I-Jung Tsai

Acute-on-chronic kidney injury at hospital discharge is associated with long-term dialysis and mortality

Existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) is among the most potent predictors of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Here we quantified this risk in a multicenter, observational study of 9425 patients who survived to hospital discharge after major surgery. CKD was defined as a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate <45 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). AKI was stratified according to the maximum simplified RIFLE classification at hospitalization and unresolved AKI defined as a persistent increase in serum creatinine of more than half above the baseline or the need for dialysis at discharge. A Cox proportional hazard model showed that patients with AKI-on-CKD during hospitalization had significantly worse long-term survival over a median follow-up of 4.8 years (hazard ratio, 1.7) [corrected] than patients with AKI but without CKD.The incidence of long-term dialysis was 22.4 and 0.17 per 100 person-years among patients with and without existing CKD, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio for long-term dialysis in patients with AKI-on-CKD was 19.8 compared to patients who developed AKI without existing CKD. Furthermore, AKI-on-CKD but without kidney recovery at discharge had a worse outcome (hazard ratios of 4.6 and 213, respectively) for mortality and long-term dialysis as compared to patients without CKD or AKI. Thus, in a large cohort of postoperative patients who developed AKI, those with existing CKD were at higher risk for long-term mortality and dialysis after hospital discharge than those without. These outcomes were significantly worse in those with unresolved AKI at discharge.

Advanced age affects the outcome-predictive power of RIFLE classification in geriatric patients with acute kidney injury.

The RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss, and end-stage) classification is widely used to gauge the severity of acute kidney injury, but its efficacy has not been formally tested in geriatric patients. To correct this we conducted a prospective observational study in a multicenter cohort of 3931 elderly patients (65 years of age or older) who developed acute kidney injury in accordance with the RIFLE creatinine criteria after major surgery. We studied the predictive power of the RIFLE classification for in-hospital mortality and investigated the potential interaction between age and RIFLE classification. In general, the survivors were significantly younger than the nonsurvivors and more likely to have hypertension. In patients 76 years of age and younger, RIFLE-R, -I, or -F classifications were significantly associated with increased hospital mortality in a stepwise manner. There was no significant difference, however, in hospital mortality in those over 76 years of age between patients with RIFLE-R and RIFLE-I, although RIFLE-F patients had significantly higher mortality than both groups. Thus, the less severe categorizations of acute kidney injury per RIFLE classification may not truly reflect the adverse impact on elderly patients.

High-Volume Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration as an Effective Therapy for Acute Management of Inborn Errors of Metabolism in Young Children

Background/Aim: Renal replacement therapies (RRTs) have been used for the acute management of inborn errors of metabolism. Hemodialysis is the most effective modality. The aim of this article is to demonstrate that high-volume hemofiltration can offer an alternative way to effectively remove small molecules. Methods: Eight patients presented with acute neurological deterioration due to ammonia or organic acid accumulation. Different RRTs were applied, including continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH, n = 7), continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH, n = 2), continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD, n = 1), intermittent hemodialysis (HD, n = 1), and peritoneal dialysis (PD, n = 2). Results: Ammonia 50% reduction time in HD was 1.7 h while in CVVH it was 2–14.5 h. The greater the ultrafiltration flow was, the sooner patients regained consciousness. CAVH, CVVHD or PD was not sufficient enough.Conclusion:CVVH also has a good clearance for organic acid and ammonia if applying high-volume hemofiltration (>35 ml/kg/h). It can be therefore be considered as an alternative therapy if infant HD is not available.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the combined hepatitis A and B vaccine in young adults

The combination of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccinations can offer convenience, increased compliance and cost saving. We have studied the immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety of combined hepatitis A and B vaccination in young adults (16-35 years old). Eighty healthy young adults were divided into two random groups. One group received the combined hepatitis A and B vaccine (HAB) in one arm while the other group was administered concomitant hepatitis A and B vaccines (HAV + HBV) in the right and left arms, respectively. The immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety were assessed after each dose in both the groups. In local symptoms, the percentage of the combined HAB group was lower than the HAV + HBV group, and the general symptoms were noted in approximately 30% of each group without any significant difference. No serious adverse effects were noted. All the subjects were seropositive for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) after one dose of vaccine, and remained seropositive after three doses in both groups. The seropositive rate for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was significantly higher (84%) in the combined HAB group than the concomitant HAV + HBV group (62%), (p<0.05) after dose two, and all the subjects were seropositive (100%) after the third dose. The GMTs of anti-HAV and anti-HBs were not significantly different between groups 1 and 2 (p>0.1) except in month 6 when the GMT of anti-HBs was higher in HAB group (p=0.0039). The combined HAB vaccine was found to be safe, well tolerated and had less local symptoms in young adults. The immunogenicity and reactogenicity were similar to the concomitant HAV + HBV vaccines.

Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination Reduces Childhood Hepatitis B Virus–Associated Membranous Nephropathy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated membranous nephropathy (HBVMN) before and after universal HBV vaccination and to identify factors underlying the change. METHODS: This study included 471 hospitalized children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) and 488 long-term follow-up hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-carrier children. Horizontal transmission (negative maternal HBsAg status) of HBVMN and HBV was assessed, and the incidence of HBVMN was compared before and after initiation of the universal HBV vaccination program started in 1984. RESULTS: The frequency of HBVMN in children with NS was 11.6% between 1974 and 1984, 4.5% between 1984 and 1994, 2.1% between 1994 and 2004, and 0% between 2004 and 2009. Similarly, the number of HBsAg-seropositive children with NS (mainly via horizontal infection) decreased after universal vaccination. The prevaccination frequency of HBV horizontal transmission in chronic HBsAg carriers from the general population was 36.5% compared with 5% in the postvaccination period. The incidence of HBVMN in these carriers revealed a parallel decline. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed a significant decrease in the frequency of HBVMN in children with NS and in long-term follow-up HBsAg carriers. Children with HBVMN are primarily infected with HBV via horizontal transmission; thus, the significant reduction in horizontal transmission in HBsAg-carrier children in the general population after universal HBV vaccination may explain the reduction of HBVMN in the vaccinated population. These findings confirm the effectiveness of HBV vaccination on reducing the incidence of HBVMN, possibly through a significant decline in horizontal HBV infection.

Drug susceptibility and treatment response of common urinary tract infection pathogens in children

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE To document the trends of sensitivity and to find whether it is necessary to change antibiotics in selected patients according to the sensitivity test results in our clinical practice. METHODS We collected urine culture results from 0-18-year-old patients in the National Taiwan University Hospital from January 1, 2003 to October 31, 2012. Their medical chart was reviewed to identify true pathogens responsible for their urinary tract infection (UTI). We checked the percentage of susceptibility of these pathogens to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC), cefazolin, cefmetazole, ceftriaxone, gentamicin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. The extended-spectrum-beta-lactamases (ESBLs) rate was also checked. In addition, we reviewed the treatment response of different antibiotics. Defervescence within 48 hours after initial antibiotics use was considered responsive. RESULTS A total of 7758 urine cultures positive for Escherichia coli infection were collected during the 10-year period. The E. coli cefazolin susceptibility rate was 62-73% during 2003-2010, but it dropped to 23% in 2011 and 28% in 2012 after the new CLSI guideline (M100-S21) was released. However, other antibiotics did not show a significant difference. In UTI caused by E. coli, on average, the sensitivity rates for various antibiotics were as follows: cefmetazole, 90%; ceftriaxone, 85%; gentamicin, 77%; AMC, 61%; TMP-SMX, 47%; and ampicillin, 20%. The ESBL rate was also found to increase (2-11%; p < 0.01). The overall response rate of UTI caused by E. coli to first-line antibiotics such as first-generation cephalosporin and/or gentamicin was 78%. CONCLUSION The susceptibility of common urinary tract pathogens to cefazolin has decreased dramatically since 2010. This trend may be due to the change in the CLSI guideline. Although the susceptibility rate to first-line empirical antibiotics shows a decreasing trend, we found that the clinical response was acceptable for our first-line empirical antibiotics.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism in Children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

Aims: To investigate the genetic polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), as well as its relationship with patient’s clinical response to steroid therapy. Methods: Fifty-nine patients with INS were recruited and divided into 2 groups according to their clinical response to steroids: steroid-sensitive (SS) with 19 patients and non-SS with 40 patients, which was further divided into steroid-dependent (SD) and steroid-resistant (SR) groups with 35 and 5 patients, respectively. Seventy-nine children without previous renal diseases and negative proteinuria were enrolled as a control group. The genotypes for ACE I/D polymorphism, including DD, ID, and II, were analyzed. Results: The distribution of ACE DD, ID, and II genotypes in INS patients were 52.5, 10.2 and 37.3%, respectively; the corresponding numbers for the control group were 2.5, 25.3 and 72.2%, respectively. Patients with INS had a significantly higher percentage of DD genotype (p <0.001) than the control group. This higher incidence of the DD genotype was observed in both the SS and non-SS groups. A higher percentage of the DD genotype in the non-SS group and in the SD group as compared to the SS group (both p < 0.05) was also noted. Conclusion: Our data shows that INS is associated with a higher incidence of the DD genotype, especially in non-SS patients. This finding suggests that the DD genotype may be a risk factor for INS and play a role in the clinical response to steroids.

Acute lobar nephronia is associated with a high incidence of renal scarring in childhood urinary tract infections.

Background: Acute lobar nephronia (ALN) is a severe nonliquefactive inflammatory renal bacterial infection, and requires a longer duration of treatment. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate renal scarring after ALN and to examine the risk factors for renal scarring in children with ALN compared with those with acute pyelonephritis (APN). Methods: Patients with computed tomography-diagnosed ALN were enrolled and randomly allocated, with serial entry, to either a 2- or 3-week antibiotic treatment regimen. Age- and gender-matched APN patients served as comparators. Patients underwent dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy at least 6 months later to assess renal scarring. Results: A total of 218 children (109 ALN, 109 APN) were enrolled. The incidence of renal scarring was similar between 2- and 3-week treatment groups and was higher in ALN patients than in APN patients (89.0% vs. 34.9%, P < 0.001). Renal scarring was prone to occur in children with higher inflammatory indices and longer duration of fever before and after treatment. Multiple regression analysis on independent variables showed that only ALN was significantly associated with a higher incidence of renal scarring. Conclusions: Our results showed a new finding that ALN is associated with a very high incidence of renal scarring, in comparison to APN, irrespective of the duration of antibiotic treatment.

Early postnatal renal growth in premature infants.

Aims:  To assess postnatal kidney volume development and to compare the intrauterine and extrauterine kidney growth curves of premature infants.

Effect of Diuretic Use on 30-Day Postdialysis Mortality in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Acute Dialysis

Background The impact of diuretic usage and dosage on the mortality of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury is still unclear. Methods and Results In this prospective, multicenter, observational study, 572 patients with postsurgical acute kidney injury receiving hemodialysis were recruited and followed daily. Thirty-day postdialysis mortality was analyzed using Coxs proportional hazards model with time-dependent covariates. The mean age of the 572 patients was 60.8±16.6 years. Patients with lower serum creatinine (p = 0.031) and blood lactate (p = 0.033) at ICU admission, lower predialysis urine output (p = 0.001) and PaO2/FiO2 (p = 0.039), as well as diabetes (p = 0.037) and heart failure (p = 0.049) were more likely to receive diuretics. A total of 280 (49.0%) patients died within 30 days after acute dialysis initiation. The analysis of 30-day postdialysis mortality by fitting propensity score-adjusted Coxs proportional hazards models with time-dependent covariates showed that higher 3-day accumulated diuretic doses after dialysis initiation (HR = 1.449, p = 0.021) could increase the hazard rate of death. Moreover, higher time-varying 3-day accumulative diuretic doses were associated with hypotension (p<0.001) and less intense hemodialysis (p<0.001) during the acute dialysis period. Background and Significance Higher time-varying 3-day accumulative diuretic dose predicts mortality in postsurgical critically ill patients requiring acute dialysis. Higher diuretic doses are associated with hypotension and a lower intensity of dialysis. Caution should be employed before loop diuretics are administered to postsurgical patients during the acute dialysis period.