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BACKGROUND AND AIMS Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) must be the first choice where eligible and a prompt approach within 48–72 h should be performed in case of acute AVF failure in order to maintain the patency of the vascular access. Evaluation of the most appropriate de-clotting technique must be made considering the patient's comorbidity, AVF characteristics and absolute, relative and temporary contraindications to each kind of corrective intervention. The outcome is different between the multiple methods and nowadays mechanical thromboaspiration (MT) seems to be an innovative and promising approach. METHOD A total of 9 AVF of 9 chronic haemodialysis patients with acute AVF failure were treated with MT between January 2019 and January 2022 and were retrospectively evaluated. MT was carried out via Indigo catheter (Penumbra Inc.), an aspiration system intended for the removal of emboli and thrombi from vessels through venipuncture of AVF/AVG: the continuous aspiration helps distinguish clots from normal blood flow; in case of resistant clots, separators of many sizes can be used at the tip of the catheter to facilitate their fragmentation and aspiration. Adjunctive procedures such as balloon angioplasty (used at all sites), local fibrinolysis, heparin infusion, or stents placement were considered. Technical success was defined by clot removal from AVF or AVG. Clinical success was defined by the restoration of thrill and bruit together with AVF usability after the procedure. Vascular access survival defined as AVF/AVG usability at 3 and 6 months was assessed. RESULTS Average age was 71.2 years; dialysis vintage was 93.4 months. Medium follow-up was 13.1 months. All patients needed placement of a temporary central venous catheter (CVC) and dialysis before the MT. Technical success was achieved in 100% of the procedures, clinical success was achieved in 88.9% of the MT (despite the technical success, in 1/9 patients AVF could not be used due to a severe residual venous stenosis). None reported peri-/intraprocedural complications. In 2/9 MT there was no use of anticoagulation; in 5/9 patients, a single unfractionated heparin bolus was used (2500 UI) during the manoeuvre; in 2/9 patients, a single 2500 UI bolus plus continuous intravenous infusion of unfractionated heparin was administered combined with local thrombolysis with urokinase: both patients needed blood transfusions after the manoeuvre, one of them reporting severe haemorrhage from AVF. As adjunctive procedures, 9/9 patients underwent balloon angioplasty; one of them needed stent placement over the venous stenosis. CVC was removed less than 48 h from the procedure in 5/9 patients (55.6%), in 3/9 patients it was removed after 48 h, while 1/9 patients maintained the temporary vascular access due to the lack of clinical success after MT. Double-needle puncture occurred after a medium time of 3.5 days. AVF survival at 3 months and 6 months was 66.6% (6/9 patients), while 3/9 patients faced AVF failure (1/3 patients deceased 2 months after the procedure with a functioning AVF, in 1/3 patients a relapse of AVG thrombosis occurred 2 months after the procedure, 1/3 never reached clinical success due to severe residual venous stenosis). At the time of study design, 3/9 patients resulted to be deceased due to causes unrelated to the procedure. (1/3 due to complications of abdominal surgery, 1/3 due to sepsis, 1/3 due to subarachnoid haemorrhage). CONCLUSION MT is an innovative yet functional and safe procedure that allows declotting of the thrombosed AVF while reducing or avoiding anticoagulation and/or surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS High flux haemodialysis membranes may modulate the cytokine storm of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but their impact in chronic haemodialysis (CHD) patients is not assessed [1, 2]. The aim of the study was the evaluation of asymmetric cellulose triacetate (ATA) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) dialyzers on inflammatory markers in CHD patients with SARS-CoV-2. METHOD A prospective, observational study on CHD patients (age ≥18 years) affected by SARS-CoV-2 was carried out. Patients were enrolled from March 2020 to May 2021 and dialysis was performed at S. Orsola University Hospital (Bologna, Italy) Dialysis Unit. Mechanical ventilation at diagnosis was exclusion criteria. Pre- and post-dialysis C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined at each session and corrected for haemoconcentration during the complete SARS-CoV-2 period. Patients who underwent online haemodiafiltration (OLHDF) with PMMA dialyzer (Filtryzer BG-U™, Toray, surface area 2.1 m2 cut-off 20 kDa, KUF 43 mL/h/mmHg) were compared with those who underwent OLHDF with ATA dialyzer (SolaceaTM Nipro, surface area 2.1 m2 cut-off 45 kDa, KUF 72 mL/h/mmHg). The primary endpoint was to assess the differences in the reduction ratio/session (RR) of CRP, PCT and IL-6. RESULTS A total of 74 patients were enrolled, 48 were treated with ATA and 26 were with PMMA (420 versus 191 dialysis sessions). The main results are shown in Table 1. Median IL-6RR% was higher for ATA [17.08%, interquartile range (IQR) −9.0 to 40.0 versus 2.95%, IQR −34.63 to 27.32]. CRP and PCT showed higher RR with ATA in comparison to PMMA. When IL-6RR > 25% was the dependent variable in the multiple logistic regression analysis only ATA showed a significant correlation [odds ratio (OR) 1.891, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.273–2.840, P = .0018) while higher CRP favoured the risk of lower IL6RR (OR 0.9101, 95% CI 0.868–0.949, P CONCLUSION In SARS-CoV-2 CHD patients treated with OLHDF, ATA showed a better anti-inflammatory profile than PMMA, in particular regarding IL-6 RR.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The QTc interval is a marker of arrhythmic risk in dialysis patients, and its lengthening has been associated with an increased risk of sudden death [1]. This phenomenon could be due to the accumulation of uremic toxins and their rapid removal with dialysis causing an imbalance of electrolytes currents [2]. The aim of the study is to describe the kinetics of potassium (K+) and other electrolytes during and after dialysis with the goal of validate a mathematical model for predicting the respective kinetics [3]. The secondary endpoint is to identify a correlation between the kinetics of intra (Ki) and extracellular K+ (Ke) during and after dialysis and the QTc interval. METHOD A total of 6 anuric HD patients were enrolled in an interventional, exploratory, prospective study. Clinical and pharmacological factors favouring the onset of arrhythmias or influencing the total mass of K + were excluded. Ki and Ke, Ca2+ Na, blood gas analysis, glucose and urea every 30 min were assessed during a 4 h HFR Supra dialysis session, the subsequent 7 h and at the start of the following session after 48 h. A 12-lead ECG was performed with the same schedule, and a bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) was obtained at the start and the end of the dialysis and 1 and 7 h after dialysis. Dialysate electrolytes were Na 140 mEq/L, K 3 mEq/L, Ca2+ 1.5 mEq/L and HCO3– 30 mmol/L. A selective ion probe was used to measure K+; the Ki value was obtained by an indirect formula expressed in a previous study [4]. The model of K + kinetics includes the Na+/K+/ATPase-dependent pump, the passive diffusion of K + from the intracellular to the extracellular compartment, the diffusion of K + through the filter, the intradialytic volume variation, the K + and solute rebound after dialysis, and the role of plasma osmolality [3]. RESULTS The model showed a better correlation to the in vivo data during the HFR phase than the post-dialytic one regarding Ke, sodium, HCO3– and Ca2+. The wide variability recorded by Ki is significantly in contrast with the stability predicted by the model, and the entity of post-dialysis Ca2+ drop was greater than that predicted by the model. Kinetics prediction of urea had a precise fitting with in vivo data in every phase. In Table 1, the in vivo results of the 6 patients regarding Ke, Ki, Ki/Ke, Ca2+ and QTc during and after HFR are resumed. In Fig. 1, we see the data extrapolated from a patient (likewise the others), where the greatest waving of the QTc occurred in the first hour post HFR in parallel with fluctuations of Ki and Ki/Ke. CONCLUSION The mathematical model for the prediction of the kinetics of solutes has shown a good correspondence with the in vivo data of K+, sodium, urea, Ca2+ and HCO3– during HFR, although it still needs to be refined in the post-dialysis phase. The major discrepancies for Ki could be due to difficult analytical processing. As to the greater drop of Ca2+ compared with the predicted, it can be due to the role played by other Ca2+ compartments in addition to the intra and extracellular ones. Although during the intradialytic period we faced a shortening of the QTc interval with a significant reduction in Ke, greater Ki/Ke and an increase in Ca2+ the post-HFR period appeared to be the most critical period. This phase corresponded to the largest fluctuations in QTc values, Ki, Ki/Ke ratio, and to the rapid rebound of K + and the drop of Ca2+.

Background and Aims Hyperoxaluria is a rare metabolic disorder chacterized by widespread calcium oxalate deposition, if plasmatic oxalate level (pOx) overcomes saturation threshold. It could be primary (PH), a recessive disease associated with mutation of the liver enzyme LDH, or secondary (SH), in 75% due to intestinal malabsorption. Urolithiasis could be the first complication, and renal involvement could progress until end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Mean pOx is higher in chronic dialysis patients than healthy individuals because of impaired renal clearance. Oxalate molecular weight (MW) is 88 Da and its clearance is that of low MW uremic toxins. Our aim is to assess an association between arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failures and Hyperoxaluria. Method In the period between 1/1/2004 and 12/31/2020, diagnosis of Hyperoxaluria was carried out in 6 patients out of 1530 chronic dialysis patients (0.39%). The median age of patients was 65.5 [26-72] years, the male/female ratio was 3:3 and the median dialysis vintage was 36 [1-181] months. Three patients come to nephrological referral at stage 5 of CKD while 1 patient came to Italy when chronic HD was already started. At that time pOx was not considered. In these 4 patients the presumptive diagnosis of ESRD was urolithiasis and diagnosis of Hyperoxaluria was carried out after the beginning of chronic dialysis, when pOx and genetic analysis were performed. In 1 case biopsy on the kidney graft and in 1 case kidney biopsy after nephrectomy were performed: oxalate deposition was detected. For 2/6 patients diagnosis was carried out after biopsy of native kidneys before starting dialysis. All patients started medical therapy for hyperoxaluria. Five out of 6 patients were eligible to HD, 1/6 to PD. AVF was judged the first choice vascular access. Results PH was diagnosed in 3/6 patients: mutations were detected on chromosome 2. Malabsorption secondary to short bowel syndrome and chronic pancreatitis could be assumed as causes of SH in 3 patients. Patient 1 underwent 2 combined liver-kidney transplantation: the first failed by arterial grafts thrombosis and the second by renal primary non-function but the liver was still functioning, he died on HD after 12 years. Patient 2 underwent liver and kidney transplantation and she is nowadays dialysis-free. The median pOx pre-dialysis and before diagnosis was 165 [98-259] umol/L (Table 1). Patients on chronic HD underwent median of 3 [2-5] AVF interventions. Nine AVFs were distal and 4 were proximal. The most frequent complication was AVF thrombosis despite ASA treatment: half of the cases showed secondary AVF non-function, the other half of AVFs failed to mature. Six tunneled cuffed permanent catheters (TCCs) as definitive vascular access were successfully placed in the 5 patients on chronic HD. Warfarin therapy was started to avoid TCCs thrombosis. The median survival of TCCs was 9.5 [3-48] months. All the patients had a history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Conclusion To our knowledge this is the first case series of multiple AVF failures in patients with hyperoxaluria. In our experience TCCs show longer survival then AVF in this group of patients, even if it could not be excluded the role of warfarin in favoring this result. Even though a link between hyperoxaluria and thrombosis is well established, the exact underlying mechanism is still uncleared. The role of PD as dialysis technique of “first choice” should be enhanced also when residual renal function is abolished. In ESRD patients with urolithiasis, diagnosis of Hyperoxaluria should be ruled out before AVF placement.

Background and Aims Several chronic medical conditions appear to increase the risk of severe COVID-19. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have a high risk of symptomatic infection and severe respiratory symptoms because of chronic inflammation, uremic toxins accumulation, endothelial dysfunction and an impaired immune response. Even though the presence of one or more comorbidities increases the risk of mortality, information of the outcome of COVID-19 in CKD patients is not yet available. The aim of the study is to present the incidence and outcome of COVID-19 in patients referring to our Nephrology Unit considering CKD patients, dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients. MO520 Table 1. Demographic, clinical and radiological features. Variables Total (n=52) Survivors (n=39) Nonsurvivors(n=13) Age, yr 67.2± 13.8 65± 14 72± 12 Woman 21 (39%) 17 (44.7%) 5 (13%) Comorbidity CV disease 41 (78.8%) 30 (79%) 11(84.6%) DM 22 (42%) 14 (36.8%) 8 (61.5%) Cancer 18 (31%) 12 (31.6%) 6(46.1%) BMI>30 7 (3%) 4(10.5%) 2(15.4%) Dialysis 31(59.5%) 24 (63.1) 6 (46%) Kidney transplantation 16 (30.7%) 11 (29%) 2 (15%) CKD IV-V stage 4 (7%) 2 (5.2%) 1 (7.7%) Onset of Symptoms fever 29 (79%) 22(58%) 7 (13%) cough 3(6%) 2 (5.2%) 1 (7.7%) dyspnea 8 (15.4%) 4 (10.5%) 4 (30.8%) Symptomless 8 (15.4%) 6 (15.8%) 2 (15.4%) Admission HRCT Bilateral peripheral ground-gass opacity 39(81.2%) 31 (79.5%) 8(88.8%) Unilateral opacity 6 (12.5%) 5(12.8%) 1 (11.1) No opacity 3 (6.2%) 3 (7.7%) 0 PaO2/FiO2 ratio 330 ± 102. 376 ±93 286 ±86 Method This study is prospective single centre carried out considering patients referring to the Nephrology Unit of St. Orsola University Hospital in Bologna with COVID 19 diagnosis from 15THMarch to 30THMay 2020. Results Our cohort included 52 patients admitted to our Nephrology Unit because of Sars Cov2 infection confirmed by positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab. The mean age was 67.2 ± 13.8 years (range, 33-88 years). Demographic, clinical and radiological features in Table 1. Forty-eight patients (92.3%) underwent chest TC. The main findings were: several bilateral interstitial pneumonia (39 patients, 81.2%), monolateral peripheral ground-glass opacities (6 patients, 12.5%), no signs of pneumonia (3 patients, 6.2 %). Clinical course is highly variable: 18 patients (34.6 %) were asymptomatic, 23 patients (44 %) had a mild course requiring low flux oxygen therapy and 11 patients (21%) presented severe pneumonia and respiratory distress that requires ventilatory support in intensive care unit. Forty patients (70%) had hydroxychloroquine-azithromycin dual therapy, 3 patients (6%) had antiviral therapy in addiction. Sixteen patients (31%) with P/F

Background and Aims Survival of patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM), Light Chain Amyloidosis (LCA) and Monoclonal Gammopathies of renal significance (MGRS) on chronic renal replacement therapy (RRT) is poor. The gold standand treatment of plasma cell dyscrasias (PCD) is high-dose chemotherapy followed by Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) which can induce complete remission and longer survival than chemotherapy alone. Kidney transplantation (KT) after ASCT could represent an option for patients with PCD and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). There is no evidence about the time of follow up required from MM remission and KT. Method We present a case series of 5 patients who underwent KT after ASCT and remission of MM among 2,500 transplant recipients followed at the Nephrology Dialysis and Renal Transplantation Unit of S.Orsola University Hospital from 1967 untill now. As in case of recovery from solid cancers, the feasibility of KT after MM was considered when no signs of relapse were assessed. In our cohort 3 patients were affected by Light Chain Deposition Disease (LCDD), 1 patient presented Myeloma Cast Nephropathy (MCN) and one patient Light Chain Amyloidosis (LCA). They all required RRT and underwent KT after ASCT. Results Time between ASCT and KT ranged from 3 and 11 years and clinical outcome was very different. The mean follow up period ranged from 2 to 4 years. In the first case (LCDD) KT was performed 11 years after ASCT, the graft failure occurred 6 years later because of chronic allograft nephropathy requiring RRT. In the second case (LCDD) patient received KT 3 years after ASCT. He developed Bence-Jones proteinuria requiring specific therapy with Dexametasone and Bortezomib determining progressive graft failure. In the third case (LCDD) KT was performed 4 years after ASCT and the 4 year follow up is negative for relapse of MM or ESRD. The fourth patient presented MCN and received KT 8 years after ASCT. MCN relapsed 6 years later; it caused ESRD requiring RRT. In the last patient (LCA) KT was performed 4 years after ASCT. No recurrence occurred in a 2-year follow up. Conclusion MM is the most frequent malignancy in dialytic population; the need for KT in MM remains high. ASCT improves the quality of life and offers higher survival in patients with myeloma/MGRS/amyloidosis-related ESRD. Therefore the combination of chemotherapy/ASCT and KT is pivotal to pursue renal restoring. Since high risk of recurrence larger study are required to clarify the better follow up period after MM remission and KT.

Background: Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) has been implicated in vascular calcification pathogenesis. CKD-MBD results in alterations in the number and function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), physiological regulators of angiogenesis and vessel repair, commonly defined as proangiogenic progenitor cells (PACs) by the antigen pattern CD34+CD133+KDR+CD45– and putative EPCs by the pattern CD34+CD133−KDR+CD45–. These cells might acquire a calcifying phenotype in CKD-MBD, expressing mineralization biomarkers. We investigated the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and osteocalcin (OC) on EPCs of healthy individuals and haemodialysis patients, and their possible associations with circulating biomarkers of inflammation and vascular calcification. Methods: We compared EPC counts, expressing VDR or OC, in 23 healthy subjects versus 53 haemodialysis patients, 17 of them without vitamin D receptor agonist (VDRA) therapy and 35 treated with calcitriol (n = 17) or paricalcitol (n = 18). The correlations with serum levels of inflammatory and calcification indexes were also analysed. Results: All subsets expressing VDR or OC were significantly higher in haemodialysis patients compared with healthy controls, but PACs were increased only in VDRA treatment subgroup, while putative EPCs showed a similar rise also in untreated patients. In VDRA-untreated patients, OC+ PACs correlated positively with calcium levels, while in VDRA-treated patients, VDR+ PACs correlated positively with interleukin 6 levels, and OC+ PACs correlated positively 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Conclusions: Our data suggest that in CKD-MBD, EPCs undergo an endothelial-to-procalcific shift, representing a risk factor for vascular calcification. A link between mineral disorders and vitamin D replacement therapy emerged, with potential adverse effects for CKD patients.