Bappa Adamu

Predictors of Public Attitude toward Living Organ Donation in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Organ shortage is a major public health challenge for transplant programs globally. The sustenance of such programs as an effective therapy for end-stage organ failure (ESOF) requires an exploration of public awareness and willingness to donate organs. This is imperative, especially in developing countries where ESOF is highly prevalent. We studied the awareness and predictors of public attitude toward organ donation in Kano city in northern Nigeria. Using interviewer-administered questionnaires, we assessed the awareness and willingness to donate solid organs among 400 adults in the Kano metropolis. Three hundred and five of the 383 respondents (79.6%) reported that they had heard about organ donation. There was a significant variation of awareness by education and ethnicity (P <0.05). Most respondents, 303 (79.1%), were willing to donate an organ. Gender [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.13; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-4.95], educational attainment (AOR = 2.55; 95% CI: 1.35-5.88), marital status (AOR = 4.5; 95% CI: 2.97-9.1), religion (AOR = 3.40; 95% CI: 1.43-8.10) and ethnicity (AOR = 2.36; 95% CI 1.04-5.35) were significant predictors of willingness to donate an organ. Preferred organ recipients were parents (48.9%), children (21.3%), spouses (14.6%) and other relatives (13.4%). Reasons for willingness to donate organs included religion (51.2%), moral obligation (21.4%) and compassion (11.9%), among others. However, there was widespread ignorance of religious precepts concerning organ donation. The high level of awareness and willingness to donate organs in this society could be further enhanced by intensive information, education and communication strategies providing clear messages on societal benefits, religious aspects and bioethical guidance regarding organ donation.

Commercial kidney transplantation: Trends, outcomes and challenges—A single-centre experience

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Many experts believe that commercial organ transplants continue unabated despite international efforts to curb them. The aim was to determine the trends, outcomes and challenges of commercial living unrelated renal transplants (LURT) as seen in our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study of LURT patients on follow-up at our institution. The list of all LURT patients was obtained from our renal registry. Inclusion criteria for the study were 1) Presentation to our hospital within the first month post transplant; 2) Completion of one-year follow-up OR patient or allograft losses prior to completing one-year follow-up. SPSS 17.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS Forty-five patients satisfied the entry criteria; 33 males and 12 females with age range 13-68 years, and mean ± SD of 40 + 15 years. The majority (28) of the transplants were carried out in Pakistan, the remaining in Egypt, Philippines, and China. There has been a steady decline in the number of new patients with commercial transplants over a four-year period. Complications encountered included infections in 19 (42.2%) patients, biopsy-proven acute rejections in nine patients (20%), surgical complications in 10 patients (22.2%), post-transplant diabetes in seven (15.6%), delayed graft function in one (2.2%), and chronic allograft nephropathy in one (2.2%) patient. Patient survival at one year was 97.8% and allograft survival was 88.9%. CONCLUSIONS Commercial kidney transplant is on the decline as seen in our center, likely as a result of international efforts to curb it, as well as due to a parallel increase in renal transplants in the country. One-year patient and allograft survivals are good but there is a relatively high rate of infections.

Outcome and complications of permanent hemodialysis vascular access in Nigerians: A single centre experience

BACKGROUND It is widely accepted that autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) carries less morbidity and mortality compared to all other forms of vascular accesses in maintenance hemodialysis patients. There is paucity of data on vascular access from sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome and complications of permanent vascular access in our center. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study is a prospective, hospital-based, longitudinal study. All consecutive patients on maintenance hemodialysis in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital who were referred to the surgical unit of for creation of permanent hemodialysis vascular access were included in the study. The patients clinical and demographic data were documented. Data about vascular access types, outcomes, and complications were obtained over a 1-year period from the time of vascular access creation. RESULTS One hundred and seventy four patients were operated upon between January 2008 and December 2010 with a mean age of 46.4 years (range 18-76 years) and a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. Brescio--Cimino fistula was performed in 110 (63.2%) patients, brachiocephalic (Kauffmann) fistula in 51(29.3%), and synthetic graft in 1 (0.6%) patients respectively. Ten patients (5.7%) had brachio-brachial transposition arteriovenous fistula and 2 patients (1.1%) had transposition graft using harvested long saphenous vein. One-year patency rate was 63.2%. Complications encountered include AVF failure in 47(27.3%), steal syndrome in 2(1.1%), distal venous insufficiency in 2(1.1%), and false aneurysm in 6(3.5%) patients. CONCLUSION The outcome of permanent vascular access is favorable in our patient population with a one-year patency rate of 63.2%. The first choice of vascular access in our maintenance dialysis population should be AVF.

Prevalence of risk factors for chronic kidney disease among civil servants in Kano

Background: Data on the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) from sub-Saharan Africa are still sparse. Preventive strategy through early detection and treatment has been advocated for CKD, especially in our environment where majority of patients present late and cannot afford the cost of renal replacement therapy which is not widely available. We investigated the prevalence of risk factors for CKD among the civil servants who volunteered after a public enlightenment campaign in Kano, northern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: We studied 225 apparently healthy civil servants who availed themselves of the opportunity to be screened for risk factors for CKD during the 2011 World Kidney Day activities. Relevant demographic and clinical data were obtained using a questionnaire. Weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), and blood pressure were measured. Spot urine samples were collected and tested for protein, sugar, and other parameters using a dipstick. Random blood sugar was measured with a glucometer. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 41.5 ± 9.68 years. Males constituted 83.6% of the respondents. Majority had a positive history of use of traditional medications, followed by the use of analgesic drugs, while very few (less than 5% each) admitted to alcohol ingestion or use of bleaching creams. While there was a significant family history of hypertension and diabetes, only about 3% had positive family history of kidney disease. Proteinuria was found to be present in 19.4%. Other risk factors found include hypertension (29.8%), obesity (11%), and diabetes mellitus (3.6%). Conclusion: Risk factors for CKD are common among civil servants in Kano. The most frequent CKD risk factors found among the study subjects were use of traditional medication, cigarette smoking, obesity, hypertension, and proteinuria.

Prevalence, risk factors, and histological pattern of kidney disease in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital: A clinicopathologic study

Background: Renal disease in Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection worldwide. Aim: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and histological pattern of kidney disease in HIV-positive patients in Kano, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Four hundred consecutive treatment naοve HIV-positive patients with no other condition known to cause kidney disease were screened for proteinuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Kidney disease was defined as the presence of persistent microalbuminuria/proteinuria or decreased GFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m 2 ). Kidney biopsy was performed on 20 patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: The mean ± standard deviation age of the study population was 34.03 ± 10.23 years with 240 (60%) being females. Kidney disease was found in 227 patients (56.8%), with a higher prevalence seen in males (odds ratio = 1.9305, 95% confidence interval = 1.2760-2.9207, P = 0.0018). Proteinuria including persistent microalbuminuria was found in 211 (52.8%) and reduced GFR was found in 64 (16.0%). The risk factors for developing kidney disease were age >40 years, male gender, low CD4 cell count, cigarette smoking, low body mass index, and low serum cholesterol. Logistic regression identified low CD4 cell count as an independent risk factor for kidney disease. Collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was the predominant histological pattern seen. Conclusion: The prevalence of renal disease in HIV-positive patients was high in Kano, Nigeria; and microalbuminuria was a manifestation of collapsing FSGS.

Pattern of urinary bladder sonographic findings in patients evaluated for urinary schistosomiasis

Background: Urinary schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases. Of the 239 million people with active Schistosoma infections in 2009, 85% lived in sub-Saharan Africa. The urinary bladder is the main site of pathologic damage in patients with urinary schistosomiasis. Objectives: The objectives were to study the prevalence and pattern of sonographic bladder abnormalities in patients evaluated for urinary schistosomiasis. Materials and Methods: All consecutive patients being evaluated for urinary schistosomiasis at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Teaching Hospital Sokoto and Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi were prospectively scanned at radiology departments of the two centers. All the patients were scanned with Apogee 800 plus (Japan 2002) and Concept D (Dynamic Imaging Scotland) ultrasound scanners with a variable frequency probes at 3.5–5 MHz. Doppler was used to assess the vascularity of urinary bladder masses, and to differentiate between masses and blood clots which is a diagnostic challenge when using brightness mode (B-mode) sonography alone. The gain was set correctly to allow good visualization of the bladder and adjacent structures. Transverse images are obtained in the true axial plane and angled caudal to show the bladder base. Longitudinal and oblique sagittal images are obtained to complete the examination. All the ultrasound findings and images were recorded as hard copies, and the films were reviewed by a qualified radiologist. The results were analyzed using statistical software SPSS 17.0 for windows. Results: We evaluated a total of 107 patients. The mean age of the patients was 42.9 ± standard deviation 16.8 years, with a range between 7 and 86 years. There were 84 males accounting for 78.5% and 23 females accounting for 21.5%. Abnormal sonographic findings were seen in 101 (94.4%) of patients evaluated. Urinary bladder stone with wall thickening was the most common finding accounting for 37 (36.4%), followed by bladder wall thickening with internal echoes accounting for 32 (21.5%) of the patients. The incidence of irregular bladder mass was 15 (14.0%) while polypoidal mass accounted for 4 (3.7%). Contracted bladder with wall calcification was seen in 7 (6.5%) while no abnormalities were seen in the urinary bladder in 6 (5.6%) of the patients. Conclusion: Abnormal bladder sonographic findings are common in patients evaluated for signs and symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis in North-Western Nigeria, with a prevalence of 94.4% in this current study. Urinary bladder stone with wall thickening followed by bladder wall thickening with internal echoes were the most common findings accounting for 58% of the findings. These sonographic abnormalities should raise the suspicion of urinary schistosomiasis in an endemic region.

Sonographic measurement of renal dimensions of adults in northwestern Nigeria: a preliminary report

Background: The kidney size of a patient is a valuable diagnostic parameter in urological and nephrology practice. Renal size may be an indicator for the loss of kidney mass and, therefore, kidney function. Because many renal disorders are associated with changes in the sizes of the kidneys, normative standards for assessing renal size have been developed and are widely used in clinical practice. Ultrasound imaging is relatively inexpensive, fast, noninvasive, and free of radiation and has largely replaced the intravenous urogram as the first modality for the evaluation of the urinary system. The aim of this study was to establish some normal preliminary renal dimensions data of Nigerian population in Northwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Renal ultrasound measurements were performed on 104 consecutive volunteers without known kidney pathology in a tertiary institution between January and December 2013. Ethical permit was obtained from the Ethical Committee of the Hospital. There were 50 females and 54 males. Before proceeding to ultrasound scanning, the procedure was explained to the respondents, and their consent obtained. The longitudinal length, width, thickness and volume of the right and left kidney were measured. In addition, the age, sex, weight, body mass index, and height of the respondents were recorded. All renal scans were done with a single real-time dynamic ultrasound scanner (concept D) using a 3.5 MHZ curvilinear probe. Hard copy images were taken for documentations, and all the measurements were done by two trained radiologists to reduce intraobserver errors. Results: A total of 104 volunteers, 50 females and 54 males were scanned. The mean age was 30.4 ± standard deviation 19 years (18-70). The mean kidney length was 11.3 ± 8.8 and 11.6 ± 9.8 for right and left kidney, respectively. The mean height and weight was 1.67 ± 0.85 and 70.9 ± 11.2, respectively. The mean kidney width was 4.4 ± 0.71 and 5.2 ± 5.26 for right and left kidney, respectively. The mean renal thickness was 4.7 ± 0.67 and 4.5 ± 0.68 for right and left kidney, respectively. The renal volume was 109.6 ± 29.3 on the right and 119.7 ± 32.8 on the left. The body mass index was calculated to be 25.1 ± 3.96 (16.18) and 26.0 ± 5.36 (24.7) for female and male, respectively. Renal measurements were correlated with the subject′s height, weight, body mass index using the Pearson′s correlation. The strongest correlation with renal volume is age, the correlation coefficient was 0.997 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: We established valuable normal values of renal dimensions in the adult Nigerian population (North Western region). The weight, height, body mass index were also taken into consideration with positive correlations between renal volume and age, height, and body mass index.

Peculiarities of tuberculosis in kidney transplant recipients.

Renal transplant is becoming increasingly available in developing countries. Significant advances have been made globally since the first successful kidney transplant in 1954, with the advent of newer, more effective and more selective immunosuppressants. As a result, allograft and patient survival has increased, leaving infection and malignancy as major challenges. The incidence rate of tuberculsis in renal transplant recipients is directly proportional to the prevalence in the general population with the developing countries having the highest rates. The objective of this paper is to review the existing literature on post renal transplant tuberculosis with a view to highlighting its peculiarities compared to tuberculosis in the general population. Several databases (Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane data base, Google Scholar and AJOL) were searched for articles using the key words Tuberculosis (MESH), Renal (OR Kidney), AND transplant. Hand search was also made of reference list of retrieved articles. Full text of relevant original articles were retrieved and appraised. Several studies have demonstrated increased risk of tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients, especially in developing countries. Tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients has peculiarities such as difficulty in diagnosing latent TB, atypical presentations, increased risk of dissemination, increased mortality and interactions of anti-Tb drugs with transplant medications. Clinicians managing renal transplant recipients especially in developing countries should have a high index of suspicion for TB and be aware of its peculiarities in this patient population.