Project description:Fabry disease is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder of glycosphingolipid catabolism caused by deficient activity of the lysosomal hydrolase alpha-galactosidase A (ɑ-Gal A). A 20-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of proteinuria and persistent macroscopic hematuria. Based on the typical renal pathological findings, deficient activity of the ɑ-Gal A, and heterozygous mutation in the ɑ-Gal A gene, she was diagnosed with Fabry disease. After 1 year of enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase alfa at 0.2 mg/kg every other week, the patient's proteinuria and hematuria were disappeared. In our patient, enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase alfa was observed to be safe and well-tolerated during her pregnancy, with no significant negative effects on her or her child. Here, we report clinical and pathological evaluations of a patient through repeat kidney biopsy after 6 years of enzyme replacement therapy. Furthermore, we discussed the appropriate enzyme replacement therapy and its safety in pregnant women with Fabry disease.
Project description:Participants who identified as female and Black reported more thorough discussions of dialysis than transplant.Participants with low incomes and education reported more thorough discussions of dialysis than transplant.
Project description:Cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease characterized by multi-organ cystine accumulation, leading to renal failure and extra-renal organ dysfunction. Azoospermia of unknown origin is the main cause of infertility in all male cystinosis patients. Although spermatogenesis has shown to be intact at the testicular level in some patients, no male cystinosis patient has been reported yet to have successfully induced conception.We present the first successful conception ever reported, induced by a 27-year-old male renal transplant infantile nephropathic cystinosis patient through percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) followed by intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI). After 36 weeks and 6 days of an uncomplicated pregnancy, a dichorial diamniotic (DCDA) twin was born with an appropriate weight for gestational age and in an apparently healthy status. Moreover, we demonstrate that the sperm of epididymal origin in selected male cystinosis patients can be viable for inducing successful conception.Our observation opens a new perspective in life for many male cystinosis patients whom nowadays have become adults, by showing that despite azoospermia fathering a child can be realized. In addition, our findings raise questions about the possibility of sperm cryopreservation at a young age in these patients.
Project description:IntroductionIdeal timing of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) discontinuation in Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is still unknown. We aimed to study the role of creatinine-related variables in predicting RRT successful discontinuation and to propose a clinical predictive score.MethodsIn this single-centre retrospective study, we evaluated all AKI patients in whom RRT was interrupted for at least 48 hours. Patients who were still RRT-independent 7 days after initial RRT cessation were included in the "Success" group and opposed to the "Failure" group. We evaluated baseline characteristics and variables collected at the time of RRT interruption, as well as the Kinetic estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (KeGFR), the simple variation in serum Creatinine (ΔsCr), and the incremental creatinine ratio on the first three days after RRT interruption. Multivariable analysis was performed to evaluate prediction of success. Internal validation using a simple binomial generalized regression model with Lasso estimation and 5-fold cross validation method was performed.ResultsWe included 124 patients, 49 in the "Failure" group and 75 in the "Success" group. All creatinine-related variables predicted success in simple and multiple logistic regression models. The best model generated a clinical score based on the odds ratio obtained for each variable and included urine output, non-renal SOFA score, fluid balance, serum urea, serum potassium, blood pH, and the variation in sCr values after RRT discontinuation. The score presented an area under the ROC of 0.86 (95% CI 0.76‒1.00).ConclusionCreatinine variation between the first 2 consecutive days after RRT discontinuation might predict success in RRT discontinuation. The developed clinical score based on these variables might be a useful clinical decision tool to guide hemodialysis catheter safe removal.
Project description:Rationale & objectiveTo what degree and how patient navigators improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure is uncertain. We performed a systematic review to summarize patient navigator program design, evidence, and implementation in kidney disease.Study designA search strategy was developed for randomized controlled trials and observational studies that evaluated the impact of navigators on outcomes in the setting of CKD and kidney failure. Articles were identified from various databases. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and identified those meeting the inclusion criteria.Setting & participantsPatients with CKD or kidney failure (in-center hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, home hemodialysis, or kidney transplantation).Selection criteria for studiesStudies that compared patient navigators with a control, without limits on size, duration, setting, or language. Studies focusing solely on patient education were excluded.Data extractionData were abstracted from full texts and risk of bias was assessed.Analytical approachNo meta-analysis was performed.ResultsOf 3,371 citations, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria including 14 original studies. Navigators came from various healthcare backgrounds including nursing (n=6), social worker (n=2), medical interpreter (n=1), research (n=1), and also included kidney transplant recipients (n=2) and non-medical individuals (n=2). Navigators focused mostly on education (n=9) and support (n = 6). Navigators were used for patients with CKD (n=5), peritoneal dialysis (n=2), in-center hemodialysis (n=4), kidney transplantation (n=2), but not home hemodialysis. Navigators improved transplant workup and listing, peritoneal dialysis utilization, and patient knowledge.LimitationsMany studies did not show benefits across other outcomes, were at a high risk of bias, and none reported cost-effectiveness or patient-reported experience measures.ConclusionsNavigators improve some health outcomes for CKD but there was heterogeneity in their structure and function. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate navigator program efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
Project description:Background: Clinical decisions regarding the appropriate timing of weaning off renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients are complex and multifactorial. The aim of the current study was to identify which critical patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) may be more likely to be successfully weaned off RRT using consensus cluster analysis. Methods: In this study, critically ill patients who received RRT at three multicenter referral hospitals at several timepoints from August 2016 to July 2018 were enrolled. An unsupervised consensus clustering algorithm was used to identify distinct phenotypes. The outcomes of interest were the ability to wean off RTT and 90-day mortality. Results: A total of 124 patients with AKI requiring RRT (AKI-RRT) were enrolled. The 90-day mortality rate was 30.7% (38/124), and 49.2% (61/124) of the patients were successfully weaned off RRT for over 90 days. The consensus clustering algorithm identified three clusters from a total of 45 features. The three clusters had distinct features and could be separated according to the combination of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin to creatinine ratio (uNGAL/Cr), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and estimated glomerular filtration rate at the time of weaning off RRT. uNGAL/Cr (hazard ratio [HR] 2.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-4.33) and clustering phenotype (cluster 1 vs. 3, HR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.11-6.57; cluster 2 vs. 3, HR 44.5, 95% CI: 11.92-166.39) could predict 90-day mortality or re-dialysis. Conclusions: Almost half of the critical patients with AKI-RRT could wean off dialysis for over 90 days. Urinary NGAL/Cr and distinct clustering phenotypes could predict 90-day mortality or re-dialysis.
Project description:Brachytelephalangic chondrodysplasia punctata (CDPX1) is characterized by brachytelephalangy and nasomaxillary hypoplasia, in addition to stippled epiphyses. Some reports have described infants with CDPX1 who exhibited cervical spinal stenosis. However, the natural course of cervical spinal lesions in this condition has not been elucidated. Here, we report a very rare adolescent case of CDPX1, which demonstrated progressive myelopathy caused by atlantoaxial subluxation and a subsequent retroodontoid pseudotumor, successfully treated with surgery. Our case highlights a new clinically important fact that upper cervical spinal lesions in CDPX1 can deteriorate even after childhood and thus need close monitoring.
Project description:BackgroundOngoing measures to improve pediatric continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) have lowered mortality rates, shifting the focus to survivor functional status. While septic acute kidney injury generates new morbidity in pediatric critically ill patients, acquired morbidities and functional status of CKRT population are unknown. We predicted that CKRT survivors are at risk for new morbidity and would have worse functional status at PICU discharge compared to baseline, and aimed to describe associated factors.MethodsRetrospective cohort study over 24 months of CKRT patients surviving to PICU discharge in a quaternary children's hospital. Functional outcome was determined by Functional Status Scale (FSS).ResultsFSS scores were higher at PICU and hospital discharge compared to baseline. Of 45 CKRT survivors, 31 (69%) had worse FSS score at PICU discharge and 51% had new morbidity (≥3 increase in FSS); majority qualified as moderate to severe disability (FSS ≥10). Four patients (9%) had new tracheostomy, 3 (7%) were ventilator dependent, and 10 (22%) were dialysis dependent. Most (23/45, 51%) required outpatient rehabilitation. Cumulative days on sedation, controlled for illness severity, were independently associated with worse FSS at PICU discharge (aOR 25.18 (3.73, 169.92)). In adjusted analyses, duration of sedation was associated with new morbidity, while neurologic comorbidity, percent fluid overload at CKRT start, and nonrenal comorbidity were associated with moderate to severe disability at PICU discharge when controlled for baseline FSS.ConclusionsCKRT survivors, with new morbidity and worse functional outcomes at PICU discharge, are a newly described vulnerable population requiring targeted follow-up. Deliberate decrease of sedation exposure in patients with decreased clearance due to organ dysfunction needs to be studied as a modifiable risk factor.
Project description:Background and objectivesGrowth and final height are of major concern in children with ESRD. This study sought to describe the distribution of adult height of patients who started renal replacement therapy (RRT) during childhood and to identify determinants of final height in a large cohort of RRT children.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsA total of 1612 patients from 20 European countries who started RRT before 19 years of age and reached final height between 1990 and 2011 were included. Linear regression analyses were performed to calculate adjusted mean final height SD score (SDS) and to investigate its potential determinants.ResultsThe median final height SDS was -1.65 (median of 168 cm in boys and 155 cm in girls). Fifty-five percent of patients attained an adult height within the normal range. Adjusted for age at start of RRT and primary renal diseases, final height increased significantly over time from -2.06 SDS in children who reached adulthood in 1990-1995 to -1.33 SDS among those reaching adulthood in 2006-2011. Older age at start of RRT, more recent period of start of RRT, cumulative percentage time on a functioning graft, and greater height SDS at initiation of RRT were independently associated with a higher final height SDS. Patients with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract and metabolic disorders had a lower final height than those with other primary renal diseases.ConclusionsAlthough final height remains suboptimal in children with ESRD, it has consistently improved over time.