Luca Di Lullo, Cristina Galderisi, Carlo Lavalle, Marta Palombi, Antonio De Pascalis, Natale Di Belardino, Sabrina Iannotti, Vincenzo Barbera, Antonio Bellasi
{"title":"[New Treatment Strategies in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Beyond Neurohormonal Inhibition].","authors":"Luca Di Lullo, Cristina Galderisi, Carlo Lavalle, Marta Palombi, Antonio De Pascalis, Natale Di Belardino, Sabrina Iannotti, Vincenzo Barbera, Antonio Bellasi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patients affected by heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are prone to experience episodes of worsening symptoms and signs despite continued therapy, termed \"worsening heart failure\" (WHF). Although guideline-directed medical therapy is well established, worsening of chronic heart failure accounts for almost 50% of all hospital admissions for HF with consequent higher risk of death and hospitalization than patients with \"stable\" HF. New drugs are emerging as cornerstones to reduce residual risk of both cardiovascular mortality and readmission for heart failure. The following review will debate about emerging definition of WHF in light of the recent clinical consensus released by the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the new therapeutic strategies in cardiorenal patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140848399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carolina Gutiérrez-Cortés, Catalina Lince-Rivera, Adriana P Bohórquez-Peñaranda, Mariangel Castillo-Arteaga, Ingrid Mayerly Gómez, Juan Guillermo Cárdenas-Aguilera
{"title":"Factors Associated with Neonatal Arterial Hypertension: Case and Control Study.","authors":"Carolina Gutiérrez-Cortés, Catalina Lince-Rivera, Adriana P Bohórquez-Peñaranda, Mariangel Castillo-Arteaga, Ingrid Mayerly Gómez, Juan Guillermo Cárdenas-Aguilera","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background.</b> Neonatal high blood pressure has been diagnosed more frequently in recent years, and its impact extends to adulthood. However, the knowledge gaps on associated factors, diagnosis, and treatment are challenging for medical personnel. The incidence of this condition varies depending on neonatal conditions. Patients in the Newborn Unit are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure. The persistence of this condition beyond the neonatal stage increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease in childhood and adulthood. <b>Methodology.</b> A case-control study was carried out. It included hospitalized patients with neonatal hypertension as cases. Three controls were randomly selected for each case and matched by gestational age. The variables were analyzed based on their nature. Multivariate analysis was performed using a multivariate conditional regression model to identify variables associated with the outcome. Finally, the model was adjusted for possible confounders. <b>Results.</b> 37 cases were obtained and matched with 111 controls. In the univariate analysis, heart disease (OR 2.86; 95% CI 1.22-6.71), kidney disease (OR 7.24; 95% CI 1.92-28.28), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR 6.62; 95% CI 1.42-50.82) and major surgical procedures (OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.64-8.39) had an association with neonatal arterial hypertension. Only the latter maintained this finding in the multivariate analysis (adjusted OR 2.88; 95% CI 1.14-7.30). A significant association of two or more comorbidities with neonatal arterial hypertension was also found (OR 3.81; 95% CI 1.53-9.49). <b>Conclusions.</b> The study analyzed the factors related to high blood pressure in hospitalized neonates, finding relevant associations in the said population. The importance of meticulous neonatal care and monitoring of risk factors such as birth weight and major surgeries is highlighted.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140848454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Simone Sellitto, Luciano Tarantino, Francesco Barone, Nunzia Barone, Angelica Perna, Angela Lucariello, Germano Guerra, Antonio De Luca, Amelia Filippelli, Carmine Sellitto
{"title":"Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound as a Diagnostic Procedure in Renal Diseases: A Case Report.","authors":"Simone Sellitto, Luciano Tarantino, Francesco Barone, Nunzia Barone, Angelica Perna, Angela Lucariello, Germano Guerra, Antonio De Luca, Amelia Filippelli, Carmine Sellitto","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Standard ultrasound (US) finds wide use in renal diseases as a screening procedure, but it is not always able to characterize lesions, especially in differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions. In contrast, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is appropriate in differentiating between solid and cystic lesions as well as between tumors and pseudotumors. We show the case of a nephropathic patient who showed a complex, large, growing renal mass, characterized through a CEUS. This seventy-five-year-old diabetic heart patient showed a 6 cm-complex and plurisected cyst on ultrasound of left kidney. Laboratory data showed the presence of stage IIIb chronic renal failure with GFR 30 ml/min, creatinine 2.33 mg/dl, azotemia 88 mg/dl. The patient performed abdominal CT without contrast medium, showing at the level of the left upper pole, a roundish formation with the dimensions of approximately 70x53x50 mm. At the semiannual checkup, the nephrology examination showed a slight rise in creatinine and, therefore, after six months, it was decided to perform a CT scan without contrast medium again. CT showed a slight increase in the size of the mass located at the left kidney (74x56x57 mm). Given the increased size of the left mass, albeit modest, a CEUS was performed to reach a diriment diagnosis. CEUS concluded for complex cystic formation with presence of intraluminal solid-corpuscular material, with thrombotic-hemorrhagic etiology, in progressive phase of organization, classifiable as Bosniak type II cyst. CEUS in the kidneys is a cost-effective and valuable imaging technique; it is accurate in the characterization of indeterminate lesions and complex cysts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140853075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Anti-Proteinuric Effect of GLP1-RA as Add-On to SGLT2-i and ACE-i in a Diabetic Patient with IgA Nephropathy].","authors":"Maria Elena Malighetti, Matteo Faletto","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is a common glomerulonephritis, but its treatment remains matter of debate. Recommendation for corticosteroids has been supported, but renin-angiotensin inhibitors, RAAS, and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are increasingly used because of a better benefit/safety balance in comparison with systemic steroids and immunosuppressive treatments. In this case report, a patient with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and biopsy-proven nephrotic IgA-related nephropathy documented a rapid meaningful reduction of proteinuria and the effect was persistent for 2 years, after receiving the treatment with a GLP1-RA on top of the previous treatment with ACE-inhibitors and SGLT2-i. Considering the beneficial effects of GLP1-RA in diabetes related chronic kidney disease, the present case report supports the notion that these drugs could also represent a beneficial treatment option in IgA nephropathy.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140855255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Krishna Chaitanya Gunda, Gerry George Mathew, S Balasubramanian, K S Sunil Kumar
{"title":"Clinical implications of serum anti-PLA2R levels and glomerular PLA2R deposits in primary membranous nephropathy.","authors":"Krishna Chaitanya Gunda, Gerry George Mathew, S Balasubramanian, K S Sunil Kumar","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> The clinical implications of serum anti-PLA2R with glomerular PLA2R deposits in primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is scarcely reported. Hence the study was designed to demonstrate the prevalence of serum anti-PLA2R levels and PLA2R staining in glomeruli in PMN and the clinical implications of the two parameters. <b>Objectives.</b> Investigate the prevalence of anti PLA2R positivity in PMN. Ascertain correlation between serum anti-PLA2R levels and glomerular staining for PLA2R with clinical and lab parameters in PMN. <b>Patients and Methods.</b> Fifty PMN patients during the period from October 2017 to December 2018 were included. Labs were done and eGFR was calculated as per MDRD 6. Anti-PLA2R titres were done in all patients. Titres more than 20 RU/ml were considered positive. Glomerular staining for PLA2R was graded on fresh frozen tissue by immunofluorescence technique. <b>Results.</b> Anti-PLA2R antibody positivity and glomerular PLA2R deposition was observed in 42% (21/50) and 86% (43/50) patients respectively. 79.3% (23/29) had positive glomerular PLA2R deposition with negative serum anti PLA2R. Positive correlation were observed between serum PLA2R antibody and serum creatinine (p = 0.0001) and urine protein-creatinine ratio levels with tissue PLA2R staining grades (p = 0.04). Negative association was found between serum albumin (p = 0.026) and tissue PLA2R staining grades. <b>Conclusion.</b> Serum anti-PLA2R wasn't a sensitive marker of primary membranous nephropathy in our study group emphasising the need to consider a compendium of serological markers for diagnosis of primary membranous nephropathy and to rely more on glomerular deposition of PLA2R as a better clinical indicator for PMN.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140858273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fabrizio Cristiano, Vittore Verratti, Ginevra Di Matteo, Stefania Fulle, Jenny Cristiano, Benito D'Angelo, Ludovico Caravelli, Cosima Posari, Alessandra Schiazza, Alessandra Piano
{"title":"[Steroid-Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome Due to Minimal Change Glomerulonephritis Treated with Rituximab].","authors":"Fabrizio Cristiano, Vittore Verratti, Ginevra Di Matteo, Stefania Fulle, Jenny Cristiano, Benito D'Angelo, Ludovico Caravelli, Cosima Posari, Alessandra Schiazza, Alessandra Piano","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>47-year-old woman suffering from minimal lesion glomerulonephritis previously undergone high-dose steroid therapy and subjected to exacerbations of nephrotic syndrome after therapy discontinuation. It was decided to initiate off-label treatment with Rituximab at a dosage of 375 mg/m2 administred at zero-time, one-month and three months with good therapeutic response and resolution of the clinical laboratory picture. The therapy was well tolerated and had no side effects. This scheme could be an alternative to the conventional therapeutic scheme with steroids or other classes of immunosuppressive drugs, especially in order to avoid problems related to prolonged exposure to steroid therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139996108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The future of peritoneal dialysis.","authors":"Valerio Vizzardi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139996032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lilio Hu, Paolo Ferdinando Bruno, Sara Signorotti, Marco Ruggeri, Veronica Sgarlato, Fulvia Zanchelli, Lucia Neri, Antonio Giudicissi, Giovanni Mosconi
{"title":"Use of CFTR Modulators for Cystic Fibrosis in a Patient with Liver Transplant and ESRD on Hemodialysis.","authors":"Lilio Hu, Paolo Ferdinando Bruno, Sara Signorotti, Marco Ruggeri, Veronica Sgarlato, Fulvia Zanchelli, Lucia Neri, Antonio Giudicissi, Giovanni Mosconi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations of the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most recent therapeutic approach to cystic fibrosis aims to correct structural and functional abnormalities of CFTR protein. CFTR modulators including ivacaftor-tezacaftor-elexacaftor are used in patients with F508del mutation, with clinical improvement. To date, there are no experiences of CFTR modulator therapy in cystic fibrosis patients with organ transplantation and severe renal impairment. We report the case of a patient diagnosed with cystic fibrosis with F508del mutation, who underwent liver transplantation at the age of 19 and started hemodialysis at the age of 24 due to end-stage renal disease secondary to membranous glomerulonephritis. She was treated with Kaftrio (ivacaftor-tezacaftor-elexacaftor) with clinical benefits on appetite, improvement of body mass index, and reduction of pulmonary exacerbations. A reduction of dosage to 75% of the standard dose was required due to alterations of the liver function. <b>Conclusions.</b> Use of CFTR modulators in patient with cystic fibrosis, liver transplant and end-stage renal disease could be considered safe but a clinical and laboratoristic monitoring of hepatic function is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139996033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marco Taurisano, Andrea Mancini, Filomena D'elia, Giuseppe Gernone, Cosma Cortese
{"title":"[Calcified Fibrin Sheath After Stuck Catheter Removal: Case Report and Literature Review].","authors":"Marco Taurisano, Andrea Mancini, Filomena D'elia, Giuseppe Gernone, Cosma Cortese","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The prevalence of central venous catheters (CVC) in hemodialysis patients is around 20-30%. In this scenario, complications related to the use of the CVC are commonly observed, requiring active management by nephrologists. These include infectious complications as well as those related to CVC malfunction. Among the latter, the formation of a fibrin sheath around the catheter linked to foreign body reaction could cause CVC malfunction in various ways. Even after the removal of the catheter, the fibrin sheath can remain inside the vascular lumen (ghost fibrin sheath) and rarely undergo calcification. We describe the clinical case of a hemodialysis patient who, following the removal of a malfunctioning, stuck CVC, presented a calcified tubular structure in the lumen of the superior vena cava, diagnosed as calcified fibrin sheath (CFS). This rare occurrence, described in the literature in 8 other cases, although rare, is certainly underdiagnosed and can lead to complications such as sepsis resulting from CFS, pulmonary embolisms, and vascular thrombosis. Therapeutic approaches should be considered only in symptomatic cases and involve an invasive surgical approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139996105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Role of the Opinions of the Nephrologist and Structural Factors in Dialysis Modality Selection. Results of a Peritoneal Dialysis Study Group Questionnaire.","authors":"Loris Neri, Giusto Viglino, Valerio Vizzardi, Silvia Porreca, Claudio Mastropaolo, Giancarlo Marinangeli, Gianfranca Cabiddu","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background.</b> The use of PD depends on economic, structural and organizational factors. The nephrologist's opinion is that peritoneal dialysis is less used than it shold be. In Italy, PD is not carried out in private Centers, but neither is it in around one third of Public Centers. The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of nephrologists on PD in Public Centers only, thereby nullifying the influence of the economic factors. <b>Materials and Methods.</b> The investigation was carried out by means of an online questionnaire (Qs) via mail, and during meetings and Congresses in 2006-07. The Qs investigated the characteristics of the Centers, the nephrologists interviewed, and opinions on the various aspects of the choice of Renal Replacement Therapy Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) (26 questions). Responses were received from 454 nephrologists in 270 public Centers. Among these, 205 centers (370 Qs) report PD (PD-YES), 36 (42 Qs) do not (PD-NO) and 29 (42 Qs) do not use it but send patients selected for PD to other Centers (PD-TRANSF). <b>Results.</b> The PD-NO and PD-TRANSF Centers are significantly smaller, with greater availability of beds. In the PD-YES Centers the presence of a pre-dialysis pathway, early referral and nurses dedicated solely to PD are associated with a higher use of PD. The nephrologists in the PD-NO Centers rate PD more negatively in terms of both clinical and non-clinical factors. The belief that more than 40% of patients can do either PD or HD differs among the nephrologists in the PD-YES (74.3%), PD-TRANSF (45.2%) and PD-NO (28.6%) Centers. Likewise, the belief that PD can be used as a first treatment in more than 30% of cases differs among the nephrologists in PD-YES (49.2%), PD-TRANSF (33.3%) and PD-NO (14.3%) Centers. <b>Conclusions.</b> The use of PD in Public Centers is conditioned by both structural and organizational factors, and by the opinions of nephrologists on the use and effectiveness of the technique.</p>","PeriodicalId":12553,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139996113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}