scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Everolimus as Maintenance Immunosuppression in Cardiac Transplant Recipients

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe Fuchs ◽  
Armin Zittermann ◽  
Uwe Schulz ◽  
Jan F. Gummert
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Cardiac Transplant ◽  
Transplant Recipients ◽  
Maintenance Immunosuppression ◽  
Trough Blood ◽  
Safety Parameters

For cardiac transplant (CTx) recipients, the recommended everolimus (EVL) dose is 0.75 mg bid or 1.5 mg bid and the target trough blood level is 3–8μg/L. We studied a cohort of 56 CTx patients with chronic kidney disease receiving 0.75 mg bid EVL to maintain blood levels of 5–8 ug/L (designated RD group) and a cohort of 51 CTx patients with chronic kidney disease receiving 0.5 mg bid to maintain blood levels of 3–5 ug/L (designated LD group). The primary endpoint was a composite of death, rejection and premature EVL discontinuation up to 1 year after introduction of EVL. The primary endpoint was reached by 32% of patients in the LD group and by 41.1% of patients in the RD group (). Biochemical safety parameters were comparable in both groups. Our results indicate that low-dose EVL may be as effective and safe as regular dose EVL.

Abstract 17220: Effects of the Oral Adsorbent of AST-120 in Patients with both Chronic Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miki Imazu ◽  
Masanori Asakura ◽  
Takuya Hasegawa ◽  
Hiroshi Asanuma ◽  
Shin Ito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Chronic Heart Failure ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Diastolic Dysfunction ◽  
Uremic Toxins ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Uremic Toxin ◽  
Oral Adsorbent

Background: One of uremic toxins, indoxyl sulfate (IS) is related to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the worse cardiovascular outcomes. We have previously reported the relationship between IS levels and the severity of chronic heart failure (CHF), but the question arises as to whether the treatment of uremic toxin is beneficial in patients with CHF. This study aimed to elucidate whether the treatment with the oral adsorbent which reduces uremic toxin improved the cardiac function of the patients with CHF. Methods: First of all, we retrospectively enrolled 49 patients with both CHF and stage ≤3 CKD in our institute compared with the healthy subjects without CHF or CKD in the resident cohort study of Arita. Secondly, we retrospectively enrolled 16 CHF outpatients with stage 3-5 CKD. They were treated with and without the oral adsorbent of AST-120 for one year termed as the treatment and control groups, respectively. We underwent both blood test and echocardiography before and after the treatment. Results: First of all, among 49 patients in CHF patients, plasma IS levels increased to 1.38 ± 0.84 μg/ml from the value of 0.08 ± 0.06 μg/ml in Arita-cho as a community-living matched with gender and eGFR of CHF patients. We found both fractional shortening (FS) and E/e’, an index of diastolic function were decreased (25.0 ± 12.7%) and increased (13.7 ± 7.5), respectively in CHF patients compared with the value of FS and E/e’ in Arita-cho (FS: 41.8 ± 8.3%, E/e’: 8.8 ± 2.1). Secondly, in the treatment group, the plasma IS levels and the serum creatinine and brain natriuretic peptide levels decreased (1.40 ± 0.17 to 0.92 ± 0.15 μg/ml; p<0.05, 1.91 ± 0.16 to 1.67 ± 0.12 mg/dl; p<0.05, 352 ± 57 to 244 ± 49 pg/ml; p<0.05, respectively) and both FS and E/e’ were improved following the treatment with AST-120 (28.8 ± 2.8 to 32.9 ± 2.6%; p<0.05, 18.0 ± 2.0 to 11.8 ± 1.0; p<0.05). However, these parameters did not change in the control group. Conclusions: The treatment to decrease the blood levels of uremic toxins improved not only renal dysfunction but cardiac systolic and diastolic dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure. Oral adsorbents might be a new treatment of heart failure especially with diastolic dysfunction.

scholarly journals Amiodarone Toxicity Screening: What are the Clinicians Supposed to Tell Patients

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
John D Rozich ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Toxicity Screening ◽  
Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Routine Testing ◽  
Continued Use

The use of amiodarone in clinical practice continues to be widespread in the setting of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Use of amiodarone continues especially in the elderly where the drug’s favorable characteristics and outcomes in the setting of chronic kidney disease coupled to its low inherent proarrhythmic profile has ensured its continued use. The present work focuses on the information that clinicians should tell their patients regarding requisite toxicity screening during daily treatment with amiodarone when it is maintained at a low dose of 200 mgs per day or less. Several questions need be answered in pursuit of the fundamental query as to whether routine testing for toxicity should still be advised. Most importantly, has ongoing screening shown to be of any proven value?

scholarly journals Progression of Aortic Calcification in Stage 4–5 Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Transitioning to Dialysis and Transplantation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Roosa Lankinen ◽  
Markus Hakamäki ◽  
Tapio Hellman ◽  
Niina S. Koivuviita ◽  
Kaj Metsärinne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Conservative Treatment ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
Aortic Calcification ◽  
Transplant Recipients ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
In The Beginning

<b><i>Background and Aims:</i></b> Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and associated with increased mortality. Comparative data on the AAC score progression in CKD patients transitioning from conservative treatment to different modalities of renal replacement therapy (RRT) are lacking and were examined. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 150 study patients underwent lateral lumbar radiograph to study AAC in the beginning of the study before commencing RRT (AAC1) and at 3 years of follow-up (AAC2). We examined the associations between repeated laboratory tests taken every 3 months, echocardiographic and clinical variables and AAC increment per year (ΔAAC), and the association between ΔAAC and outcomes during follow-up. <b><i>Results:</i></b> At the time of AAC2 measurement, 39 patients were on hemodialysis, 39 on peritoneal dialysis, 39 had a transplant, and 33 were on conservative treatment. Median AAC1 was 4.8 (0.5–9.0) and median AAC2 8.0 (1.5–12.0) (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001). ΔAAC was similar across the treatment groups (<i>p</i> = 0.19). ΔAAC was independently associated with mean left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (log LVMI: β = 0.97, <i>p</i> = 0.02) and mean phosphorus through follow-up (log phosphorus: β = 1.19, <i>p</i> = 0.02) in the multivariable model. Time to transplantation was associated with ΔAAC in transplant recipients (per month on the waiting list: β = 0.04, <i>p</i> = 0.001). ΔAAC was associated with mortality (HR 1.427, 95% confidence interval 1.044–1.950, <i>p</i> = 0.03). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> AAC progresses rapidly in patients with CKD, and ΔAAC is similar across the CKD treatment groups including transplant recipients. The increment rate is associated with mortality and in transplant recipients with the time on the transplant waiting list.

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