At Valson

Non‑O1, non‑O139 Vibrio cholerae sepsis in a patient with nephrotic syndrome

Non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae is an encapsulated bacterium, ubiquitous in the marine environment and generally considered to be non-pathogenic. However, it is known to cause diarrheal illness, wound infection, and bacteremia in immunocompromised hosts. Here we have describe non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae sepsis in a patient with nephrotic syndrome following exposure to sea-water. Interestingly, the exposure occurred remotely 4 months prior to the onset of nephrotic syndrome. The occurrence of florid sepsis after a prolonged interval from the time of exposure is peculiar and raises the possibility of an association between occult Vibrio sepsis and nephrotic syndrome.

Effect of double filtration plasmapheresis on various plasma components and patient safety: A prospective observational cohort study

Double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) was historically used for blood group incompatible renal transplantation. Very few studies are available worldwide regarding its efficiency in removing specific plasma components, and safety. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study over 1 year on patients undergoing DFPP for various renal indications. There were 15 patients with 39 sessions. The pre- and post-procedure plasma samples of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, fibrinogen, calcium, phosphate, potassium, and magnesium were analyzed. The effluent albumin concentration was also measured, and complications during the hospital stay were recorded. Cumulative removal of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, fibrinogen, and albumin at the end of four sessions were 72%, 89%, 96%, 88.5%, and 21.3%, respectively and effluent albumin concentration was 1.75 – 2.0 times (range: 6.3 g/dl – 7.2 g/dl; mean ± standard deviation (SD) – 7 g/dl ± 0.3 g/dl) the preprocedural serum albumin (mean ± SD – 3.5 g/dl ± 0.5 g/dl). Removal of other plasma components were not statistically significant. Hypotensive episodes were observed only 16.6%, with the usage of effluent concentration albumin as replacement fluid despite an average 2.4 (mean ± SD – 2.4 ± 0.4 l) liters of plasma volume processing each session. DFPP removes IgG, IgA, IgM, fibrinogen, and albumin. The cumulative removal IgG (72%) is suboptimal, whereas IgA (89%) and IgM (96%) are comparable to historical controls. We observed lesser episodes (12.5%) of hypotension with effluent albumin concentration as replacement fluid, and all bleeding complications were observed when serum fibrinogen level was <50 mg/dl.

Nonspecific positivity on the Luminex crossmatch assay for anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies due to antibodies directed against the antibody coated beads

Two cases are described of previously unreported false positivity on the Luminex crossmatch assay due to non HLA specific antibodies directed against the beads. In both cases the Luminex crossmatch indicated the presence of donor specific antibodies to class II HLA antigens, which was not substantiated by the clinical scenario or other assays. We could demonstrate the non specificity of these antibodies through using the same assay in a modified form where beads were unexposed to cell lysate and therefore did not carry HLA antigens at all. These cases further serve to emphasize the absolute necessity of correlating positive results with the priming history, and confirming their relevance using other platforms.

Multifocal bacterial osteomyelitis in a renal allograft recipient following urosepsis.

Non-tubercular bacterial osteomyelitis is a rare infection. We report on a renal allograft recipient with osteomyelitis complicating urosepsis, manifesting as a multifocal infection poorly responsive to appropriate antibiotics and surgical intervention and culminating in graft loss.

Protocol and rationale for the first South Asian 5-year prospective longitudinal observational cohort study and biomarker evaluation investigating the clinical course and risk profile of IgA nephropathy: GRACE IgANI cohort

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis and an important cause of end-stage kidney disease. Unlike the slowly progressive course seen among Caucasian and East Asian subjects (actuarial survival 80-85% over 10 years), in India about 30-40% of patients have nephrotic syndrome and renal dysfunction at presentation and a 10-year renal survival of 35%, as reported from a retrospective registry. These observations cannot be entirely attributed to a lack of uniform screening protocols or late referral and attest to the probability that IgAN may not be the same disease in different parts of the world. Methods: We will prospectively recruit 200 patients with IgAN (the GRACE IgANI— Glomerular Research And Clinical Experiments- Ig A Nephropathy in Indians—cohort) and stratify them into low and high risk of progression based on published absolute renal risk scores. We will test the validity of this risk score in an unselected Indian IgAN population over a 5-year follow-up period. In parallel, we will undertake extensive exploratory serum, urine, renal and microbiome biomarker studies, firstly, to determine if the underlying pathogenic pathways are the same in Indian IgAN compared to those reported in Caucasian and East Asian IgAN. Secondly, we will systematically assess the value of measuring selected biomarkers and adding this data to traditional measures of risk in IgAN to predict kidney failure. We ultimately hope to generate a composite IgAN risk score specific for the Indian population. Ethics and data dissemination: Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (Silver, Research and Ethics Committee) of the Christian Medical College, Vellore, India (Ref. No. IRB Min. No. 8962 [Other] dated 23.07.2014 and IRB Min. No. 9481 [Other] dated 24.06.2015). It is anticipated that results of this study will be presented at national and international meetings, with reports being published from late 2018.

Spectrum of biopsy proven renal disease in South Asian children: Two decades at a tropical tertiary care centre

We report findings from a large single centre paediatric renal biopsy cohort in South Asia.

Hemostatic abnormalities in severe renal failure: Do they bark or bite?

Abnormal primary hemostasis is believed to be the most significant contributor to uremic bleeding. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and profile of primary and secondary hemostatic disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stages 4 and 5 and to determine their association if any, with degree of uremia. Stages 4 and 5 predialysis CKD patients attending nephrology outpatient clinic were prospectively recruited and the following bleeding parameters were measured in all patients: platelet count, bleeding time (BT), Factor VIII assay, von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), vWF:ristocetin cofactor activity (vWF:RCo), ratio of vWF:ristocetin cofactor activity to vWF antigen (vWF:RCo/vWF:Ag), prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Forty-five patients (80%, males) with a mean age of 39.4 years, 82% (n = 37) in Stage 5 CKD, were recruited for the study. The prevalence of thrombocytopenia was significantly higher among patients from West Bengal (15/26, 57.7%) compared to other study patients (2/19, 10.5%; P = 0.001); however, all had macrothrombocytes with normal BT, suggestive of the Harris syndrome. Factor VIII, vWF:Ag, vWF:RCo, vWF:RCo/vWF:Ag ratio, BT, PT, and aPTT were abnormal in 0 (0%), 0 (0%), 0 (0%), 4 (8.8%), 1 (2.2%), 7 (15.6%), and 5 (11.1%) patients, respectively. Except for thrombocytopenia, the prevalence of hemostatic abnormalities did not differ between CKD Stages 4 and 5. Hemostatic abnormalities are uncommon in Stages 4–5 CKD and except for thrombocytopenia, are not associated with degree of uremia. Constitutional macrothrombocytopenia is associated with normal BT even in CKD.

COMPARISON OF EARLY MECHANICAL AND INFECTIVE COMPLICATIONS IN FIRST TIME BLIND, BEDSIDE, MIDLINE PERCUTANEOUS TENCKHOFF CATHETER INSERTION WITH ULTRA-SHORT BREAK-IN PERIOD IN DIABETICS AND NON-DIABETICS: SETTING NEW STANDARDS

♦ Background: There are no large studies that have examined ultra-short break-in period with a blind, bedside, midline approach to Tenckhoff catheter insertion. ♦ Methods: Observational cohort study of 245 consecutive adult patients who underwent percutaneous catheter insertion for chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) at our center from January 2009 to December 2013. There were 132 (53.9%) diabetics and 113 (46.1%) non-diabetics in the cohort. ♦ Results: The mean break-in period for the percutaneous group was 2.68 ± 2.6 days. There were significantly more males among the diabetics (103 [78%] vs 66 [58.4%], p = 0.001). Diabetics had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (23.9 ± 3.7 kg/m2 vs 22.2 ± 4 kg/m2, p < 0.001) and lower serum albumin (33.1 ± 6.3 g/L vs 37 ± 6 g/L, p < 0.001) compared with non-diabetics. Poor catheter outflow was present in 6 (4.5%) diabetics and 16 (14.2%) non-diabetics (p = 0.009). Catheter migration was also significantly more common in the non-diabetic group (11 [9.7%] vs 2 [1.5%], p = 0.004). Primary catheter non-function was present in 17(15%) of the non-diabetics and in 7(5.3%) of the diabetics (p = 0.01). There were no mortality or major non-procedural complications during the catheter insertions. Among patients with 1 year of follow-up data, catheter survival (93/102 [91.2%] vs 71/82 [86.6%], p = 0.32) and technique survival (93/102 [91.2%] vs 70/82 [85.4%], p = 0.22) at 1 year was comparable between diabetics and non-diabetics, respectively. ♦ Conclusions: Percutaneous catheter insertion by practicing nephrologists provides a short break-in period with very low mechanical and infective complications. Non-diabetic status emerged as a significant risk factor for primary catheter non-function presumed to be due to more patients with lower BMI and thus smaller abdominal cavities. This is the first report that systematically compares diabetic and non-diabetic patients.