We describe a patient with intermittent bouts of malaise and muscle weakness due to profound electrolyte disturbances. Colonoscopy showed a giant villous adenoma of the sigmoid. The patient was diagnosed with a McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome with pre-renal disease and electrolyte disorders due to periodic rectal fluid loss. The diagnosis was delayed by the patient's misinterpretation of the doctor's questions. In cases where the patient's history is contrary to what the data reveal, the expected culprit organ should be investigated early in the course of the disease. Extracting relevant and guiding information out of the patient's history remains an important skill.
Objective Little or no evidence is available on the impact of the first peritonitis episode on peritoneal transport characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the importance of the very first peritonitis episode and distinguish its effect from the natural course by comparison of peritoneal transport before and after infection. Participants We analyzed prospectively collected data from 541 incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, aged > 18 years, between 1990 and 2010. Standard Peritoneal Permeability Analyses (SPA) within the year before and within the year after (but not within 30 days) the first peritonitis were compared. In a control group without peritonitis, SPAs within the first and second year of PD were compared. Main outcome measurements SPA data included the mass transfer area coefficient of creatinine, glucose absorption and peritoneal clearances of β–2-microglobulin (b2m), albumin, IgG and α–2-macroglobulin (a2m). From these clearances, the restriction coefficient to macromolecules (RC) was calculated. Also, parameters of fluid transport were determined: transcapillary ultrafiltration rate (TCUFR), lymphatic absorption (ELAR), and free water transport. Crude and adjusted linear mixed models were used to compare the slopes of peritoneal transport parameters in the peritonitis group to the control group. Adjustments were made for age, sex and diabetes. Results Of 541 patients, 367 experienced a first peritonitis episode within a median time of 12 months after the start of PD. Of these, 92 peritonitis episodes were preceded and followed by a SPA within one year. Forty-five patients without peritonitis were included in the control group. Logistic reasons (peritonitis group: 48% vs control group: 83%) and switch to hemodialysis (peritonitis group: 22% vs control group: 3%) were the main causes of missing SPA data post-peritonitis and post-control. When comparing the slopes of peritoneal transport parameters in the peritonitis group and the control group, a first peritonitis episode was associated with faster small solute transport (glucose absorption, p = 0.03) and a concomitant lower TCUFR ( p = 0.03). In addition, a discreet decrease in macromolecular transport was seen in the peritonitis group: mean difference in post- and pre-peritonitis values: IgG: -8 μL/min ( p = 0.01), a2m: -4 μL/min ( p = 0.02), albumin: -10 μL/min (p = 0.04). Accordingly, the RC to macromolecules increased after peritonitis: 0.09, p = 0.04. Conclusions The very first peritonitis episode alters the natural course of peritoneal membrane characteristics. The most likely explanation might be that cured peritoneal infection later causes long-lasting alterations in peritoneal transport state.
Despite advances in treatment and prevention, peritonitis remains a major problem in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with often technique failure as a consequence. The last decades the focus of PD peritonitis has changed from lowering peritonitis incidence to improvement of peritonitis outcome. Prognostic factors for peritonitis outcome can influence decision making during the treatment of peritonitis, for example to take out the PD catheter early in the time course of peritonitis and prevent further damage to the peritoneal membrane. In this paper, we give a review of the literature about prognostic factors for peritonitis outcome. In most studies, age, gender, diabetes, time on PD, a precursor of calcitonin:procalcitonin, IL-6 and albumin did not show a significant effect on peritonitis outcome. The following factors have been associated with poor outcome of peritonitis: Gram-negative organisms, Mycobacterium species, fungal peritonitis, polymicrobial peritonitis, concurrent exit site or tunnel infection, Caucasian race, low residual GFR, persistently elevated peritoneal dialysate white cell count, CRP, and low levels of slCAM-1 and hyaluronan at the end of peritonitis treatment. In fungal peritonitis, abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, the catheter remaining in situ and Candidaparapsilosis are factors associated with higher mortality rate and a greater risk of technique failure. Recent antibiotic therapy and peritonitis are associated with poor treatment response in culture-negative peritonitis. Recurrent peritonitis episodes have a poor therapeutic response and high mortality and have a worse prognosis than relapsing ones. Older age, long PD duration and continuous elevated serum CRP levels are predictors of adverse outcomes in PD patients after peritonitis-related catheter removal. Peritonitis remains a serious complication of PD with marked morbidity. It is a common cause of technique failure. The rate of PD-related peritonitis has decreased over the last decades due to advances in treatment and prevention. Nowadays, the focus moved from lowering peritonitis incidence towards improving peritonitis outcome. It is useful to have prognostic factors for peritonitis outcome, because they can influence decision-making during the treatment of peritonitis, for example to take out the PD catheter early in the time course of peritonitis and prevent further damage to the peritoneal membrane. In the last decades, many publications appeared about prognostic factors for peritonitis outcome. This article summarizes those prognostic factors, based on an extensive review of the literature.
♦The quality of the peritoneal membrane can deteriorate over time. Exposure to glucose-based dialysis solutions is the most likely culprit. Because peritonitis is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), distinguishing between the effect of glucose exposure and a possible additive effect of peritonitis is difficult. The aim of the present study was to compare the time-course of peritoneal transport characteristics in patients without a single episode of peritonitis-representing the natural course-and in patients who experienced 1 or more episodes of peritonitis during long-term follow-up. ♦This prospective, single-center cohort study enrolled incident adult PD patients who started PD during 1990-2010. A standard peritoneal permeability analysis was performed in the first year of PD treatment and was repeated every year. The results in patients without a single episode of peritonitis ("no-peritonitis group") were compared with the results obtained in patients who experienced 1 or more peritonitis episodes ("peritonitis group") during a follow-up of 4 years. ♦The 124 patients analyzed included 54 in the no-peritonitis group and 70 in the peritonitis group. The time-course of small-solute transport was different in the groups, with the peritonitis group showing an earlier and more pronounced increase in the mass transfer area coefficient for creatinine (p = 0.07) and in glucose absorption (p = 0.048). In the no-peritonitis group, the net ultrafiltration rate (NUFR) and the transcapillary ultrafiltration rate (TCUFR) both showed a steep increase from the 1st to the 2nd year of PD that was absent in the peritonitis group. Both groups showed a decrease in the NUFR after year 3. A decrease in the TCUFR occurred only in the peritonitis group. That decrease was already present after the year 1 in patients with severe peritonitis. The time-course of free water transport showed a continuous increase in the patients without peritonitis, but a decrease in the patients who experienced peritonitis (p < 0.01). No difference was observed in the time-course of the effective lymphatic absorption rate. The time-courses of immunoglobulin G and α2-macroglobulin clearances showed a decrease in both patient groups, with a concomitant increase of the restriction coefficient. Those changes were not evidently influenced by peritonitis. The two groups showed a similar decrease in the mesothelial cell mass marker cancer antigen 125 during follow-up. ♦On top of the natural course of peritoneal function, peritonitis episodes to some extent influence the time-course of small-solute and fluid transport-especially the transport of solute-free water. Those modifications increase the risk for overhydration.
Background People with reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) often have elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels. It remains unclear how cTnT levels develop over time in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to prospectively study the association between cTnT and GFR over time in older advanced‐stage CKD patients not on dialysis. Methods and Results The EQUAL (European Quality Study) study is an observational prospective cohort study in stage 4 to 5 CKD patients aged ≥65 years not on dialysis (incident estimated GFR, <20 mL/min/1.73 m²). The EQUAL cohort used for the purpose of this study includes 171 patients followed in Sweden between April 2012 and December 2018. We used linear mixed models, adjusted for important groups of confounders, to investigate the effect of both measured GFR and estimated GFR on high‐sensitivity cTnT (hs‐cTnT) trajectory over 4 years. Almost all patients had at least 1 hs‐cTnT measurement elevated above the 99th percentile of the general reference population (≤14 ng/L). On average, hs‐cTnT increased by 16%/year (95% CI, 13–19; P <0.0001). Each 15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 lower mean estimated GFR was associated with a 23% (95% CI, 14–31; P <0.0001) higher baseline hs‐cTnT and 9% (95% CI, 5–13%; P <0.0001) steeper increase in hs‐cTnT. The effect of estimated GFR on hs‐cTnT trajectory was somewhat lower than a previous myocardial infarction (15%), but higher than presence of diabetes mellitus (4%) and male sex (5%). Conclusions In CKD patients, hs‐cTnT increases over time as renal function decreases. Lower CKD stage (each 15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 lower) is independently associated with a steeper hs‐cTnT increase over time in the same range as other established cardiovascular risk factors.
Predicting the timing and occurrence of kidney replacement therapy (KRT), cardiovascular events, and death among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is clinically useful and relevant. We aimed to externally validate a recently developed CKD G4+ risk calculator for these outcomes and to assess its potential clinical impact in guiding vascular access placement.We included 1517 patients from the European Quality (EQUAL) study, a European multicentre prospective cohort study of nephrology-referred advanced CKD patients aged ≥65 years. Model performance was assessed based on discrimination and calibration. Potential clinical utility for timing of referral for vascular access placement was studied with diagnostic measures and decision curve analysis (DCA).The model showed a good discrimination for KRT and "death after KRT," with 2-year concordance (C) statistics of 0.74 and 0.76, respectively. Discrimination for cardiovascular events (2-year C-statistic: 0.70) and overall death (2-year C-statistic: 0.61) was poorer. Calibration was fairly accurate. Decision curves illustrated that using the model to guide vascular access referral would generally lead to less unused arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) than following estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) thresholds.This study shows moderate to good predictive performance of the model in an older cohort of nephrology-referred patients with advanced CKD. Using the model to guide referral for vascular access placement has potential in combating unnecessary vascular surgeries.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter-related infections are a major predisposing factor to PD-related peritonitis (1–3). The primary objective of preventing and treating catheter-related infections is to prevent peritonitis.Recommendations on the prevention and treatment of catheter-related infections were published previously together with recommendations on PD peritonitis under the auspices of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) in 1983 and revised in 1989, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2005, and 2010 (4–9). The present recommendations, however, focus on catheter-related infections, while peritonitis will be covered in a separate guideline.These recommendations are evidence-based where such evidence exists. The bibliography is not intended to be comprehensive. When there are many similar reports on the same area, the committee prefers to refer to the more recent publications. In general, these recommendations follow the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system for classification of the level of evidence and grade of recommendations in clinical guideline reports (10). Within each recommendation, the strength of recommendation is indicated as Level 1 (We recommend), Level 2 (We suggest), or Not Graded, and the quality of the supporting evidence is shown as A (high quality), B (moderate quality), C (low quality), or D (very low quality). The recommendations are not meant to be implemented in every situation indiscriminately. Each PD unit should examine its own pattern of infection, causative organisms, and sensitivities and adapt the protocols according to local conditions as necessary. Although many of the general principles presented here could be applied to pediatric patients, we focus on catheter-related infections in adult patients. Clinicians who take care of pediatric PD patients should refer to the latest consensus guideline in this area for detailed treatment regimen and dosage (11).
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