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Clinical Journal of the American... Feb 2017Given the high comorbidity in patients on hemodialysis and the complexity of the dialysis treatment, it is remarkable how rarely a life-threatening complication occurs... (Review)
Review
Given the high comorbidity in patients on hemodialysis and the complexity of the dialysis treatment, it is remarkable how rarely a life-threatening complication occurs during dialysis. The low rate of dialysis emergencies can be attributed to numerous safety features in modern dialysis machines; meticulous treatment and testing of the dialysate solution to prevent exposure to trace elements, toxins, and pathogens; adherence to detailed treatment protocols; and extensive training of dialysis staff to handle medical emergencies. Most hemodialysis emergencies can be attributed to human error. A smaller number are due to rare idiosyncratic reactions. In this review, we highlight major emergencies that may occur during hemodialysis treatments, describe their pathogenesis, offer measures to minimize them, and provide specific interventions to prevent catastrophic consequences on the rare occasions when such emergencies arise. These emergencies include dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, venous air embolism, hemolysis, venous needle dislodgement, vascular access hemorrhage, major allergic reactions to the dialyzer or treatment medications, and disruption or contamination of the dialysis water system. Finally, we describe root cause analysis after a dialysis emergency has occurred to prevent a future recurrence.
Topics: Azotemia; Embolism, Air; Emergencies; Equipment Failure; Hemolysis; Hemorrhage; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Needles; Renal Dialysis; Root Cause Analysis; Water Supply
PubMed: 27831511
DOI: 10.2215/CJN.05260516 -
Romanian Journal of Internal Medicine =... Sep 2021Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a functional renal failure that develops in patients with advanced hepatic cirrhosis with ascites and in those with fulminant hepatic... (Review)
Review
Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a functional renal failure that develops in patients with advanced hepatic cirrhosis with ascites and in those with fulminant hepatic failure. The prevalence of HRS varies among studies but in general it is the third most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhotic patients after pre-renal azotemia and acute tubular necrosis. HRS carries a grim prognosis with a mortality rate approaching 90% three months after disease diagnosis. Fortunately, different strategies have been proven to be successful in preventing HRS. Although treatment options are available, they are not universally effective in restoring renal function but they might prolong survival long enough for liver transplantation, which is the ultimate treatment. Much has been learned in the last two decades regarding the pathophysiology and management of this disease which lead to notable evolution in the HRS definition and better understanding on how best to manage HRS patients. In the current review, we will summarize the recent advancement in epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of HRS.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Ascites; Hepatorenal Syndrome; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Failure, Acute; Liver Transplantation; Renal Replacement Therapy
PubMed: 33544554
DOI: 10.2478/rjim-2021-0006 -
Australian Veterinary Journal Sep 2022Hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common diseases of geriatric cats, and often occur concurrently. Thus, a thorough understanding of the influence of... (Review)
Review
Hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common diseases of geriatric cats, and often occur concurrently. Thus, a thorough understanding of the influence of thyroid function on renal function is of significant value for all feline practitioners. Among other effects, hyperthyroidism causes protein catabolism and increases renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). These effects render traditional renal markers insensitive for the detection of CKD in cats with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. Furthermore, the development of iatrogenic hypothyroidism with over treatment of hyperthyroidism can be detrimental to renal function and may negatively affect long-term survival. This review discusses important diagnostic considerations of feline hyperthyroidism, as well as key treatment modalities, with an emphasis on the use of radioiodine and the importance of post treatment monitoring of thyroid and renal parameters. In Australia, a common curative treatment for cats with benign hyperthyroidism (i.e. thyroid hyperplasia or adenoma) is a fixed dose of orally administered radioiodine, regardless of the serum total thyroxine concentration at the time of diagnosis. This review discusses the long term outcomes of this standard of care in comparison with current, relevant research literature from around the world. Finally, this review explores the use of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in assessing renal function before and after treatment in hyperthyroid cats. SDMA correlates well with GFR and creatinine in non-hyperthyroid cats, but our understanding of its performance in hyperthyroid cats remains in its infancy.
Topics: Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Hyperthyroidism; Iodine Radioisotopes; Kidney; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
PubMed: 35711100
DOI: 10.1111/avj.13179 -
Clinical Journal of the American... Jul 2022AKI is a syndrome, not a disease. It results from many different primary and/or secondary etiologies and is often multifactorial, especially in the hospitalized patient.... (Review)
Review
AKI is a syndrome, not a disease. It results from many different primary and/or secondary etiologies and is often multifactorial, especially in the hospitalized patient. This review discusses the pathophysiology of three etiologies that cause AKI, those being kidney hypoperfusion, abdominal compartment syndrome, and urinary tract obstruction. The pathophysiology of these three causes of AKI differs but is overlapping. They all lead to a low urine flow rate and low urine sodium initially. In all three cases, with early recognition and correction of the underlying process, the resulting functional AKI can be rapidly reversed. However, with continued duration and/or increased severity, cell injury occurs within the kidney, resulting in structural AKI and a longer and more severe disease state with increased morbidity and mortality. This is why early recognition and reversal are critical.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Azotemia; Biomarkers; Humans; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension; Kidney
PubMed: 35584927
DOI: 10.2215/CJN.15341121 -
Veterinary Clinical Pathology Dec 2016Although several reviews on canine leishmaniasis have been published, none thoroughly described clinicopathologic abnormalities and their clinical usefulness. The aim of... (Review)
Review
Although several reviews on canine leishmaniasis have been published, none thoroughly described clinicopathologic abnormalities and their clinical usefulness. The aim of this review was to provide information concerning current diagnostic tests relevant for clinical pathologists and from a practical perspective. Specifically, in canine leishmaniasis, nonregenerative normocytic normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia, or leukogram changes may be present. Clinical chemistry and urinalysis may indicate renal dysfunction (azotemia, decreased urine specific gravity, proteinuria) and an inflammatory/immune response (increased acute phase proteins [APP] or α - and/or γ-globulins). Although a potential gammopathy is usually polyclonal, it may also appear oligo- or monoclonal, especially in dogs coinfected by other vector-borne pathogens. When lesions are accessible to fine-needle aspiration (lymphoadenomegaly, nodular lesions, joint swelling), cytology is strongly advised, as the presence of Leishmania amastigotes in a pattern of pyogranulomatous inflammation or lymphoplasmacytic hyperplasia is diagnostic. If the cytologic pattern is inconclusive, the parasite should be identified by histology/immunohistochemistry or PCR on surgical biopsies. Alternatively, cytology and PCR may be performed on bone marrow samples where amastigotes, along with erythroid hypoplasia, myeloid hyperplasia, plasmacytosis, or secondary dysmyelopoiesis can be observed. Dogs with overt leishmaniasis generally have high antibody titers, while low titers predominate in immunologically resistant infected dogs or in exposed dogs with no parasite confirmation. Quantitative serology is recommended in clinically suspect dogs as high-titer antibodies titers may confirm the clinical diagnosis. In confirmed and treated dogs, renal function and inflammatory/immune response variables should be periodically monitored.
Topics: Animals; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Bone Marrow; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis
PubMed: 27805725
DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12413 -
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine Mar 2022Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common, potentially fatal condition.
BACKGROUND
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common, potentially fatal condition.
OBJECTIVES
To characterize the etiologies, clinical and clinicopathologic findings, hospitalization period, and outcome of dogs with AKI and to identify markers of negative prognosis.
ANIMALS
Two hundred forty-nine client-own dogs diagnosed with AKI and hospitalized at a veterinary teaching hospital.
METHODS
Retrospective study. Search of medical records for dogs with AKI.
RESULTS
Common clinical signs included lethargy (225/249, 90%), anorexia (206/249, 83%), and vomiting (168/249, 68%). Etiologies included ischemic/inflammatory (144/249, 58%), infectious (19/249, 8%), nephrotoxicosis (14/249, 6%), or other (13/249, 5%). Hospital-acquired AKI was diagnosed in 9% (23/249) of the dogs. Median presentation and peak serum creatinine (sCr) concentrations were 4 mg/dL (range, 1.1-37.9) and 4.6 mg/dL (range, 1.1-43.1), respectively. Dogs were classified to AKI grades as follows: Grade I, 6 (2%), Grade II, 38 (15%), Grade III, 89 (36%), Grade IV, 77 (31%), and Grade V, 39 (16%). One hundred and sixty-four (66%) dogs survived. There was a positive association between death and AKI grade (P = .009). The case fatality rate was higher among dogs with anuria compared with dogs without anuria (50% vs 28%, respectively; odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.5 [1.39-4.6]; P = .002). Forty-seven (18.8%) dogs underwent hemodialysis, of which 60% survived.
CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
Two-thirds of dogs with AKI survived. Hospital-acquired AKI was common. The severity of AKI, as reflected by presence of anuria, AKI grade, and other body organs involvement, was associated with the outcome.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Animals; Creatinine; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Hospitals, Animal; Hospitals, Teaching; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35103347
DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16375 -
Movement Disorders Clinical Practice Oct 2020Movement disorders often emerge from the interplay of complex pathophysiological processes involving the kidneys and the nervous system. Tremor, myoclonus, ataxia,... (Review)
Review
Movement disorders often emerge from the interplay of complex pathophysiological processes involving the kidneys and the nervous system. Tremor, myoclonus, ataxia, chorea, and parkinsonism can occur in the context of renal dysfunction (azotemia and electrolyte abnormalities) or they can be part of complications of its management (dialysis and renal transplantation). On the other hand, myoglobinuria from rhabdomyolysis in status dystonicus and certain drugs used in the management of movement disorders can cause nephrotoxicity. Distinct from these well-recognized associations, it is important to appreciate that there are several inherited and acquired disorders in which movement abnormalities do not occur as a consequence of renal dysfunction or vice versa but are manifestations of common pathophysiological processes affecting the nervous system and the kidneys. These disorders are the emphasis of this review. Increasing awareness of these conditions among neurologists may help them to identify renal involvement earlier, take timely intervention by anticipating complications and focus on therapies targeting common mechanisms in addition to symptomatic management of movement disorders. Recognition of renal impairment in a patient with complex neurological presentation may narrow down the differentials and aid in reaching a definite diagnosis.
PubMed: 33043074
DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13005 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in cirrhotic patients affecting almost 20% of these patients. While multiple etiologies can lead to AKI, pre-renal azotemia seems to... (Review)
Review
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in cirrhotic patients affecting almost 20% of these patients. While multiple etiologies can lead to AKI, pre-renal azotemia seems to be the most common cause of AKI. Irrespective of the cause, AKI is associated with worse survival with the poorest outcomes observed in those with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and acute tubular necrosis (ATN). In recent years, new definitions, and classifications of AKI in cirrhosis have emerged. More knowledge has also become available regarding the benefits and drawbacks of albumin and terlipressin use in these patients. Diagnostic tools such as urinary biomarkers and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) became available and they will be used in the near future to differentiate between different causes of AKI and direct management of AKI in these patients. In this update, we will review these new classifications, treatment recommendations, and diagnostic tools for AKI in cirrhotic patients.
PubMed: 37510105
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13142361