Cilj: Ispitati pojavnost znakova ishemijske periferne arterijske bolesti (PAB), ulkusa nogu (UN) i amputacija nogu (AN) u bolesnika liječenih kroničnom intermitentnom hemodijalizom (HD) te njihovu ...povezanost s drugim kliničkim i laboratorijskim parametrima. Metode: U presječno istraživanje, provedeno od siječnja do svibnja
2023. godine, uključeno je 329 bolesnika iz 5 HD centara. Osim anamneze, pregleda dokumentacije te kliničkog pregleda (posebice pulzacija), praćeni su i zadnji laboratorijski nalazi bolesnika određivani u rutinskoj kliničkoj praksi. Za ispitivanje neovisnih rizičnih čimbenika za UN te AN korištena je multivarijatna logistička regresija. Rezultati: Uključeno je 202 muškarca (61,4%), 119 bolesnika s dijabetesom (36,2%), medijana HD liječenja 40 mjeseci. PAB nogu imalo je 98 (27,8%) bolesnika, UN 42 (12,8%), a AN 40 (12,2%) bolesnika. UN bolesnici imali su češće PAB, dijabetes, ishemijsku srčanu bolest, češće su bili pušači, češće su imali odsutne ili oslabljene pulzacije na svim lokalizacijama nogu te češće amputacije i hipoalbuminemiju. AN bolesnici češće su imali PAB, dijabetes, ulkuse nogu, češće su bili pušači i imali odsutne ili oslabljene pulzacije na svim lokalizacijama nogu i hipoalbuminemiju te su bili značajno mlađi i viši. U multivarijatnoj logističkoj regresiji kao nezavisni čimbenici rizika za UN nađeni su: PAB, dijabetes, duži HD staž i hipoalbuminemija. Nezavisni rizični čimbenici za AN bili su: PAB, UN, dijabetes, pušenje, mlađa dob i hipoalbuminemija. Zaključak: učestalost znakova PAB-a veća je u HD bolesnika u usporedbi s općom populacijom, a dijabetes, pušenje i dužina liječenja HD-om dodatni su rizični čimbenici. Potrebna su prospektivna istraživanja te kliničko praćenje statusa nogu u ovih bolesnika radi sprječavanja komplikacija.
Purpose
Data on the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in heamodialysis (HD) patients are conflicting, ranging from 0 to 44%. The aim of this study was to determine the HEV seroprevalence and ...risk factors among HD patients in Croatia.
Methods
A total of 394 HD patients from six medical facilities in five Croatian cities (three sites in the continental and three sites in the coastal region) were tested for HEV IgM/IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, all samples were tested for HEV RNA by RT-PCR. Sociodemographic data and risk factors were collected using a questionnaire.
Results
HEV IgG antibodies were detected in 110 (27.9%) patients. The seroprevalence varied significantly between dialysis centres, ranging from 5.2 to 43.4% (
p
= 0.001). HEV IgM antibodies were found in 0.04% of IgG positive patients. All patients tested negative for HEV RNA. Factors associated with HEV IgG seropositivity were age > 60 years (OR 8.17; 95% CI 1.08–62.14), living in the continental parts of the country (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.55–4.30), and transfusion of blood products (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.01–2.73). After adjusting for age and gender, patients from continental regions had higher odds of HEV seropositivity compared to patients from coastal regions (OR 2.88; 95% CI 1.71–4.85) and those who had RBC transfusions (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.02–2.69) compared to those who did not.
Conclusion
The study showed a high HEV seropositivity among HD patients in Croatia, with significant variations between geographical regions. Continental area of residence and RBC transfusion were the most significant risk factors for HEV seropositivity. Due to the high seroprevalence, routine HEV screening among HD patients, especially in transplant candidates should be considered.
The incidence of bone fractures is several times higher in haemodialysis (HD) patients than in the general population. FRAX is a fracture risk evaluation tool and shows a 10-year probability of bone ...fracture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the FRAX score in haemodialysis patients. The study included 214 HD patients (81 female). We used the following calculation tool: If renal osteodystrophy (ROD) is defined as primary osteoporosis, the average FRAX value for MF is 7.4 + or - 6.4% and for HF 3.5 + or - 4.1%, and as secondary osteoporosis, the average FRAX value for MF is 10.3 + or - 8.4 %, for HF 5.4 + or - 5.9%. 13.6% of patients or 49.1% had an increased risk for MF or HF if ROD was defined as secondary osteoporosis. If it was defined as primary osteoporosis, the results were 7.1% for MF or 39.2% for HF. In women, FRAX values were significantly higher for both HF and MF. According to our preliminary results, a large number of patients have an increased FRAX score risk, especially if we define ROD as secondary osteoporosis. The FRAX score is higher in women. Key words: FRAX, haemodialysis, bone fracture
The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine may differ in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to determine the degree of serological response to the SARS-CoV-2 ...vaccine in the population of dialysis patients and its association with later SARS-CoV-2 infections.
A blood sample was taken for the determination of COVID-19 serological status (IgG antibodies) in 706 dialysis patients 16 weeks after vaccination with the second dose (Pfizer-BioNTech).
Only 314 (44.5%) hemodialyzed patients had a satisfactory response to the COVID-19 vaccine. Eighty-two patients (11.6%) had a borderline response, while 310 patients (43.9%) had an unsatisfactory (negative) post-vaccinal antibody titer. A longer dialysis vintage had an increased odds ratio (OR) of 1.01 for the occurrence of COVID-19 positivity after vaccination. In the group of subsequently positive patients, 28 patients (13.6%) died from complications of COVID-19. We have found differences in mean survival time between patients with and without appropriate responses to vaccination in favor of patients with a satisfactory serological response.
The results showed that the dialysis population will not have the same serological response to the vaccine as the general population. The majority of dialysis patients did not develop a severe clinical picture or die at the time of positivity for COVID-19.
ObjectivesStudies have reported that the tunnelled dialysis catheter (TDC) is associated with inferior haemodialysis (HD) patient survival, in comparison with arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Since many ...cofactors may also affect survival of HD patients, it is unclear whether the greater risk for survival arises from TDC per se, or from associated conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine, in a multivariate analysis, the long-term outcome of HD patients, with respect to vascular access (VA).DesignRetrospective cohort study.ParticipantsThis retrospective cohort study included all 156 patients with a TDC admitted at University Hospital Merkur, from 2010 to 2012. The control group consisted of 97 patients dialysed via AVF. The groups were matched according to dialysis unit and time of VA placement. The site of choice for the placement of the TDC was the right jugular vein. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test was used to assess patient survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to determine independent variables associated with patient survival.Primary outcome measuresPatient survival with respect to VA.ResultsThe cumulative 1-year survival of patients who were dialysed exclusively via TDC was 86.4% and of those who were dialysed exclusively via AVF, survival was 97.1% (p=0.002). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, male sex and older age were independently negatively associated with the survival of HD patients, while shorter HD vintage before the creation of the observed VA, hypertensive renal disease and glomerulonephritis were positively associated with survival. TDC was an independent risk factor for survival of HD patients (HR 23.0, 95% CI 6.2 to 85.3).ConclusionTDC may be an independent negative risk factor for HD patient survival.
Disturbances of bone mineral metabolism are common complications of chronic kidney disease with bone fractures as one of the most important consequences. The aim of this study was to estimate ...prevalence of bone fractures among Croatian hemodialysis patients and to determine the possible fracture risk. The study was carried out in 767 hemodialysis patients from nine Croatian hemodialysis centers. Demographic, laboratory and bone fracture data were collected from medical records as well as therapy with vitamin D analogs. Fragility fractures were defined according to the World Health Organization definition. In 31 patient a total of 36 fractures were recorded. The prevalence of patients with bone fractures was 4.0%. The mean age of patients with fractures was 68.6 years. There were 9 male and 22 female patients with frac- tures. The mean hemodialysis duration was 63.3 months. Among all fractures the most common were hip fractures (39%) followed by forearm fractures (22%). This is the first study regarding epidemiology of bone fractures in Croatian hemodialysis patients. The prevalence of patients with bone fractures in our group of hemodialysis patients is high. Fractures were more frequent among women and older patients, patients who have been longer on dialysis and in patients with higher concentration of PTH.
Calcific uremic arteriolopathy or alciphylaxis is a malignant form of calcification of small arteries and arterioles, usually present in patients with chronic kidney disease and dialysis therapy. It ...causes high mortality. Histological distinctive feature are calcium deposits lining vascular intima. Calcification of medial muscle layer, inflammation and necrosis of subcutaneous adipose tissue are frequent. The disease begins with painful violaceous mottling, resembling livedo reticularis. Ths skin lesion progresses to ulcers and eschars, sometimes it becomes very vulnerable to secondary infection which can often develop into fatal sepsis. Our first patient with proximal form of calciphylaxis dies in repeated sepsis. The second patient with the distal form of calciphylaxis was treated successfully. The decisive moment was the use of calcimimetic. A multiinterventional strategy is likely to be more effective than any single therapy. It is necessary to regulate metabolism of calcium phosphate and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Effectiveness has been demonstrated using calcimimetics, sodium thiosulfate, oxygen therapy, careful application of biphosphonates and surgical procedures. Warfarin withdrawal is urgently recommended and subsequent vitamin K supplementation is appropriate. The control of infection is critically important and the use of carbonylated hemoglobin in the stage without infections could accelerate the wound healing.
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