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Background and Aims The mortality rate is extremely high in chronic kidney disease (CKD), primarily due to the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased pulse pressure (PP), defined as the difference between inappropriately elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and reduced diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at any value of mean arterial pressure (MAP), is a surrogate measure of increased arterial stiffness of central elastic arteries (aorta and its major branches). CKD-MBD anomalies leading to calcification contribute to increased arterial stiffness and pulse pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of pulse pressure parameter with valve calcification and abdominal aortic calcification in hemodialysis patients and its impact on cardiovascular mortality. Method We performed a prospective case series study with 3 years follow- up. Plain X-ray images of the lateral lumbar spine from all subjects were studied to obtain images of the lower abdominal aorta using semiquantitative scores as described by Kauppila et al. Cardiac valve calcifications were evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography with an HDI 5000 Sono CT echocardiographic machine with a 3.3-MHz multiphase array probe in subjects lying in the left decubitus position an according to the recommendations of the European Association of Echocardiography. The patient was evaluated as having vascular calcification if he had the presence of calcification in at least one of the site examined: a mitral valve, aortic valve or abdominal aorta. Results We studied 85 chronic stable hemodialysis patients. Mean age and meantime is therapy was 49.9±12.4 years and 51.5±28.7 months, respectively. Mean pulse pressure was 55.72±14.2 mmHg. Fifty-nine patients (69.4%) were identified with aortic abdominal calcification, and the mean Kauppila score was 4.91 ± 4.05. Sixty patients (70.5%) had at least one valve calcified, while thirty-three patients (38.8%) had both valves calcified. Univariate analysis revealed that every 1 mmHg increase in pulse pressure was associated with increased cardiovascular calcification risk p=0.020. In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol, and triglyceride serum levels, the association also remained strong, where every increase of 1 mm Hg in pulse pressure was associated with increased risk for cardiovascular calcification (HR 1.02, 95% CI (1.00-1.03), p= 0.038). Besides, pulse pressure was an independent predictor for cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI (1.02-1.05), p=0.002). Conclusion Pulse pressure may identify hemodialysis patients with subclinical cardiovascular calcification who need further evaluation. Wide pulse pressure is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality.

Natural mass disasters directly or indirectly affect huge populations, who need basic infrastructural help and assistance to survive. However, despite the potentially negative impact on survival chances, the authorities often dismiss these health care issues. This impact is of great importance, especially in the emerging world, where the casualty rates are much higher because of inappropriate building materials and lack of appropriate construction standards. Thus, massive destruction can occur with earthquakes of even moderately low magnitude. The first description of the crush syndrome appeared in the modern medical literature after the Messina earthquake in 1909. Since crush syndrome is quite rare in daily practice, mistakes are frequent in treating these cases. This review summarizes the etiopathogenesis of traumatic rhabdomyolysis and crush syndrome based acute kidney injury. The clinical and laboratory features, prophylaxis, and treatment of crush cases are described as well. The importance of early and dynamic fluid resuscitation is indicated for the prophylaxis of acute kidney injury. Treatment of both acute and chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) is especially problematic after disasters because they almost always require complex technology and equipment, whereas specific drugs may be difficult to obtain to treat chronic kidney patients. Although crush syndrome is a major cause of mortality in the rescued victims of massive earthquakes, the number of deaths due to crush syndrome (or fatalities of renal disaster) can be decreased by appropriate management. plaints.

The incidence and prevalence rates of end-stage renal disease patients in Albania have increased after the fall of the communist regime, which happened in 1990. Renal replacement therapy in Albania started with the chronic hemodialysis program in 1985 at the University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”. The program was created mainly to treat the head of the state, who suffered from advanced diabetic nephropathy. From a country with an extremely poor economy, which meant that no more than just a few patients could be kept alive on renal replacement therapy, Albania has undergone profound political and economic changes. Besides, Nephrology in Albania has achieved immense improvement in the last two decades. The possibility of treating every ESRD patient with RRT became a reality in the last decade, and this is considered our outstanding success. Currently, we have a well-established living donor transplantation as well as Peritoneal Dialysis program, which represent promising advances in both modalities. We believe that our national program for early detection and prevention of CKD progression and associated complications could help us in improving patient outcomes and reducing the impact of CKD on our limited health-care resources.

Background and Aims Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is generally associated with a good survival rate and with great preservation of residual renal function (RRF). The various causes of technique failure are responsible for the relative short time staying in PD. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcome and factors correlated with maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD) to guide for improving prognosis. Method In a retrospective way we examined our PD-cohort concerning mortality, technique survival, peritonitis rate, and other complications. Results From 2005 to 2019 the number of PD patients who have been treated in PD program for more than 3 months was around 199 patient, 29.1% diabetics, mean age 53.3±15.03 years old and meantime in therapy 32.39± 27.34 months. The PD was seen as an alternative for younger patients in the transplant list and elderly patients with comorbidity. Around 7.5% of the PD patients were transplanted and 8.5 % of patients were transferred from HD due to vascular access failure. Around 88.9% of patients were on PD for more than 1 year, 37.7% from 3 up to 5 years and 19.8% percent of the patients have stayed on PD for more than 5 years. Cardiovascular mortality was the main cause of mortality with 53% of the cases. Higher comorbidity index, lower albumin levels, and lower residual renal function were the main risk factors for lower survival. The technical survival of patients was 92.3% during the first year, 79.5% and 69.6% in the second and the fifth year, respectively. There was not found a difference in technical survival between diabetics and nondiabetics patients. Ultrafiltration failure followed by peritonitis was the main reason for transfer patients with more than 24 months in therapy in hemodialysis probably linked with the no availability of icodextrin. Peritonitis rate was 1:41 patient months. Conclusion PD program in our center is organized based in the concept of integrated care in RRT. The outcome of our patients was at least comparable to those reported by larger registries Although we have done good progress in the prevention of infection the nonavailability of icodextrin is an important factor for a technical failure. RRF is an important factor and we need to be more focused to maintain it longer in the future.

Atherosclerosis is frequently present in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) treated with dialysis. We evaluated the association between residual renal function (RRF), phosphate level, inflammation and other risk factors in carotid modeling as a marker of early atherosclerosis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) compared with hemodialysis (HD) patients. We studied 39 stable PD and 53 HD patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) for 3 to 36 months duration. B-mode ultrasonography was used to determine carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT). We classified patients with atherosclerosis if they have CIMT >10 mm and or presence of plaque. Out of our total dialysis population studied of 92 patients, 16.3% were diabetics and 57.6% were on hemodialysis. Expectedly, PD patients had a higher RRF (P

Atherosclerosis is frequently present in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) treated with dialysis. We evaluated the association between residual renal function (RRF), phosphate level, inflammation and other risk factors in carotid modeling as a marker of early atherosclerosis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) compared with hemodialysis (HD) patients. We studied 39 stable PD and 53 HD patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) for 3 to 36 months duration. B-mode ultrasonography was used to determine carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT). We classified patients with atherosclerosis if they have CIMT10 mm and or presence of plaque. Out of our total dialysis population studied of 92 patients, 16.3% were diabetics and 57.6% were on hemodialysis. Expectedly, PD patients had a higher RRF (P 0.001), 24 h urine volume (P 0.001); C-reactive protein (P = 0.047), and a lower serum phosphate (P = 0.01), PTH (P 0.05), alkaline phosphatase (P 0.05), and albumin levels (P 0.001) compared to hemodialysis patients. Atherosclerosis was found in 66.3% of patients and in 100% of a diabetic population. There was no significant difference in the presence of atherosclerosis between PD and HD patients [56.4 vs 73.6% HD, respectively]. Multiple regression analysis showed age, diabetes, HD modality, RRF, phosphate, PTH and pulse pressure as independent parameters associated with atherosclerosis. Apart from the traditional risk factors like age and diabetes, our study showed a link of atherosclerosis with metabolic abnormalities secondary to renal failure. We demonstrated a novel, independent association between RRF and atherosclerosis, underlining the importance of preservation of the RRF in dialysis patients.

Cardiac valve calcification (CVC) has long been regarded as a consequence of abnormal calcium–phosphate metabolism in uremic patient associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in this population. We evaluated the association between residual renal function (RRF), phosphate level and valve calcification in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients. We studied 30 stable PD patients (60 % males; mean age 57 ± 12.36 years) and 34 HD patients (58.8 % males; mean age 50.8 ± 10.4 years) on renal replacement therapy (RRT) from 6 up to 36 months. The presence of CVC was assessed by standard bi-dimensional echocardiography. RRF was calculated by standard technique. Valve calcification was more frequently found in HD compared to PD patients (70.6 vs 29.4 %, p = 0.007). Significantly lower phosphate [1.38 ± 0.41 versus 1.99 ± 0.35 mmol/L (p

The aim of this study was to evaluate ventricular geometry, its relationship with the inflammatory markers, and mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease on peritoneal and hemodialysis treatment.We enrolled adult patients on long-term dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) for more than 3 months. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed by an experienced cardiologist who was blinded to all clinical details of patients. Cardiovascular mortality was assessed during a 2-year follow-up period.There were 129 participants, of whom 86 (66%) were on hemodialysis. Left ventricular hypertrophy was present in 86.7%; concentric hypertrophy was found in 64 (49.1%) and eccentric hypertrophy in 48 patients (37.2%). Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy were further divided into tertiles according to their left ventricular mass index. Logistic regression found pulse pressure as an independent risk factor associated with left ventricular mass index (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 1.19; P = .047). Cardiovascular mortality rate was 15.5%. Multivariable analysis showed that C-reactive protein (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.10; P = .01), pulse pressure (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.26; P = .046), and left ventricular mass index (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.21; P = .03) were independent risk factors for cardiovascular mortality.Concentric hypertrophy is the most frequent left ventricular geometry model in patients with chronic kidney disease. Inflammation, pulse pressure, and left ventricular hypertrophy are interrelated and all contribute to mortality and cardiovascular death risk among dialysis patients.

Introduction: Vascular access is often considered the Achilles heel the of hemodialysis because of its impact on morbidity, all cause mortality and finally costs of these patients. The most common complication of permanent hemodialysis (HD) vascular access is thrombosis, with some cases being related to hypercoagulability states. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APAS) is a cause of increased thrombotic tendency, and this may complicate the management of such patients on HD. Case report: We describe a 41-year-old woman with end stage renal disease (ESRD) from Adult Polycystic Kidney Disease who was referred to our tertiary care center for treatment and selection of renal replacement therapy form. It was thought to initiate with peritoneal dialysis considering her actual conditions. She was putted on hemodialysis for several sessions, and a subclavian cathether was her first vascular access. The surgeon created an arterio-venous fistula which did not mature. After the implantation of the peritoneal cathether she started peritoneal dialysis and continued living with that for 2 years. She felt exhausted and because of a grave peritonitis episode accompanied with procedure failure and a long hospitalization she was transferred to hemodialysis. Renal transplantation was not possible because she didn’t have a kidney donation. She was maintained on regular HD, but her dialysis care was complicated by recurrent vascular access failures. She had multiple interventions for arterio-venous fistulas and grafts but almost all of them failed due to thrombosis to the extent that only one access site was available for her routine renal replacement treatment. A thorough thrombophilia screen confirmed the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. A diagnosis of APAS was made and she was anticoagulated with warfarin. The AVG made in this last available site is still working from 18 months. If it fails we have no answers and solutions for her. Conclusion: The presence of APAS can complicate HD management by causing recurrent vascular access thrombosis and failure, and nephrologist must remain alert to this possibility. Checking and treating as soon as possible it's our future challenge.