Journal of nephrology
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Journal of nephrology · Jul 2003
Comparative StudyCost analysis of blood purification in intensive care units: continuous versus intermittent hemodiafiltration.
We implemented a program for continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) in intensive care units (ICU) based on the cooperative work of dialysis and ICU personnel. Our aim was to report the main details of this program and compare its cost with that of intermittent hemodiafiltration (IHDF). ⋯ The cooperation between dialysis and ICUs improved the use of human resources and allowed us to supply CRRT to all critically ill patients with acute renal failure. The expenditure for CRRT was 12% higher than that for IHDF, due to the cost of technical devices.
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Journal of nephrology · Jul 2003
Role of serum creatinine and prognostic scoring systems in assessing hospital mortality in critically ill cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
End-stage liver disease is frequently complicated by episodes of gastrointestinal hemorrhage that are often associated with multiple organ dysfunction and require intensive care. This study aimed to identify specific predictors of hospital mortality in critically ill cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, and compare the prediction accuracy of the Child-Pugh score and two illness severity scoring systems frequently used for intensive care unit (ICU) patients. ⋯ The rise of serum Cr levels above 1.5 mg/dL is common, and indicates a poor prognosis for critically ill cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. SOFA is a straightforward approach with excellent prognostic abilities for this homogeneous patient subset.
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Journal of nephrology · May 2003
ReviewPortuguese-type amyloidosis (transthyretin amyloidosis, ATTR V30M).
Portuguese-type amyloidosis (transthyretin amyloidosis, ATTR V30M) is the most common form of systemic hereditary amyloidosis, inherited in autosomal dominant mode. The disease, also called familial amyloid polyneuropathy type I (FAP-I), is caused by a mutant transthyretin (TTR) protein, which is synthesized by the liver. A single amino acid substitution of methionine for valine at position 30 of the TTR molecule (TTR V30M) was found in Portuguese patients. ⋯ The progression towards end-stage renal disease (ESRD) affects 10% of the patients, and the survival after initiation of dialysis is a mean of 21 months. Patients who progress to ESRD have a late onset of neuropathy and lower prevalence of clinical disease in their families. Liver transplantation is a widely accepted treatment for FAP-I, and combined liver-kidney transplantation is also an option for selected patients with FAP-I and ESRD.
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Journal of nephrology · May 2003
Non-heart-beating donors: experience from the Hospital Clinico of Madrid.
Non-heart-beating donors (NHBD) have received attention in the last few years as an alternative source to increase the pool of kidney donors. The majority of reports focus on NHBD from controlled donors, i.e. patients who die in hospital. This report focuses on our experience using uncontrolled NHBD, i.e. patients who die outside of hospital and are transported to hospital for organ donation. ⋯ At 2 years renal function post-transplantation was better in NHBD organs, as evaluated by serum creatinine and creatinine clearance, while after 2 years it was similar. The incidence of acute renal rejection was lower in NHBD; however, delayed graft function, as expected, was more prevalent in NHBD, although interestingly it did not influence long-term survival. In conclusion NHBD from deaths outside the hospital may be a good source of donor kidneys and also a way to successfully increase the pool for organ transplantation.
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Journal of nephrology · Nov 2002
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for calcific uremic arteriolopathy: a case series.
Calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), also referred to as calciphylaxis, is a syndrome of small vessel calcification of unknown etiology causing painful violaceous skin lesions that progress to non-healing ulcers and gangrene. It is observed mainly in patients with end-stage renal disease, is associated with high morbidity and mortality and has no standard treatment at the present time. Although parathyroidectomy (PTX) has been advocated in some cases, other studies have not found this effective. ⋯ In conclusion, CUA appears to result from a multitude of predisposing and/or sensitizing events that are commonly present in the uremic milieu. The specific factors that induce this disorder in an individual patient are not known. The present retrospective study supports a role of HOT in many cases of CUA, especially considering that, in the absence of severe II(nd) HPTH, there are very few therapeutic options.