Measurement of Arterial Stiffness: A Novel Tool of Risk Stratification in Hypertension

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries worldwide, despite highly effective preventive treatments available. As a difference continues to exist between the estimated and true number of events, further improvement of risk stratification is an essential part of cardiovascular research.Among hypertensive patients measurement of arterial stiffness parameters, like carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) or brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) can contribute to the identification of high-risk subpopulation of patients. This is a hot topic of vascular research including the possibility of the non-invasive measurement of central hemodynamics, wave reflections and recently, 24-h arterial stiffness monitoring as well. This chapter discusses the past and the present of this area including the scientific achievements with cfPWV, baPWV and other measures, provides a short overview of methodologies and the representation of arterial stiffness parameters in guidelines

Switching between parathormone (PTH) assays: the impact on the diagnosis of renal osteodystrophy

Background: Clinical guidelines for decision-making in chronic kidney disease (CKD) consider parathormone (PTH) levels. The measured PTH values differ if novel full length PTH(1-84) assays are used instead of earlier intact iPTH assays. In this study we analyzed how the classification of CKD patients alters when iPTH assays are switched to PTH(1-84) assays. Methods: Plasma samples were collected prior to dialysis sessions from 110 consecutive CKD patients on maintenance hemodialysis. PTH levels were determined with iPTH assays (Elecsys, Architect and DiaSorin Liaison N-tact) and PTH(1-84) assays (Elecsys and Liaison). Using KDIGO guidelines patients were classified as being below, above and in the recommended target range (RTR) of PTH. The results of classification with different assays were evaluated and, a novel calculation method of RTR was implemented. Results: The prevalence of patients with PTH in RTR is comparable with each assay, but the individual patients differed. PTH(1-84) Elecsys and Liaison assays classified more patients as being below RTR than iPTH Elecsys and Architect but not Liaison N-tact assay (27.3%, 22.7% vs. 41%, 31.8%, and 36.4%, respectively). In turn, PTH(1-84) Elecsys and Liaison assays identified less CKD patients with PTH above the RTR than iPTH except N-tact assays (6.4%, 10% vs. 16.3%, 19%, and 6.3%, respectively). Using our calculation method, our discrimination values for PTH(1-84) assays to achieve classification identical to that with iPTH Elecsys were lower than those recommended by the manufacturer. Conclusions: Current guidelines for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD should consider the type of assays used for PTH measurement. Each laboratory should assess its own RTR for PTH tests to achieve comparable classification. The presented calculation is simple, it mimics an everyday situation, switching from one assay to another one, and provides useful RTR values for PTH tests

Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio and serum albumin are predictors of acute kidney injury in non-ventilated COVID-19 patients: a single-center prospective cohort study

PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication among COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit, but it is less frequently investigated in general internal medicine wards. We aimed to examine the incidence, the predictors of AKI, and AKI-associated mortality in a prospective cohort of non-ventilated COVID-19 patients. We aimed to describe the natural history of AKI by describing trajectories of urinary markers of hemodynamic, glomerular, and tubular injury. METHODS: 141 COVID-19 patients were enrolled to the study. AKI was defined according to KDIGO guidelines. Urine and renal function parameters were followed twice a week. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of AKI and mortality. Trajectories of urinary markers were described by unadjusted linear mixed models. RESULTS: 19.7% patients developed AKI. According to multiple logistic regression, higher urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04-2.12/1 mg/mmol) and lower serum albumin (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.94/1 g/L) were independent predictors of AKI. Mortality was 42.8% in the AKI and 8.8% in the group free from AKI (p < 0.0001). According to multiple logistic regression, older age, lower albumin, and AKI (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.24-12.21) remained independent predictors of mortality. Urinary protein-to-creatinine trajectories were diverging with decreasing values in those without incident AKI. CONCLUSION: We found high incidence of AKI and mortality among moderately severe, non-ventilated COVID-19 patients. Its development is predicted by higher albuminuria suggesting that the originally damaged renal structure may be more susceptible for virus-associated effects. No clear relationship was found with a prerenal mechanism, and the higher proteinuria during follow-up may point toward tubular damage

The impact of COVID-19 infection before the vaccination era on the hospitalized patients requiring hemodialysis: a single-center retrospective cohort

Due to effective vaccinations, the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) infection that caused the pandemic has a milder clinical course. We aimed to assess the mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients before the vaccination era. We investigated the mortality in those patients between 1 October 2020 and 31 May 2021 who received hemodialysis treatment [patients with previously normal renal function (nCKD), patients with chronic kidney disease previously not requiring hemodialysis (CKDnonHD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and patients on regular hemodialysis (pHD)]. In addition, participants were followed up for all-cause mortality in the National Health Service database until 1 December 2021. In our center, 83 of 108 (76.9%) were included in the analysis due to missing covariates. Over a median of 26 (interquartile range 11-266) days of follow-up, 20 of 22 (90.9%) of nCKD, 23 of 24 (95.8%) of CKDnonHD, and 17 of 37 (45.9%) pHD patients died (p < 0.001). In general, patients with nCKD had fewer comorbidities but more severe presentations. In contrast, the patients with pHD had the least severe symptoms (p < 0.001). In a model adjusted for independent predictors of all-cause mortality (C-reactive protein and serum albumin), CKDnonHD patients had increased mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-3.60], while pHD patients had decreased mortality (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.81) compared to nCKD patients. After further adjustment for the need for intensive care, the difference in mortality between the nCKD and pHD groups became non-significant. Despite the limitations of our study, it seems that the survival of previously hemodialysis patients was significantly better

Miscellanea. Levelek a szerkesztőhöz. Folyóirat-referátumok

Levelek a szerkesztőhöz. | Folyóirat-referátumok. Gerontológia A földre leülés és felállás képessége a bármely okú halálozás előrejelzője (Ability to sit and rise from the floor as a predictor of all-cause mortality) de Brito, L. B., Ricardo, D. R., de Araújo, D. S. et al. (Levelező szerző: Claudio Gil Soares de Araújo, Clinimex Rua Siqueira Campos, 93/101, 22031-070, Rio de Janeiro, Brazília; e-mail: [email protected].): Eur. J. Prev. Cardiol., 2014, 21 (7), 892–898. | Kardiológia A nem szteroid gyulladáscsökkentők (NSAID-ok) cardiovascularis hatásai: okozhatnak-e jelentős vérnyomás- emelkedést az NSAID-ok? [Cardiovascular effects of NSAIDs: Do nonsteroidal anti-inflammattory drugs (NSAIDs) cause a clinically significant increase in blood pressure?] Sherve, K., Gerard, C. J., Neher, J. O., et al. (Valley Family Medicine Residency, Renton, WA, Amerikai Egyesült Államok; e-mail: [email protected]): Am. Fam. Physician, 2014, 90 (4), online | Szülészet-nőgyógyászat Ultrahang a 3. trimeszterben (Ultraschall im 3. trimenon) Schmitz, R. (Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Münster, e-mail: [email protected]): Geburtsch. Frauenheilk., 2013, 73 (1), 42–45

Magyarországi konszenzusajánlás a D-vitamin szerepéről a betegségek megelőzésében és kezelésében [Hungarian consensus recommendation on the role of vitamin D in disease prevention and treatment]

Összefoglaló. Kilenc magyarországi orvostársaság közös ajánlást alakított ki a D-vitamin javasolt normáltartományával, a D-vitamin-pótlás adagjával és az adagolás módjával kapcsolatban. Összefoglalták azokat a klinikai állapotokat, betegségeket, amelyek kialakulása összefüggésben lehet a D-vitamin-hiánnyal. Magyarországon a D-vitamin-hiány - főleg a tél végére - rendkívül gyakori. A javasolt normáltartomány alsó határa 75 nmol/l, annak ellenére, hogy a hiány klinikai jelentősége főleg 50 nmol/l alatti értékeknél nyilvánvaló, ám mivel a D-vitamin pótlása a javasolt dózisban biztonságos, mindenkinél érdemes csökkenteni a D-vitamin-hiánnyal kapcsolatos egészségügyi kockázatot. A D-vitamin-pótlás célja a hiány megszüntetése. A javasolt normáltartomány 75-125 nmol/l, az ezt meghaladó tartományban a D-vitamin adásának nincs további egyértelmű előnye. A normáltartomány fenntartásához felnőttekben napi 2000 NE bevitele javasolt az UV-B sugárzástól mentes időszakban. Gyermekeknek is javasolt a D-vitamin pótlása azokban az időszakokban és állapotokban, mint a felnőtteknek, de az adag korfüggő módon változik. D-vitamin-pótlásra D3-vitamin adása javasolt. Felnőttekben a D3-vitamin-pótlás napi, heti és havi gyakoriságú adagolással is egyformán hatásos és biztonságos. Súlyos hiányban javasolt telítő adagot alkalmazni, majd ezt követően fenntartó adagolással kell folytatni a pótlást. A D-vitamin-hiány jól ismert csontrendszeri, immunológiai és onkológiai hatásai mellett egyre több adat támasztja alá előnytelen nőgyógyászati és szülészeti hatásait is. A legerősebb érv a D-vitamin-hiány megszüntetése és a szükséges pótlás alkalmazása mellett a halálozási kockázat D-vitamin-hiányban észlelt növekedése. A konszenzus elkészítésének folyamata megfelelt a Delfi-irányelveknek. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(15): 575-584. Summary. Nine Hungarian medical societies have developed a consensus recommendation on the preferred normal range of vitamin D, the dose of vitamin D supplementation and the method of administration. They summarized the clinical conditions and diseases the development of which may be associated with vitamin D deficiency (VDD). VDD is extremely common in Hungary, especially in late winter. The lower limit of the recommended normal range is 75 nmol/l, although the clinical significance of deficiency is evident mainly at values below 50 nmol/l, but since vitamin D supplementation at the recommended dose is safe, it is worthwhile for everyone to reduce the health risk associated with VDD. The aim of vitamin D supplementation is to prevent deficiency. The recommended normal range is 75-125 nmol/l, above which there is no clear benefit of vitamin D supplementation. To maintain the normal range, a daily intake of 2000 IU in adults is recommended during the UV-B radiation-free period. Vitamin D supplementation is also recommended for children during the same periods and conditions as for adults, but the dose varies with age. In adults, vitamin D3 supplementation at daily, weekly and monthly intervals is equally effective and safe. In severe deficiency, a loading dose is recommended, followed by maintenance supplementation. In addition to the well-known skeletal, immunological and oncological effects of VDD, more and more data support unfavorable gynecological and obstetric effects. The process of building the consensus has met the requirements of the latest Delphi criteria. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(15): 575-584

The impact of currently recommended antihypertensive therapy on depression and other psychometric parameters: preliminary communication.

AIMS: Current evidence on the psychological effects of antihypertensive medications is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of current antihypertensive medication on different psychometric parameters and on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level. METHODS: Psychometric, haemodynamic, arterial stiffness and laboratory parameters were evaluated before and 3 months after the initiation of antihypertensive medication in untreated hypertensive patients (HT, n=31), and once in healthy controls (CONT, n=22). Subjects completed the following psychometric tests: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90), Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire, Big Five Inventory, Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire and Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire. Amlodipine and/or perindopril compounds were preferred medications. Serum BDNF was measured with ELISA. RESULTS: Brachial systolic blood pressure, as well as pulse wave velocity were significantly improved in the HT group over the 3-month follow-up (153.3+/-15.9 mmHg vs. 129.5+/-10.0 mmHg and 8.2+/-1.4 m/s vs 7.5+/-1.6 m/s, respectively). Similarly, we found improvements in BDI (0.73 points) and in several Scl-90 subscales. Serum BDNF was not different between CONT and HT and did not change for therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that initiation of currently recommended antihypertensive medications in newly diagnosed patients may have a significant impact on psychological well-being of patients and could influence quality of life as well