oliguric patients comprised 59.7% of the sample, and the mean time to oliguria was 5.2 +/- 4.1 days. The necessity of dialysis was greater in oliguric patients (42.6%) and the ratio of complete/partial improvement (82.2%) was greater among non-oligoanuric patients. However, there was no significant difference between mortality rates. Irreversible renal insufficiency did not develop in the non-oliguric cases. Also, 7.4% of ARF patients died, with the main causes being infection (31.8%) and cardiovascular events (27.2%). Medical problems are important in the etiology of ARF as well as obstetric cases. The mortality rate was low in our cases, a situation that may be explained by medical causes being of importance in the etiology. We are of the opinion that early referral of patients to a nephrologist and following treatment in the nephrology clinic may positively affect the outcome.     

Temporary loss of limb function secondary to soft tissue calcification in a patient with rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure

A case of unusually severe soft tissue calcification with temporary loss of limb function in a patient with rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure (ARF) is described. A large dose of intravenous (IV) calcium was administered early in the hospital course to treat hypocalcemia, and hemodialysis, when initiated, was with a 1.75-mmol/L calcium dialysate. This case illustrates the danger of administering calcium supplementation and raises questions about the use of normal to high dialysate calcium concentration in the early stages of rhabdomyolysis-induced oliguric ARF. Calcium supplementation should be reserved for patients with clear clinical signs of hypocalcemia and dialysate calcium should be adjusted to prevent excessive positive calcium balance.     

Experience with renal failure during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: treatment with continuous hemofiltration

We use extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to treat respiratory and cardiac failure in children who are unresponsive to standard ventilator and pharmacologic management. All patients have cardiac and abdominal ultrasonography prior to ECMO to identify major structural anomalies and anatomically normal kidneys. Despite this, oliguric renal failure is seen in a number of patients. Acute renal failure (ARF) developed in two of the first 20 patients we placed on ECMO and both of these patients died. Six of the last 27 patients (22%) also developed ARF and were treated with continuous hemofiltration (CH) placed in-line with the extracorporeal circuit. The technique of CH removes plasma water and dissolved solutes while retaining proteins and cellular components of the intravascular space. The duration of CH ranged from 9 to 112 hours (mean 57.5 hours). Indications for CH were hypervolemia, hyperkalemia, and azotemia. The mean serum potassium prior to CH was 5.6 (range 4.3 to 7.0) compared with 4.5 after filtration. We filtered 5 to 10 mL/kg/h and replaced it with crystalloid chosen on the basis of serum and filtrate electrolytes. These six patients had a 33% mean weight gain prior to CH. We were able to remove as much as 2,200 g in the most edematous patient with significant improvement in cardiopulmonary status. Four of the patients on CH died of their primary pulmonary or cardiac disease without specific problems related to ARF. The other two patients were successfully weaned from ECMO, extubated, and have not needed further therapy for renal failure. We conclude that CH is useful in managing the complications of oliguric renal failure during ECMO.     

Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha may predict the outcome of patients with acute renal failure

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Elevated plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) concentration is frequently found in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis (HD) and correlates with their mortality. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between plasma TNFalpha concentrations and survival of patients with nonseptic acute renal failure (ARF). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with ARF and 27 HD patients were examined. In ARF the patients' plasma TNFalpha concentrations were assessed 3 times: before the first HD session (phase I), 5 days later at the anuric/oliguric phase (phase II), and at the polyuric phase at discharge of the patients from the hospital (phase III). In 17 ARF patients kidney function recovered and 10 patients died in phase I. RESULTS: In ARF patients plasma TNFalpha concentration was markedly higher [70 pg/ml (37-275)] than reference values (<5 pg/ml) but significantly lower than in HD patients [216 pg/ml (18-350)]. Moreover, also plasma TNFalpha levels at the polyuric phase remained elevated. An initial plasma TNFalpha concentration in ARF patients lower than 70 pg/ml predicted the beneficial outcome with a sensitivity of 64.7% and a specificity of 70.0%. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Plasma TNFalpha concentration may predict the outcome in patients with ARF. (2) Plasma TNFalpha concentration remained elevated at the polyuric phase in ARF despite a marked improvement of excretory kidney function.     

A trial of thyroxine in acute renal failure

A trial of thyroxine in acute renal failure. BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) remains a serious medical problem with a high mortality rate. Efforts to shorten the course of ARF might reduce this mortality. Since thyroxine has been shown in experimental models to shorten the course of ARF, we designed a trial to determine if a defined course of thyroxine would alter the course or change the mortality of clinical ARF. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of thyroxine was carried out in patients with ARF. End points were the percentage requiring dialysis, the percentage recovering renal function, time to recovery, and mortality. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were randomized to receive either thyroxine or placebo. The groups were well matched in terms of basal and entry creatinines, age, sex, APACHE II scores at entry, and percentage oliguric. Baseline thyroid functions, including T3, T4, rT3, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, were equal between the two groups and typical of patients with euthyroid sick syndrome. Thyroxine resulted in a progressive and sustained suppression of TSH levels in the treated group, but had no effect on any measure of ARF severity. Mortality was higher in the thyroxine group than the control group (43 vs. 13%) and correlated with suppression of TSH. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the beneficial effects seen in experimental ARF, thyroxine has no effect on the course of clinical ARF and could have a negative effect on outcome through prolonged suppression of TSH. Critically ill euthyroid sick patients should not be replaced with thyroid hormone.