Orçun Altunören

Renal tubular acidosis in renal transplant patients: the effect of immunosuppressive drugs.

BACKGROUND Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a non-anion gap metabolic acidosis and is generally mild and asymptomatic in kidney recipients. Calcineurine inhibitors (CNIs) increase the frequency of RTA but the frequency of RTA development in kidney transplant recipients receiving mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) treatment remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of RTA in kidney transplant recipients on mTORi and CNI treatment and to compare both groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 137 adult renal transplant patients - 82 patients on mTORi and 55 patients on CNI who had similar age, sex, posttransplant follow-up period, and graft functions. We recorded the parameters of venous blood gas analysis, including serum pH value, serum bicarbonate (HCO3) concentration, presence of metabolic acidosis defined as low HCO3 (<22 mEq/L), and serum pH value (<7.35), as well as base excess and urine pH at last follow-up. RTA was defined to be metabolic acidosis with normal serum anion gap and positive urine anion gap. RESULTS The mean age of our study population was 41.2±11.3 years. RTA frequency was 35% in the mTORi group and 41% in the CNI group. mTORi and CNI groups did not differ significantly in terms of the development of metabolic and renal tubular acidosis. Type I RTA was common in both groups. RTA was affected by duration of time since transplantation and graft functions in both groups. CONCLUSIONS The rates of RTA development in patients on long-term CNI and mTORi treatment were similar.

Effect of hemoglobin variability on mortality and some cardiovascular parameters in hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background and objectives: Most hemodialysis patients show hemoglobin fluctuations between low-normal and high levels. This hemoglobin variability may cause left ventricle hypertrophy and may increase mortality as well. Recently, many studies were designed to evaluate the effect of hemoglobin variability on mortality but results were conflicting. We aimed to investigate the effect of hemoglobin variability on mortality and some cardiovascular parameters in hemodialysis population. Design, setting, participants and measurements: Hundred and seventy-five prevalent hemodialysis patients classified into three hemoglobin variability groups according to their hemoglobin levels throughout 24 month observation period: Low-Normal, Low-High, Normal-High. Groups were compared in terms of laboratory, demographical data and mortality rates, initial and the end of 24 month echocardiographic data. Initial and last echocardiographic data were compared within groups in terms of left ventricle mass index increase. Results: Mortality rates and cardiovascular risk factors such as coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension that may affect mortality were same between three groups. There was no significant difference between three groups in terms of echocardiographic and laboratory parameters. Only Low-High group showed significant increase on left ventricle mass index when initial and last echocardiographic parameters were compared. Conclusions: Consistent with previous studies, we found that most of the patients exhibited hemoglobin variability and our study is consistent with some of the studies that did not find any relationship between hemoglobin variability and mortality. Firstly, in this study based on objective data, it was shown that hemoglobin variability has adverse effect on left ventricle geometry independent from anemia.

Is Nebivolol Really Effective in Preventing Contrast Induced Nephropathy

Background/Aims: Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) has multifactorial etiopatogenesis including oxidative stress and vasoconstriction. Nebivolol is an antioxidant and has vasodilatatory effect via NO release and may prevent CIN development. We have noticed that a few number of studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of nebivolol for the prevention of CIN used serum creatinine (sCr) levels for CIN detection. However, sCr is an insensitive marker for renal damage. Therefore in this study we used serum neutrophil-gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), a more sensitive marker of renal damage, to evaluate preventive role of nebivolol in CIN. Methods: 159 patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) who had at least one risk factor for CIN were divided into nebivolol (+) and (-) groups. CIN was defined as a rise in sCr of 0.5mg/dl or a 25% increase from the baseline value. Serum Cr, glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and NGAL levels were assessed before and 48 h after CAG. Mehran risk scores were calculated for both groups. Results: Both groups were similar in terms of baseline characteristics, Mehran risk scores, and current medications. Clinically, CIN developed at similar rates in both groups. Serum Cr, eGFR and NGAL values were similar in both groups before and after CAG. Serum Cr and NGAL levels increased and eGFR decreased significantly compared to the levels before CAG. Patients who developed CIN were significantly older (p=0.003), and were more likely to have DM (p=0.012), a higher mean contrast agent volume (p<0.001), and a higher Mehran score (p <0.001). We did not observe any favorable effect of Nebivolol in the prevention of CIN in patients undergoing CAG. Conclusion: According to the results of our study Nebivolol does not seem to prevent CIN in patients undergoing CAG. However, further randomised controlled trials with more sensitive renal damage markers are obviously needed to understand the actual effect of nebivolol on CIN especially through oxidative pathways and in high risk patients.

The Affecting Factors and Comparison of Tuberculin Skin Test in Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis Patients

Compared with the general population, patients with chronic renal failure have increased tuberculosis (TB) prevalence and mortality rates. In this study, we aimed to investigate tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity rates in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and the factors influencing TST positivity. Ninety-two HD patients and 44 PD patients who had been on HD and PD treatment for at least 3 months were recruited into the study. TST was administered in all patients. Positivity was defined as an induration diameter >10 mm. At least 5 mm of induration following skin testing together with a chest radiography indicating previous infection was defined as latent TB infection. TST positivity rates, diameter of TST indurations, and serum albumin levels in HD patients were higher than the PD patients. TST induration size was not correlated with any other parameters in both HD and PD groups. TST-positive patients had higher albumin levels and lower leukocyte count than the TST-negative patients. In TST-positive patients, albumin level was correlated with the duration of dialysis but TST induration size was not correlated with the lymphocyte count and albumin level. In our study, TST positivity of patients was found in 30.4% of HD patients, 9% of PD patients, and 23.5% of total patients. It is still recommended to use TST for the screening test of TB. We found a significant relationship between TST and albumin level. It should be remembered that TST response may be lower in PD patients, especially in cases in which TB is suspected.

A RARE PRESENTATION OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION IN A RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: PNEUMONIA ACCOMPANIED BY AORTIC ANEURYSM INFECTION/DISSECTION

DOI : 10.26650/IUITFD.397135 Sitomegalovirus (CMV) enfeksiyonu, bobrek nakli alicilari icin onemli bir morbidite ve mortalite nedeni olabilmektedir. Genellikle CMV sendromu olarak adlandirilan bir klinik tabloya yol acmakla birlikte, invaziv doku tutulumuna da yol acabilmektedir. En cok tutulan organlar akcigerler ve gastrointestinal sistemdir. Kardiyovaskuler tutulum ise nadirdir ve siklikla ateroskleroz ve transplant arter stenozu ile birliktedir. Bu yazida; bobrek nakli alicisinda CMV enfeksiyonu ile iliskili aort anevrizmasi enfeksiyonu/diseksiyonu ve eslik eden pnomoni nedeniyle takip ettigimiz nadir bir olguyu sunmayi amacladik.

Acute Kidney Injury After Scorpion Sting

Scorpion sting cases are mostly seen in the southern provinces in our country. Scorpion venom might comprise neurotoxic, cardiotoxic and even nephrotoxic contents. Occurrence of nephropathy is a rare complication of scorpion sting. A 27-year-old male was admitted with acute kidney injury after scorpion sting. The etiology was probably associated with hypovolemia. key words: Scorpion, Sting, Acute kidney injury

The Efficacy of Cinacalcet in the Treatment of Hyperparathyroidism in Turkish Hemodialysis Patient Population

OBJECTIVE: Cinacalcet reduces parathyroid hormone levels by increasing the sensitivity of the parathyroid gland to calcium. In this study, we firstly aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cinacalcet in Turkish hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL and METHODS: 4483 hemodialysis patients were screened and 469 patients who had used cinacalcet were included in the study. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to drug usage durations (Group 1: 3 months, Group 2: 6 months, Group 3: 9 months and Group 4: 12 months). The patients’ Parathormone, Ca, P and CaxP levels at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th months were compared to the start of treatment and previous months. RESULTS: The levels of Parathormone, Ca, P and CaxP significantly decreased compared to their initial levels in all groups (from 1412 pg/ml to 1222 pg/mL for Parathormone, p<0,001) in the 3rd month. However, this reduction was not continued in the subsequent months (Parathormone: 1381 pg/ ml for the 12th month).

Diabetic Uremic Basal Ganglia Involvement in a Patient who Treated with Regular Dialysis

Uremic encephalopathy is a common complication of uremia. Altered consciousness, seizures, visual disturbances, hemiparesies, multifocal clonus may be observed. Extrapyramidal symptoms such as bradykinesia and dysarthria may be seen in uremic basal ganglia involvement, an unusual condition. We emphasized this rare condition with a case report in this article. KEYWORdS: Uremia, Diabetes, Basal ganglia, Hemodialysis