Phyllanthus niruri as a promising alternative treatment for nephrolithiasis

In spite of considerable efforts to identify effective treatments for urolithiasis, this is a goal yet to be achieved. This review summarizes experimental and clinical data evaluating the effect of the plant Phyllanthus niruri, a plant with worldwide distribution, as a potential agent to prevent and/or to treat urolithiasis The review is based on data from the literature and on the results obtained by our group from either in vivo/in vitro experiments or clinical studies. Phyllanthus niruri has been shown to interfere with many stages of stone formation, reducing crystals aggregation, modifying their structure and composition as well as altering the interaction of the crystals with tubular cells leading to reduced subsequent endocytosis. The clinical beneficial effects of Phyllanthus niruri may be related to ureteral relaxation, helping to eliminate calculi or to clear fragments following lithotripsy, or also to a putative reduction of the excretion of urinary crystallization promoters such as calcium. No adverse renal, cardiovascular, neurological or toxic effects have been detected in either of these studies. Altogether, these studies suggest a preventive effect of Phyllanthus niruri in stone formation or elimination, but still longer-term randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm its therapeutic properties.Federal University of São Paulo Renal DivisionUNIFESP, Renal DivisionSciEL

Urolithiasis and pregnancy

The diagnosis of urolithiasis during pregnancy is common, even though no additional measures are required in asymptomatic cases. Renal colic or complications of urinary lithiasis occur more frequently during the last months of pregnancy, and there are several particularities for the diagnosis and treatment of this subset of women. The present manuscript aim to review the current knowledge concerning this subject and present authors personal experience.A litíase urinária é frequentemente diagnosticada durante a gestação. O diagnóstico de nefrolitíase assintomática durante a gestação não requer medidas adicionais, apenas o seguimento do pré-natal normal. Contudo, quando ocorre cólica renal ou complicações decorrentes da litíase urinária, medidas adicionais tornam-se necessárias. Nestes eventos, mais comuns nos últimos meses de gestação, há particularidades relacionadas ao quadro clínico, diagnóstico e tratamento específicos para esta população de pacientes. O presente artigo tem como objetivo revisar estes aspectos de litíase urinária na gestação à luz do conhecimento atual e da experiência pessoal dos autores.Faculdade de Medicina do ABCHospital Israelita Albert EinsteinHospital São LuizUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Determinantes de dor em pacientes com doença renal policística autossômica dominante

Pain is the most common symptom reported by ADPKD patients, afflicting approximately 60% of cases and may result from renal hemorrhage, calculi, urinary tract infections, cyst rupture, or due to stretching of the capsule or traction of the renal pedicle. We have recently investigated pain patterns in AD-PKD patients using a translated version of a pain questionnaire specific for AD-PKD population. The questionnaire revealed that 67% patients with ADPKD exhibited some type of pain. The findings of that study emphasized that pain appeared early in the course of ADPKD, when patients still exhibited preserved renal function. In the present study, a multivariate logistic regression analysis disclosed that renal volume (9-fold increased risk) and nephrolithiasis (4-fold increased risk) were the most important determinant factors for pain in ADPKD patients with preserved renal function, after adjustments for the presence of hypertension and duration of the disease.A dor é o sintoma mais comum relatado pelos pacientes com doença renal policística autossômica dominante (DRPAD), acometendo aproximadamente 60% dos casos, e podendo resultar de hemorragia renal, cálculos, infecções do trato urinário, ruptura do cisto, ou devido ao estiramento da cápsula ou à tração do pedículo renal. Recentemente, investigamos padrões de dor em pacientes com DRPAD usando uma versão traduzida de um questionário de dor específico para a população com DRPAD. O questionário revelou que 67% dos pacientes com DRPAD apresentaram algum tipo de dor. As conclusões do estudo enfatizaram que a dor apareceu no início do curso de ADPKD, quando os pacientes ainda exibiam função renal preservada. O presente estudo, através de uma análise de regressão múltipla, revelou que o volume renal (risco nove vezes maior) e a nefrolitíase (risco quatro vezes maior) foram os fatores determinantes mais importantes para a dor em pacientes com DRPAD com função renal preservada, após ajustes para a presença de hipertensão arterial e duração da doença.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Translation, cultural adaptation and aplication of a pain questionnaire for patients with polycystic kidney disease

INTRODUCTION: Pain is a common symptom in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), affecting around 60% of cases. OBJECTIVE: Translate a pain questionnaire developed and validated for ADPKD in USA into Portuguese and to perform its cultural adaptation and apply it. METHOD: The cultural adaptation performed by a panel of experts resulted in small changes consisting of words substitution by synonyms or deletion of terms not commonly used in our culture in 12 out of the 46 questions posed, to solve patients difficulties in understanding the questionnaire. RESULTS: There has been equivalence between the adapted form of the instrument with the back-translation. The final form of the questionnaire applied in 97 patients with ADPKD (64F/33M, 35 ± 12 years) showed that 65 (67%) had isolated or associated pain in multiple locations , more often at lumbar region (77%), followed by abdominal (66%), headache (15%) and chest (4%). The questionnaire revealed that after family history, pain was the second factor contributing to the diagnosis of ADPKD in this population (55% and 22% of cases, respectively). DISCUSSION: Clinical and laboratory data from medical records showed that patients referring pain had renal volume and size of the largest cyst significantly higher than those without pain. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the use of a specific pain questionnaire for ADPKD population provided a better characterization of this symptom, as well as its relationship with the associated complications that commonly occur in this setting.INTRODUÇÃO: A dor é um sintoma comum em pacientes com doença renal policística autossômica dominante (DRPAD), acometendo em torno de 60% dos casos. OBJETIVO: Traduzir para o português, realizar a adaptação cultural e aplicar um questionário específico de dor, desenvolvido e já validado para população americana com DRPAD. PACIENTES E MÉTODO: Realizada por uma equipe multidisciplinar a partir da versão original traduzida, a adaptação cultural implicou em poucas alterações como substituição de palavras por sinônimos ou supressão de termos não comumente utilizados em nossa cultura. Foram feitas modificações em 12 das 46 questões propostas, visando melhor compreensão pelos pacientes. Houve equivalência entre esta adaptação e a posterior retrotradução. RESULTADOS: A forma final do questionário, aplicada em 97 pacientes com DRPAD (64F/33M, 35 ± 12 anos) acompanhados no Ambulatório de Rins Policísticos da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), mostrou que 65 (67%) apresentavam dores isoladas ou associadas em várias localizações, mais frequentemente lombar (77%), seguida de abdominal (66%), cefaleia (15%) e torácica (4%). O questionário revelou que depois do antecedente familiar, a dor foi o segundo fator a contribuir para o diagnóstico de DRPAD nesta população (55% e 22% dos casos, respectivamente). DISCUSSÃO: Dados clínicos e laboratoriais dos prontuários médicos mostraram que pacientes com dor apresentavam volume renal e tamanho do maior cisto significantemente maiores do que os sem dor. CONCLUSÕES: Concluimos que a utilização de um questionário de dor especifico para população com DRPAD propiciou melhor caracterização deste sintoma, assim como sua relação com as complicações associadas que ocorrem comumente nesta população.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Ambulatório de Rins PolicísticosUNIFESP, Ambulatório de Rins PolicísticosSciEL

Caffeine intake by patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Because caffeine may induce cyst and kidney enlargement in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), we evaluated caffeine intake and renal volume using renal ultrasound in ADPKD patients. Caffeine intake was estimated by the average of 24-h dietary recalls obtained on 3 nonconsecutive days in 102 ADPKD patients (68 females, 34 males; 39 ± 12 years) and compared to that of 102 healthy volunteers (74 females, 28 males; 38 ± 14 years). The awareness of the need for caffeine restriction was assessed. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from the medical records of the patients. Mean caffeine intake was significantly lower in ADPKD patients versus controls (86 vs 134 mg/day), and 63% of the ADPKD patients had been previously aware of caffeine restriction. Caffeine intake did not correlate with renal volume in ADPKD patients. There were no significant differences between the renal volumes of patients in the highest and lowest tertiles of caffeine consumption. Finally, age-adjusted multiple linear regression revealed that renal volume was associated with hypertension, chronic kidney disease stage 3 and the time since diagnosis, but not with caffeine intake. The present small cross-sectional study indicated a low level of caffeine consumption by ADPKD patients when compared to healthy volunteers, which was most likely due to prior awareness of the need for caffeine restriction. Within the range of caffeine intake observed by ADPKD patients in this study (0-471 mg/day), the renal volume was not directly associated with caffeine intake.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Medicina Disciplina de NefrologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Medicina Disciplina de NefrologiaSciEL

Effects of thymol on urinary parameters related to lithogenesis

INTRODUCTION: In a previous study, we demonstrated that acidification or alkalinization of urine samples upon delivery of the material to the laboratory in comparison with samples with preservatives did not alter the results of urinary parameters related to the metabolic investigation into renal lithiasis such as oxalate (OxU), calcium (CaU), magnesium (MgU), uric acid (AcUrU) and creatinine (CreatU), with the exception of citrate (CitU), whose value was slightly lower. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the addition of thymol, through its antibacterial effect, is able to prevent the reduction of CitU observed in samples acidified 24 hs after collection in comparison with pre-acidified ones without interfering in the determination of other urinary parameters. METHODS: Forty (40) healthy volunteers collected a single spot urine sample, which was divided into four aliquots of 10 ml containing thymol (1 g/l). In the first sample, the acid preservative (HCl6N, 20 ml/l) was added immediately after collection and in the second, only after 24hs. OxU, CaU, CitU and MgU were determined. In the third and fourth aliquots, an alkali preservative (NaHCO3,5 g/l) was added immediately or 24 hs after collection for AcUrU determination. RESULTS: In the presence of thymol, there was no significant variation in CitU values between pre-or post-acidified samples (577±490 mg/l vs. 575±501 mg/l). The values of other parameters also remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: The prior addition of thymol to urine samples allows the determination of all lithogenic urinary parameters in the same sample, reducing the cost and inconvenience of multiple 24-hour urine collections.INTRODUÇÃO: Em estudo anterior, demonstramos que a acidificação ou alcalinização de amostras de urina no momento de entrega do material ao laboratório em comparação a amostras coletadas com conservantes não alterou os resultados urinários de parâmetros relacionados à investigação metabólica de litíase renal como o oxalato (OxU), cálcio (CaU), magnésio (MgU), ácido úrico (AcUrU) e creatinina (CreatU), com exceção do citrato (CitU), cujo valor foi discretamente menor. OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a adição de timol, por meio de sua ação antibacteriana, é capaz de prevenir a redução do CitU em amostras acidificadas 24 horas após a coleta, em relação às pré-acidificadas, sem interferir na determinação dos outros parâmetros urinários. MÉTODOS: 40 voluntários sadios coletaram uma amostra isolada de urina que foi dividida em quatro alíquotas de 10 ml contendo timol (1 g/l). Na primeira, o conservante ácido (HCl 6 N, 20 ml/l) foi adicionado imediatamente após a coleta e na segunda, somente após 24 horas. Além do CitU, nessas amostras também foram determinados OxU, CaU e MgU. Na terceira e quarta alíquotas, um conservante alcalino (NaHCO3, 5g/l) foi adicionado imediatamente ou 24 horas após a coleta para determinação do AcUrU. RESULTADOS: Na presença de timol, não se observou variação significante do CitU entre as urinas pré ou pós-acidificadas (577 ± 490 mg/l vs. 575 ± 501 mg/l). Os valores dos demais parâmetros também não sofreram alteração. CONCLUSÃO: A adição prévia de timol às amostras de urina permite que todos os parâmetros urinários litogênicos possam ser determinados numa mesma amostra, reduzindo o custo e o desconforto de múltiplas coletas de urina de 24 horas.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)UNIFESPFundação Oswaldo Ramos Laboratório CentralUNIFESP Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP, Depto. de MedicinaSciEL

Effect of calcium intake on urinary oxalate excretion in calcium stone-forming patients

Dietary calcium lowers the risk of nephrolithiasis due to a decreased absorption of dietary oxalate that is bound by intestinal calcium. The aim of the present study was to evaluate oxaluria in normocalciuric and hypercalciuric lithiasic patients under different calcium intake. Fifty patients (26 females and 24 males, 41 ± 10 years old), whose 4-day dietary records revealed a regular low calcium intake (<=500 mg/day), received an oral calcium load (1 g/day) for 7 days. A 24-h urine was obtained before and after load and according to the calciuria under both diets, patients were considered as normocalciuric (NC, N = 15), diet-dependent hypercalciuric (DDHC, N = 9) or diet-independent hypercalciuric (DIHC, N = 26). On regular diet, mean oxaluria was 30 ± 14 mg/24 h for all patients. The 7-day calcium load induced a significant decrease in mean oxaluria compared to the regular diet in NC and DIHC (20 ± 12 vs 26 ± 7 and 27 ± 18 vs 32 ± 15 mg/24 h, respectively, P<0.05) but not in DDHC patients (22 ± 10 vs 23 ± 5 mg/24 h). The lack of an oxalate decrease among DDHC patients after the calcium load might have been due to higher calcium absorption under higher calcium supply, with a consequent lower amount of calcium left in the intestine to bind with oxalate. These data suggest that a long-lasting regular calcium consumption <500 mg was not associated with high oxaluria and that a subpopulation of hypercalciuric patients who presented a higher intestinal calcium absorption (DDHC) tended to hyperabsorb oxalate as well, so that oxaluria did not change under different calcium intake.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Disciplina de NefrologiaUNIFESP, Disciplina de NefrologiaSciEL

Anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with familial glomerulonephritis or autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

INTRODUCTION: Psychological aspects and quality of life are often evaluated in patients under renal replacement therapy, but studies about anxiety, de>pression, and quality of life in familial renal diseases are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) and their eventual associations with the main laboratory, clinical, socioeconomic, and cultural parameters in familial glomerulonephritis (GN) or autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). METHODS: Ninety adult patients (52 familial GN and 38 ADPKD) completed the questionaires of State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and QOL-Short-Form SF-36, and were also submitted to a short interview. RESULTS: Moderate anxiety was detected in both groups. Depression was found in 34.6% of familial GN and 60.5% of ADPKD patients. Anxiety and depression were more associated with female gender in familial GN, and with poorer schooling in ADPKD. Patients of both groups presented two quality of life unfavorable dimensions: emotional role function and general health perception. In addition, quality of life was worse among females, unmarried, and Caucasian subjects, and those individuals with a poorer educational level. CONCLUSION: The use of these instruments allows one to appreciate the frequency and levels of anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with familial renal diseases that could affect their compliance to treatment. These findings can contribute to planning a better multidisciplinary assistance to such groups of patients.INTRODUÇÃO: Aspectos psicológicos, transtornos psiquiátricos e qualidade de vida são frequentemente avaliados em pacientes em terapia renal substitutiva. Entretanto, não existem estudos que analisem ansiedade, depressão e qualidade de vida especificamente em pacientes portadores de doenças renais familiares. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a frequência de traços e estados ansiosos e depressivos e qualidade de vida, verificando as possíveis relações com os principais achados laboratoriais, clínicos, socioeconômicos e culturais de pacientes portadores de glomerulonefrites (GN) familiares ou de doença renal policística autossômica dominante (DRPAD). MÉTODOS: Noventa pacientes adultos (52 GN familiares e 38 DRPAD) foram avaliados utilizando Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado (IDATE), Inventário de Depressão Beck (Beck) e Questionário de Qualidade de Vida Short Form-36 (SF-36), além de uma breve entrevista. RESULTADOS: Observou-se ansiedade moderada em ambos os grupos, depressão em 34,6% das GN e em 60,5% das DRPAD. De um modo geral, ansiedade e depressão associaram-se mais ao gênero feminino na GN familiar e ao pior nível educacional na DRPAD. Pacientes de ambos os grupos apresentaram duas dimensões mais afetadas no que se refere à qualidade de vida, o aspecto emocional e a percepção geral do estado de saúde. Além disso, o SF-36 revelou que na presente amostra, a qualidade de vida foi pior para o sexo feminino, e para pacientes de cor branca, com baixa escolaridade e sem parceiros estáveis. CONCLUSÃO: Os questionários aplicados permitiram identificar frequência e graus de ansiedade, depressão e comprometimento da qualidade de vida nos pacientes com doença renal familiar, que poderiam afetar a aderência desses pacientes ao tratamento. Esses achados podem contribuir para o planejamento de um melhor atendimento multidisciplinar para ambas as doenças.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)UNIFESP Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP, Depto. de MedicinaSciEL