Milagros Fernández-Lucas

Mantenimiento de la función renal residual en hemodiálisis: experiencia de 5 años de una pauta de diálisis incremental

INTRODUCTION In contrast to patients treated with peritoneal dialysis, those on periodical haemodialysis (HD) do not receive programmed progressive increases in dialysis dosage, nor is residual renal function taken into account in the calculation of the total dialysis prescription; rather, only dialyser clearance is factored into the equation. In 2006, we decided to establish a progressively increasing dialysis regimen at the start of renal replacement therapy, evaluating the possibility of starting with 2 sessions of HD/week when renal clearance of urea was equal to or greater than 2.5 ml/min. This study summarises our experience during the first 5 years of application of this progressively increasing HD prescription and its repercussions on residual renal function. METHODS We included all patients who started periodical HD between 1/1/2006 and 30/9/2010 and remained on dialysis for more than three months. The follow-up period ended on 31/12/2010 (study end date). When a patient started HD, urea and creatinine clearance levels were measured based on urea and creatinine concentrations in blood samples taken before dialysis and in urine samples taken 24 hours prior to starting the first dialysis session of the week. If urea clearance was equal to or greater than 2.5 ml/min, 2 sessions of HD per week were applied, as long as the patients clinical situation allowed for it (according to the criteria of the attending physician). Residual renal function was analysed every 2 months until diuresis was less than 100ml/day, which is considered to be basically null. We evaluated the decrease in residual renal function, calculating the rate of decrease in glomerular filtration (ml/min/month) and 24-hour diuresis (ml/month) in patients receiving 2 and 3 HD sessions per week. In January 2010, we took a cross-sectional sample, evaluating glomerular filtration and how this value was associated with various clinical and laboratory parameters in patients receiving 2 or 3 dialysis sessions per week. RESULTS During the study period, 95 patients were included in the study, 41 of which (43%) started with 2 HD sessions per week, and 54 (57%) with 3 sessions per week. The mean time that patients remained on the 2HD sessions/week regimen was 11.1 ± 7.2 months (range: 2-25 months). Of the 41 patients that started with 2 HD sessions/week, 10 received a transplant while on the treatment regimen, 1 was transferred to peritoneal dialysis, 6 recovered renal function and were able to abandon dialysis treatment, 15 were switched to the 3 HD sessions/week regimen, and 9 continued on the 2 HD sessions/week regimen at the time the study ended. Of the 15 patients that were switched to the 3 HD sessions/week regimen, 4 received transplants, 3 died, and the remaining 8 continued on HD until the end of the study. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients who started on the 2 HD sessions/week regimen had a greater survival rate (log-rank: 3.964; P=.04). Losses in both glomerular filtration rate and 24-hour diuresis were lower in patients on the 2 HD sessions/week regimen: 0.22 ± 0.36 ml/min/month vs 0.89 ± 1.26 ml/min/month for glomerular filtration (P=.001), and 90.59 ± 132 ml/month vs 206.23 ± 286 ml/month for 24-hour diuresis (P=.001), respectively. In the cross-sectional sample taken in January 2010, 17 patients were on the 2 HD sessions/week regimen and 47 were on the 3 HD sessions/week regimen. Serum concentrations of β2-microglobulin were significantly lower in the 2 HD sessions/week group (19.7 ± 5 vs 38.3 ± 13; P=.000). The mean haemoglobin concentration was similar between the two groups, with a significantly lower dose required of erythropoietin in patients on the 2 HD sessions/week regimen (7058 ± 3749 units/week vs 12 553 ± 10 826 units/week; P=.037). CONCLUSION In select populations, the start of HD can be administered on a progressively increasing dosage, starting with two sessions/week. In our experience, this is a safe prescription that probably contributes to preserving residual renal function.

A retrospective study on outcome of microscopic polyangiitis in chronic renal replacement therapy

BACKGROUND Pauci-immune vasculitis is a heterogeneous disorder with an unfavourable prognosis. Renal involvement is frequently observed in antineutrophil cytoplasm autoantibody (ANCA)-associated small-vessel vasculitis and is an important cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is frequently required. Although better prognosis under dialysis is well known, the long-term follow-up of pauci-immune renal vasculitis with RRT is rarely reported. METHODS We described 24 patients with pauci-immune vasculitis and requirement of dialysis who were admitted in our institutions from January 1989 to December 2008. Mean age was 65 ± 12 years at the beginning of dialysis. There were 12 males and 12 females. Patients with Wegeners granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome or evidence of anti-glomerular basement membrane were excluded. The study group was formed by patients with a diagnosis of necrotizing extracapillary glomerulonephritis and microscopic polyangiitis. RESULTS The distribution according to ANCAs was 14 p-ANCA (58%), 5 c-ANCA (21%) and 5 ANCA-negative (21%) pauci-immune renal vasculitis. Pulmonary renal syndrome (PRS) was observed in 10 patients at the onset of vasculitis. Corticosteroids and daily cyclophosphamide were administered to 18 patients, and one patient had intravenous cyclophosphamide. Five patients received isolated corticosteroid therapy. Early reduction in cyclophosphamide dosage was required in five patients due to leucopaenia. Mean follow-up after first dialysis was 89 ± 66 months (range 2-208). Twenty patients were included in haemodialysis (HD), and four patients were included in peritoneal dialysis (PD). At the end of the study, nine patients had received a cadaveric kidney transplant (KT). Relapses rate after the onset of dialysis was 0.03 episode/patient/year. PRS-associated relapses after beginning dialysis were observed in four patients. Main therapy in relapses was also corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. Survival rates for year 1, 2 and 5 was 91%, 91% and 85%, respectively. Overall mortality at the end of the study was 31.8%. Five patients died in the PRS group, but only one death was associated with progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Higher mortality was observed in PRS vasculitis present at the onset of RRT (50% vs 16.7%, P = NS). Better outcome in patients who received a renal transplantation was observed (88.8% vs 53.8%, P = NS). Conclusions. Despite a low number of patients in this series, pauci-immune vasculitis prognosis under dialysis seems equal to other causes of chronic kidney disease. This study observed a low rate of relapses after beginning dialysis. Poor prognosis is related to severe complications at the beginning of RRT. Today, kidney transplantation is an important therapeutic option for these patients.

Effects of a Single, High Oral Dose of 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol on the Mineral Metabolism Markers in Hemodialysis Patients

Vitamin D deficiency is common in dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. Low levels have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk and mortality. We evaluated the administration of a high, single oral dose of 25‐OH cholecalciferol (3 mg of Hidroferol, 180 000 IU) in patients on chronic hemodialysis. The 94 chronic hemodialysis patients with vitamin D deficiency 25 (OH)D <30 ng/mL included in the study were randomized into two groups. Follow‐up time was 16 weeks. Neither the usual treatment for controlling Ca/P levels nor the dialysis bath (calcium of 2.5 mEq/L) were modified. Of the 86 patients who finished the study, 42 were in the treated group and 44 in the control group. An increase in 25(OH)D levels was observed in the treated group that persisted after 16 weeks and was associated with a significant decrease in parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels during the 8 weeks post‐treatment. Baseline 1,25(OH)2D levels of the treated group increased two weeks after treatment (5.9 vs. 21.9 pg/mL, P < 0.001) but gradually reduced to 8.4 at week 16. The administration of a single 3 mg dose of 25‐OH cholecalciferol seems safe in patients on hemodialysis and maintains sufficient levels of 25(OH)D with a decrease in PTH for 3 months.

Recuperación de la función renal en enfermos tratados con hemodiálisis

The aim of this study was to review all cases of recovery of renal function in chronic haemodialysis patients, observed in the last ten years. During the study period, 218 chronic renal failure patients were managed on haemodialysis for a minimum of 90 days. In 17 cases (8%), it was possible to interrupt dialysis after 95 to 529 days. The probability of renal function recovery was higher in patients with chronic interstitial nephritis (P=.04) or autoimmune diseases (P=.07), as well as in those starting haemodialysis treatment at a frequency of two sessions per week (P=.02). No significant differences in age, gender, glomerular filtration rate at the beginning of haemodialysis treatment, or comorbidity rate were observed. Seven patients returned to haemodialysis treatment after a dialysis-free period of 11 +/- 7 months. Two patients died for reasons unrelated to renal failure treatment, and another patient was moved to another hospital following 35 months without dialysis. The other 14 patients are alive and 8 are dialysis-free, with a monitoring period of 13 to 106 months. The conclusion reached is that there is no reason why residual kidney function should inexorably worsen after the start of haemodialysis treatment, and that functional recovery is possible in some patients.

Guía Clínica Española del Acceso Vascular para Hemodiálisis

Vascular access for haemodialysis is key in renal patients both due to its associated morbidity and mortality and due to its impact on quality of life. The process, from the creation and maintenance of vascular access to the treatment of its complications, represents a challenge when it comes to decision-making, due to the complexity of the existing disease and the diversity of the specialities involved. With a view to finding a common approach, the Spanish Multidisciplinary Group on Vascular Access (GEMAV), which includes experts from the five scientific societies involved (nephrology [S.E.N.], vascular surgery [SEACV], vascular and interventional radiology [SERAM-SERVEI], infectious diseases [SEIMC] and nephrology nursing [SEDEN]), along with the methodological support of the Cochrane Center, has updated the Guidelines on Vascular Access for Haemodialysis, published in 2005. These guidelines maintain a similar structure, in that they review the evidence without compromising the educational aspects. However, on one hand, they provide an update to methodology development following the guidelines of the GRADE system in order to translate this systematic review of evidence into recommendations that facilitate decision-making in routine clinical practice, and, on the other hand, the guidelines establish quality indicators which make it possible to monitor the quality of healthcare.

Analysis of concordance between the bioelectrical impedance vector analysis and the bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy in haemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION The values of body composition provided by the two most commonly used bioelectrical impedance systems in Spain, single-frequency bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (SF-BIVA) and multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (MF-BIS) are different and not comparable. OBJECTIVE Analyse whether the inter-method variability is due to bioelectrical variables measured by the different monitors, or rather due to the equations used to calculate body volume and mass. Another objective was to determine whether, despite the inter-method variability, the classification of hydration status by the two methods is consistent. MATERIAL AND METHODS Bioelectrical impedance was measured by SF-BIVA and MF-BIS immediately before a dialysis session in 54 patients on haemodialysis. In 38 patients, the study was repeated by SF-BIVA at the end of the same dialysis session. RESULTS Resistance and phase angle values provided by the two monitors at a frequency of 50kHz were consistent. For resistance, variability was 1.3% and the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.99. For phase angle, variability and the intra-class correlation coefficient were 11.5% and 0.92, respectively. The volume values for total body water, extracellular water, fat mass and body cell mass were biased, with a level of variability that would not be acceptable in clinical practice. The intra-class correlation coefficient also suggested a poor level of agreement. SF-BIVA systems define overhydration or dehydration as a vector below or above the tolerance ellipse of 75% on the longitudinal axis. MF-BIS uses two criteria for pre-dialysis hyper-hydration: overhydration (OH) greater than 2.5 litres, or greater than 15% of extracellular water. The degree of equivalence with the results of the SF-BIVA monitor was better with the second criterion (kappa: 0.81, excellent agreement) than with the first one (kappa: 0.71, acceptable agreement). The MF-BIS system defines post-dialysis normal hydration as a difference between OH and ultrafiltratation volume between –1.1 and 1.1 litres and agreement with the SF-BIVA system for this parameter was acceptable (weighted kappa index: 0.64). CONCLUSIONS The MF-BIS and SF-BIVA systems provide similar readings for bioelectrical parameters, and the wide variation in the quantification of volume and body mass must be attributed to the different equations used for calculation. Furthermore, the criteria used by both systems to define both pre- and post-dialysis hydration have an acceptable level of equivalence.

NON-COMPACTION CARDIOMYOPATHY AND POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Polycystic kidney disease is the most common inherited renal disease. Isolated ventricular non-compaction (IVNC) is a newly described inherited cardiomyopathy that is being reported with increasing frequency as a cause of ventricular failure in adults and children. We report two cases of IVNC in two family members diagnosed with familial polycystic kidney disease. This is the first familial association of these hereditary diseases. A 65 year old woman with chronic renal insufficiency secondary to familial polycystic kidney disease consulted for a 1 month history of progressive dyspnea and oedema of the lower extremities. Chest radiography revealed pulmonary vascular congestion. Electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm. Laboratory findings showed end-stage renal dysfunction: glomerular filtration rate of 6 mL/min. The patient had a functioning arteriovenous fistula thus haemodialysis was started. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed at admission revealing severe biventricular systolic dysfunction. Dense trabeculations in the left ventricle were observed,

Elección de tratamiento conservador en la enfermedad renal crónica

INTRODUCTION Incidence of use for various renal replacement therapies is well-known, but no data are available on conservative treatment use. OBJECTIVE To assess the proportion of patients with chronic kidney failure receiving a conservative treatment. RESULTS From July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, 232 patients with stage 5 CKD were seen in the Nephrology Department. After having received information on existing therapeutic options and having known the opinion of their treating physicians, 81 patients (35%) selected hemodialysis, 56 (24%) preferred peritoneal dialysis, 5 (2%) selected a preemptive transplant from a living donor, and in 90 (39%) a conservative treatment option was selected. In a univariate analysis using logistic regression, variables associated to a preference for conservative treatment were age, Charlson index excluding age, degree of walking difficulties, and functional dependence level, with the first three factors achieving statistical significance in a multivariate analysis. Presence of a severe disease resulting in a poor prognosis was the main reason for selecting a conservative treatment (49%), with the second one being patient refusal to receive a renal replacement therapy (26%). Mortality rate was 8.2/100 patient-months in conservative therapy group versus 0.6/100 patient-months in patients receiving renal replacement therapy (P<.001). In patients receiving conservative therapy, baseline glomerular filtration rate at the time of study enrollment was the sole variable showing a significant impact on survival. CONCLUSIONS About 39% of patients with stage 5 CKD seen over a 1-year period in the Nephrology Department received conservative therapy. Age, co-morbidity, and functional disability were the factors associated to selecting a conservative therapy option.

Home Palliative Care for Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: Preliminary Results

Healthcare for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) on conservative treatment very often poses healthcare problems that are difficult to solve. At the end of 2011, we began a program based on the care and monitoring of these patients by Primary Care Teams. ACKD patients who opted for conservative treatment were offered the chance to be cared for mainly at home by the Primary Care doctor and nurse, under the coordination of the Palliative Care Unit and the Nephrology Department. During 2012, 2013, and 2014, 76 patients received treatment in this program (mean age: 81 years; mean Charlson age-comorbidity index: 10, and mean glomerular filtration rate: 12.4 mL/min/1.73 m2). The median patient follow-up time (until death or until 31 December 2014) was 165 days. During this period, 51% of patients did not have to visit the hospital’s emergency department and 58% did not require hospitalization. Forty-eight of the 76 patients died after a median time of 135 days in the program; 24 (50%) died at home. Our experience indicates that with the support of the Palliative Care Unit and the Nephrology Department, ACKD patients who are not dialysis candidates may be monitored at home by Primary Care Teams.

Efectos de la suspensión de IECA y ARAII en enfermedad crónica avanzada

To the Editor, Renin-angiotensin system inhibition is a commonly used therapeutic measure for slowing the progression of kidney disease in diabetic nephropathy and nephropathies with proteinuria. It has also been established that activation of this system is necessary for maintaining glomerular filtration when renal perfusion is severely impaired, as occurs in ischaemic nephropathy and cases of hypotension and dehydration. In these situations, the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can deteriorate renal function.