Anemia in pediatric dialysis patients in End-Stage Renal Disease Network 5

To identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with failure to achieve hemoglobin levels 11 g/dl in prevalent pediatric end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, a cross-sectional analysis of patient clinical data collected by the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition in conjunction with the 2000 and 2001 ESRD Clinical Performance Measures Projects was performed. Ninety-nine patients (mean age 12.6 years, SD 5.4) contributed 119 observations to this analysis. Of patients on hemodialysis, 36.6% were anemic, and 39.5% of patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) were anemic. Associations between age, race, gender, assigned cause of ESRD, Kt/V, transferrin saturation, time on dialysis, serum albumin, dialysis modality, and the achievement of target hemoglobin were examined. In multivariate logistic regression analyses examining age, dialysis modality, time on dialysis, and serum albumin, each 1-year increase in age was significantly associated with hemoglobin levels <11 g/dl [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.32] and PD patients were more than twice as likely to have hemoglobin levels <11 g/dl (adjusted OR 2.62, 95% CI 0.98–7.04). Patients on dialysis for 6 months or more were less likely to be anemic than those on dialysis for less than 6 months (adjusted OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16–0.99). In conclusion, increasing age, dialysis for less than 6 months, and treatment with PD were predictive of anemia in this population.     

The Evolution of the End-Stage Renal Disease Program in Australia

Australia was an early pioneer of national integrated programs for the management of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). From being a leader in numbers of patients per population treated, it is now in the top 15. The Australian program has a high proportion of living patients with functioning transplants and a high proportion of out-of-hospital dialysis. The proportion of elderly patients is increasing but lower than expected. A particular problem is the treatment of Aboriginal people. The ANZ Data surveys give accurate complete data for the national program. Unique features of the Australian patients are the high incidence of analgesic nephropathy and the low incidence of primary hypertension as a cause of renal failure. Surveys show that it is possible to improve transplantation rates 2 to 3 times. Analysis of Australian data raises the question of whether dialysis and transplantation should be offered to all potential patients regardless of comorbidity or quality of life when health resources are inevitably finite.     

Joint Disease in End-Stage Renal Disease

The joint diseases that are encountered in chronic dialysis have been reviewed. There are two general categories: de novo disease and arthropathy anteceding ESRD. The de novo joint diseases include categories that are probably the direct result of ESRD. Microcrystalline CaOHapatite and CaPPD arthritis is associated with hyperparathyroidism and a high Ca X P. Aluminum phosphate joint disease is the result of aluminum toxicity. Both types have severe disease of the adjacent bone: osteitis fibrosa with CaOHapatite-CaPPD arthropathy and osteomalacia with aluminum phosphate. Calcium oxalate joint disease probably results from renal oxalate retention in ESRD and conversion of ascorbate to oxalate. The evidence for uric acid arthropathy in the absence of primary gout or lead toxicity is not convincing. Amyloid is the most frequent cause of the carpal tunnel syndrome and is related to retention of β-2 microglobulin. Infective arthritis may be Seen, often occumng as a result of bacteremia from an infected fistula site. A degenerative arthritis different from osteoarthritis has also been described. Pathologic fractures can occur with both amyloid deposition in bone and aluminum osteomalacia. Long-term steroid therapy can lead to avascular necrosis of femoral or humeral heads. Diabetes mellitus with neuropathy can give rise to a very destructive Charcot joint. Tendon ruptures occur, but the mechanism is obscure.
It is most important that the nephrologist work closely with the rheumatologist. Carefbl and sophis ticated examination of synovial fluid and tissue is mandatory in the microcrystalling diseases. Immunohistochemical methods may be required, particularly for tissue removed during decompression of the median nerve. Together the subspecialists can establish the diagnosis and determine the appropriate therapy for the iarge number of joint disorders to which the dialysis patient is subject.     

Joint Disease in End-Stage Renal Disease

The joint diseases that are encountered in chronic dialysis have been reviewed. There are two general categories: de novo disease and arthropathy anteceding ESRD. The de novo joint diseases include categories that are probably the direct result of ESRD. Microcrystalline CaOHapatite and CaPPD arthritis is associated with hyperparathyroidism and a high Ca X P. Aluminum phosphate joint disease is the result of aluminum toxicity. Both types have severe disease of the adjacent bone: osteitis fibrosa with CaOHapatite-CaPPD arthropathy and osteomalacia with aluminum phosphate. Calcium oxalate joint disease probably results from renal oxalate retention in ESRD and conversion of ascorbate to oxalate. The evidence for uric acid arthropathy in the absence of primary gout or lead toxicity is not convincing. Amyloid is the most frequent cause of the carpal tunnel syndrome and is related to retention of β-2 microglobulin. Infective arthritis may be Seen, often occumng as a result of bacteremia from an infected fistula site. A degenerative arthritis different from osteoarthritis has also been described. Pathologic fractures can occur with both amyloid deposition in bone and aluminum osteomalacia. Long-term steroid therapy can lead to avascular necrosis of femoral or humeral heads. Diabetes mellitus with neuropathy can give rise to a very destructive Charcot joint. Tendon ruptures occur, but the mechanism is obscure. It is most important that the nephrologist work closely with the rheumatologist. Carefbl and sophis ticated examination of synovial fluid and tissue is mandatory in the microcrystalling diseases. Immunohistochemical methods may be required, particularly for tissue removed during decompression of the median nerve. Together the subspecialists can establish the diagnosis and determine the appropriate therapy for the iarge number of joint disorders to which the dialysis patient is subject.     

Antidiuretic Hormone in End-Stage Renal Disease

Quantative data on plasma levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in renal failure are limited. We measured predialysis plasma ADH levels using a double antibody radioimmunoassay in 14 patients with end-stage renal failure. Plasma ADH was inappropriately elevated in the majority of tested patients despite normal plasma osmolality, moderately elevated blood pressure, and hypervolemia. The etiology of increased plasma ADH in our population is unclear.     

Depression in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

A substantial proportion of ESRD patients suffer significant morbidity and mortality from major depression and severe adjustment disorders. Remission of major depression is often achieved with medications alone, though a lower relapse rate is associated with treatment combining psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. Adjustment disorders are often responsive to psychotherapy, with or without adjunctive medication therapy. Because treatment of these conditions is very often effective, I would urge the nephrologist to build comfortable consultation and referral relationships with local psychiatrists such that even the patients who decline psychiatric referral can benefit from treatment with judicious use of antidepressant medication.     

An update of the End-Stage Renal Disease Program at Howard University Hospital

There exists an overrepresentation of black patients in the ESRD programs at the national and regional levels. There is an increasing number of dialysis patients at the older age groups. The dialysis patients at HUH are much younger when compared to the national and regional data, especially when the three major causes of ESRD--hypertension, diabetes, and glomerulonephritis--are considered. This study demonstrates that black patients develop ESRD at a much younger age. Since both diabetes and hypertension are treatable, there is a need for more aggressive therapy of these conditions to prevent this premature onset of ESRD in blacks. Fifteen percent of patients with ESRD secondary to glomerular disease have an associated history of i.v. drug abuse, which could be responsible for the disease. The glomerular disease may not be treatable but may be preventable. However, this requires combined educational, social, and economic effort. Programs designed to control these three major causes of ESRD may be much less costly than supporting the current treatment modalities of ESRD.     

Dermatologic Conditions Seen in End-Stage Renal Disease

The skin changes reported in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are diverse and manifold. In this article we focus on a collection of specific cutaneous entities seen most frequently in the setting of ESRD, each presenting with distinctive and unique morphology. These include perforating disorders, porphyria cutanea tarda, pseudoporphyria, calcinosis cutis, calciphylaxis, and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. The clinical features, histopathology, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and management of each entity are reviewed.     

Extent and Severity of Coronary Disease and Mortality in Patients with End-Stage Renal Failure Evaluated for Renal Transplantation

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD), transplantation status and subsequent mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing evaluation for renal transplantation. Two hundred fifty-three ESRD patients at high risk for CAD underwent coronary angiography as part of a renal transplant evaluation. The cohort was divided into three groups: Group 1 (n = 127) had no vessels with ≥50% stenosis, Group 2 (n = 56) had one vessel with ≥50% stenosis and Group 3 (n = 70) had two or more vessels with ≥50% stenosis. Long-term survival was determined; median follow-up was 3.3 years. The baseline characteristics were similar except for older age and higher proportion of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and peripheral vascular disease in Groups 2 and 3 patients as compared to Group 1. Survival was worse in Group 3 compared to Group 1 (p < 0.0001). Each of the three subgroups had better survival with renal transplantation than those who did not undergo transplantation (p < 0.0001). Although the degree of CAD is related to subsequent mortality, transplantation is associated with better survival regardless of the extent and severity of CAD. Thus, the presence of CAD should not exclude ESRD patients from consideration for this therapy.