The changing epidemiology of acute renal failure

Different definitions of acute renal failure (ARF) abound. The existence of multiple definitions makes it difficult to determine the true epidemiological characteristics of this condition. Despite this difficulty, it has been possible to detect notable variations in the epidemiology of ARF during the past few decades. The absolute incidence of ARF has increased, while associated mortality rate has remained relatively static. Several factors have contributed to this altered epidemiology. Here, we discuss the relative contribution of these factors, which include site of disease onset (developed or developing countries, community or hospital or intensive care unit), patient age, infections (HIV, malaria, leptospirosis and hantavirus), concomitant illnesses (cardiopulmonary failure, hematooncological disease), and interventions (hematopoietic progenitor cell and solid organ transplantation)

Dialysis and renal transplantation in HIV-infected patients: a European survey

OBJECTIVES To determine prevalence and characteristics of end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) [dialysis and renal transplantation (RT)] among European HIV-infected patients. METHODS Cross-sectional multicenter survey of EuroSIDA clinics during 2008. RESULTS Prevalence of ESRD was 0.5%. Of 122 patients with ESRD 96 were on dialysis and 26 had received a RT. Median age was 47 years, 73% were males and 43% were black. Median duration of HIV infection was 11 years. Thirty-three percent had prior AIDS; 91% were receiving antiretrovirals; and 88% had undetectable viral load. Median CD4(+)T-cell count was 341 cells per cubic millimetre; 20.5% had hepatitis C coinfection. Most frequent causes of ESRD were HIV-associated nephropathy (46%) and other glomerulonephritis (28%). Hemodialysis (93%) was the most common dialysis modality; 34% of patients were on the RT waiting list. A poor HIV control was the reason for exclusion from RT waiting list in 22.4% of cases. All the RT recipients were all alive at the time of the survey. Acute rejection was reported in 8 patients (30%). Functioning graft was present in 21 (80%). CONCLUSIONS This is the first multinational cross-sectional study of ESRD among European HIV population. Low prevalence of ESRD was found. Two-thirds of patients were excluded from RT for non-HIV/AIDS-related pathologies. Most patients had a functioning graft despite a high acute rejection rate