COVID-19 in a patient with end-stage renal disease on chronic in-center hemodialysis after evidence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. Reinfection or inaccuracy of antibody testing

A patient with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis with a previous positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody was diagnosed with severe COVID-19. Issues regarding reinfection, the potential lack of antibody protection after asymptomatic infection, the possibility of antibody dependent enhancement and careful interpretation of antibody test results are discussed

One-year all-cause mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis

Introduction: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis and COVID-19 infection have an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, but whether these patients have a higher long-term mortality risk is unknown. Materials and methods: Retrospective chart review of 958 patients admitted with COVID-19 in-fection or those with ESRD admitted for any other reason between February 2020 and August 2020. We collected data on demographics, comorbidities, laboratory tests, and mortality. The primary outcome was all-cause 1-year mortality. The second-ary outcome was in-hospital mortality. We used primarily logistic regression models to assess the mortality risk. Results: In total, 651 patients without ESRD with COVID-19 (COVID+ESRD-), 259 with ESRD without COVID-19 (ESRD+COVID-), and 48 with ESRD with COVID-19 (COVID+ESRD+) were hospi-talized between February 2020 and August 2020. Patients were followed after discharge until September 2021. The all-cause 1-year mortality rates were 24% in patients with COVID+ESRD-, 22% in ESRD+COVID- pa-tients, and 40% in those with COVID+ESRD+ (p 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with COVID+ESRD+ have significant-ly higher odds for all-cause 1-year mortality compared to COVID+ESRD-patients. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms of long-term mortality risk in ESRD patients with COVID-19 infection

Effect of Lowering Dialysate Sodium Concentration on Interdialytic Weight Gain and Blood Pressure in Patients Undergoing Thrice-Weekly In-center Nocturnal Hemodialysis: A Quality Improvement Study

Patients on in-center nocturnal hemodialysis therapy typically experience higher interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) than patients on conventional hemodialysis therapy. We determined the safety and effects of decreasing dialysate sodium concentration on IDWG and blood pressure in patients on thrice-weekly in-center nocturnal hemodialysis therapy. Quality improvement, pre-post intervention. 15 participants in a single facility. Participants underwent three 12-week treatment phases, each with different dialysate sodium concentrations, as follows: phase A, 140 mEq/L; phase B, 136 or 134 mEq/L; and phase A +, 140 mEq/L. Participants were blinded to the exact timing of the intervention. IDWG, IDWG/dry weight (IDWG%), and blood pressure. Outcome data were obtained during the last 2 weeks of each phase and compared with mixed models. The fraction of sessions with adverse events (eg, cramping and hypotension) also was reported. IDWG, IDWG%, and predialysis systolic blood pressure decreased significantly by 0.6 ± 0.6 kg, 0.6% ± 0.8%, and 8.3 ± 14.9 mm Hg, respectively, in phase B compared with phase A ( P < 0.05 for all comparisons). No differences in predialysis diastolic and mean arterial or postdialysis blood pressures were found ( P > 0.05 for all comparisons). The proportion of treatments with intradialytic hypotension was low and similar in each phase ( P = 0.9). In phase B compared with phase A, predialysis plasma sodium concentration was unchanged ( P > 0.05), whereas postdialysis plasma sodium concentration decreased by 3.7 ± 1.9 mEq/L ( P < 0.05). Modest sample size. Decreasing dialysate sodium concentrations in patients undergoing thrice-weekly in-center nocturnal hemodialysis resulted in a clinical and statistically significant decrease in IDWG, IDWG%, postdialysis plasma sodium concentration, and predialysis systolic blood pressure without increasing adverse events. Prolonged exposure to higher than required dialysate sodium concentrations may drive IDWG and counteract some of the purported benefits of “go-slow” (longer session length) hemodialysis

Individualized reduction in dialysate sodium in conventional in-center hemodialysis

Recent studies have focused on the association between dialysate sodium (Na(+)) prescriptions and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG). We report on a case series of 13 patients undergoing conventional, thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis with an individualized dialysate Na(+) prescription. Individualized dialysate Na(+) was achieved in all patients through a stepwise weekly reduction of the standard dialysate Na(+) prescription (140 mEq/L) by 2-3 mEq/L until reaching a Na(+) gradient of -2 mEq/L (dialysate Na(+) minus average plasma Na(+) over the preceding 3 months). Interdialytic weight gain, with and without indexing to dry weight (IDWG%), blood pressure, and the proportion of treatments with cramps, intradialytic hypotension (drop in systolic blood pressure >30 mmHg) and intradialytic hypotension requiring an intervention were reviewed. At the beginning of the observation period, the pre-hemodialysis (HD) plasma Na(+) concentration ranged from 130 to 141 mEq/L. When switched from the standard to the individualized dialysate Na(+) concentration, IDWG% decreased from 3.4% ± 1.6% to 2.5% ± 1.0% (P = 0.003) with no change in pre- or post-HD systolic or diastolic blood pressures (all P > 0.05). We found no significant change in the proportion of treatments with cramps (6% vs. 13%), intradialytic hypotension (62% vs. 65%), or intradialytic hypotension requiring an intervention (29% vs. 33%). Individualized reduction of dialysate Na(+) reduces IDWG% without significantly increasing the frequency of cramps or hypotension

Dialysate sodium and sodium gradient in maintenance hemodialysis: a neglected sodium restriction approach?

Background. A higher sodium gradient (dialysate sodium minus pre-dialysis plasma sodium) during hemodialysis (HD) has been associated with sodium loading; however, its role is not well studied. We hypothesized that a sodium dialysate prescription resulting in a higher sodium gradient is associated with increases in interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), blood pressure (BP) and thirst

Anti-GBM disease and ANCA during dengue infection

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is a severe inflammatory renal disorder due to pathogenic autoantibodies directed mainly against the α3 chain of type IV collagen. In ~1/4 of patients with anti-GBM disease, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) predominantly with myeloperoxidase (MPO) specificity can be detected. Although the inciting stimuli leading to the development of an immune response against the type IV collagen and neutrophils are unknown, evidence indicates that both genetic and environmental factors play a role. Of note, molecular mimicry between self-antigens and nonself-antigens such as antigenic determinants of microorganisms has been implicated in the pathogenesis of anti-GBM disease and ANCA-associated vasculitis. A mosquito-borne viral illness highly prevalent in the tropics and subtropics, dengue can be complicated by acute renal failure, proteinuria, hematuria and glomerulonephritis. We present a 66-year-old woman who was diagnosed with dengue infection and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis during an outbreak of dengue in Honduras in the summer of 2013. Renal biopsy revealed severe crescentic glomerulonephritis. Immunofluorescence examination demonstrated strong linear IgG deposition along glomerular capillary walls. Serologic tests demonstrated antibodies against GBM, MPO and platelet glycoproteins. The patient was diagnosed with anti-GBM disease associated with p-ANCA with MPO specificity. Despite heavy immunosuppression and plasmapheresis, IgG titers against dengue virus continued to rise confirming the diagnosis of acute dengue infection. We present the first reported case of anti-GBM disease associated with p-ANCA with MPO specificity during dengue infection. This report calls for a heightened awareness of autoimmunity leading to crescentic glomerulonephritis in patients with dengue infection