Cathepsin S as an early biomarker for cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease patients

Introduction: A high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and premature mortality is observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Thus, new biomarkers that may help predict the development of CVD in early stages of CKD are being investigated along with other traditional risk factors. Objective: To investigate cathepsin S as an early biomarker for CVD in patients with CKD. Methods: A total of 64 patients with CKD were included and classified into 2 groups: CKD patients with established CVD and CKD patients with non-established CVD. All patients were submitted to routine investigations including complete blood count, random blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum electrolytes, urea, creatinine, total protein, total albumin, calcium total, phosphorous, uric acid, vitamin D, parathormone, lipid profile, liver function test, measurement of serum cathepsin S (Cat S), and 2D Echo of the heart. Results: The level of serum Cat S was increased in CKD patients with CVD (p <0.05) as well as in later stages of CKD (p <0.05). CVD was also more common in patients in early stage CKD. In early stages CKD, Cat S and CVD were positively correlated. Conclusion: These findings suggest that serum Cat S might be useful as an early biomarker for CVD in CKD patients.

Helicobacter pylori eradication in renal transplant candidates

Introduction: Treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is recommended in transplant candidates due to the association between this infection and gastrointestinal disorders, which could significantly increase morbidity after renal transplantation with the use of immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to analyze the rate of eradication of H. pylori after antimicrobial treatment in chronic kidney disease patients who are candidates for kidney transplantation. Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted. All adult chronic kidney disease patients seen at our institution were included. In the pre-transplantation evaluation, 83 patients underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with 2 diagnostic methods to detect H. pylori: histology and the rapid urease test. In total, 33 patients with H. pylori infection received treatment with 20 mg omeprazole, 500 mg amoxicillin, and 500 mg clarithromycin once daily for 14 days. Another upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed 8 to 12 weeks after the end of treatment to check for healing. Results: The study showed a prevalence of H. pylori in 51 (61.4%) patients. Histology was positive in 50 (98%) patients and the rapid urease test was positive in 31 (60.8%). The infection eradication rate was 48.5% (16 patients). Conclusions: There was a high prevalence rate of H. pylori and a low eradication rate after the long-term antimicrobial triple scheme used. The association of the rapid urease test with gastric mucosa histology did not increase the detection rate of H. pylori.

Increasing transplantability in Brazil: time to discuss Kidney Paired Donation

Introduction: Kidney transplantation (KT) is the best treatment for chronic kidney disease. In Brazil, there are currently more than 26 thousand patients on the waitlist. Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) offers an incompatible donor-recipient pair the possibility to exchange with another pair in the same situation, it is a strategy to raise the number of KT. Discussion: KPD ceased being merely an idea over 20 years ago. It currently accounts for 16.2% of living donors KT (LDKT) in the USA and 8% in Europe. The results are similar to other LDKT. It is a promising alternative especially for highly sensitized recipients, who tend to accumulate on the waitlist. KPD is not limited to developed countries, as excellent results were already published in India in 2014. In Guatemala, the first LDKT through KPD was performed in 2011. However, the practice remains limited to isolated cases in Latin America. Conclusion: KPD programs with different dimensions, acceptance rules and allocation criteria are being developed and expanded worldwide to meet the demands of patients. The rise in transplantability brought about by KPD mostly meets the needs of highly sensitized patients. The Brazilian transplant program is mature enough to accept the challenge of starting its KPD program, intended primarily to benefit patients who have a low probability of receiving a transplant from a deceased donor.

Performance of creatinine-based equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate compared to endogenous creatinine clearance

Introduction: The guidelines recommend estimating the glomerular filtration rate using serum creatinine-based equations as a predictor of kidney disease, preferably adjusted for local population groups. Methods: Cross-sectional study that evaluated the performance of four equations used for estimating GFR compared to endogenous creatinine clearance (ClCr) in 1,281 participants. Modification of Diet equations in Renal Disease Study Group (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), CKD-EPI with adjustment for local population (CKD-EPI local) and Full Age Spectrum (FAS) in comparison with endogenous creatinine clearance (ClCr). We used the Quantile Regression to calculate the median bias, interquartile range (IQR), Bland-Altman agreement analysis and 30% margin of error (P30). Results: The mean age of participants was 52.5 ± 16.5 years with 466 women (38%), median ClCr[IQR] of 92.0 [58.0; 122.0] mL/min/1.73 m2, with 320 (25%) participants presenting ClCr < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The performance of the local CKD-EPI and FAS equations were superior to MDRD and CKD-EPI in relation to variability (0.92 [0.89; 0.94]) and P30 (90.5% [88.7; 92, 0]). In the group with ClCr < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, the local CKD-EPI and FAS equations showed less variability than the CKD-EPI and MDRD (0.90 [0.86; 0.98] and 1.05 [0.97; 1.09] vs. 0.63 [0.61; 0.68] and 0.65 [0.62; 0.70], P < 0.01) and best P30 (85.5) % [81.0; 90.0], 88.0% [84.0; 92.0] vs. 52.0% (46.0; 58.0) and 53.0% [47.0; 58 .5], P < 0.01). Conclusion: Local CKD-EPI and FAS equations performed better than CKD-EPI and MDRD when compared to ClCr.

The impact of transient and persistent acute kidney injury in hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been described in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and is considered a marker of disease severity and a negative prognostic factor for survival. In this study, the authors aimed to study the impact of transient and persistent acute kidney injury (pAKI) on in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Department of Medicine of the Centro Hospitalar Universitario Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal, between March 2020 and August 2020. A multivariate analysis was performed to predict AKI development and in-hospital mortality. Results: Of 544 patients with COVID-19, 330 developed AKI: 166 persistent AKI (pAKI), 164 with transient AKI. AKI patients were older, had more previous comorbidities, had higher need to be medicated with RAAS inhibitors, had higher baseline serum creatine (SCr) (1.60 mg/dL vs 0.87 mg/dL), higher NL ratio, and more severe acidemia on hospital admission, and more frequently required admission in intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor use. Patients with persistent AKI had higher SCr level (1.71 mg/dL vs 1.25 mg/dL) on hospital admission. In-hospital mortality was 14.0% and it was higher in AKI patients (18.5% vs 7.0%). CKD and serum ferritin were independent predictors of AKI. AKI did not predict mortality, but pAKI was an independent predictor of mortality, as was age and lactate level. Conclusion: pAKI was independently associated with in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients but its impact on long-term follow-up remains to be determined.

Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review

Introduction: The use of Rituximab (RTX) in glomerular diseases (GD) has increased in the past years, although it is still only used in a small fraction of patients. Methods: A single center retrospective study of adult patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), lupus nephritis (LN), and vasculitis treated with RTX as first or second-line therapy was conducted at our center from 2010 to 2020. Results: We identified 19 patients; 36.8% had MN and 25.0% each had FSGS, LN, and vasculitis. RTX was first-line therapy in 26.3% of patients and in 73.7% it was second-line therapy. Mean follow-up time was 7.7 ± 7.2 years. In MN, 2 patients (28.6%) had complete remission (CR), 2 patients (28.6%) had partial remission (PR), and 3 patients (42.9%) had no response (NR). In FSGS, 2 patients (50.0%) presented CR, 1 patient (25.0%) had no response, and 1 patient had renal deterioration. Two patients (50.0%) had a LN class IV with a CR after RTX, 1 patient with LN class IIIC/V had no response, and 1 patient with LN class II had renal deterioration. In vasculitis, 3 patients (75.0%) presented CR and 1 patient had PR. Infusion reactions were present in 2 patients (10.5%) and one patient had multiple infectious complications. Conclusions: The efficacy of RTX in treating different types of immune-mediated GD has been demonstrated with different response rates, but an overall safe profile. In our case series, the results are also encouraging. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the effect of RTX in GD.

Use of non-conventional biomarkers in the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury in preterm newborns with sepsis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common finding in Neotatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Sepsis is one the main causes of AKI in preterm newborns. AKI has been associated with significant death rates. Early detection of the condition is the first step to improving prevention, treatment, and outcomes, while decreasing length of hospitalization, care costs, and morbimortality. AKI may progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition linked with dialysis and greater risk of cardiovascular disease. This review article aims to discuss cases of AKI in preterm newborns with sepsis, the use of biomarkers in lab workup, and the use of non-conventional biomarkers for the early identification of AKI.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant recipients: clinical impact and outcomes - a single center experience

ABSTRACT Introduction: Kidney transplant recipients are a subgroup of patients at higher risk of critical forms of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and poor outcomes due to immunosuppression treatment. Herein, we present data from a single center cohort of kidney transplant recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: In a prospective study, baseline characteristics, clinical features, antiviral and immunosuppression management were compared between outpatients and hospitalized patients, during a one-year period. Results: Seventy-seven kidney transplant recipients were analyzed, including outpatients and hospitalized patients, with a median age of 57.7 (IQR 49.7-64.9) years. Twenty-eight (36.4%) were managed as outpatients, while 49 (63.6%) patients required hospital admission. Among hospitalized patients, 18.4% were admitted in ICU, 49% had AKI, and 20.4% died. Immunosuppression adjustments were performed in 95.9% of hospitalized patients, with dose of anti-metabolites adjusted in 83.7%, mTOR inhibitors in 14.3%, calcineurin inhibitors in 12.2%, and corticosteroid therapy in 81.6%. Conclusion: Among hospitalized patients, immunosuppression management included reduction or withdrawal of anti-metabolite and increase of corticosteroid dose. AKI occurred in almost half of patients and mortality in hospitalized patients reached 20%, reflecting greater disease severity than the general population.