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Oral alkalization with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) or citrate is prescribed for conditions ranging from metabolic acidosis to nephrolithiasis. Although most nephrologists/urologists use this method routinely, extracellular volume (ECV) increase is the main feared adverse event reported for NaHCO 3 . Thus far, no trial has specifically studied this issue in a real-world setting. AlcalUN (NCT03035812) is a multicentric, prospective, open-label cohort study with nationwide (France) enrollment in 18 (public and private) nephrology/urology units. Participants were adult outpatients requiring chronic (>1 month) oral alkalization by either NaHCO 3 -containing or no-NaHCO 3 -containing agents. The ECV increase (primary outcome) was judged based on body weight increase (ΔBW), blood pressure increase (ΔBP), and/or new-onset edema at the first follow-up visit (V1). From February 2017 to February 2020, 156 patients were enrolled. After a median 106 days of treatment, 91 (72%) patients reached the primary outcome. They had lower systolic (135 (125, 141) vs. 141 (130, 150), P = 0.02) and diastolic (77 (67, 85) vs. 85 (73, 90), P = 0.03) BP values, a higher plasma chloride (106.0 (105.0, 109.0) vs. 105.0 (102.0, 107.0), P = 0.02) at baseline, and a less frequent history of nephrolithiasis (32 vs. 56%, P = 0.02). Patients experienced mainly slight ΔBP (< 10 mmHg). The primary outcome was not associated (P = 0.79) with the study treatment (129 received NaHCO 3 and 27 received citrate). We subsequently developed three different models of propensity score matching; each confirmed our results. Chronic oral alkalization with NaHCO 3 is no longer associated with an ECV increase compared to citrate in real-life settings., (© 2021 The Authors. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Acid-base regulation is essential to maintain homeostasis in humans. Carbonic acid/bicarbonate (H 2 CO 3 /HCO 3 - ) couple is the most predominant extracellular buffer to keep plasma pH within a physiological range. The ability to (re)generate such a buffer is a key milestone that necessitates to understand a precise physiology of both renal tubule and digestive tract. Here, we first reviewed renal and digestive cycles of bicarbonate in physiology. We also reviewed pathological findings where acid-base disequilibrium is involved and nutritional and/or alkali therapy could be necessary. Secondly, data from clinical trials were synthesized. Alkali therapy, oral and parenteral, from mineral-based water, masterful preparations or pharmaceutics drugs, is regularly used in a wide range of clinical findings, even if supporting data are (often) of a low level of evidence. Bicarbonate is primarily used during contrast-induced nephropathy, metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease or nephrolithiasis in which alkaline urine is necessary. Cast nephropathy, rhabdomyolysis and tumor lysis syndrome make usually physicians prescribe alkali therapy even if this prescription is only supported by physiopathological data without any proven clinical results. Finally, bicarbonate is essential in the composition of dialysate in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis., (Copyright © 2017 Société francophone de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Alkali therapy is frequently used during chronic kidney disease and nephrolithiasis: nephrologists and urologists are the key operators. Very few is known about the underlying conditions of such a prescription: the aim of this study was to delineate those determinants. We conducted a prospective survey where French nephrologists and urologists were involved. Responders were without gender distinction and principally nephrologists. Prescription frequency was associated with gender (women), specialty (nephrologists), indications and perceived efficiency. Urologists prescribe more often during nephrolithiasis and nephrologists during chronic kidney disease. Urologists were more expert (by scoring on mineral-based alkaline waters compositions knowledge). By multivariate analysis, prescription frequency is associated with gender (women), indications and perceived efficiency by prescribers, which is itself influenced by feedback from patients. These results could have been influenced by a huge representation of nephrologists but foster physicians to go on listening to feedback from patients, due to a lack of clinical trials on the efficiency of mineral-based alkaline waters in such a field. Finally, physicians' education (especially young nephrologists) on mineral-based alkaline waters should be intensified., (Copyright © 2015 Association Société de néphrologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

A 39-year-old female patient was admitted to explore chronic renal failure. Clinical history included silicone breast implants. Clinical examination was normal. Urinalysis revealed tubular proteinuria with Bence-Jones κ protein. Monoclonal immunoglobulin G κ and free monoclonal κ-light chains (LCs) were revealed by serum protein immunoelectrophoresis. Bone marrow aspiration with karyotype analysis and skeletal radiologic survey were normal. Kidney biopsy revealed a peculiar pattern of proximal tubular cells with hypertrophy and clarification initially diagnosed as an osmotic nephrosis. Immunofluorescence study, including immunoglobulin LCs conjugates was normal. Immunoelectron microscopy finally revealed a crystalline LC proximal tubulopathy κ. Our case presents some peculiarities: the absence of hematologic malignancy sign and the young patient's age. The silicone breast implants have been reported to be involved in the generation of monoclonal gammopathy., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc.)