Hideaki Iwasawa

Body Protein Index Based on Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Is a Useful New Marker Assessing Nutritional Status: Applications to Patients with Chronic Renal Failure on Maintenance Dialysis

BACKGROUND Evaluation and monitoring of nutritional status is a fundamental concept in providing nutritional care to patients with end-stage renal failure. There have been, however, few practically available indices assessing whole body protein stores of patients. METHODS We enrolled 448 end-stage renal disease patients, 394 on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and 54 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) in this study. 83 Age- and sex-matched subjects (controls) whose creatinine clearance was more than 70 ml/min and urinary protein excretion was less than 1.0 g/day were also recruited for comparison. To assess whole body somatic protein stores, we devised the body protein index (BPI). The volume of body protein mass was measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and then BPI was calculated as body protein mass (kg) divided by height in meters (m2). Based on BPI, we defined the nutritional status of the patients as normal if the value was within -10% of the mean value of control subjects, -10 to -14% as mild malnutrition, -15 to -19% as moderate malnutrition, and <-20% as severe malnutrition. RESULTS The required time for measurement was 5.2 +/- 1.3 min and coefficient of variation of measurements was 0.8 +/- 0.2%. Among men the mean BPI in both HD and PD patients was significantly lower than those of control subjects (4.25 +/- 0.37, 4.38 +/- 0.34 vs. 4.72 +/- 0.37 kg/m2, p < 0.001). In women, BPI was significantly lower in HD patients than in control subjects (3.65 +/- 0.34 vs. 4.00 +/- 0.34 kg/m2, p < 0.033), whereas only a nonsignificant lower tendency was found in PD patients (3.83 +/- 0.39 kg/m2, p = 0.067). There were no significant differences in BPI values between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, both in men (4.26 +/- 0.41 vs. 4.25 +/- 0.36 kg/m2) and women (3.69 +/- 0.36 vs. 3.65 +/- 0.34 kg/m2). Based on BPI nutritional categories, 113 (28.7%) of all HD patients were classified as having mild malnutrition, 57 (14.5%) as having moderate malnutrition, 40 (10.1%) as having severe malnutrition, and 184 (46.7%) were classified as normal. The patients of longer dialysis history groups showed a tendency of lower BPI compared to those of shorter dialysis history groups (p < 0.05), although the ages of the patients of the two groups did not significantly differ. No correlations were found between BPI and serum albumin or transferrin concentrations. Only weak correlations were found with albumin in male and transferrin in female HD patients. CONCLUSION BPI calculated from measurement of multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis could evaluate whole body somatic protein stores, and is a potentially useful new marker assessing nutritional status in patients with chronic renal failure. Decreased body somatic protein stores, mainly due to muscle wasting, was prevalent in end-stage renal failure patients on maintenance dialysis.

Prognostic significance of home blood pressure control on renal and cardiovascular outcomes in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease

The influence of home blood pressure (HBP) control on renal and cardiovascular outcomes is not fully defined, and the optimal blood pressure (BP) target in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unknown. To clarify the influence of HBP on the progression of CKD and the occurrence of cardiovascular events in elderly CKD patients, we recruited 104 patients with stage 3 to 5 CKD, who were ⩾70 years of age. The mean follow-up duration was 39±15 months. HBP was measured every morning and evening for 7 consecutive days. HBP data were obtained every 6 months for 79 of these patients. There were significant correlations observed between morning systolic BP (SBP), evening SBP and the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during the follow-up period (baseline/follow-up; morning r=−0.55/−0.51, evening r=−0.48/−0.38, all P<0.0001, baseline: baseline values, follow-up: mean values obtained every 6 months during the follow-up period). Stepwise multivariate regression analysis identified morning SBP and urinary protein excretion as independent predictors of a change in eGFR during the follow-up period. Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that baseline morning SBP, baseline evening SBP and follow-up morning SBP were significantly associated with an increased risk of renal events (hazard ratios; 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01–1.07), 1.06 (1.02–1.09) and 1.10 (1.04–1.17), respectively). However, Cox proportional hazards analyses showed that there was no significant association between BP and the risk of cardiovascular events. In conclusion, even among elderly CKD patients, HBP is a significant predictor of decline in renal function and the development of end-stage renal disease. In addition, the optimal target BP for elderly CKD patients needs to be clarified.

Predialysis factors related to prognosis in type 2 diabetic patients on chronic dialysis in Japan

SUMMARY: We investigated to clarify the predialysis factors associated with prognosis in type 2 diabetic patients entering chronic dialysis. One hundred and twenty‐four type 2 diabetic patients who started chronic dialysis in our department between January 1992 and November 2000 were studied. the variables in the predialysis period and those at initiation of dialysis were collected and evaluated in association with prognosis after a mean follow up of 37 ± 23 months from initiation of dialysis by using Coxs proportional‐hazards model. the 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival rates after initiating chronic dialysis were 92.7, 74.6, and 56.5%, respectively. During follow up, 40 patients died. Univariate analysis demonstrated that serum albumin (Alb) levels, haemoglobin A1c, and no preparation for permanent vascular or peritoneal access at initiation of dialysis were significantly associated with prognosis. In multivariate analysis, Alb levels (hazard ratio, 2.09, per decrease of 1 g/dL; confidence interval, 1.05–4.19), and age (1.54, per decrease of 10 years; 1.06–2.22) at initiation of dialysis remained significant predictors of mortality. In conclusion, Alb levels and age at initiation of dialysis are associated with prognosis in type 2 diabetic patients on chronic dialysis. It should be elucidated whether improvement of Alb levels at initiation of dialysis would have a favourable influence on survival after diabetic patients with renal failure are entered into chronic dialysis.

Combined therapy with peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis: a multicenter retrospective observational cohort study in Japan.

Background/Aims: Combining peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) has been common treatment option in Japan. Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter, observational study, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 104 patients (57 w 11 years, males 72%) who had switched from PD alone to combined therapy with PD and HD were studied. Clinical parameters were measured at baseline and after 3 months of combined therapy. Results: At baseline, urine volume, dialysate-to-plasma ratio of creatinine (D/P Cr), and total Kt/V were 150 ml/day (range: 0-2,000 ml/day), 0.67 w 0.11, and 1.8 w 0.4, respectively. During the first 3 months of combined therapy, body weight, urine volume, serum creatinine level, and D/P Cr decreased, whereas hemoglobin levels increased. Conclusions: In patients where PD does not result in acceptable outcomes, combined therapy with PD and HD may have potential benefits in terms of dialysis adequacy and hydration status. Video Journal Club “Cappuccino with Claudio Ronco” at http://www.karger.com/?doi=368389 i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Phosphate handling by end-stage kidneys and benefits of residual renal function on phosphate removal in patients on haemodialysis.

We investigated the handling of phosphate by end‐stage kidneys and the contribution of residual renal function (RRF) to phosphate homeostasis in haemodialysis patients.

Clinical evaluation of chronic nephrotoxicity of long-term cyclosporine A treatment in adult patients with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome

Aim:  Chronic nephrotoxicity of long‐term cyclosporine A (CsA) treatment is a matter of concern in patients with steroid‐dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS).

Benefits of first-half intensive haemodiafiltration for the removal of uraemic solutes

Aim:  Haemodiafiltration (HDF) is the most efficient blood purification method and can remove a wide spectrum of solutes of different molecular weights (MW). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the removed amounts of solutes, especially the larger molecules, could be increased by changing the HDF filtration procedure.