Testosterone metabolism and replacement therapy in patients with end-stage renal disease

Hypogonadism is common among men with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), beginning before the need for dialysis and not improved with the initiation of dialysis. Many of the manifestations of hypogonadism, such as bone disease and muscle wasting, are also frequently seen among dialysis patients. There have been few studies of testosterone replacement therapy in this patient population, but available data suggest that testosterone can be administered without adjustment of the doses used in hypogonadal men with normal renal function. Extrapolation from results of treatment of hypogonadal older men with normal renal function suggests that testosterone replacement could improve libido and could have salutary effects on muscle mass and bone mineral density in patients with kidney disease. However, caution is warranted because of the potential side effects of testosterone therapy, and further research is needed to more precisely define the balance of risk and benefit in patients with chronic kidney disease. Specifically it will be important to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of hypogonadism in ESRD patients in the modern era and to measure the effects of replacement therapy on various symptoms of hypogonadism as well as on overall quality of life, physical functioning, and survival.     

Renal replacement in end-stage renal disease patients over 75 years old

BACKGROUND: Over the last decade, the age of dialysis patients has been increasing steadily in several units in Canada. Our main objective was to assess prevalence, co-morbidity and outcome of ESRD patients over 75 years old at the beginning of dialysis treatment in our center. As a group, they were compared to younger dialysis patients treated simultaneously. METHODS: In the last 5 years, all cases beginning dialysis in our institution who were above 75 years of age were reviewed, as well as cases aged between 50 and 60 years who started dialysis during the same period. Between January 1996 and December 2000, among a total of 429 new chronic dialysis patients, 67 ESRD patients over 75 years (15.6%) and 66 patients between 50 and 60 years (15.4%) began dialysis treatment. RESULTS--PRIMARY AND SECONDARY: Diabetes was present in 37% of elderly and in 56% of the younger patients. Younger patients had been referred earlier to our nephrologists than the older ones (42 vs. 27%). Elderly were more frequently treated by hemodialysis than peritoneal dialysis (81 vs. 19%) when compared to their younger counterparts (65 vs. 35%). Long-term catheters for hemodialysis were used more often in elderly patients. No renal transplantation were performed in older patients while 7 younger patients received a renal graft. Survival rates after 1 and 3 years were, respectively, 93 and 74% for patients between 50 and 60 years, whereas it decreased to 80 and 45% for those over 75 years (p = 0.002). More than 50% of patients older than 75 years died within 2 years after starting dialysis; their mean survival was 31 months; patients starting dialysis between 50 and 60 years survived on the average 44 months during the study period. According to the multivariate logistic regression model, risk factors for increased mortality in the older group were: number of hospitalization days during the past 3 months (OR 34.8, 95% CI 8.3-145.7, p < 0.001) and lower weight (OR 16.6, 95% CI 2.0-139.0, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: We may conclude that, in our hands, life expectancy of patients who began dialysis above 75 years is significantly shorter than for patients for whom dialysis is initiated between age 50 and 60 years, especially if they have a low weight, lose weight and/or require hospitalization.     

Effect of renal replacement therapy on viscosity in end-stage renal disease patients.

Viscosity, an important determinant of microcirculatory hemodynamics, is related to hematocrit (HCT), and may be altered by renal failure or its treatment. To assess these factors, we studied the effect of dialysis on the viscosity of whole blood, plasma, and reconstituted 70% HCT blood of eight continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and nine hemodialysis (HD) patients under steady shear flow conditions at different shear rates, before and after dialysis, compared with nine normal subjects. The density of the red blood cells (RBCs), a marker of cell hydration, was measured in HD patients by a nonaqueous differential floatation technique. Whole blood viscosity was higher in controls than patients, and correlated with HCT before treatment (P less than 0.05) at shear rates of 11.5 to 230 s-1) in HD patients, and 23 to 230 s-1 in all end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In contrast, whole blood viscosity correlated with HCT in CAPD patients only at the lowest shear rates (2.3 and 5.75 s-1, P less than 0.05). Plasma viscosity was higher in CAPD patients than both HD patients before treatment and controls (P less than 0.05, analysis of variance [ANOVA]), despite lower plasma total protein, albumin, and similar fibrinogen concentration compared with HD patients. When all samples were reconstituted to 70% HCT, CAPD patients had higher whole blood viscosity than control subjects'. The high HCT blood viscosity of the ESRD patients was higher than control subjects' at capillary shear rates, suggesting increased RBC aggregation and decreased RBC deformability in patients with renal disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Renal replacement therapies for end-stage renal disease in North Africa

Despite population, social and cultural similarities between the countries in the region, large differences in the management of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are found. This reflects the varying policies and health priorities of different countries, leading to differences in terms of renal replacement therapies (RRT) facilities. Hemodialysis remains the most frequent modality. Demographic and epidemiological transition has lead to an increased incidence of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, but glomerulonephritis and interstitial nephropathies remain important causes of ESRD in the region.     

Renal replacement therapy in patients with chronic liver disease

As the prevalence of chronic liver disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) increase, clinicians are likely to be increasingly faced with difficult diagnostic, treatment, and ethical challenges when facing both of these diseases in a single patient. Alterations in creatinine formation and elimination in cirrhotic patients render creatinine-based estimates of glomerular filtration rate and dialysis adequacy less accurate in this population. Furthermore, differentiating signs and symptoms of uremia from hepatic disease may be difficult and clear indications for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in these patients have not been defined. Hemodialysis is associated with a high rate of complications and has not been shown to prolong life in cirrhotic patients with acute renal failure (ARF), but has not been carefully examined in those with CKD. Peritoneal dialysis is, similarly, unhelpful in chronic liver disease complicated by ARF, but has been found to be a viable option in some cirrhotic patients with CKD. Continuous RRT is generally tolerated by patients with decompensated cirrhosis and either acute or chronic renal failure and may act to bridge patients to liver transplantation. Given the poor underlying survival of cirrhotic patients with renal failure, clinicians should carefully consider the utility of RRT in each patient.     

Renal imaging in patients requiring renal replacement therapy

Recent advances in imaging technology and interventional radiologic procedures have resulted in an increased variety of radiological techniques that can be used to assess patients who present with renal failure and require renal replacement therapy. This chapter provides an overview of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the available imaging methods. In particular, it covers the expanding role of the cross-sectional, noninvasive, multiplanar imaging techniques such as gray-scale and Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography (MRA), and nonenhanced helical or multislice computed tomography (CT). These imaging methods are increasingly replacing those used in the past, such as the conventional radiographic urogram, which requires a high dose of intravenous contrast media, and digital subtraction arteriography. The chapter also covers the radiologic investigation of complications of acquired renal cystic disease, including renal cell carcinoma, hemorrhage, cyst infection and rupture, and nephrolithiasis.     

Estrogen replacement therapy: implications for postmenopausal women with end-stage renal disease

Little information is available about either the potential beneficial or harmful effects of estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with end-stage renal disease. Although evidence supports a role for estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and bone loss, possible improvement in cognitive function, and the relief of menopausal symptoms, these conclusions may not be applicable to patients with end-stage renal disease, since these studies have generally excluded such women. This issue is of considerable importance since cardiovascular causes account for more than 50% of the all-cause mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, estrogen replacement therapy may also have untoward effects in patients with the disease, including an increased risk of dialysis access thrombosis and potentially worsening coronary artery disease in postmenopausal patients. Furthermore, dosing of estrogens needs to be done carefully since renal excretion is important for the elimination of estrogen metabolites. Low dose or alternate day dosing in addition to monitoring estrogen levels may be warranted when prescribing estrogen replacement therapy to women with end-stage renal disease. In this review, it is our objective to analyze the evidence published in the literature so far and to weigh the risks and benefits of estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women with end-stage renal disease.     

Valve replacement surgery in patients with end-stage renal disease: long-term results

BACKGROUND: The life expectancy of patients with chronic renal failure who are dependent on dialysis is very poor. This study was undertaken to determine time-related outcomes in dialysis patients requiring cardiac valve replacement. METHODS: From 1994 to 2001, 29 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD) program underwent 30 valve replacement operations: 29 received mechanical valves (97%), and one received bioprosthetic valves. The sites of valve replacement were 11 aortic (36.7%), 18 mitral (60%), and one both aortic and mitral (3.3%). Mean age was 42.46 +/- 14.26 years (range 17-75 years). Follow-up was completed in 28 patients (96.5%). RESULTS: Early postoperative mortality (in the first 30 days) was 3.4% (n = 1). The overall estimated Kaplan-Meier survival was 56.7% at 36 months, 46.7% at 60 months, and 43.3% at 96 months. HD program was discontinued for two patients after renal transplantation in the follow-up period. All patients, except the one with bioprosthesis, used warfarin sodium for anticoagulation and none of them had bleeding. One of the patients had a major cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and another one had a minor CVA at the follow-up (6.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Life quality is better and life expectancy is longer after valve replacement in ESRD patients who have valvular disease. Also, longer life expectancy increases the probability for finding donors for kidney transplantation.     

Renal replacement modalities for childhood end-stage renal failure

Summary: An overview is presented of the current management of children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), focusing on specific therapies such as haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation. Also discussed is the overall management of such children, with attention directed at growth, nutrition and development.     

Renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal failure before 2 years of age.

This report concerns 296 children (67% males and 33% females) from 24 countries who started renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal failure between 1969 and 1988. Children under 2 years of age represented 3.6%, 4.4%, and 8.9% of all children under 15 years of age who started RRT in 1978-1982, 1983-1985, and 1986-1988 respectively. During the first 2 years of life, the most frequent causes of end-stage renal failure were renal hypoplasia and dysplasia (24%), and haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (17%). During 1986-1988 the initial therapy for ESRF was continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in 60%, haemodialysis 25%, intermittent peritoneal dialysis 8%, and 7% were transplanted without prior dialysis. Between 1978 and 1988, 139 of these children were grafted; 53 received a graft (39 cadaveric, 10 living donor, 4 donor uncertain) below, and 86 (71 cadaveric, 14 living donor, 1 donor uncertain) above 2 years of age. One-year graft survival was 54% in the 53 children grafted below 2 years of age and 65% in the 86 grafted above 2 years of age. Only two of the 24 living donor grafts were lost during the first year after grafting. These results compare favourably with the 67% 1-year graft survival of all 278 children aged 2 to less than 6 years at grafting in 1978-1988 on the Registry's file. The 3-year survival of all children aged less than 2 years at start of RRT was 65% in 1978-1982 and rose to 78% in 1986-1988. Twenty-three percent of all deaths were caused by infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anemia and end-stage renal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Anemia is common in diabetics with nephropathy; however, the impact of anemia on progression to ESRD has not been carefully examined. METHODS: We studied the relationship between baseline hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and progression of diabetic nephropathy to ESRD in 1513 participants enrolled in Reduction in Endpoints in NIDDM with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan study and followed for an average of 3.4 years. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the relationship between Hb and ESRD, after adjusting for predictors for ESRD. Analyses were performed with Hb stratified by quartile: first quartile <11.3 g/dL, second quartile 11.3 to 12.5 g/dL, third quartile 12.6 to 13.8 g/dL, and fourth quartile >/=13.8 g/dL (reference) and as a continuous variable. RESULTS: Baseline hemoglobin concentration was correlated with subsequent development of ESRD. After adjustment for predictors of ESRD, the hazard ratios for the first, second, and third Hb quartiles were 1.99 (95% CI, 1.34-2.95), 1.61 (95% CI 1.08-2.41), and 1.87 (95% CI 1.25-2.80). With hemoglobin as a continuous variable, the adjusted hazard ratio was 0.90 (95% CI 0.84-0.96, P= 0.0013). The average increase in adjusted relative risk was 11% for each 1 g/dL decrease in hemoglobin concentration. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that even mild anemia, Hb <13.8 g/dL increases risk for progression to ESRD. Hemoglobin is an independent risk factor for progression of nephropathy to ESRD in type 2 diabetes.     

Survey on the current status of delivered informed consent for renal replacement therapy among patients with end-stage renal disease

We conducted a survey on the adequacy of delivered informed consent (IC) among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) regarding the information provided on renal replacement therapies (RRT): Hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and renal transplantation (RTx). A self-assessment style of questionnaire entitled "Informed consent for the selection of dialysis therapy modality" was prepared for evaluation, and the adequacy of IC was scored by 5 grades ranging from "excellent" to "bad". The questionnaire was sent to all the JSDT registered facilities (n=3484), and 480 centers replied (13.8%). Among these, 407 centers had patients introduced onto some form of RRT modality in the last 12 months. As to the adequacy of delivered IC for each modality, "excellent and good" status was reported as follows: 80.8% in HD, 49.8% in PD, and 32.5% in RTx, respectively. The major reason for "poor and bad" IC adequacy in PD and RTx, was "not available in the facility". By analyzing the facilities stratified by the clinical experiences of each modality in the past, poorly delivered IC for PD and RTx was revealed in centers lacking experience. Delivered information about RRT to ESRD patients may be biased in Japan. The findings of this study suggested that a lack of medical experience of the modality contributes to insufficient IC.     

Association between attributed cause of end-stage renal disease and risk of death in Brazilian patients receiving renal replacement therapy

BACKGROUND: Studies conducted in several countries have indicated that the survival of patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) depends on the attributed cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the association between attributed cause of ESRD and mortality risk in RRT patients in Brazil. METHODS: We analyzed 88,881 patients from the Brazilian Ministry of Health Registry who were undergoing RRT between April 1997 and July 2000. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of death in patients with ESRD secondary to diabetes mellitus (DM), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and primary glomerulopathies (GN) compared with a reference group comprised of patients with ESRD caused by hypertensive nephropathy. Patient's age, gender, and length of time (years) in RRT before inclusion in the registry (vintage) were included in the adjusted Cox model. RESULTS: Compared with the reference group, the mortality risk was 27% lower in patients with PKD (RR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.65-0.83, p<0.0001); 29% lower in patients with GN (RR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.68-0.74, p<0.0001); and 100% greater in DM patients (RR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.92-2.10, p<0.0001). These relative risks remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, gender, and length of time in RRT before inclusion in the registry. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that compared with the patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis as attributed cause of ESRD, patients undergoing RRT in Brazil with idiopathic glomerulopathy and polycystic kidney disease have a lower risk of mortality, and patients with diabetes mellitus have a greater risk of mortality.     

Quality of life in children with end-stage renal disease undergoing renal replacement therapy: a cross-sectional survey

Objective To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of children with uremia who underwent renal replacement therapy (RRT) and identify the influencing factors for QOL in order to improve the QOL of children with uremia. Methods Children with ESRD who underwent dialysis or kidney transplantation (KT) at Children's Hospital of Fudan University between November 2016 and October 2017 were enrolled. The children and/or their parents completed and returned the Pediatric QOL Inventory Measurement Models (PedsQLTM) 4.0 questionnaire. Moreover, the clinical data of these children were collected. According to the way of RRT, children were divided into dialysis group and KT group. The differences of scores between two groups were compared. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the factors affecting the QOL of children. Results A total of 79 children undergoing RRT were enrolled. Among them, 48 cases in the dialysis group and 31 cases in the KT group. For children in KT group, the total PedsQL scores of child-self and parent-proxy assessment were higher than those in dialysis group (P＜0.05). The total scores for the QOL of child-self and parent-proxy assessment were roughly the same for KT children (P＞0.05). The total scores for the QOL of child-self and parent-proxy assessment were different for dialysis children (P=0.05). Short stature (height＜3th percentile) and elevated left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were the independent influencing factors for the QOL of child-self and parent-proxy assessment in children undergoing KT, respectively (B=12.162, t=2.681, P＜0.05; B=-0.240, t=-4.276, P＜0.01). Conclusions QOL was higher in children undergoing KT than those on dialysis. Short stature and elevated LVMI were the independent influencing factors for QOL in children undergoing KT.