Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases
Volume:16 Issue: 3, May 2022

The beneficial effects of oral turmeric extract on proteinuria levels have been investigated in several human and animal studies. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the significance of this new treatment in CKD patients for the first time. We searched ISI Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Scopus, SID, and Magiran until March 2021 to identify human-controlled trials that evaluated the effect of turmeric on proteinuria in chronic kidney disease patients. A total of six trials met the selection criteria and were reviewed in our study and four of them were included in the meta-analysis. In these studies, the results showed not only a significant decrease in the level of proteinuria of the trial groups, who had received curcumin but also a significant change in the level of proteinuria between the trial and control groups (SMD = -0.72, 95% CI: -1.10 to 0.35). The results of this meta-analysis demonstrates that turmeric/curcumin oral supplementation significantly improves urinary protein excretion in patients who suffer from chronic kidney diseases with proteinuria; thus, it can be considered as a potential treatment modality in this population.

  Bartter syndrome (BS) is a salt losing tubulopathy due to impairment of the transport mechanisms at the thick ascending limb of the Henle’s loop. The aim of this study was to report the clinical course of patients with BS.

  Patients with BS were followed from 1996 to 2020 and enrolled to a systematic protocol to confirm primary BS by evaluating the metabolic derangements, nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis. Treatment was based on standard guidelines. Comparisons were made between data at baseline and at the last visit.

  A total of 13 patients (7 males) with primary BS were analyzed. Two patients had a mutation of the KCNJ1 gene. Age at diagnosis was 3 ± 4.5 years and the follow-up period was 11.19 ± 6.76 years. Metabolic alkalosis was initially detected in 76.92% and remained stable at the last visit (P > .05). Hypokalemia was present in 61.5% of patients at diagnosis, but sustained in 38.46% at the last visit (P < .05). Urine calcium level was 13.3 ± 9.6 mg/ kg/d at the first visit, and significantly reduced to 3.7 ± 2.0 mg/ kg/d at the last visit (P < .05). Nephrocalcinosis was detected by first kidney ultrasonography in 53.8% of patients. Kidney function was preserved, with a glomerular filtration rate of 120.1 ± 28.7 mL/min/ 1.73m2 at last visit. Growth was completely recovered in 71.42% and partially improved in 14.28% of patients after treatment, respectively. All patients received indomethacin and potassium chloride salts.

Long-term follow-up of this cohort of BS showed favorable outcomes after treatment resulting in metabolic normalization and growth catch-up in most patients.

Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are major complications of mechanical ventilation (MV). Herein, we aimed to evaluate whether acute kidney injury (AKI) developed in patients who had been followed up with the diagnosis of Acinetobacter baumannii (AcB)-related VAE, the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), and its relationship with mortality in patients who developed AKI due to colistin treatment.

A retrospective evaluation of 2,622 patients was conducted. Patients who developed AcB-based VAE and received parental colistin treatment were evaluated in terms of age, sex, diagnosis on intensive care unit (ICU) admission, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, colistin dose and treatment duration, duration of ICU stay, AKI staging according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria, RRT requirement, and mortality.

Eighty-five patients (3.19%) had VAEs, of whom 28 (32.9%) had AcB-related VAE. Bacterial eradication was achieved in 14 patients (50%), clinical response was achieved in 14 patients (50%), the mean colistin dose was 298.2 ± 85.5 mg/d, and mean duration of colistin treatment was 14.3 ± 8.6 days. AKI was detected as stages I, II, and III in 28.6%, 14.3%, and 28.6% of the patients; respectively. There was no difference between patients requiring RRT and those who did not in terms of the APACHE II score, bacterial eradication, clinical response to therapy, a daily dose of colistin, treatment duration, and MV duration.

Colistin treatment of AcB-related VAE caused AKI in 71.5% of the patients and led to serious conditions in 25% of the patients requiring RRT.

Augmented Renal Clearance (ARC) reflects a measured creatinine clearance (CrCl) of more than 130 ml/min. Also, there are two scoring systems for the prediction of the ARC phenomenon i.e., the ARC score (ARCS) and the Augmented Renal Clearance in Trauma Intensive Care score (ARCTICs). The objectives of the current study were the evaluation the effect of using both scoring systems, on the chance of identifying this phenomenon and evaluating the accuracy of the three commonly used formulas for estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in ICU patients.

  In this prospective cross-sectional study, the CrCls of all patients admitted to the ICU were evaluated by using ARCS and ARCTICS, and for high-risk subjects based on scoring systems, a 12-hour urine sample was collected to measure CrCl. Besides, daily serum creatinine was recorded to estimate the daily eGFR.

  During the study period, 810 subjects were evaluated and 145 were categorized as high-risk using scoring systems. The ARC phenomenon was confirmed in 79 patients on the recruitment day and 81.01 and 18.98% of them were recruited by ARCS and ARCTICS, respectively. The ROC curves showed AUCs > 0.5 for CockcroftGault (C-G) and CKD-EPI with the cut-off of 100.48 and 107.05 mL/min/ 1.73m2, respectively; to detect the ARC phenomenon.

We recommend using ARCS and ARCTICS simultaneously to assess critically ill patients regarding the possibility of the ARC phenomenon which should be confirmed by using urinary CrCl, as none of the formulas could accurately detect the ARC phenomenon, neither the 12-hour CrCl.

Patients with β -thalassemia major (β -TM) had a high rate of glomerular dysfunction due to chronic anemia, iron overload, and chelation therapy. There is also evidence of proximal tubular damage, as almost all patients have various amounts of proteinuria. MicroRNAs are non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. In diabetes, a relative increase in renal microRNA-451 appeared to protect against diabetic kidney injury. This study aimed to investigate the association between miRNA-451 and the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children with β-TM.

This study included 60 pediatric patients with β-TM and 30 healthy children as controls. We categorized patients into two groups according to the presence of CKD. Complete blood and reticulocyte counts, serum levels of ferritin, creatinine and glucose, and urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) were measured. Plasma miRNA-451 expression level was measured by real-time quantitative reversed transcription PCR in all included children.

  miRNA-451 levels were significantly higher in β-TM (25.326 ± 12.191) as compared with controls (9.453 ± 5.753) (P < .001). Patients with β-TM and CKD had significantly lower miRNA-451 levels (19.72 ± 13.023) than those without CKD (30.933 ± 8.23). MiRNA-451 levels had significantly positive correlated with eGFR (r = 0.385 P < .05) and reticulocyte counts (r = 0.27, P < .05). Linear logistic regression analysis showed that low plasma microRNA-451 was a significant independent predictor of CKD.

miRNA-451 has a protective role against CKD development, and low plasma expression levels are associated with CKD in children with β-TM

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is one of the common causes of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in adults with primary glomerular diseases. Information on clinical course and long-term renal outcome of primary FSGS in adults are scanty. We aimed to determine the clinical course and long-term outcome of primary FSGS in a large number of adult patients from a tertiary care kidney center in Pakistan.

  A retrospective review of the clinical charts of all adults (≥ 16 years) with a biopsy proven diagnosis of FSGS presenting to Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, between January 1995 and December 2017 was carried out. Cases with secondary FSGS were excluded. Relevant data items were retrieved both at baseline and on last follow-up.

  Among 401 adults with primary FSGS, 144 (35.9%) were followed for a mean duration of 66.6 ± 27.4 months, out of which, 129 (89.5%) were treated with steroids and immunosuppressants. Response to steroids was obtained in 62 (48%) patients, while 67 (52%) showed no response. Among responders, 24/62 (38.7%) relapsed after a mean duration of 24.2 ± 23.2 weeks, who were re-treated with same dose of steroids alone or combined with cyclosporine and all achieved remission. The long-term outcomes were significantly different between steroid responsive and nonresponsive cohorts. None of the patients in steroid responsive group developed ESKD or died, while 7 (10.4%) patients in nonresponsive group developed ESKD and 2 (3%) died.

Almost half of adults with primary FSGS achieved sustained remission with steroids and immunosuppressants and consequently exhibited excellent long-term outcome.

  This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum levels of PTH and dental and bone changes in the panoramic view of hemodialysis patients.

  Out of 236 patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) who were hospitalized in two hemodialysis centers, 68 ones were selected and concerning their PTH serum levels, they were assigned to case group (PTH > 300 pg/mL) and control group (150 < PTH < 300 pg/mL). Patients in both groups had undergone dialysis for at least 6 months. After intraoral and extraoral examinations, panoramic radiography was performed for patients who hadn’t taken any panoramic radiograph within 6 months prior to our study. All radiographs were evaluated for DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) index, bone resorption, periodontal ligament (PDL), lamina dura, mandibular cortical thickness, bone granular pattern, pulp and periapical lesion and giant cell (brown) tumor. The results were analyzed by Chi square statistical tests. Significant level (P value) of test was considered less than .05.

Among the eight variables, there was only a significant statistical difference between the case and control groups in the granular bone pattern and inferior mandibular cortex thickness.

High levels of PTH in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism can significantly change the trabecular alveolar bone pattern to a granular bone pattern. It also dramatically decreases the thickness of the inferior mandibular cortex. The findings of this study could influence the dental treatment plans for ESKD patients and help in early diagnosis of osteoporosis in patients on dialysis with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis (FHHNC) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by renal magnesium wasting, hypercalciuria and eventually kidney failure which mostly affects children and young aged adults. Mutation of genes of claudin-16 and claudin-19 are involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder, which leads to renal magnesium and calcium wasting. A 35-year-old man with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) was referred to our clinic due to bilateral nephrocalcinosis, detected by ultrasonographic study, for further evaluation. Detailed investigations revealed that his siblings had also similar presentations of hypomagnesemia, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sanger sequencing showed a novel mutation (c.338G > A: p.C113Y) at the second exon of the CLDN16 gene. The patient underwent kidney transplantation and his siblings received only medical treatment. In young patients with ESKD and concomitant nephrocalcinosis, especially where there is a family histo