Renal failure
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The current Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines advocate creatinine-based equations for estimating GFR to identify patients with potential kidney disease and classify them into different stages due to the fact that serum creatinine is very insensitive to changes in the glomerular filtration rate. Very few biomarkers exist for monitoring chronic kidney disease. The aim of the study was to assess whether NGAL could represent a novel, sensitive marker of kidney function in adult patients with CKD. ⋯ In the healthy volunteers, serum NGAL correlated with age, serum creatinine, eGFR, leukocyte count, and cystatin C. Taking into consideration the fact that the recent DOQI (Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative) states that individuals with reduced GRF (glomerular filtration rate) are at greater risk for CVD and cardiac deaths, precise evaluation of renal function is important in order to select the appropriate strategy to reduce the cardiovascular risk. NGAL should be investigated as a potential early and sensitive marker of kidney impairment/injury.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently after cardiac surgery. Although numerous variables were identified as predictors for AKI, there is a lack of information about possible differences in risk factors according to the level of preoperative renal function. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data from 4118 adult patients submitted to cardiac surgery from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2005, were included in the study. ⋯ In conclusion, the present study demonstrated a difference in variables associated with postoperative AKI, according to baseline renal function. The degree of preoperative renal function was a predictor of AKI only in patients with CKD stages 3-4, as well as other risk factors. In addition to other well known risk factors for AKI in this setting, the use of diuretics in patients of group 1 and the level of hemodilution during CPB in both groups should be emphasized, as they are potentially modifiable.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The comparative safety of various intravenous iron preparations in chronic kidney disease patients.
The relative safety of parenteral iron preparations is a controversial issue in the management of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD), as direct head-to-head comparative trials are lacking. In this study, patients of CKD were randomized to receive intravenous low molecular weight iron dextran (ID), sodium ferrigluconate complex (SFGC), and iron sucrose (IS) at doses and infusion rates recommended by the product manufacturer. One time test dose was used only for ID and SFGC. ⋯ No significant difference was seen between the three groups in terms of non-serious ADEs. Drug discontinuation occurred significantly more often with ID. One patient who developed anaphylactoid reaction with SFGC and ID tolerated iron sucrose well.
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Comparative Study
Positive correlation of CRP and fibrinogen levels as cardiovascular risk factors in early stage of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.
We aimed to study the relationship between the C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and fibrinogen as cardiovascular risk factors in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, in the early stage of their therapy. The study included 21 CAPD patients as the study group (SG) and age- and sex-matched 21 healthy patients as the control group (CG). History and physical exam data were obtained for all cases, and demographic baseline characteristics were taken. ⋯ When patients with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD) were compared, no correlation was seen between CRP and other parameters. A positive correlation of CRP and fibrinogen levels as cardiovascular risk factors was shown in early stage of CAPD patients. The CAPD patients with elevated levels of CRP and fibrinogen should receive close follow-up for cardiovascular disease prevention.
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The use of hemodialysis temporary dual-lumen catheters is often complicated by infections, which may be a significant cause of death among patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of bacteremia and bacterial colonization related to non-tunneled, non-cuffed, dual-lumen temporary catheters in patients with ESRD submitted to hemodialysis. ⋯ The high incidence of catheter colonization, the correlation between blood and catheter tip cultures, and the occurrence of frequent cases of asymptomatic bacteremia justify the proposal of routine peripheral blood collections to monitor patients undergoing hemodialysis with temporary dual-lumen catheters.