Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association
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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · Apr 2003
Comparative StudyInfluenza vaccination of dialysis patients: cross-reactivity of induced haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies to H3N2 subtype antigenic variants is comparable with the response of naturally infected young healthy adults.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for patients with chronic renal failure, although vaccination responses in haemodialysis (HD) patients may be suboptimal. Typically, the seroreactivity has been analysed against the vaccine virus or the corresponding year's epidemic virus. No studies analysing cross-reactivity against subsequent years' viruses have been presented. ⋯ Influenza vaccination in HD patients is as effective as the vaccination of cardiac patients with normal kidney function. The cross-reactivity of vaccination-induced antibodies is even as good as that of antibodies induced by natural infection of young healthy males. Additionally, vaccination seems to prime the individual beneficially against subsequent years' influenza viruses.
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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · Apr 2003
Comparative StudyOutcome in a post-cardiac surgery population with acute renal failure requiring dialysis: does age make a difference?
Acute renal failure (ARF), requiring dialysis (ARF-d), develops in 1-5% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery and is associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Age is one of the known risk factors for the development of ARF. As the ageing population is increasing, the nephrologist will be faced with a large population of elderly patients requiring dialysis following cardiac surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of age on and the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. ⋯ The outcome in the elderly requiring dialysis due to ARF post-cardiac surgery is comparable with the outcome in a younger population. No significant difference was found in severity of disease between the elderly and the younger. Variables predicting mortality in the elderly are the presence of MOF, mechanical ventilation and hypotension 24 h before starting RRT. These findings indicate that at the time the nephrologist is called for an elderly patient requiring dialysis due to ARF following cardiac surgery, age per se is not a reason to withhold RRT.