Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases
Volume:10 Issue: 5, Sep 2016

Hypertension is the most important, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. High salt intake may predispose children to develop hypertension later. A modest reduction in population salt intake worldwide would result in a major improvement in public health. Regarding smoking as another risk factor, there are various strategies that can be used to promote smoking cessation. Physicians are in an excellent position to help their patients stop smoking. Targeted weight loss interventions in population subgroups might be more effective for the prevention of hypertension than a general-population approach. A diet rich in high-potassium fruit and vegetables is strongly recommended. Fresh products are best; normal potassium content is reduced when foods are canned or frozen. Calcium supplementation reduces blood pressure in hypertensive individuals during chronic nitric oxide synthase inhibition and high calcium diet enhances vasorelaxation in nitric oxide-deficient hypertension. Magnesium should be considered by anyone seeking to prevent or treat high blood pressure. The foundation for a healthy blood pressure consists of a healthy diet, adequate exercise, stress reduction, and sufficient amounts of potassium and magnesium, but further investigations are required before making definitive therapeutic recommendations on magnesium use. Alcohol usage is a more frequent contributor to hypertension than is generally appreciated. For hypertensive patients in whom stress appears to be an important issue, stress management should be considered as an intervention. Individualized cognitive behavioral interventions are more likely to be effective than single-component interventions.

After 20 years of peritoneal dialysis in Iran, we have encountered with several cases of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in past few years. Many of these cases remained undiagnosed until advanced stages due to lack of suspicion. In centers with more experience about EPS, mortality has decreased by early diagnostic interventions. Peritoneal dialysis nurses may not be aware of EPS and radiologists are usually not familiar with EPS, either. To increase knowledge about this condition, we decided to present this review article with the case study of one of the 1st patients with EPS at our center. Currently, we have had no data registry of EPS in Iran, yet. Our plan is to develop a national EPS registry in our country which will help to closely monitor these patients.

Introduction. Controversial findings are reported on the risk of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are some interactions between CKD and other metabolic disorders including metabolic syndrome (MS) and obesity regarding coronary heart disease (CHD) outcomes.
Materials and Methods. A total of 2823 men and 3684 women aged 30 years and older, without cardiovascular disease, were followed for 10 years. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratio of CHD was estimated for those who developed CKD, MS or both by sex and body mass index levels below and above 27 kg/m2. The interaction term of CKD and MS and also CKD-MS components were assessed in the Cox proportional hazard models as well.
Results. Chronic kidney disease without MS, showed a significant effect on CHD only in participants with low body mass index (hazard ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.28 to 3.31 in the men and hazard ratio, 2.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 6.31 in the women). The joint effect of CKD and MS decreased to one-third of their multiplicative effect in this subgroup, indicating a negative interaction between CKD, MS, and Obesity. The same interaction was observed between CKD and hypertension in both sexes and CKD and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the men.
Conclusions. Our results showed that CKD was an independent risk factor for CHD only in nonobese individuals; however, its risk was wiped out when joined to MS. Following the concept of "obesity paradox," the term of "risk factors paradox" also needs more attention.

Introduction. Kidney disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The corollary of that observation should be that cardiovascular disease would not only increase the risk of kidney dysfunction, but also cause kidney damage, a concept not previously proposed.
Materials and Methods. Hemodynamic response to a graded exercise stress test was measured in 70 candidates to evaluate the association of heart rate and blood pressure change, heart rate reserve, chronotropic incompetence (percentage of achievement of maximal predicted heart rate), and circulatory power with development of kidney failure (glomerular filtration rate Results. Kidney failure was more likely to develop in patients with lower heart rate change, heart rate reserve, percentage of achievement of maximal predicted heart rate, and circulatory power (P = .002, P = .01, P = .02, and P = .008, respectively), even after adjustment for age, resting pulse pressure, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and exercise test result (hazard ratios, 5.9, 2.9, 3.3, and 2.9, respectively). A resting pulse pressure of 60 mm Hg and higher was accompanied by 7.4 times (95% confidence interval, 1.8 to 30.9) greater risk of developing kidney failure, independent of age and resting systolic blood pressure (P = .006).
Conclusions. Hemodynamic responses to a standard graded exercise stress test independently predicted the development of kidney failure. Also, arterial stiffness (represented by resting pulse pressure) could be a factor linking ventricular and kidney function. Early diagnosis of kidney disease should include a cardiovascular assessment and vice versa.

Introduction. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of nasal oxygen as a supplementation to hydration therapy in reducing the risk of developing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN).
Materials and Methods. In a randomized controlled trial, 348 patients scheduled to undergo elective coronary angiography were randomly allocated to standard hydration plus 2 L/min to 3 L/min nasal oxygen (from 10 minutes before the procedure until the end of the procedure) (n = 176) or standard hydration alone (n = 176). The primary outcome measure was development of CIN defined as either an increase of 25% or more in serum creatinine concentrations or an increment of at least 0.5 mg/dL in serum creatinine concentrations 48 hours after catheterization.
Results. Of the 348 patients who completed the study, 105 developed CIN (30.2%; 95% confidence interval, 25.4% to 35.0%). A diagnosis of CIN was made in 32 (18.6%) and 73 (41.5%) patients in the nasal oxygen and control arms, respectively (P Conclusions. Supplementation with nasal oxygen in addition to standard hydration appears to be an effective strategy in reducing CIN. The effect size for this intervention seems to be moderate.

Introduction. C-reactive protein (CRP) is increased among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Such inflammatory markers can result in protein-energy deficit syndromes and low adequacy of dialysis in these patients. This study evaluated the effect of pentoxifylline on serum CRP level and KT/V in end-stage renal disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
Material and Methods. This 1-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 73 patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis assessed the effectiveness of 400 mg/d of pentoxifylline on serum CRP level decrease and improvement of dialysis adequacy.
Results. The difference in mean serum CRP levels of the pentoxifylline and placebo groups was not significant before study. While CRP showed showed a significant increase in the placebo group after completing the interventions (P = .01), the difference was nonsignificant in the pentoxifylline group (P = .53). The difference in the mean adequacy of dialysis was not significant before the interventions between the two groups, while there was a significant increase in the pentoxifylline group (P = .01) and a nonsignificant increase in the placebo group (P = .31) after the interventions.
Conclusions. Among patients on maintenance hemodialysis, a 1-month trial of pentoxifylline was associated with a substantial improvement of adequacy of dialysis and a significant prevention from serum CRP level increase, but not a significant reduction in the mean serum CRP level.

Introduction. Maintenance hemodialysis is a high-risk environment for transmission of blood-borne viruses. We aimed to assess the seroconversion rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infections in patients on maintenance hemodialysis in a tertiary care hospital in Cameroon.
Materials and Methods. Patients with serology records at initiation of hemodialysis, and a minimum duration on hemodialysis of 4 months were included. Baseline demographic and clinical data were recorded. Patients were tested with a third and fourth generation immune-enzymatic assay for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV antibodies, respectively. For HIV, a rapid Ag/Ab combo test and an ImmunoComb II HIV (for confirmation) were used.
Results. Ninety-seven patients, 66% men, mean age of 51 ± 14 years and mean duration on hemodialysis of 32.8 ± 27.5 months, were included. Seroprevalence at dialysis initiation was 6.2%, 20.6%, and 9.3%, respectively, for HBV, HCV, and HIV. Ninety patients (92.8%) received blood transfusions while on hemodialysis. Seroconversion rates were 1.1% for hepatitis B surface antigen, 11.8%, for anti-HCV antibodies, and 0.0% for HIV. Longer duration on dialysis was associated with HCV seroconversion (62.7 months versus 29.2 months, P Conclusions. Seroconversion rate in hemodialysis was high for HCV, low for HBV, and nil for HIV. Longer duration on dialysis was associated with HCV seroconversion. Our study suggests an urgent need to lay emphasis on universal precaution measures in order to reduce the risk of hepatitis seroconversion in the unit.

Introduction. Insulin resistance (IR), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, is prevalent among maintenance hemodialysis patients. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on IR in hemodialysis patients have not been well understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on IR and serum lipids of hemodialysis patients.
Materials and Methods. Fifty-four adult patients on hemodialysis were randomly assigned to receive either 1800 mg of omega-3 fatty acids or placebo daily for 4 months. Serum concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were measured at baseline and after 4 months of the intervention. Insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and 2 adipokine-based measures of IR, including the leptin-adiponectin ratio and homeostasis model assessment corrected by adiponectin.
Results. Mean differences of serum C-reactive protein, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations did not show significant difference between the two groups following 4 months of intervention. Fasting serum glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not significantly influenced by omega-3 supplementation, either. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly decreased in the omega-3 group (P = .02, P = .03, and P Conclusions. Supplemental use of omega-3 fatty acids showed some beneficial effects on lipid profile of hemodialysis patients without any improvement in IR.

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of cold dialysis on fatigue in hemodialysis patients.
Materials and Methods. In a double-blinded cross-over clinical trial, 46 participants were recruited from a hemodialysis unit in Iran. The participants were allocated into 2 groups through simple random sampling method. Each group received 3 sessions of hemodialysis with a dialysis solution temperature of either 37°C 3 or 35.5°C during the first week and then with for another week with the other temperature. The self-report Piper Fatigue Scale questionnaire was filled out by the participants.
Results. The Piper Fatigue Scale scores in the cold dialysis groups were significantly lower than those in the conventional dialysis solution temperature (P Conclusions. Cold dialysis can be used for all hemodialysis patients as a routine intervention, and in particular, it is recommended dialysis patients who have severe fatigue as a convenient and inexpensive therapeutic option.

Grape seed procyanidin B2 (GSPB2) exerts a variety of potent protective pharmacological effects on diabetic complications. The renal protective effects of GSPB2 and the target protein mimecan regulated by GSPB2, discovered in a previous quantitative proteomic analysis, were assessed in mice with diabetic nephropathy Twenty-four db/db mice were divided into 2 groups of the vehicle-treated and GSPB2-treated (30 mg/kg/d) diabetic groups. All animals were observed for 10 weeks. Treatment with GSPB2 resulted in an improvement in body weight increase and serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, advanced glycation end products, and urinary albumin excretion in comparison with the vehicle-treated diabetic mice (P

Treatment of retroperitoneal fibrosis usually involves corticosteroids with or without other immunomodulating medications or tamoxifen. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets CD20 on the surface of B-cells, is effective in achieving complete remission of proteinuria in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy.
We describe a case of a 45 years old man with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (with proteinuria of more than 30 grams/24 hours) and simultaneously with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (with large number of cells CD20 in the histologic image). The patient did not tolerate the treatment by cyclophosphamide, and as rescue therapy, administration of rituximab was indicated with excellent effect. We recorded promptreduction of proteinuria and significant reduction of retroperitoneal fibrosis.
Rituximab is effective in treatment of idiopathic retroperitonea lfibrosis with positivity of CD20 cells, as well as in treatment of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis.