Early Prognostic Factors in Patients with Acute Renal Failure Requiring Dialysis

Purpose. Despite improvements in renal therapy and technology, the mortality rate of patients with acute renal failure (ARF) remains high. Because ARF is a heterogeneous syndrome, occurring in patients with diverse etiologies and comorbid conditions, predicting its outcome is difficult. This study aims to identify early clinical and laboratory prognostic factors, including acute-phase reactants such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and albumin, in ARF patients requiring dialysis. Material and methods. From June 2002 to March 2004, 61 patients with ARF requiring dialysis at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, were prospectively analyzed. For each patient, the worst values of prognostic variables 24 hr before starting dialysis were prospectively assessed. Results. Oliguria, low plasma fibrinogen levels, hypotension, cardiac disease, and neoplastic disease were statistically significant in predicting hospital mortality. Using Youden's index, the best cut-off value for plasma fibrinogen in predicting mortality was 300 mg/dL with a sensitivity and specificity of 61% and 96%, respectively. Serum CRP and serum albumin were not predictive of hospital mortality. Conclusion. Early prognostic factors in predicting mortality for patients with ARF requiring dialysis identified by multivariate logistic regression were oliguria, low plasma fibrinogen, hypotension, cardiac disease, and neoplastic disease. Serum CRP and albumin were not predictive of hospital mortality, whereas a plasma fibrinogen level ≤300 mg/dL had 61% sensitivity and 96% specificity in predicting mortality.     

Peritoneal Dialysis in Acute Renal Failure

The definition of adequate dialysis in acute renal failure (ARF) is complex and involves the time of referral to dialysis, dose, and dialytic method. Nephrologist experience with a specific procedure and the availability of different dialysis modalities play an important role in these choices. There is no consensus in literature on the best method or ideal dialysis dose in ARF.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is used less and less in ARF patients, and is being replaced by continuous venovenous therapies. However, it should not be discarded as a worthless therapeutic option for ARF patients. PD offers several advantages over hemodialysis, such as its technical simplicity, excellent cardiovascular tolerance, absence of an extracorporeal circuit, lack of bleeding risk, and low risk of hydro-electrolyte imbalance. PD also has some limitations, though: it needs an intact peritoneal cavity, carries risks of peritoneal infection and protein losses, and has an overall lower effectiveness. Because daily solute clearance is lower with PD than with daily HD, there have been concerns that PD cannot control uremia in ARF patients. Controversies exist concerning its use in patients with severe hypercatabolism; in these cases, daily hemodialysis or continuous venovenous therapy have been preferred.

There is little literature on PD in ARF patients, and what exists does not address fundamental parameters such as adequate quantification of dialysis and patient catabolism. Given these limitations, there is a pressing need to re-evaluate the adequacy of PD in ARF using accepted standards. Therefore, new studies should be undertaken to resolve these problems.     

Prognostic Value of Serum Osmolality Gap in Patients with Multiple Organ Failure Treated with Hemopurification

Serum osmolality gap (OG), the difference between measured and predicted serum osmolality, has been shown to be an excellent parameter to express the amount of conventionally unmeasurable middle-molecular-weight substances. OG was determined on 29 patients with multiple organ failure (MOF) treated with or without hemopurification. OG significantly increased in proportion to the increase in the number of failed organs and correlated well with APACHE II score. Nonsurvivors showed persistently high OG. OG decreased with plasma exchange and hemoadsorption, but not with hemodialysis, indicating that pathogenic factors can be removed effectively with plasma exchange and hemoadsorption. The patients with OG greater than 20 mOsm/kg-H2O had very little possibility of survival. These results indicate that OG is an easily determinable, effective parameter to evaluate the severity of the patients' condition, efficacy of hemopurification in removing pathogenic middle-molecular-weight substances, and the prognosis of the patient in the treatment of MOF.     

Hemodynamics and Survival of Patients with Acute Renal Failure Treated by Continuous Dialysis with Two Synthetic Membranes

Synthetic membranes are not identical and have specific interactions that may be harmful or beneficial. We have investigated the incidence of hypotension and the outcome of acute renal failure (ARF) in ventilated patients treated by continuous venovenous dialysis with 2 different synthetic membranes. In Study 1, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were monitored during the first 12 min of dialysis with polyacrylonitrile (PAN). In Study 2, the MAP and survival rates were compared in patients randomly assigned to either PAN or polysulfone. No subjects were receiving angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. In Study 1, the MAP decreased due to a reduction in the SVR during the first 6 min of dialysis but returned to the baseline value by 12 min in 22 patients during 27 dialysis treatments. In Study 2, the MAP was lower than the baseline value at 6 min during 233 dialysis treatments in 133 patients randomly assigned to PAN or polysulfone membranes (PAN group, 81.5 ± 15 to 78.7 ± 15.6 mm Hg, p =0.001; and polysulfone group, 81.3 ± 15.4 to 80.0 ± 15.7 mm Hg, p =0.06). Severe reductions in the MAP were seen during 13.2% of the PAN and 7.2% of the polysulfone treatments (χ², p =NS). The age, APACHE II score, MAP, inotrope requirement, and primary diagnosis did not differ according to membrane material in a total of 197 consecutive patients (PAN, n =97; polysulfone, n =100). Patient survival was 29% (PAN) and 27% (polysulfone). In multivariate analysis, APACHE II score, inotrope requirement, and liver failure were significant determinants of survival. In conclusion, PAN and polysulfone membranes were not different with respect to hypotensive reactions or survival in critically ill patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodialysis.     

Acute Renal Failure in Patients with Kidney Transplant: Continuous Versus Intermittent Renal Replacement Therapy

Mortality from acute renal failure in critically ill patients remains in excess of 50% despite decades of improvement in supportive care. It is not known whether replacement of other failing organs by non-renal organ transplantation affects mortality in acute renal failure. We retrospectively reviewed the course of 169 patients with acute renal failure managed at a single university medical center over a 1-year period. Measures of disease severity (need for renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation or parenteral nutrition, presence of oliguria and APACHE II scores) and final outcome were compared in 97 patients with acute renal failure who did not receive transplants and 72 patients with acute renal failure who underwent non-renal solid organ transplants. Overall mortality was 50.3% and directly correlated with APACHE II score. Compared to nontransplant patients, transplant recipients were younger, more frequently male, and less often oliguric; but the groups were similar in mean APACHE II scores and need for renal replacement therapy, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and parenteral nutrition. Overall, mortality was significantly lower for transplant patients compared to nontransplant patients (34.7% vs. 61.9%, p < 0.05). In nonoliguric acute renal failure and renal failure not requiring renal replacement therapy, mortality was low and similar in both transplant and nontransplant patients. Compared to nontransplant patients with similar risk factors and similar APACHE II scores, mortality was significantly lower for transplant patients who were oliguric, or who required renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation, or parenteral nutrition. Organ transplantation is associated with a survival advantage in acute renal failure when compared to the outcome of critically ill nontransplant patients. The relation between APACHE II scores and survival is altered by transplantation.     

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%.     

Outcomes of Acute Renal Failure Patients Requiring Intermittent Hemodialysis

The published studies on the prognosis of patients requiring intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) are scarce and have some conflicts. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed our data on ARF patients who were treated with IHD. A total of 192 (female: 85, 44.3%; male: 107, 55.7%) patients were included in the study. The mean age was 56.3 ± 17.1 years. In all, 48.9% of the patients were older than 60 years. The mean number of IHD sessions was 7.8 ± 8.0 per patient; 12.4% was due to prerenal causes, 76.8% was due to intrarenal causes, and 10.8% was due to postrenal causes. The leading indication of the IHD was uremic symptoms (46.8%). With the exclusion of hypertension, 72.4% of the patients had at least one systemic comorbidity. After treatment, 75.5% of the patients recovered, in contrast to 9.4% of patients who were transferred to chronic renal replacement programs and 15.1% who died during IHD period. Pre-dialytic serum creatinine (p?=?0.003) and albumin levels (p?=?0.016), total IHD session number per patient (p?=?0.003), and age (p?=?0.034) were the parameters that were related to high mortality in statistical analysis. Mortality was higher if the leading indication of IHD was biochemical disturbances (p?=?0.013). Diabetes mellitus did not influence mortality. Consequently, predialytic serum creatinine and albumin levels may be very important predictors of mortality. Patients in high-risk groups (older age, female sex, and low pre-dialytic creatinine and albumin levels) should be considered to be treated with slow continuous renal replacement methods.     

A Simple and Early Prognostic Index for Acute Renal Failure Patients Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy

Recent advances in technology have not substantially changed the high mortality rate associated with acute renal failure (ARF). To obtain a simple, valid prognostic index, we retrospectively evaluated the relative importance of demographic data, causes (acute insults) of renal failure, and comorbid clinical conditions for the outcome in 102 ARF patients who received renal replacement therapy with an overall mortality rate of 65% (66 of 102). There were no significant differences between survivors and nonsurvivors in age and gender. Mortality according to acute insults was similar to that of the whole population studied. Of the 10 clinical conditions at the time of the first renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation (p = 0.0002), cardiac failure (p = 0.0006), hepatic failure (p = 0.003), central nervous system dysfunction (p = 0.005), and oliguria (p = 0.04) were found to be significantly related to mortality by univariate analysis. Furthermore, multivariate analysis demonstrated that only mechanical ventilation, cardiac failure, and hepatic failure were significant risk factors. Survival was directly related to the number of significant variables in univariate analysis: zero, 89% (8 of 9); one, 62% (21 of 34); two, 19% (5 of 27); three, 10% (2 of 20); four, 0% (0 of 8); five, 0% (0 of 4). This simple and early prognostic index, derived from the assessment of clinical conditions which were easily de-termined at the patient's bedside, could be useful for outcome prediction in ARF patients requiring renal replacement therapy.     

Evaluation of Toxic Metals in Blood and Urine Samples of Chronic Renal Failure Patients,before and after Dialysis

The determination of toxic elements in the biological samples of human beings is an important clinical screening procedure. The aim of this work was to determine total content of toxic elements—aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb)—in whole blood and urine samples of male chronic renal failure patients (CRFPs) on maintenance hemodialysis from 2006 to 2007. The study included 100 CRFPs, plus 150 healthy volunteers in the control group. The concentration of toxic elements (TEs) were determined in blood sample before and after hemodialysis, while urine sample was determined once, before dialysis. Toxic elements were analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer, prior to microwave-induced acid digestion. The accuracy of the total Al, Cd, and Pb measurements was tested by simultaneously analyzing certified reference materials. No significant differences were established between the analytical results and the certified values (paired t-test at p > 0.05). The levels of TEs in blood samples of patients before dialysis were found to be higher than blood samples after dialysis session. In the control group, the blood levels of Al, Cd, and Pb were significantly lower than the chronic renal failure patients. Moreover, the study shows that analyzing levels of Al, Cd, and Pb may be useful in hemodialysis patients in evaluating TEs status.     

Higher Incidence of Cholelithiasis in Chronic Renal Failure Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

Background. In this study, we endeavored to determine whether the incidence of cholelithiasis (CL) was increased in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism on a peritoneal dialysis (PD) program. We also evaluated the factors that might have some influence on the development of CL. Methods. A total of 59 CRF patients undergoing PD were included in the study. We studied the following groups to determine whether parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were increased in CRF-PD patients: twenty patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (group 1) and 39 patients with normal PTH levels (group 2). PTH levels were maintained at three times the upper limit of normal. Biochemical parameters were obtained for each CRF-PD patient. All patients underwent abdominal ultrasonography to screen for the presence of cholelithiasis. For statistical analysis, χ², t test, and logistic regression analysis were used; p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results. We found an almost ten times higher incidence (25% vs. 2.6%) of CL in group 1 patients with statistical significance (p = 0.007). When the incidence of CL according to sex, creatinine, and PTH levels were considered, female gender, creatinine, and PTH levels were higher in group 1, which was also significant statistically. No significant relationship was detected between gallbladder stone formation and the other analyzed biochemical parameters. Conclusions. We found that the incidence of CL in CRF-PD patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism was higher than CRF-PD patients with normal PTH levels. It was also detected that female gender, high creatinine levels, and elevated PTH levels might influence the development of CL in CRF-PD patients.     

Validity of Prediction Scores in Acute Renal Failure Due to Polytrauma

During a 36-month period from 1992 to 1994, 33 patients with severe polytrauma acquired in war combat (1 female, 32 male, 38.61 ± 8.79 years) developed acute renal failure (ARF) which required hemodialysis (HD) treatment. In 12 patients, multiple system organ failure (MSOF) occurred as a complication of either general conditions or septic complications. In 17 patients (51.4%), and in 3 patients with MSOF, recovery of renal function occurred. We compared the outcome of ARF and several predictive scores (APACHE II and ATNISS). The APACHE II score did not correlate with the outcome of ARF, and ATNISS significantly correlated with the outcome of ARF. The maximum value of ATNISS in the patients with lethal outcome was 1.004, and the minimal value with the same outcome was 0.182. Although ATNISS is a very good score of severity, it seems to underestimate very influential factors in patients with severe polytrauma with ARF (MSOF, mechanism of trauma).     

急性肾衰竭三种治疗方法的疗效对比观察

目的 :回顾性探讨治疗急性肾衰竭较理想的透析方法。方法 :对 2 3例HD患者和 2 0例PD患者及 17例CRRT患者进行比较 ,观察其治愈率、死亡率及透析后的主要并发症。结果 :HD组、PD组、CRRT组的治愈率分别为 82 .6 %、85 %、76 .5 % ;死亡率分别为 8.7%、0、17.6 %。腹膜透析并发症少。结论 :急性肾衰竭在缺少CRRT条件 ,病情允许情况下可首选腹膜透析治疗 ,严重病例、多器官衰竭还是选择CRRT为宜     

Renal Transplantation for Chronic Renal Failure in Acute Porphyria

A woman with acute intermittent porphyria and a man with variegateporphyria developed chronic renal failure in middle age. Afterperiods on haemodialysis, both received successful cadavericrenal transplants. On the basis of animal porphyrinogenicitystudies prednisolone and azathioprine were used in preferenceto cyclosporin as immunosuppressive agents. Neither of the patientsshowed any evidence of activation of their porphyria during,or following, transplantation. The findings in these two patientsand a review of two previous reports indicate that acute porphyriais not a contraindication to renal transplantation.     

Colchicine Overdose-Induced Acute Renal Failure and Electrolyte Imbalance

Colchicine has been used to control gouty arthritis for long time; colchicine overdose, however, causes multiple organ dysfunction. To date, no investigation has revealed the site of kidney lesion or dysfunction. This investigation describes the case of a male with a history of gout who ingested a large amount of colchicine and developed renal, hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, muscular, electrolytic, and hepatic disorder. Glucosuria was noted during hospital days. Colchicine intoxication is shown to induce proximal tubule damage. Severe electrolytes imbalance was noted, including hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypocalcemia. After management, the renal function and serum electrolyte of the patient recovered on the sixth day of hospitalization.     

肾活检在老年急性肾衰竭临床应用的探讨

目的：探讨肾活检术对老年急性肾衰竭的应用价值,提高老年急性肾衰竭的诊治水平。方法：66例不明原因老年急性肾衰竭均行实时超声引导肾自动穿刺活检术,分析其成功率、并发症,总结肾活检后诊断和治疗的修正率。结果：66例肾活检取材均成功;其中取材不良4例（6.1%）,取材良好62例（93.9%）;3例出现轻度并发症（4.5%）,其中肉眼血尿2例,肾周血肿1例,未出现严重并发症;66例中病因误诊19例,26例治疗方案有较大调整。结论：老年急性肾衰竭患者行经皮肾脏穿刺活检术安全且成功率高;相当部分老年急性肾衰竭病因被误诊,对不明原因老年急性肾衰竭应及时行肾活检术,以免延误诊治。     

Parathyroid Hormone as a Marker for the Differential Diagnosis of Acute and Chronic Renal Failure

It is often difficult to distinguish acute renal failure clinically from chronic renal failure, especially in patients who do not have records of their medical history. We investigated the magnitude of iPTH increase in ARF and the potential role of iPTH as a marker for differential diagnosis of ARF and CRF in new patients referred to our renal unit. We prospectively analyzed 122 (ARF n?=?64, CRF n?=?58) patients referred to our renal unit with serum creatinine higher than 2 mg/dL. ROC curve analysis was performed to investigate role of iPTH for differentiating ARF from CRF. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of iPTH in discrimination of ARF and CRF were calculated. There was no statistically significant difference regarding the means of age, sex distribution, and serum chemistry between patients with ARF or CRF. But serum iPTH (p < 0.0001) levels were lower in patients with ARF than in those with CRF. A cutoff, set at 170pg/mL for iPTH to discriminate patients with CRF, yielded a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 89%. This study confirms that the iPTH measurement is of clinical value in differentiating acute from chronic renal failure.     

猪急性肾衰竭并多器官功能障碍模型建立及病理观察

目的：建立一个重症感染后多器官功能障碍综合征（MODS）并急性肾衰竭（ARF）复合的猪模型。方法：16只健康杂交家猪随机分成模型组和假手术对照组。模型组行盲肠结扎和穿孔（CLP）,加作肾动脉夹闭（CRA）制作腹腔感染致MODS并ARF模型,对照组行盲肠和双肾探查术。观察生命体征及主要器官功能（MODS相关指标）变化。结果：模型组术后24～72h出现器官功能障碍：（1）ARF：血清肌酐（Scr）、尿素氮（BUN）分别从（92.70±11.05）μmol/L、（4.16±1.02）mmol/L升至（986.37±132.61）μmol/L、（48.13±2.68）mmol/L。（2）肝功能：血清丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）均超过对照值的2倍;（3）凝血功能：血小板数〈80%对照值,且皮肤可见弥漫或散在的出血点;（4）心功能：平均动脉压（MAP）持续≤70%对照值,且呈进行性下降;心率≥130次/min;（5）肺功能：动脉血二氧化碳分压（PaO2）下降,低于69.75mmHg;呼吸频率增快,均值超过照值的2倍;（6）胃肠功能障碍;（7）肾、肝、脾、肺及小肠等器官组织病理上均有不同程度的实质性改变。模型组动物6d内全部死亡,平均存活时间（69.81±22.59）h;对照组全部存活,且器官功能无明显变化。结论：采用CLP＋CRA方法,可以成功地复制出MODS并ARF复合模型,并可见最终均发展为多器官衰竭。     

Acute Renal Failure in Polytraumatized Patients: Prediction of Outcome

Prediction of outcome of acute renal failure (ARF), particularly inpatients with multisystem organ failure (MSOF), is a very important issue and a very difficult task. In patients with ARF as a consequence of severe polytrauma, frequent complications (e.g., sepsis, respiratory insufficiency, DIC, hepatic insufficiency, etc.) contribute to a hyperbolic state, and in the case of synergistic action, they start the mechanism of MSOF. In 33 patients (1 female, 32 male, 38.61 ± 8.79 years) with severe polytrauma acquired in war combat, ARF developed requiring hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Seventeen out of 33 (51.4%) recovered renal function. In 12 out of 33 patients, MSOF occurred with less successful recovery results. The analysis of pathophysiologic mechanisms of MSOF appearance and ARF outcome has shown the importance of blast injuries, bowel injury, respiratory insufficiency requiring assisted ventilation, and sepsis. Although severe hemorrhage and shock are the common mechanism of ARF appearance in these patients, it seems that wounds by themselves can be of great importance, as abdominal wounds are more frequently associated with ARF and MSOF than in other types.     

Is the Choice of Membrane Important for Patients with Acute Renal Failure Requiring Hemodialysis?

Abstract: It has recently been reported that patients with acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis have an improved recovery of renal function and a higher survival rate when the dialysis treatments are performed with a biocompatible membrane rather than a bioincompatible membrane. Our data, obtained in 57 patients with acute renal failure, do not support these findings since neither the mortality nor the required number of dialysis sessions could be influenced by using a biocompatible membrane.
The survival rate was similar in both groups (64 versus 72%), and renal function was regained in both groups after 6 dialysis sessions. We conclude that when reviewing the literature as well as other factors, the underlying clinical condition or the skill of the physicians is probably more important than the theoretical superiority of biocompatible membranes.     

慢性肾功能衰竭病人的性功能障碍

慢性肾功能衰竭病人性功能障碍十分常见 ,且已成为影响其生活质量的一个重要问题 ,却很少得到关注。其病因包括生理、心理和器质性因素。本文就近年来有关慢性肾功能衰竭病人性功能障碍的发病情况、主要表现形式、评定方法、发病的危险因素和治疗方法等进行了综述。