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Biomedical subjects

A Fabris

Publications and source records attributed to A Fabris.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of four different short dialysis techniques.

The goal of shortening dialysis treatment time has stimulated the development of new, highly efficient dialytic strategies. In this study the Authors compared four different short dialysis treatments in terms of efficiency, clinical tolerance, technological investment and costs: 1) Rapid bicarbonate dialysis with 1.5 sq.m. cuprophane membrane; 2) High flux biofiltration with 1.2 sq.m. AN69S hollow fiber membrane; 3) Hemodiafiltration with 1.2-1.9. sq.m. polysulphonic hollow fiber hemodiafilters, and 4) High flux hemodiafiltration with two serial hemodiafilters with AN69s membrane (total 2.4 sq.m.). Hydraulic properties and solute clearances at different blood flows (300-500 ml/min) were tested for each technique. Once the optimal operative level was established three patients were treated with each technique for at least six months. Since BUN clearance averaged 310 ml/min, the treatment duration varied from 120 to 180 min/session with KT/V always higher than 1. The average protein catabolic rate was 0.9 g/kg/24h. Clinical tolerance was generally good, slightly better in treatments with a high convective component. Despite the greater efficiency of treatment No. 4, the technological requirements and costs are such that the others are currently more feasible and acceptable in clinical routine. The study demonstrates that reduction of dialysis treatment time is possible in all centres in a selected population with adequate blood access. Treatment No. 1 can even be performed with standard equipment and cuprophan membranes, while bicarbonate in the dialysate is mandatory. The real limit to shortening treatment time seems to be related to the maximal rate of ultrafiltration achievable in the patient during dialysis.

Adult↗

Arteriovenous hemodiafiltration associated with continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration: a combined therapy for acute renal failure in the hypercatabolic patient.

To increase the efficiency of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) in cases of severe catabolism, we used a modified CAVH treatment, called arteriovenous hemodiafiltration (AVHDF), in 4 patients. The transport of solutes was increased by providing the infusion of a counter current flow of urea-free solutions in the UF compartment of a standard CAVH circuit. Patients were treated with standard CAVH and, when a more efficient treatment was required, intermittent daily sessions of AVHDF were performed using the same filter and lines. The urea kinetic study enabled the calculation of the time needed to perform AVHDF, in addition to standard CAVH, to maintain the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level under control. A dialysate flow rate of 300 ml/min made it possible to increase the urea nitrogen mass transfer rate from 10 to 65 mg/min and the clearance from 10.5 to 37.5 ml/min. The addition of AVHDF to CAVH enabled the control of BUN levels in the 4 patients affected by acute renal failure and a severe catabolic state. The technique is simple, does not require additional devices, and maintains the advantages of CAVH providing a better efficiency in terms of solute removal.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates in chronic renal failure.

In 21 uraemic subjects not yet requiring dialysis, the serum values of citrate, fumarate, oxalacetate and malate were significantly increased, so that the sum of the concentrations of the TCA-cycle intermediates were increased threefold compared to that of 18 control subjects. The replenishment of TCA intermediates could, in theory, occur by several anaplerotic reactions, mainly those catalysed by pyruvate-carboxylase and malic enzyme. The overall pattern detected in uraemic patients is similar to that observed in rat skeletal muscle during exercise, in which increased acetyl CoA has been found.

Adult↗

Solute and water transport during continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH).

The transport mechanisms governing solvent and solute removal during CAVH were elucidated on the basis of in vitro and in vivo observations. Using a typical hemofilter (Diafilter D-20, AMICON), filtration rate rose with inlet blood flow rate until an asymptote was reached at blood flows of approximately 150 ml/min. The onset of the asymptote coincided with transition from a regime controlled by oncotic pressure (filtration pressure equilibrium), to one governed by simple Darcy's law filtration behaviour. Subsequent measurements showed that under clinical conditions, CAVH is generally in the pre-asymptotic regime and operates at filtration pressure equilibrium. These observations offer the theoretical bases for a new design for CAVH hemofilters. As a possible corollary, middle-molecule sieving coefficients were found to be stable with time during CAVH in vivo, whereas in chronic mechanical hemofiltration they declined significantly during clinical treatment. The sieving coefficients, however, were lower in mechanical hemofiltration from the beginning of the session. These observations suggest that the measured sieving coefficient for a membrane is not necessarily a constant directly and solely related to the membrane standard reflection coefficient for a given solute. Concentration polarization and the ultrafiltration rate per unit of surface area may in fact have a major effect on the final concentration of solutes in the ultrafiltrate.

Biological Transport↗

Treatment of acute renal failure in newborns by continuous arterio-venous hemofiltration.

The treatment of acute renal failure (ARF) in the newborn with hemo- or peritoneal dialysis is technically difficult and may even be contraindicated. As in the adult, continuous arterio-venous hemofiltration (CAVH) may be an alternative therapy. We used CAVH in the treatment of four newborns with ARF of different etiology. Two brachial, one femoral and one umbilical arteries were cannulated as arterial access, while three jugular and one umbilical veins were used as venous return. An Amicon 0.005 m2 Polysulphon Hollow Fiber hemofilter was connected to the patient with shortened pediatric hemodialysis lines. Total blood volume of the extracorporeal circuit was 15 to 22 ml. Before starting the procedure, an initial bolus of heparin was administered to the patient (100 i.u./kg body wt) and a successive continuous heparin administration was provided during the treatment at the rate of 5 to 7 i.u./kg/hr. Hyperalimentation and/or buffer solutions were used as replacement fluids and were administered according to the patient's fluid balance. mean data in the four patients are summarized as follows. The age of the patients ranged from two to 12 days, while the average body weight was about 3 kg. The ultrafiltration rate during the treatment averaged 0.9 ml/min with a plasma flow ranging from 9.8 to 19.6 ml/min. The treatment duration varied from 30 to 86 hrs. The treatment was well tolerated (patients 1 and 2 recovered, and patients 3 and 4 died due to complications unrelated to the treatment). Arterial pressure remained stable during the procedure. Metabolic acidosis, when present, was corrected by increasing the amount of buffer administered. BUN was maintained below 60 mg/dl in three patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Clinical features of patients with solitary kidneys.

A clinical study was performed in 2 groups of patients with solitary kidneys, followed for 11-146 months. Group 1 had 9 patients (7 males and 2 females, aged between 23 and 68 years) with unilateral renal agenesis. Group 2 had 13 patients (9 females and 4 males, aged between 27 and 70 years) who underwent unilateral nephrectomy for the following reasons: hydronephrosis secondary to ureteropelvic junction stenosis, 7 patients; renal trauma, 4 patients; benign neoplasia, 2 patients. During the follow up, urinary protein excretion of more than 300 mg/day was observed in 9 patients, 3 in group 1 and 6 in group 2. Eleven patients, 8 in group 1 and 3 in group 2, were hypertensive (diastolic blood pressure higher than 95 mm Hg). Hyperuricemia was observed in 14 patients, 10 in group 1 and 4 in group 2. Seven patients, 4 in group 1 and 3 in group 2, had a significant deterioration of renal function. Neither proteinuria nor renal failure were observed before at least 10 years had elapsed since the anatomic condition of solitary kidney had been established. A surgical renal biopsy was performed in 1 patient with unilateral renal agenesis and showed focal glomerular sclerosis. This study adds support to the view that the reduction of 50% of the renal tissue may be a risky situation in humans as well as in animals.

Adult↗

Buffer kinetics in biofiltration.

A condition of metabolic alkalosis has been generally observed in patients undergoing regular biofiltration (BF). The aim of this study was to assess buffer kinetics during a dialysis session in five patients regularly treated by BF for 10 months (dialyzer Biospal 3000S, Qb 301; Qd 545; UF 36.76 ml/min; dialysate CH3 COO 38 mEq/L; replacement fluid 1000 ml/h with HCO3 100 mEq/L solution). As usually happens using dialyzers with high surface area and permeability, large HCO3 losses (756 +/- 112 mEq) and CH3COO uptakes (677 +/- 152 mEq) were observed. Acetate plasma levels rose to 10.4 mEq/L, a value potentially dangerous to the cardiovascular system. The dialytic buffer gain (acetate uptake + HCO3 administered - HCO3 loss) was high (230 +/- 137 mEq/dialysis) and excessive for patients' needs. It is therefore very important to reduce either the acetate concentration in dialysate or the amount of reinfused bicarbonate. In view of the plasma acetate levels it is preferable to use a dialysis solution containing less acetate.

Acetates↗

Uremic encephalopathy: an updating.

Uremic encephalopathy (UE) is a clinical syndrome, closely linked to the progression of renal failure. Many approaches can be utilized to diagnose it: EEG changes, somatosensory evoked potentials, choice reaction time test, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies, brain computerized tomography, plasma and CSF amino acid concentration. On the basis of the data available at present, it is possible to postulate that UE could be caused by amino acid derangements (mainly glutamine, glycine, aromatic and branched-chain amino acids) and by the subsequent imbalance of neurotransmitters (mainly GABA, dopamine, serotonin). Disturbances of mental, neurologic, motor and hormonal functions could derive.

Amino Acids↗

Clinical status and acid-base balance during biofiltration in patients with acetate dialysis intolerance.

Nine patients intolerant to acetate hemodialysis were treated with biofiltration. This consisted in a 4-h acetate hemodialysis during which an additional 2 liters of ultrafiltrate were replaced by a bicarbonate solution (100 mEq/l). Hypotensive episodes disappeared and six out of nine patients were symptom-free during the session. Compared to standard hemodialysis, arterial blood bicarbonate and pO2 did not drop during biofiltration. The anion gap did not change during standard hemodialysis, but was significantly reduced during biofiltration (24.5 +/- 2.9 vs 19.9 +/- 1.4 mEq/l). In our conditions clinical results were positive with biofiltration. On the basis of anion gap changes and preliminary results of plasma acetate determinations, it is suggested that a better cellular metabolism of acetate may be induced by bicarbonate infusion.

Acetates↗

Biofiltration in the treatment of patients with acetate dialysis intolerance.

Nine patients with intolerance to acetate hemodialysis were treated with biofiltration. It consisted of a 4 hour acetate hemodialysis during which an additional 2 liters of ultrafiltrate was replaced by a bicarbonate solution (100 mEq/l). Hypotensive episodes disappeared and six out of nine patients were symptomless during the session. Compared to standard hemodialysis, arterial blood bicarbonate and pO2 did not drop during biofiltration. Serum acetate levels, which were abnormally high in patients during standard hemodialysis, were reduced during biofiltration to the levels of a control group of acetate tolerant patients. Our data show that positive clinical results are obtained with biofiltration and suggest that they can be due to a better cellular metabolism of acetate induced by the bicarbonate infusion.

Acetates↗

Preliminary technical and clinical evaluation of a new hollow fiber dialyzer with a 5 microns thick cuprophan membrane.

In vitro and in vivo studies were performed on 10 dialyzers with 5 microns thick cuprophan membrane to evaluate hydraulic properties and permeability to solutes. Inlet and outlet pressures of the filter were measured at different blood flows to assess the resistance of the device and the end-to-end pressure drop. Hysolated ultrafiltration was performed to evaluate the spontaneous filtration at increasing blood flows, the ultrafiltration rate at different transmembrane pressures and, finally, the sieving coefficients for solutes. Standard hemodialysis was also performed to study the clearances throughout a 4-h session. During hysolated ultrafiltration the UF rate was increased up to 37 ml/min showing a very high hydraulic permeability of the membrane. The spontaneous filtration rates related to blood flow were quite low. Since the end-to-end pressure drop in the filter was also relatively low at high blood flow we may conclude that the geometry of the device is able to dissociate the influence of blood flow on the hydrostatic pressure inside the filter. This results in a easy modulation of the membrane permeability to water. Sievings were surprisingly high and clearances were stable along the dialysis session (BUN = 196 ml/min, creatinine = 161 ml/min and phosphate = 163 ml/min).

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Progression of renal failure in patients with renal disease of diverse etiology on protein-restricted diet.

The rate of progression of early renal failure was evaluated in three groups of adult patients with renal disease of diverse etiology on dietary protein and phosphorus restriction (about 0.6 g/kg of protein, 700 mg of phosphorus) and in a control group of 22 patients with the same renal disease, retrospectively studied, on a free diet. Group 1 had 33 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CG), initial serum creatinine (Scr) of 1.4 to 4.3 mg/dl (mean, 2.20), followed for 5 to 94 months (mean, 44). Group 2 had 17 patients with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), Scr 1.3 to 4.7 mg/dl (mean, 2.40), followed for 8 to 81 months (mean, 42). Group 3 had 28 patients with primary chronic pyelonephritis (CP), Scr of 1.5 to 4.5 mg/dl (mean, 2.57), followed for 9 to 92 months (mean, 41). The control group had 22 patients (11 with CG, five with PKD, and six with CP), with Scr 1.7 to 4.1 mg/dl, followed for 6 to 72 months (mean, 24). In the regression analysis between reciprocal creatinine and time, the slopes were -0.0017, -0.0025, and -0.00016 dl/mg/month in the three patient groups on a protein-restricted diet, respectively. The difference between both groups 1 and 2 and group 3 was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The slopes in patients on a free diet were significantly greater than those found in patients on a protein-restricted diet. The actuarial survival probability at 72 months, assuming as "renal death" a Scr of 10 mg/dl, was 45% in patients with CG, 44% in those with PKD, and 67% in those with CP on a protein-restricted diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗

Hypertension of polycystic kidney disease: mechanisms and hemodynamic alterations.

32 polycystic kidney disease (PKD) patients, 16 with normal 16 with variably decreased renal function, were studied; 12 were normotensive, 20 were hypertensive. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 90 +/- 8 mm Hg in the normotensive group and 117 +/- 17 in hypertensive patients; plasma renin activity (PRA) was similar. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was lower, but not significantly, in the hypertensive group and plasma volume (PV) was higher in hypertensive patients (normotensive 40.25 +/- 3.47 ml/kg body weight; hypertensive 46.30 +/- 3.54). No correlation was found between MAP, and PRA or GFR but MAP correlated with PV. Cardiac output was higher in hypertensive patients (normotensive 3.48 +/- 0.70 l/min/m2; hypertensive 3.89 +/- 1.47), also total peripheral resistance was higher in the hypertensive group (normotensive 2,035 +/- 503 dyn/s/cm-5/m2; hypertensive 2,577 +/- 808). Cardiac output and PV showed a high degree of correlation, but no correlation was seen between total peripheral resistance and PV, or PRA. The hypertensive patients were divided into two groups: one with hypertension of less than 2 years duration and one with more than 2 years but with similar GFR, PRA, PV and hemodynamic pattern. Our data indicate that hypertension in PKD is volume-dependent; that the increase in PV was not related to the loss of GFR, and that the role of the renin-angiotensin system in maintaining the hypertensive state is not well defined. Hemodynamically hypertension is characterized by high cardiac output and total peripheral resistance independent of the duration of hypertension.

Adult↗