Anhar Ullah

Strategy for second kidney biopsy in patients with lupus nephritis

BACKGROUND Standard clinical and laboratory parameters have limited predictive values for discriminating between active lupus nephritis and chronic disease. The objective of this study was to examine the predictive utility of a second kidney biopsy in patients with lupus nephritis. METHODS Patients with lupus nephritis were advised to have second kidney biopsies at the end of the maintenance phase of their therapies. Baseline and second renal biopsies were re-classified by pathologists blinded to the clinical data. The relationships between remission status and histological parameters were examined. RESULTS Included in this study were 77 patients followed up for a median duration of 8.7 years (interquartile range, 5.3-10.1 years). Their renal survival rates were 93% for those in complete remission (CR), 69% for partial remission (PR) and 41% for no remission (NR). One-third of the patients with PR and 14% of patients with NR had no histological evidence of active disease on second biopsy. At the second biopsy, but not at the baseline biopsy, activity index was predictive of survival. The 10-year renal survival rate was 100% for those with an activity index of 0, 80% for those with an activity index of 1 or 2 on the second biopsy and 44% for those with an index of >2, regardless of remission status. CONCLUSION Second kidney biopsy at the end of maintenance phase of therapy is an important diagnostic and prognostic tool that could guide physicians to safer practices with better outcomes.

Glomerular filtration rate estimated by the CKD-EPI formula is a powerful predictor of in-hospital adverse clinical outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome.

The prognostic value of admission estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by the new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula for cardiovascular adverse outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was explored. Baseline eGFR was classified as no renal dysfunction (>90 mL/min per 1.73 m2), borderline (90-60.1 mL/min per 1.73 m2), moderate (60-30.1 mL/min per 1.73 m2), or severe (≤30 mL/min per 1.73 m2) renal dysfunction. Of the 5034 patients, 3415 (67.8%) had eGFR <90. Compared to patients with an eGFR ≥60 mL/min per 1.73 m2, patients with <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 were less likely to be treated with β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or statins, or to undergo percutaneous coronary interventions. Lower eGFR showed a stepwise association with significantly worse adverse in-hospital outcomes. The adjusted odds ratio of in-hospital death with an eGFR <30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 was 3.1 (95% confidence interval 1.1-8.4, P = .0324), compared with an eGFR >90 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated by the new CKD-EPI is an independent predictor of major adverse cardiac outcomes in patients with ACS.

The prognostic impact of in-hospital worsening of renal function in patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND Renal impairment is strongly linked to adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. Baseline renal dysfunction is a strong predictor of CV mortality and morbidity in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the prognostic importance of worsening renal function (WRF) in these patients is not well characterized. METHODS ACS patients enrolled in the SPACE (Saudi Project for Assessment of Coronary Events) registry who had baseline and pre-discharge serum creatinine data available were eligible for this study. WRF was defined as a 25% reduction from admission estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) within 7 days of hospitalization. Baseline demographics, clinical presentation, therapies, and in-hospital outcomes were compared. RESULTS Of the 3583 ACS patients, WRF occurred in 225 patients (6.3%), who were older, had more cardiovascular risk factors, were more likely to be female, have past vascular disease, and presented with more non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction than patients without WRF (39.5% vs. 32.8%; p=0.042). WRF was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and stroke. After adjusting for potential confounders, WRF was an independent predictor of in-hospital death (adjusted odd ratio 28.02, 95% CI 13.2-60.28, p<0.0001). WRF was more predictive of mortality than baseline eGFR. CONCLUSION These results indicate that WRF is a powerful predictor for in-hospital mortality and CV complications in ACS patients.

Patient and System-Related Delays of Emergency Medical Services Use in Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Results from the Third Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE-3Ps)

Background Little is known about Emergency Medical Services (EMS) use and pre-hospital triage of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Arabian Gulf countries. Methods Clinical arrival and acute care within 24 h of STEMI symptom onset were compared between patients transferred by EMS (Red Crescent and Inter-Hospital) and those transferred by non-EMS means. Data were retrieved from a prospective registry of 36 hospitals in 6 Arabian Gulf countries, from January 2014 to January 2015. Results We enrolled 2,928 patients; mean age, 52.7 (SD ±11.8) years; 90% men; and 61.7% non-Arabian Gulf citizens. Only 753 patients (25.7%) used EMS; which was mostly via Inter-Hospital EMS (22%) rather than direct transfer from the scene to the hospital by the Red Crescent (3.7%). Compared to the non-EMS group, the EMS group was more likely to arrive initially at a primary or secondary health care facility; thus, they had longer median symptom-onset-to-emergency department arrival times (218 vs. 158 min; p˂.001); they were more likely to receive primary percutaneous coronary interventions (62% vs. 40.5%, p = 0.02); they had shorter door-to-needle times (38 vs. 42 min; p = .04); and shorter door-to-balloon times (47 vs. 83 min; p˂.001). High EMS use was independently predicted mostly by primary/secondary school educational levels and low or moderate socioeconomic status. Low EMS use was predicted by a history of angina and history of percutaneous coronary intervention. The groups had similar in-hospital deaths and outcomes. Conclusion Most acute STEMI patients in the Arabian Gulf region did not use EMS services. Improving Red Crescent infrastructure, establishing integrated STEMI networks, and launching educational public campaigns are top health care system priorities.

Worsening heart failure in 'real-world' clinical practice: predictors and prognostic impact.

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features, predictors, and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute heart failure (AHF), with and without worsening heart failure (WHF).

Validation of the Canada Acute Coronary Syndrome Risk Score for Hospital Mortality in the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events-2

Several risk scores have been developed for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, but their use is limited by their complexity. The new Canada Acute Coronary Syndrome (C‐ACS) risk score is a simple risk‐assessment tool for ACS patients. This study assessed the performance of the C‐ACS risk score in predicting hospital mortality in a contemporary Middle Eastern ACS cohort.

Celiac disease in Saudi children. Evaluation of clinical features and diagnosis

Objectives: To characterize the clinical presentations and diagnosis including serological tests and histopathological findings in children with celiac disease. Methods: All children (<18 years) with confirmed celiac disease diagnosed over a 6 year period at a private tertiary care health care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were studied retrospectively. Information collected included demographics, clinical presentation and diagnostic modalities with serology and small intestinal histology reported by Marsh grading. Results: A total of 59 children had confirmed celiac disease. Thirty (50.8%) were male. Median age was 8 years (range 1 to 16 years). The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 2.3 (±1.5) years. Classical disease was present only in 30.5%, whereas 69.5% had either non-classical presentations or belonged to high risk groups for celiac disease such as those with type-1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis, Down syndrome and siblings. Failure to thrive was the most common presentation followed by short stature, abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea. Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody was positive in 91.5%, and titers were no different between those with classical and non-classical disease. All had Marsh-graded biopsy findings consistent with celiac disease. Conclusion: Children with celiac disease usually present with non-classical features. A high index of suspicion needs to be maintained to consider this disorder in the diagnostic workup of pediatric patients. High risk group should be screened early to avoid complications associated with untreated celiac disease.

Prognostic significance of C1q deposition in serial biopsies for predicating the long-term outcome in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is characterized by a highly variable clinical course. It has been reported that histopathologic lesions are risk factors for the progression of LN. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship among the co-deposition of C1q, clinicopathological features, and renal outcomes in patients with LN. The clinical and histological parameters were studied in patients with International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society Class III or IV LN, who underwent two kidney biopsies. The patients were divided into two groups based on the glomerular C1q deposits: C1q-positive and C1q-negative. The impact of C1q status and longterm renal outcome on the doubling of serum creatinine and the rate of remission in the two groups were further investigated. Fifty-three patients had pure proliferative nephritis and 37.7% of these had a co-deposition of C1q. Doubling of serum creatinine was observed in 25% of patients with C1q-positive and 24.2% of patients with C1q-negative deposits. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of achieving complete or partial remission. The renal survival in the two groups was similar (P = 0.75). Upon repeat biopsy, the persistence of C1q positivity was associated with a poor outcome (P = 0.007). C1q deposition in the glomerulus in the baseline biopsy was not associated with a poor renal outcome or severe pathologic features in patients with proliferative LN. However, the persistence of C1q positivity in repeat kidney biopsy is associated with a poor renal outcome.

Disparities in health care delivery and hospital outcomes between non-Saudis and Saudi nationals presenting with acute coronary syndromes in Saudi Arabia.

Background Saudi Arabia has a non-Saudi workers population. We investigated the differences and similarities of expatriate non-Saudi patients (NS) and Saudi nationals (SN) presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) with respect to therapies and clinical outcomes. Methods The study evaluated 2031 of the 5055 ACS patients enrolled in the Saudi Project for Assessment of Acute Coronary Syndrome (SPACE) from 2005 to 2007. Propensity score matching and logistic regression analysis were performed to account for major imbalances in age and sex in the two groups. Results The mean patient age was 56.2±9.8, and 83.5% of the study cohort were male. SN were more likely to have risk factors of atherosclerosis. ST-elevation MI (STEMI) was the most common ACS presentation in NS, while non-ST ACS was more common in SN. The median symptom-to-door time was significantly greater in NS patients (Median 175 min (197) vs. 130 min (167), p=0.027). The only difference in pharmacological therapies between the two groups was that NS were more likely to receive fibrinolytic therapy. NS were less likely than SN to undergo percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI; 32.6% vs. 42.8%, p=0.0001) or primary PCI (7.8% vs. 22.8%, p<0.001). Hospital mortality, cardiogenic shock, and heart failure were significantly higher in NS compared to SN. After adjusting for baseline variables and therapies, the odds ratios for hospital mortality and cardiogenic shock in NS were 2.9 (95% CI 1.5–6.2, p=0.004) and 2.8 (95% CI 1.5–4.9, p<0.001), respectively. Conclusion Our findings indicate disparities in hospital care between NS and SN ACS patients. NS patients had worse hospital outcomes, which may reflect unequal health coverage and access-to-care issues.

Trend, clinical presentations and diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis in Saudi children

Objectives: To observe the frequency of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), pattern of clinical presentation and diagnosis among Saudi children at 2 tertiary care hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The database of children admitted or seen, and aged less than 18 years over 5 years period and diagnosed with EoE was collected and reviewed. Patients with esophagitis other than EoE were excluded. Patients who had eosinophils count more than 15/high power field (HPF) on esophageal biopsies were given the diagnosis of EoE. Demographic database, clinical parameters, and diagnostic modalities were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22. Results: A total of 37 children with the diagnosis of EoE were gathered from 398 upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures with the frequency of 9.3%. There were 22 (59.4%) males with a mean±SD age of 9.6±2.3 years and all were Saudi nationals. Dysphagia was the leading presentation in 21 (56.7%) children followed by vomiting in 18 (48.6%), impaction of food bolus in 8 (21.6%) and foreign body in 3 (8.1%). Allergic symptoms were present in 13 (35.1%) children in the form of asthma, 11 (29.7%) multiple food allergies and 5 (13.5%) eczema. Peripheral eosinophil count and immunoglobulin E were raised more than normal in 6 and 5 children respectively. The pH measurements were carried out in 16 (43.2%) and ruled out the reflux. Contrast studies with barium (n=6; 16.2%) and endoscopic findings were significant (n=27; 72.9%). Conclusion: Eosinophilic esophagitis is an emerging disease and have a rising trend in Saudi children. Dysphagia, vomiting, and food impaction are the more common presenting features in older children and recurrent vomiting in younger children in addition to associated allergic conditions.