Nikolina Bašić-Jukić

Complications of therapeutic plasma exchange: experience with 4857 treatments.

Abstract:  Plasma exchange (PE) is a technique of extracorporeal blood purification which removes large molecular weight substances from plasma. The Department of Dialysis, Zagreb University Hospital Centers database, which includes data on 509 patients, or 4857 PE treatments, was retrospectively analyzed to test the safety of PE. A total of 231 adverse reactions were recorded (4.75% of treatments). The most common complications were paresthesias (2.7%), hematoma at the puncture site (2.4%), clotting (1.7%), mild to moderate allergic reactions (urticaria; 1.6%) and bleeding (0.06%). True anaphylactoid reactions were recorded in five procedures. The incidence of severe, potentially life‐threatening adverse reactions was 0.12%. The prophylactic use of calcium and potassium was responsible for a low incidence of electrolyte disturbances. There was no lethal outcome associated with PE. When carried out by experienced staff, PE is a relatively safe procedure. The use of fresh frozen plasma is associated with a higher rate of adverse reactions.

Consensus statement on screening, diagnosis, classification and treatment of endemic (Balkan) nephropathy

Currently used diagnostic criteria in different endemic (Balkan) nephropathy (EN) centers involve different combinations of parameters, various cut-off values and many of them are not in agreement with proposed international guidelines. Leaders of EN centers began to address these problems at scientific meetings, and this paper is the outgrowth of those discussions. The main aim is to provide recommendations for clinical work on current knowledge and expertise. This document is developed for use by general physicians, nephrologists, urologist, public health experts and epidemiologist, and it is hoped that it will be adopted by responsible institutions in countries harboring EN. National medical providers should cover costs of screening and diagnostic procedures and treatment of EN patients with or without upper urothelial cancers.

Immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1 cancer/testis antigens in diffuse large B-cell testicular lymphoma

BackgroundPrimary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is a rare and lethal disease. The most common histological subtype is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Standard treatments are frequently ineffective. Thus, the development of novel forms of therapy is urgently required. Specific immunotherapy generating immune responses directed against antigen predominantly expressed by cancer cells such as cancer-testis antigens (CTA) may provide a valid alternative treatment for patients bearing PTL, alone or in combination with current therapies.MethodsThree monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 77B recognizing MAGE-A1, 57B recognizing an epitope shared by multiple MAGE-A CTA (multi-MAGE-A specific) and D8.38 recognizing NY-ESO-1/LAGE-1 were used for immunohistochemical staining of 27 PTL, including 24 DLBCL.ResultsExpression of MAGE-A1 was infrequently detectable in DLBCL specimens (12.50%), whereas multi-MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1/LAGE-1 specific reagents stained the cytoplasms of tumor cells in DLBCL specimens with higher frequencies (54.17% and 37.50%, respectively) with different expression levels.ConclusionsThese results suggest that MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1/LAGE-1, possibly in combination with other CTA, might be used as targets for specific immunotherapy in DLBCL.

Pegylated interferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients in Croatia

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a frequent complication among long-term dialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of pegylated interferon-α2a (PEG-IFN-α2a) treatment in hemodialysis patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 16 HCV-RNA-positive hemodialysis patients. Results: There were 11 male and 5 female patients treated with dialysis for 6–28 years. Twelve patients had HCV genotype 1b, 2 patients had 3a, and 1 patient had genotype 2a. Although only 10 out of 16 patients completed 48 weeks of treatment, early virological response and end-of-treatment virological response were achieved in 9 and 13 patients, respectively. Sustained virological response was recorded in 9 patients. The most common side effect was anemia. A flu-like syndrome was documented in 6, myalgia in 4, and arthralgia in 5 patients. Rectorrhagia, endocarditis and severe cough were recorded in 1 patient each. Nine patients received a renal transplant, and all 6 responders remained HCV-RNA-negative. Conclusions: PEG-IFN-α2a has limited efficacy in dialysis patients. A significant proportion of patients discontinued treatment because of side effects. Additional studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine the optimal treatment of HCV infection in the dialysis population.

First documented case of successful kidney transplantation from a donor with acute renal failure treated with dialysis

There is a widening gap between the needs and possibilities of kidney transplantation. In order to solve the problem of organ shortage, the selection criteria for kidney donors have been less stringent over the last years. Favorable outcome of renal transplantation from deceased donors with acute renal failure requiring dialysis may have an important role in expanding the pool of donors. We present the case of two renal transplantations from a polytraumatized 20-years old donor with acute renal failure requiring dialysis. One recipient established good diuresis from the first post-transplant day and did not require hemodialysis. The second recipient had delayed graft function and was treated with 8 hemodialysis sessions. The patient was discharged with good diuresis and normal serum creatinine. After two years of follow-up, both recipients have normal graft function. According to our experience, kidneys from deceased young donors with acute renal failure requiring dialysis may be transplanted, in order to decrease the number of patients on transplantation waiting lists.

Renal Transplantation in the Roma Ethnicity—Do All Patients Have Equal Chance for Transplantation?

Racial and ethnic disparities exist in access to kidney transplantation worldwide. The Roma people are often socially deprived, uneducated, and unemployed. We investigated all dialysis centers in Croatia to determine number of Roma people on dialysis as well as their access and reasons for eventual failure to enter the waiting list. There are 9463 registered Roma people in Croatia, however, the estimated number reaches 40,000. Twenty-five Roma patients required renal replacement therapy, giving a prevalence of 830 per million people (pmp), compared with 959 pmp among the general population. Average age at the start of dialysis was 29 vs 67 years; waiting time to kidney transplantation was 48.9 vs 53.5 months; mean age at the time of transplantation was 33.18 vs 48.01 years in Roma versus the general population respectively. One patient received a kidney allograft from a living unrelated spousal donor, and all others from deceased individuals. Patients were followed for 51.5 months (range, 6-240). The most frequent post-transplant complications were urinary tract infections. One patient lost a graft due to severe acute rejection caused by noncompliance. Two young patients were also noncompliant with immunosuppressive medications. One patient died with a functioning graft at 20 years after transplantation due to cardiovascular disease. Among 14 Roma patients currently been treated with hemodialysis in Croatia, 10 are old with clinical contraindications for transplantation; 1 is on the waiting list; 1 left hospitalization for pretransplant evaluation twice; 1 refused evaluation; and 1 is currently being evaluated for the waiting list. The Roma people have excellent access to renal transplantation in Croatia. Many of them refuse evaluation. More efforts should be invested in their education to improve compliance and their post-transplant outcomes.

Rescue therapy with sirolimus in a renal transplant recipient with tacrolimus-induced hepatotoxicity

Abstract Calcineurin inhibitors at elevated serum concentrations frequently cause mild elevation of the liver chemistries. Although rare, severe hepatotoxicity is their serious complication. A 54-year-old man with end-stage renal disease due to chronic glomerulonephritis without biopsy received a renal allograft from the deceased donor. Eleven days after transplantation severe liver injury (AST up to 421 IU/L, ALT 1242  IU/L, and GGT 212 IU/L) with the serum bilirubin within the normal range was recorded. Tacrolimus trough level was 5.5 ng/mL. Liver ultrasound and color-Doppler of the portal system were normal. Liver failure completely resolved after withdrawal of the calcineurin inhibitor and switch to sirolimus. After 9 months of follow-up our patient has excellent graft and liver function. Awareness of the possible association of tacrolimus use with hepatotoxicity is important to timely discontinuation of the causative agent, and to introduce sirolimus as the rescue therapy.

Consequence of Elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Levels in Acute Kidney Injury, Renal Recovery and Overall Survival in Intensive Care Unit Patients After Major Surgery: FGF23 and Acute Kidney Injury

The main goal of our study was to investigate the role of increased fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels on renal recovery and overall survival. We conducted a prospective case‐control cohort study, which included 121 adult cases who developed AKI after major surgical procedures. The subjects were followed‐up until the last enrolled patient survived 180 days or until the time of death. Higher FGF23 levels positively correlated with serum creatinine levels (P < 0.05). Significantly higher number of patients without diuresis and with FGF23 ≤ 709 RU/mL survived when compared to patients without diuresis and with FGF23 ≥ 709 RU/mL (P < 0.001). FGF23 levels >709 RU/mL were a good predictive tool for overall mortality in a 6‐month period (P < 0.05). This is the first study to analyze the impact of FGF23 values on short‐term renal recovery and survival of patients with AKI after major surgery. The FGF23 increase related to AKI especially in more severe stages and in patients without diuresis is an independent risk factor for mortality.

Acute Peritonitis Caused by Staphylococcus capitis in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient

Acute peritonitis remains the most common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) reported to account for more than 25% of peritonitis episodes (1). Staphylococcus capitis is a gram-positive, catalase-positive CoNS that was originally identified as a commensal on the skin of the human scalp (2). Advancement of microbiological technologies for bacterial identification enables diagnosis of previously unknown causes of acute peritonitis. This is the first reported case of acute peritonitis in a PD patient caused by S. capitis.

PROMJENE U USNOJ ŠUPLJINI NAKON TRANSPLANTACIJE BUBREGA

Permanent immunosuppression is necessary to prevent rejection after kidney transplantation. However, it may predispose patients to different conditions and diseases including oral lesions. The most common benign oral lesions in kidney transplant recipients are gingival hyperplasia, oral candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia and saburral tongue. Oral form of Kaposi sarcoma, although rarely, can also be seen in kidney transplant patients. In this review, we present the incidence, etiology, clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment options for these lesions. For kidney transplant recipients,it is important to maintain good oral hygiene and care, as well as regular professional control by the dentist. This approach can reduce the number and severity of oral lesions.