ABSTRACT Background: There is an ongoing increasing focus on person‑centered individualized dialysis prescription. For this model, incremental peritoneal dialysis has been established as a strategy to start peritoneal dialysis, with an intention to increase the dose of peritoneal dialysis, as a consequence of renal clearance declines. In spite of being broadly accepted, the evidence of non‑inferiority of the incremental approach in comparison with full dose peritoneal dialysis is weak. To disclose the possibility and safety of an incremental approach in incident patients, we assessed patients and technique survival (main outcomes) between incremental and full dose peritoneal dialysis. We also compared the effects in the clinical parameters of adequacy, urinary output and peritonitis incidence in both approaches. Methods: Following a retrospective design, we undertook an observational study in our center over 20 years. We investigated 106 patients divided into two groups, according to initial peritoneal dialysis strategy (incremental or full dose). We used multivariate multinomial model to assess predictors of peritonitis. The main outcomes were studies using a competing risk model. Results: One year after peritoneal dialysis start, our data disclosed statistically significant differences of phosphatemia and solute removal between full dose and incremental approach, favoring the latter. In an incremental approach, two or more peritoneal infections and drop out to hemodialysis were less usual. Conclusions: Incremental peritoneal prescription seems to be a good choice to start peritoneal dialysis. Potential benefits and, above all, safety reinforce the adoption of incremental peritoneal dialysis in incident patients as a strategy of individualized care, in compliance with new guidelines.

Resumo As glomerulopatias figuram entre as principais causas de doença renal terminal. Nos últimos anos, a pesquisa clínica efetuou contribuições significativas para a compreensão desse grupo de patologias. Recentemente, o rituximabe (RTX) surgiu como um tratamento razoavelmente seguro. As diretrizes do Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recomendam o RTX apenas como tratamento inicial na vasculite associada ao ANCA (VAA) e em pacientes não respondedores com nefrite lúpica (NL), embora não sejam atualizadas desde 2012. Atualmente, o RTX parece ser pelo menos tão eficaz quanto outros esquemas imunossupressores na nefropatia membranosa idiopática (NMI). Na doença por lesão mínima (DLM), o medicamento pode proporcionar um período de remissão duradouro em pacientes córtico-dependentes ou com recidivas frequentes. Resultados preliminares corroboram o uso de RTX em pacientes com NL membranosa pura e glomerulonefrite membranoproliferativa (GNMP) mediada por imunoglobulina, mas não em pacientes com NL classe III/IV ou GNMP mediada por complemento. Os achados a respeito de glomeruloesclerose segmentar e focal (GESF) idiopática e doença por anticorpo antimembrana basal glomerular (anti-MBG) não são conclusivos em função do pequeno número, porte e heterogeneidade dos estudos publicados até o presente momento. Por fim, a imunossupressão com RTX não é particularmente útil na nefropatia por IgA. A presente revisão apresenta o racional da prescrição de RTX nas diferentes glomerulopatias, desfechos e segurança. Nesse sentido, foram incluídos ensaios clínicos randomizados (ECRs) realizados em adultos, sempre que possível. Pesquisas bibliográficas foram realizadas nas bases de dados do clinictrials.gov e no PubMed.

Abstract Glomerulopathies are one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease. In the last years, clinical research has made significant contributions to the understanding of such conditions. Recently, rituximab (RTX) has appeared as a reasonably safe treatment. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines (KDIGO) recommended RTX only as initial treatment in antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody associated vasculitis (AAV) and in non-responders patients with lupus nephritis (LN), but these guidelines have not been updated since 2012. Nowadays, RTX seems to be at least as effective as other immunosuppressive regimens in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). In minimal-change disease, (MCD) this drug might allow a long-lasting remission period in steroid-dependent or frequently relapsing patients. Preliminary results support the use of RTX in patients with pure membranous LN and immunoglobulin-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), but not in patients with class III/IV LN or complement-mediated MPGN. No conclusion can be drawn in idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM GN) because studies are small, heterogeneous, and scarce. Lastly, immunosuppression including RTX is not particularly useful in IgA nephropathy. This review presents the general background, outcomes, and safety for RTX treatment in different glomerulopathies. In this regard, we describe randomized controlled trials (RCTs) performed in adults, whenever possible. A literature search was performed using clinicaltrials.gov and PubMed.

Introduction: Peritonitis is a common complication in peritoneal dialysis patients and a major cause for dropout. Systematic report and frequent trend analysis are thought to be major drivers for improvement in this area. The authors analysed peritonitis outcomes dating back over 20 years in a peritoneal dialysis unit of a central hospital. Methods: Retrospective study from 1993 to 2018: assessment of demographic, clinical and microbiological profiles of patients with peritonitis. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis (multiple logistic regression) to predict peritonitis risk factors, and survival analysis (Cox proportional hazards model) to determine the impact on outcomes (mortality and technique survival). Results: We included 225 patients, average age of 48.3±14.7 years, average time of follow-up of 38±25 months, with a total of 221 episodes of peritonitis (0.31 peritonitis/patient.year), 76% resulting in cure. Most frequent agents were Staphylococci: Coagulase-Negative (23%) and Staphylococcus aureus (19%, of which 24% were methicillin-resistant). Gram-negative infections led to higher rate of catheter removal, transfer to hemodialysis or death (49% of cases vs. 17% in Gram-positive). Primary end-point was death or transfer to hemodialysis, with a median time of 94 (min 4, max 94) and 66 (min 3, max 105) months, respectively. The occurrence of at least one peritonitis was the major variable that influenced transfer to hemodialysis (OR 3.94 [2.12 - 7.58], p < 0.001*], whereas an event in the first year also negatively affected the time to dialysis technique switch (median time 38.7 [26.2 - 58.4] vs. 67.8 [59.5 - 80.3] months, log-rank = 0.02*), but without impact on mortality. Only the peritoneal dialysis modality (OR: automated peritoneal dialysis vs. continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis 0.38 [0.19-0.74]) was predictive of peritonitis in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: In this single-center long-term analysis, where the rate of peritonitis was within recommended values, automated peritoneal dialysis seemed to have a protective impact. The number of peritonitis and peritonitis occurrence during the first year worsened technique survival, emphasizing early peritonitis prevention.

Resumo A hipercalemia é um dos distúrbios eletrolíticos mais comuns, responsável por um grande número de desfechos adversos, incluindo arritmias potencialmente fatais. Quelantes de potássio são amplamente prescritos para o tratamento da hipercalemia, mas infelizmente são muitos os eventos adversos associados ao seu uso, em particular os gastrointestinais. A identificação de pacientes com risco mais elevado para complicações graves associadas aos quelantes de potássio atualmente em uso, como necrose e perfuração do cólon, pode evitar desfechos fatais. O presente artigo descreve o caso de um homem de 56 anos com diabetes secundário e doença renal crônica em tratamento por hipercalemia com poliestirenossulfonato de cálcio (PSC). Posteriormente o paciente apresentou abdômen agudo devido a perfuração do ceco e foi submetido a uma ressecção ileocecal, mas acabou indo a óbito por choque séptico uma semana mais tarde. Durante a cirurgia, uma massa branca sólida foi isolada no lúmen do cólon. A massa foi identificada como um bezoar de PSC, uma massa de fármaco de rara ocorrência formada no trato gastrointestinal que contribuiu para a perfuração. História pregressa de gastrectomia parcial e vagotomia foi identificada como provável fator de risco para o desenvolvimento do bezoar de PSC. Espera-se que os dois novos quelantes de potássio - patiromer e ciclossilicato de zircônio sódico - ajudem a tratar pacientes de alto risco em um futuro próximo.

Abstract Hyperkalemia is one of the most common electrolyte disorders, responsible for a high number of adverse outcomes, including life-threatening arrhythmias. Potassium binders are largely prescribed drugs used for hyperkalemia treatment but unfortunately, there are many adverse events associated with its use, mostly gastrointestinal. Identification of patients at highest risk for the serious complications associated with the current potassium binders, such as colon necrosis and perforation, could prevent fatal outcomes. The authors present a case of a 56-year-old man with secondary diabetes and chronic renal disease that was treated for hyperkalemia with Calcium Polystyrene Sulfonate (CPS). He later presented with acute abdomen due to cecum perforation and underwent ileocecal resection but ultimately died from septic shock a week later. During surgery, a solid white mass was isolated in the lumen of the colon. The mass was identified as a CPS bezoar, a rare drug-mass formed in the gastrointestinal tract that contributed to the perforation. A previous history of partial gastrectomy and vagothomy was identified as a probable risk factor for the CPS bezoar development. Hopefully, the two new potassium binders patiromer and (ZS-9) Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate will help treat such high-risk patients, in the near future.