Nephron
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Perioperative acute kidney injury is a common problem. While clinical trials seek to evaluate the impact of interventions on a variety of primary and secondary endpoints with the aim of implementing this knowledge to improve perioperative outcomes, the use of valid and relevant endpoints within clinical trials is of critical importance to achieving this goal. Suitable endpoints must be validated for the study population and in light of the clinical context under investigation while also considering regulatory requirements that govern the licensing of new therapeutic agents as well as the values of patients whose outcomes we seek to improve. ⋯ The Standardized Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine (StEP) initiative is an international collaboration whose goal is to identify and recommend a suite of clearly and precisely defined endpoints across multiple domains, specifically suited for use in perioperative clinical trials. The current review describes the rationale, goals and the planned pathway of the StEP renal subgroup. Development of a set of standardized and core renal endpoints, valid and relevant for use in the perioperative context, precisely defined and yet with sufficient flexibility to encourage broad uptake and application should facilitate high-quality and practice-changing perioperative research into the future.
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Retrospective case series suggest that abnormalities in fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base homeostasis may occur among infants with a febrile urinary tract infection. Potentially inaccurate laboratory methods of sodium testing have often been used. ⋯ This prospective cross-sectional study shows that electrolyte or acid-base abnormalities, most frequently hyponatremia, occur in approximately 3 quarters of infants with acute pyelonephritis.
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who experience superimposed acute kidney injury (AKI) have been shown to be at higher risk of long-term sequelae of AKI when compared to those who do not experience AKI. It remains unclear whether the need for temporary dialysis intervention following superimposed AKI in patients with CKD has any effect on the long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). This study examines the relationship between temporary dialysis therapy following AKI and long-term major cardiovascular events in patients with background CKD. ⋯ Treatment of AKI with temporary dialysis in hospitalized patients with baseline eGFR between 20 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was not associated with an increased risk for subsequent admission for MACE. If confirmed by prospective studies, clinicians may not need to worry that the dialysis procedure may contribute to additional risk for long-term MACE in CKD patients with superimposed AKI.
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Complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) are beneficial to the long-term outcome of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN). However, we are lacking in studies that evaluate the clinical predictors of response to treatment with prednisone plus cyclophosphamide (CP). The objectives of the study are to identify clinical factors that could predict clinical remission or relapse in patients with iMN who were treated with prednisone plus i.v. CP therapy. ⋯ Patients with low proteinuria at baseline and high reduction of proteinuria at month 3 of treatment with CP were more likely to achieve remission and CR. The presence of only a PR may act as a useful predictor of relapse after completion of CP therapy.
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The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the most important measure of kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to validate commonly used equations for estimated GFR (eGFR) based on creatinine (cr), cystatin C (cys), β-trace protein (BTP), and β2-microglobulin (B2M) in older adults. ⋯ This study confirms that it is reasonable to use equations incorporating cystatin C and creatinine in older patients across a wide spectrum of GFR. However, the results call into question the use of creatinine alone below mGFR 45 mL/min/1.73 m2. B2M and BTP do not demonstrate additional value in eGFR determination in older adults.