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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: AKI is classified as prerenal, intrinsic, and postrenal. Prerenal AKI and intrinsic AKI represent the most common causes for AKI in hospitalized patients. This study aimed to examine the accuracy of the fractional excretion of sodium for distinguishing intrinsic from prerenal AKI. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus for all available studies that met the criteria until December 31, 2021. We included studies that evaluated fractional excretion of sodium in differentiating AKI etiologies in adults, whereas studies that did not have sufficient data to extract a 2×2 table were excluded. We assessed the methodologic quality using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool and extracted the diagnostic accuracy data for all included studies. We conducted a meta-analysis using the bivariate random effects model. We performed subgroup analysis to investigate sources of heterogeneity and the effect of the relevant confounders on fractional excretion of sodium accuracy. RESULTS: We included 19 studies with 1287 patients. In a subset of 15 studies (872 patients) that used a threshold of 1%, the pooled sensitivity and specificity for differentiating intrinsic from prerenal AKI were 90% (95% confidence interval, 81% to 95%) and 82% (95% confidence interval, 70% to 90%), respectively. In a subgroup of six studies (511 patients) that included CKD or patients on diuretics, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 83% (95% confidence interval, 64% to 93%) and 66% (95% confidence interval, 51% to 78%), respectively. In five studies with 238 patients on diuretics, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 80% (95% confidence interval, 69% to 87%) and 54% (95% confidence interval, 31% to 75%), respectively. In eight studies with 264 oliguric patients with no history of CKD or diuretic therapy, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 95% (95% confidence interval, 82% to 99%) and 91% (95% confidence interval, 83% to 95%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fractional excretion of sodium has a limited role for AKI differentiation in patients with a history of CKD or those on diuretic therapy. It is most valuable when oliguria is present.

BACKGROUND Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) is a very rare fulminant post-infectious demyelinating disease of the CNS. We report an atypical presentation of AHLE involving unique brain areas 2 weeks following a viral upper-respiratory tract infection (URTI). Early diagnosis and proper management improve the prognosis of this disease, and AHLE can have a very poor prognosis and high mortality rate. CASE REPORT A 52-year-old male patient was referred for deteriorating consciousness 2 weeks after a viral URTI. An initial brain CT scan showed multiple patchy bilateral and diffuse hypodense areas including the cerebellar, occipital, parietal, and frontal lobes. The diagnostic workup also included CSF analysis and MRI of the brain, which revealed multiple areas of hemorrhagic involvement. Management included broad-spectrum antibiotics, acyclovir, mannitol, steroids, and plasmapheresis. On the fifth day of admission, brain CT showed severe diffuse edema and brain herniation. Unfortunately, despite prompt aggressive treatment measures, within 48 hours the patient died due to centrally-mediated hemodynamic instability. CONCLUSIONS We report a rare case of AHLE with a unique presentation and extensive unusual involvement of regions of periventricular and subcortical white matter, cerebellum, and midbrain. Early diagnosis along with appropriate management measures and intensive care can help decrease morbidity and mortality; therefore, prompt referral and high-level care should be sought for all patients who present with acute deteriorating consciousness. We hope that this report can help future studies to better characterize this rare disease and provide further guidance regarding prognosis and management.

Referral time for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients to nephrologists and initial vascular access method are considered significant factors that impact health outcomes at the time of hemodialysis (HD) initiation. Native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is strongly recommended as initial access. However, little is known about the referral rate among ESRD receiving HD in Palestine and its correlation with AVF creation. In Ramallah Hemodialysis Center, we investigated the pre-dialysis nephrology care and AVF usage in 156 patients. Type of access at HD initiation was temporary central venous catheter (CVC) in 114 (73%), tunneled hemodialysis catheter (TDC) in 21 (13%) and AVF in 21 (13%). Out of all participants, 120 (77%) were seen by nephrologist prior to dialysis. Of the participants who initiated dialysis with a CVC, 36 (31%) had not received prior nephrology care. All participants who initiated dialysis with functional AVF had received prior nephrology care. Patients who were not seen by a nephrologist prior to HD initiation had no chance at starting HD with AVF, whereas 17% of those who had nephrology care >12 months started with AVF. In conclusion, a relatively large percentage of Palestinian HD patients who were maintained on HD did not have any predialysis nephrology care. In addition, patients who received predialysis nephrology care were significantly more likely to start their HD through AVF whereas all those without predialysis nephrology care started through CVC. More in-depth national studies focusing on improving nephrology referral in ESRD patients are needed to increase AVF utilization.

Current guidelines recommend arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as the preferred method of access for hemodialysis (HD) patients; however, its utilization remains low. The attitudes of Jordanian HD patients and perceived barriers toward AVF are unknown and have not been well studied. In-center HD patients in the Jordan Ministry of Health largest dialysis unit were interviewed, and a questionnaire was administered inquiring about their experiences, attitudes, and perceived barriers toward AVF. Of 104 total patients, 93 met the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 50 ± 16 years, with 44% being female. Average body mass index was 25 ± 5. The cause of end-stage renal disease was diabetes mellitus in 28 (30%), hypertension in 28 (30%), and polycystic kidney disease in three (3%). Patients had an average time on dialysis of 72 months (range 1–240). Current method of HD access was AVF in 45 (48%) and central venous catheter in 30 (32%). The most reported perceived cause of no AVF was delayed referral to surgical evaluation in 19 (40%), refusal to undergo AVF surgical procedure in 16 (33%), and poor understanding of disease in 13 (27%). Of the total studied group, only 29 (31%) indicated that they received sufficient education/information about AVF prior to creation of HD access. Seventy-eight patients (84%) reported that they would recommend AVF as method of access for other HD patients. The reason why majority of patients preferred AVF was reported as: easier to care for 51 (65%), better associated hygiene 26 (33%), and perceived less infection risk 24 (31%). In conclusion, in this sample population from HD patients in Jordan, majority would recommend an AVF as mode of access. Perceived barriers include lack of timely referral for vascular surgical evaluation and poor understanding of disease. A systematic assessment of the process that precedes the creation of AVF, with focus on areas of reported barriers may allow for better utilization of AVF.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who reach end-stage renal disease (ESRD) require early nephrology referral and appropriate vascular access. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred access for hemodialysis (HD). Referral to nephrology of CKD patients starting HD in Jordan and its impact on AVF utilization is unknown. Patients on in-center HD in a large Jordan Ministry of Health dialysis unit were interviewed, and medical records reviewed to assess prior nephrology care and AVF use. Of 104 total patients, 93 met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 50 ± 16 years, with 44% being females. The average body mass index was 25 ± 5. The cause of ESRD was diabetes mellitus in 28 (30%), hypertension in 28 (30%), and polycystic kidney disease in three (3%). Type of HD access at the initiation of dialysis was central venous catheter (CVC) in 80 (86%) and AVF in 12 (13%). Of the overall group, 50 (54%) were seen by nephrology before initiating dialysis, and of these, 39 patients (78%) were seen >1 year before HD initiation. Of the patients who initiated dialysis with a CVC, 38 (48%) had received prior nephrology care. All 12 patients who initiated dialysis with AVF had received prior nephrology care. Of the 50 patients who received nephrology care before dialysis initiation, 12 patients (24%) had started dialysis with an AVF; in patients without prior nephrology care, all were started with a CVC. In conclusion, our study suggests that a large percentage did not have nephrology care before initiating dialysis. The ones who were seen by nephrology before dialysis were significantly more likely to initiate dialysis using an AVF. A national focus on improving nephrology referral in advanced CKD may allow better utilization of AVF as the method of access at dialysis initiation.