Prosthetic Aortic Valve Stenosis in End-Stage Renal Failure

Although renal failure is one of the known comorbidities associated with rapid progression of aortic stenosis, it is unclear whether hemodialysis alters the progression of prosthetic aortic valve stenosis. We describe a 79-year-old female who underwent bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement 8 years ago with stable prosthetic valve area for the initial 6 years. In the last two years, coinciding with the initiation of maintenance hemodialysis, she developed progressive prosthetic valve stenosis to the point of clinical decompensation. She underwent a second prosthetic aortic valve replacement with symptom resolution. This case suggests that circulating milieu in end-stage renal failure and dialysis can accelerate the progression of prosthetic aortic valve stenosis. More frequent clinical followup and surveillance echocardiogram for dialysis patients with bioprosthetic aortic valve may facilitate timely management of valvular stenosis

Immune-complex deposits in “pauci-immune” glomerulonephritis: a case report and brief review of recent literature

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis is considered a “pauci-immune” disease, characterized by absent or mild glomerular tuft staining for immunoglobulin and/or complement. We describe a 72-year-old man with progressive renal failure over five months who was found to have P-ANCA associated crescentic glomerulonephritis. Renal biopsy also revealed immunofluorescence staining for Immunoglobulin G and C3. Treatment comprised corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and plasmapheresis but unfortunately kidney function did not recover, likely due to substantial interstitial fibrosis at diagnosis. This case illustrates that serologic evaluation for ANCAs should not be discounted when immune deposits are present. Prompt diagnosis is warranted

A Web-Based Calculator for the Prediction of Severe Neurodevelopmental Impairment in Preterm Infants Using Clinical and Imaging Characteristics

Although the most common forms of brain injury in preterm infants have been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, existing MRI scoring systems lack specificity, do not incorporate clinical factors, and are technically challenging to perform. The objective of this study was to develop a web-based, clinically-focused prediction system which differentiates severe neurodevelopmental outcomes from normal-moderate outcomes at two years. Infants were retrospectively identified as those who were born ≤30 weeks gestation and who had MRI imaging at term-equivalent age and neurodevelopmental testing at 18⁻24 months. Each MRI was scored on injury in three domains (intraventricular hemorrhage, white matter injury, and cerebellar hemorrhage) and clinical factors that were strongly predictive of an outcome were investigated. A binary logistic regression model was then generated from the composite of clinical and imaging components. A total of 154 infants were included (mean gestational age = 26.1 ± 1.8 weeks, birth weight = 889.1 ± 226.2 g). The final model (imaging score + ventilator days + delivery mode + antenatal steroids + retinopathy of prematurity requiring surgery) had strong discriminatory power for severe disability (AUC = 0.850), with a PPV (positive predictive value) of 76% and an NPV (negative predictive value) of 90%. Available as a web-based tool, it can be useful for prognostication and targeting early intervention services to infants who may benefit the most from such services