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Introduction: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Patients of chronic kidney disease who are on maintenance hemodialysis represent a vulnerable population cohort that is susceptible to severe disease. Hence, it is of utmost importance to prioritize vaccination in this population and to assess their response to said vaccination. Methods: This prospective analytical study was conducted at the Institute of Nephrology, Madras Medical College, between August 2021 and February 2022. Patients of chronic kidney disease stage 5 dialysis (CKD5D) who were on maintenance hemodialysis and who consented to receive COVID-19 vaccine were studied. Serum samples were obtained before vaccination, ≥28 days after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, and ≥28 days after receiving the second dose. Antibody titers against the spike protein were estimated using the Roche chemiluminescent immunosorbent assay. Patients were grouped into non-responders/seronegative (<0.8 U/ml) and responders/seropositive (≥0.8 U/ml), with a value ≥250 U/ml considered as robust response. Results: A total of 96 patients were included. The mean age was 36.70 (±11.53) years and 77.1% of them were male. The median dialysis vintage was 2 (IQR: 0.95-5) years. Twelve patients (9.9%) had a prior COVID-19 infection. Sixty-seven (69.8%) patients had received Covaxin and 29 (30.2%) had received Covishield vaccines. Among the 17 patients who were seronegative at baseline, 4 (23.52%) became seropositive after the first dose of the vaccine, and 11 (64.7%) were seropositive after the second dose, with high titers ("robust response") achieved in two patients (11.76%). No antibody response, despite two doses of the vaccine, was noted in six patients (35.29%). Conclusion: Our study showed a high baseline seropositivity rate, even prior to vaccination, which indicated a high rate of subclinical COVID infection. Among those who were seronegative at baseline, the seroconversion rate after two doses of Covaxin or Covishield was 64.70%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: CKD5D is a high risk subgroup with high comorbidity burden, need for frequent visits to dialysis centre and a compromised immune system. The effect of SARS COV2 virus on this population is not well known. Methods: This prospective study enrolled, all CKD5D with COVID 19 infection, admitted to our hospital, from 23rd April to 30th June 2020 & whose outcome as discharge/mortality was known. Their clinical profile, investigations, treatment and outcome in terms of mortality or discharge after clearing infection was noted and analysed. Results: Total 203 dialysis patients with COVID 19 were referred to our institute. Of these total, 131 were analysed. Median age was 50 years (19-80 years) with 57% were males. Hypertension (76%) was the commonest comorbidity followed by diabetes (29%) and coronary artery disease (22%). Dyspnoea, fever and cough were present in 50%, 40%, and 33% patients respectively. 26% were asymptomatic. None had dialyser clotting. Mortality was 20.6%. Time to turn RT PCR negative was 14 days (3-40 days). Comparing deceased vs survivors: Age [56 vs 49 yrs], diabetes [56% vs 22%], duration of symptoms at admission [5 vs 4 days], dyspnea [85% vs 40%] and encephalopathy [30% vs 1%] at admission, bilateral opacities on Chest X ray [93% vs 20%] and high leucocyte count [11,059 ± 5,929 vs 7,022 ± 2,935/cmm] were statistically significant variables associated with mortality. Conclusion: Asymptomatic group was 26% of the total CKD5D with COVID 19 infection population analysed. Mortality was 20.61%. Higher age, later presentation to hospital, diabetes, dyspnoea, & encephalopathy at presentation, bilateral opacities on Chest X- Ray & higher leukocyte counts were significantly associated with mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemodialysis has improved the morbidity and mortality associated with end stage renal disease. In India, hemodialysis prescription is empiric, which leads to complications related to under-dialysis. Hence, adequacy of hemodialysis in Indian setting was analyzed in this study. A total of 50 patients on twice per week hemodialysis were assessed for 1 month. The number of sessions meeting standards laid out by Kidney Diseases Outcome Quality Initiatives (KDOQI) guidelines were calculated. They were divided into two groups: one in whom dialysis was monitored and session length enhanced to meet the minimum standard Kt/V of 2 and second control group; where Kt/V was not monitored. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels, albumin levels, mean arterial pressure and World Health Organization (WHO) quality of life (QoL) score were compared in the two groups after 6 months. Only 28% of hemodialysis sessions were adequate as per KDOQI guidelines. There was significant improvement in Hb levels (1.47 vs. 0.15 g/dl), mean arterial pressure levels (15.2 vs. 3.16 mm Hg), serum albumin levels (0.82 vs. 0.11 g/dl) and WHO QoL score (17.2 vs. 2.24) in study group as compared to control group. Standard Kt/V can be used as an important tool to modify twice weekly dialysis sessions to provide better QoL to the patients. However, studies with larger sample size are required to conclusively prove our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated whether polymorphisms in interleukin (IL‑1) gene cluster (IL‑1 alpha [IL‑1A], IL‑1 beta [IL‑1B], and IL‑1 receptor antagonist [IL‑1RN]) are associated with end stage renal disease (ESRD). A total of 258 ESRD patients and 569 ethnicity matched controls were examined for IL‑1 gene cluster. These were genotyped for five single‑nucleotide gene polymorphisms in the IL‑1A, IL‑1B and IL‑1RN genes and a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in the IL‑1RN. The IL‑1B − 3953 and IL‑1RN + 8006 polymorphism frequencies were significantly different between the two groups. At IL‑1B, the T allele of − 3953C/T was increased among ESRD (P = 0.0001). A logistic regression model demonstrated that two repeat (240 base pair [bp]) of the IL‑1Ra VNTR polymorphism was associated with ESRD (P = 0.0001). The C/C/C/C/C/1 haplotype was more prevalent in ESRD = 0.007). No linkage disequilibrium (LD) was observed between six loci of IL‑1 gene. We further conducted a meta‑analysis of existing studies and found that there is a strong association of IL‑1 RN VNTR 86 bp repeat polymorphism with susceptibility to ESRD (odds ratio = 2.04, 95% confidence interval = 1.48-2.82; P = 0.000). IL‑1B − 5887, +8006 and the IL‑1RN VNTR polymorphisms have been implicated as potential risk factors for ESRD. The meta‑analysis showed a strong association of IL‑1RN 86 bp VNTR polymorphism with susceptibility to ESRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]