Influence of Erythropoietin Dose and Albumin Level on the Plasma Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Hemodialysis Patients

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels increase in patients with congestive heart failure. Theoretically, BNP levels can be helpful in the determination of the "dry weight" of hemodialysis patients. To evaluate the effect of hemodialysis on the plasma concentration of BNP and to determine the factors that affect BNP levels during hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal failure, we studied five stable patients with chronic renal failure. A total of 15 blood samples were obtained for BNP levels at 24, 48 and 72 hours after the last hemodialysis session. The plasma BNP levels did not change significantly either with ultrafiltration volume or with time since last dialysis. However, the BNP levels correlated positively with the erythropoietin (EPO) dose (r=0.98, P< 0.001) and negatively with the serum albumin levels (r = 0.94, P=0.02). Univariate analysis showed that the EPO dose (P=0.001) and the albumin level (P=0.02) were significant predictors of BNP level. Adjusted multivariate analysis showed significant interaction between the EPO dose and the albumin level (P=0.01, P=0.03 respectively. In conclusion: the plasma BNP levels were not significantly influenced by ultrafiltration volume or time since last dialysis. However, the BNP levels may be a useful prognostic parameter for assessing the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients

High Prevalence of Masked Hypertension in Treated Hypertensive Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This study was undertaken to determine whether self-measured home blood pressure (BP) readings were comparable to clinic visit BP readings in hypertensive type II diabetic patients. We measured the BP of 27 hypertensive patients at home and during the clinic visits over a three week period. The BP readings were analyzed using a mixed linear model with mean daytime ambulatory measure as a covariate. We found that, although there was no significant difference in the mean systolic BP between home and clinic readings (0.6 mm Hg), the mean home BP readings were significantly higher (difference = 6.8 mm p< 0.0006). The proportion of masked hypertension, defined as elevated home systolic or diastolic BP (or both) values despite normal clinic visit BP values, was 40.7%. Three diastolic and one systolic BP measurement at home achieved a reliability coefficient of 0.8. Self-measurement of BP gave highly reliable readings when they were compared with blind readings taken by a trained professional using a mercury sphygmomanometer. We conclude that self-measured BP at home identifies a high prevalence of masked hypertension in treated hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients and that it represents a valuable management adjunct to ensure maximum benefit from antihypertensive drug therapy

Factors affecting the progression of diabetic nephropathy and its complications: A single-center experience in Saudi Arabia

<b>Background and Objectives:</b> One out of five Saudi diabetics develops end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Factors associated with progressive loss of renal function have not been extensively studied and reported in our community. We sought to evaluate the pattern and progression in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and investigate the potential risk factors associated with progression to diabetic nephropathy (DN) among Saudi patients. <b>Design and Setting:</b> Hospital-based retrospective analysis of type 2 diabetic patients seen between January 1989 and January 2004 at Security Forces Hospital and King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. <b>Patients and Methods:</b> DN was defined as persistent proteinuria assessed by urine dipstick [at least twice for at least two consecutive years and/or serum creatinine &gt;130 &#956;mol/L; and/or GFR &lt;60 mL/min/1.73m ² ]. <b>Results:</b> Of 1952 files reviewed, 621 (31.8&#x0025;) met the criteria for DN, and 294 (47&#x0025;) were males. The mean (SD) age of the patients at baseline was 66.9 (11.4) years, and mean duration of diabetes was 15.4 (7.5) years. GFR deteriorated from a baseline value of 78.3 (30.3) mL/min/1.73m ² to 45.1 (24.1) mL/min/1.73m ² at the last visit, with a mean rate of decline in GFR of 3.3 mL/min/year. Progression of nephropathy was observed in 455 (73.3&#x0025;) patients, with 250 (40.3&#x0025;) patients doubling their first-hospital-visit serum creatinine level in a mean of 10.0 (6.0) years. At the end of the study, 16.5&#x0025; of the cohort developed ESRD and were dialyzed. GFR &gt;90 mL/min/1.73m ² at the first hospital visit; duration of diabetes &gt;10 years; persistent proteinuria; systolic blood pressure &gt;130 mm Hg; and presence of retinopathy were significant markers associated with progression of nephropathy. <b>Conclusion:</b> Diabetic nephropathy tends to be progressive among Saudis, with GFR deteriorating at a rate of 3.3 mL/year and with a doubling of serum creatinine level in 40.3&#x0025; of patients in 9.9 years

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SEEK-Saudi investigators) - A pilot study

There are no available data about the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its risk factors in the general population of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To estimate the prevalence of CKD and its associated risk factors in the Saudi population, we conducted a pilot community-based screening program in commercial centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Candidates were interviewed and blood and urine samples were collected. Participants were categorized to their CKD stage according to their estimated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD3)-based, the new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and the presence of albuminuria. The sample comprised 491 (49.9&#x0025; were males) adult Saudi nationals. The mean age was 37.4 &#177; 11.3 years. The over-all prevalence of CKD was 5.7&#x0025; and 5.3&#x0025; using the MDRD-3 and CKD-EPI glomerular filtration equations, respectively. Gender, age, smoking status, body mass index, hypertension and diabetes mel-litus were not significant predictors of CKD in our cohort. However, CKD was significantly higher in the older age groups, higher serum glucose, waist/hip ratio and blood pressure. Only 7.1&#x0025; of the CKD patients were aware of their CKD status, while 32.1&#x0025; were told that they had protein or blood in their urine and 10.7&#x0025; had known kidney stones in the past. We conclude that prevalence of CKD in the young Saudi population is around 5.7&#x0025;. Our pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of screening for CKD. Screening of high-risk individuals is likely to be the most cost-effective strategy to detect CKD patients

Achievement of renal anemia KDIGO targets by two different clinical strategies – a European hemodialysis multicenter analysis

Abstract Background The optimal treatment algorithm for iron therapy and the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in anemic hemodialysis (HD) patients has not been established. Hemoglobin (Hb) target levels can be achieved through more frequent intravenous (IV) iron use with lower ESA dose, or with less iron dosing but higher ESA. ESA therapy to correct anemia may result in severe arterial and venous thrombotic complications and the evidence base evaluating hard clinical outcomes related to the use of IV iron is sparse. Methods A total of 1247 maintenance HD patients from 12 dialysis centers in Portugal (n = 730) and Poland (n = 517) were considered. We assessed achievement of KDIGO renal anemia targets with focus on treatment strategies, which typically differ between countries. In Poland the use and dose of IV iron was 35–72% higher than that in Portugal (p  20 and > 50% were both significantly higher in patients in Poland (88.8 and 14.6%) than in Portugal (76.3 and 5.7% respectively, p  800 μg/L (35.6%) compared to Portugal (15.8%, p <  0.001). The ESA resistance index (ERI) was significantly higher in patients treated in Portugal (p <  0.001). Correlation analyses showed confounding by treatment indication in unadjusted models. Multiple and logistic regression analyses showed that with ferritin within KDIGO recommended range of 200–800 μg/L the odds for Hb within guidelines increased significantly. Annual gross mortality was 16% in Poland and 13% in Portugal (NS); there were no differences in cause-specific mortality. Conclusions Administration of high doses of IV iron in routine clinical HD practice may not be associated with considerable harm. However, large randomized controlled trials are needed to provide absolute evidence of iron safety

Outcome and complications in peritoneal dialysis patients: A five-year single center experience

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one of the modes of renal replacement therapy being utilized for the management of end-stage renal failure in King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud Uni-versity, Riyadh, for more than two decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications related to PD as well as its outcome in patients on this mode of therapy during the period between January 2004 and December 2008. There were 72 patients included in the study, of whom 43 were females. The average age was 50.7 ± 30.1 years (14-88 years). Diabetes was the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) seen in 40.2% of the study patients. Twenty-eight patients (38.9%) were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and 44 (61.1%) were on automated PD (nocturnal intermittent peritoneal dialysis, NIPD or continuous cycler peritoneal dialysis, CCPD). The mean du-ration on PD of the study patients was 25.5 ± 16.58 months (1-60 months). The peritonitis rate was one episode per 24.51 patient-months or one episode per 2.04 patient-years. The incidence of peritonitis per person-year was calculated as 0.42. The leading causative agent for peritonitis was Staphylococcus (32%). Exit-site infection (ESI) rate was one episode per 56.21 patient-months. The incidence of ESI was 0.214 per person-years. The most common infective organism for ESI was Pseudomonas aeru-ginosa (58.8%). At the end of 5 years, 35 patients were continuing on PD, 13 patients were shifted to hemodialysis (HD), nine patients underwent renal transplantation, and six patients were transferred to other centers. Among the 13 patients who were shifted to HD, four patients had refractory peritonitis, four others had catheter malfunction, three patients had inadequate clearance on PD and two patients had lack of compliance. A total of 11 patients died during the study period, giving an overall mortality rate of 15.27% for the five-year period. Our study suggests that there has been considerable improvement in overall outcome and mortality in patients on PD. Additionally, a marked reduction in the infectious and non-infectious complications was noted with the peritonitis and ESI rates in our center being comparable to other studies and international guidelines

Rituximab as a rescue therapy in patients with glomerulonephritis

To evaluate the use of rituximab in the treatment of severe glomerulonephritis (GN) in order to prevent progression of kidney disease toward the end stage, we designed a multicenter, retrospective study in Saudi Arabia about the efficacy and safety of the use of "off label" rituximab in a variety of severe refractory GN to conventional treatment and the progression of kidney disease for at least one year of follow-up. All the patients had kidney biopsies before treatment with rituximab, and proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were followed-up for the period of the study. The immediate side-effect at the time of administration of rituximab included itching in three patients, hypotension in one patient and anaphylaxis in one patient (dropped out from the study). After the administration of rituximab in 42 patients and during the first six months of therapy, 16 (38%) patients had complete remission (CR), 13 (31%) patients had partial remission (PR) and 13 (31%) patients had no remission. The mean follow-up period for the patients was 19.0 ± 6.97 months (median 18.0 months). The long-term follow-up during the study period disclosed a good hospitalization record for almost all of the patients. Membranous GN (MGN) was the largest group in the cohort (58% of the patients), and we observed CR and PR in 40% and 28% of them, respectively, which was comparable with the previous experience with rituximab in MGN patients with more CR than PR in our cohort. We conclude that our study suggests the safety and efficacy of the use of rituximab in patients with refractory GN and that larger and long-term prospective studies are required to define the role of rituximab in the different categories of these diseases