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Biomedical subjects

Norbert Lameire

Publications and source records attributed to Norbert Lameire.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Survival and complications of indwelling venous catheters for permanent use in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The risk factors influencing the survival of indwelling central vein catheters and their potential complications have not been assessed in depth and on a large scale. METHODS: We investigated the general characteristics of 245 single lumen cuffed tunneled catheters and analyzed their survival by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Risk factors for bacteremia and thrombosis were assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of exit-site infection, tunnel infection, bacteremia and thrombotic events was 0.35, 0.25, 1.71, and 1.94/1000 catheter days, respectively. The mean survival time per catheter was 276 days. After censoring for non catheter-related events leading to the removal of the catheter (n = 245 with 120 catheters censored and 125 events), the mean survival time of the catheter appeared to be 615 +/- 67 days (95% CI of 483-747) and the median survival time 310 +/- 50 days (95% CI of 212-408). The localization of the catheter into the right internal jugular vein results in significantly better survival as compared with other insertion sites both in Kaplan-Meier (mean survival of 650 days compared to a mean survival of 519 days, P value < 0.009) and in Cox regression analysis (relative risk of 0.537, P value < 0.001). Localization of the catheter into the right internal jugular vein seemed to increase the risk for bacteremia (relative risk of 1.798, P value of 0.063). The use of anticoagulant agents was not protective for thrombosis, although this might be due to lack of power (relative risk of 0.626, P value of 0.141). CONCLUSION: We provide evidence of a mean survival in long-term hemodialysis catheter close to 2 years with an acceptable complication rate. If a long-term hemodialysis catheter is required, it is best placed in the right internal jugular vein.

Catheters, Indwelling↗

A new initiative in nephrology: 'Kidney disease: improving global outcomes'.

The burden of kidney disease: Improving global outcomes. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem with an increasing incidence and prevalence of patients requiring replacement therapy. There is an even higher prevalence of patients in earlier stages of CKD, with adverse outcomes such as kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Patients at earlier stages of CKD can be detected through laboratory testing and their treatment is effective in slowing the progression to kidney failure and reducing cardiovascular events. The evidence-based care of these patients are universal and independent of their geographic location. This paper describes the need to develop a uniform and global public health approach to the worldwide epidemic of CKD. It is to this end that a new initiative Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes' has been established. Some current and future activities of this initiative are described. They include among others modification of the classification of CKD, the development of guidelines on hepatitis C, the organisation of consensus conferences like on Renal Osteodystrophy, and the creation of a website allowing the comparison of the five main English language clinical practice guidelines in kidney disease worldwide.

Chronic Disease↗

Improving salt balance in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Volume homeostasis is an important predictor of outcome in peritoneal dialysis. Because volume retention is driven by salt retention, maintenance of salt balance should be a concern to all nephrologists. An important factor in this is dietary salt restriction. This has long been neglected in peritoneal dialysis patients, where it was considered that the continuous nature of the therapy and residual renal function would be sufficient to remove any extra salt load. In patients with preserved renal function, diuresis and salt excretion can be enhanced by the application of high doses of loop diuretics. This practice seems not to have an impact on the further deterioration of renal function. Peritoneal salt removal can be enhanced using polyglucose. Also, the use of low sodium-containing dialysate can be efficient. These solutions are, however, not commercially available, and they need higher concentrations of glucose to obtain an efficient osmolarity. It should always be considered that, due to sodium sieving over the ultrasmall pores, fluid and salt removal are not always concordant.

Diet, Sodium-Restricted↗

Clinical characteristics of patients developing ARF due to sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome: results of a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) in patients with sepsis provokes high mortality and financial cost. In this prospective study, we collected characteristics of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who developed sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) to analyze differences between those who subsequently did or did not develop ARF. METHODS: All patients admitted to the ICU of the University Hospital Gent, Belgium, between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2001, who developed sepsis/SIRS were included if they had a serum creatinine level less than 2 mg/dL (<177 micromol/L). RESULTS: Of 2,442 patients admitted to the ICU, 257 patients developed sepsis/SIRS. Of those, 29 patients (11%) developed ARF. In a univariate analysis, age, central venous pressure (CVP), and serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels were greater (P = 0.003, P = 0.006, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively), whereas mean arterial and diastolic blood pressures, 24-hour urinary output, arterial pH, bicarbonate level, thrombocyte count, albumin level, and prothrombin time were lower (P = 0.05, P = 0.004, P = 0.005, P = 0.03, P = 0.009, P = 0.037, P = 0.05, and P = 0.006, respectively) in the ARF group. Prevalence of diabetes, sex, and need for ventilation were not different between the ARF and no-ARF groups, but in the ARF group, diuretic use, vasopressor use, and presence of primary hepatic failure were more prevalent (P = 0.001 for each). In a multivariate analysis, age, serum creatinine level, CVP, and presence of liver failure significantly contributed to a logistic regression model for ARF. CONCLUSION: Several parameters already were disturbed at the first day of SIRS/sepsis in patients who later developed ARF. Older age, elevated serum creatinine level despite elevated CVP, and presence of hepatic failure are predictive for ARF in septic patients.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Features of chronic hemodialysis practice after the Marmara earthquake.

After disasters, treatment of chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients is problematic because of logistic and medical reasons. This study analyzes features of HD practice in the regions affected by the Marmara earthquake that struck northwestern Turkey in August 1999. Questionnaires asking about HD infrastructure, medical/social problems of chronic dialysis patients, and the fate of dialysis personnel after the disaster were sent to dialysis units located in the affected region. Data gathered from eight HD centers that responded to questionnaires were then analyzed. The number of HD centers and machines were 12 and 124, respectively, before the earthquake. The number of weekly HD sessions in the analyzed eight centers declined from 1093 before the disaster to 520, 616, and 729 1 wk, 1 mo, and 3 mo after the earthquake, respectively. In the effective seven centers, the number of HD personnel was 112 before the earthquake, which dropped to 86 and 94 1 and 3 mo after the disaster, respectively. Overall, there were 439 patients in the analyzed eight centers before the disaster, whereas data were provided on 356 (212 were male; mean age, 47.6 +/- 15.1 yr) dialysis patients. Six patients died, and seven were seriously and 28 mildly injured by the direct effects of trauma. The percentage of patients who received once-weekly dialysis increased from 2.3 to 7.2% within the first week, with a return to lower figures (4.1 and 2.8%) 1 and 3 mo afterward. Despite a decrease in the number of HD sessions, interdialytic weight gain decreased 1 wk after the disaster and BP measurements did not change significantly before and after the earthquake. A total of 301 and 31 patients left their dialysis centers, temporarily and permanently. After catastrophic earthquakes, despite a decrease in the number of HD sessions, patients comply with disaster conditions, likely by strictly following dietary and fluid restrictions.

Adolescent↗

Delayed graft function in renal transplantation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Delayed graft function is an important determinant of patient and graft survival. A complex of pathologic mechanisms intervenes in the pathophysiology of this outcome. This paper reviews the main processes involved in delayed graft function as they relate to five chronologically related stages: donor tissue quality, brain death and related stress, preservation variables, immune factors, and recipient variables. RECENT FINDINGS: Dialyzed delayed graft function and nondialyzed slow graft function both have a negative impact on graft survival and on the incidence of acute rejection. Expanded-criteria donors, older donors, and non-heart-beating donors are more frequently used. The long-term results of the use of well-selected non-heart-beating donors are surprisingly good. The process of ischemia/reperfusion injury is already initiated in the brain-death donor and continues during preservation of the graft. Graft-infiltrating T cells, heat shock proteins, and heme oxygenase-1 are implicated in the process. Modifications in immunosuppressive therapy and pharmacologic modulations have an effect on delayed graft function. Delayed graft function plays a part in the incidence of acute rejection, impaired graft function, and survival of patients and grafts. SUMMARY: This review discusses the current literature on several recent findings of pathophysiologic mechanisms of, and possible therapeutic interventions in, delayed graft function.

Age Factors↗

Telomeric refinement of the MCKD1 locus on chromosome 1q21.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal-dominant medullary cystic kidney disease type 1 (MCKD1) is a tubulointerstitial nephropathy that causes renal salt wasting and end-stage renal failure in the sixth decade of life. The chromosomal locus for MCKD1 was localized to chromosome 1q21 in a Cyprotic kindred. In this report we describe further refinement of the critical genetic region by a recombination in a Belgian kindred. METHODS: Clinical data and blood samples of 33 individuals from a large Belgian kindred were collected and high-resolution haplotype analysis was performed. RESULTS: In the Belgian kindred linkage to the MCKD1 locus on chromosome 1q21 was found with a logarithm of odds (LOD) score significant for linkage. A recombination in individual III:7 for marker D1S2624 refines the critical genetic region to 2.1 Mb. In this kindred a wide variety of clinical symptoms and age of onset of renal failure was detected. CONCLUSION: We confirm the MCKD1 locus on chromosome 1q21 and show further refinement of the MCKD1 locus to 2.1 Mb. This allowed us to exclude another 17 genes as positional candidate genes.

Adult↗

The burden of kidney disease: improving global outcomes.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem. There is an increasing incidence and prevalence of patients with kidney failure requiring replacement therapy, with poor outcomes and high cost. There is an even higher prevalence of patients in earlier stages of CKD, with adverse outcomes such as kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Patients at earlier stages of CKD can be detected through laboratory testing and their treatment is effective in slowing the progression to kidney failure and reducing cardiovascular events. The science and evidence-based care of these patients are universal and independent of their geographic location. There is a clear need to develop a uniform and global public health approach to the worldwide epidemic of CKD. It is to this end that a new initiative "Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes" has been established. Its stated mission is "Improve the care and outcomes of kidney disease patients worldwide through promoting coordination, collaboration and integration of initiatives to develop and implement clinical practice guidelines."

Global Health↗

In vitro evidence for immune activating effect of specific AGE structures retained in uremia.

BACKGROUND: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) have been identified to be accumulated in blood and tissues of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). AGEs have been shown to modulate immune competent cell activities and in this way they may contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. All studies in this context have been performed, however, with generated mix of glycation compounds, and not with structures similar to those encountered in uremia. In the present study, the immunologic effect of specific AGE compounds, known to be retained in uremia, has been evaluated. METHODS: Four albumin preparations, modified chemically at lysine or arginine residues, respectively, to contain N-epsilon-carboxymethyllysine (CML albumin), N-epsilon-carboxyethyllysine (CEL albumin), glyoxal-induced imidazolinones (Arg I albumin) or methylglyoxal-induced imidazolinones (Arg II albumin) were applied. Their effect on chemiluminescence production, CD14 expression, and the DNA synthesis of calcitriol-differentiated HL-60 (monocyte/macrophage phenotype) was studied. RESULTS: The phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated chemiluminescence production of the calcitriol differentiated HL-60 cells was enhanced in the presence of CEL albumin (44.1 +/- 18.5 vs. 64.7 +/- 28.1 counts 10(3)/30 min) (P < 0.05), Arg I albumin (46.4 +/- 18.8 vs. 66.1 +/- 32.6 counts 10(3)/30 min) (P < 0.05) and CML albumin (41.9 +/- 25.5 vs. 60.9 +/- 5.5 counts 10(3)/30 min) (P= 0.0625) pointing to an increase in free radical production. The latter AGE compounds also significantly increased the calcitriol-induced CD14 expression on HL-60 cells (1675 +/- 796 vs. 2075 +/- 1044; 768 +/- 143 vs. 890 +/- 150; 647 +/- 63 vs. 716 +/- 69 mean fluorescence intensity) (P < 0.05, respectively) pointing to an increase in expression of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor. Finally, the DNA synthesis of the calcitriol-differentiated HL-60 cells was enhanced in the presence of Arg I albumin [34.5 +/- 4.6 vs. 27.7 +/- 9.7% 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells] (P < 0.05) resulting in an increased cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: Genuine AGE compounds, as they are encountered in the uremic condition, activate leukocyte response, and hence could play a role in uremia related atherogenesis.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗

Volume control in peritoneal dialysis patients: role of new dialysis solutions.

This paper reviews the most recent clinical data on the volume status of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. It appears that many PD patients are volume overloaded, associated with a high prevalence of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. In the presence of the poor results in patients with peritoneal ultrafiltration, the introduction of the polyglucose solution, icodextrin, has ameliorated volume control in some of these patients. In a second part of the review, some of the structural and functional alterations in the peritoneal membrane and the role of glucose degradation products (GDP) in the commonly used dialysates as well as the resulting formation of advanced glycation end products are described. The introduction of low GDP-containing solutions at normal pH has at least in experimental models of PD attenuated the hemodynamic changes observed with the classical solutions. The solutions at normal pH containing either bicarbonate or a mixture of bicarbonate/lactate were clinically associated with less inflow pain.

Acidosis↗

Comparative kinetics of the uremic toxin p-cresol versus creatinine in rats with and without renal failure.

BACKGROUND: p-cresol, which is extensively metabolized into p-cresylglucuronide in the rat, is related to several biochemical and physiologic alterations in uremia and is not removed adequately by current hemodialysis strategies. The knowledge of its in vivo kinetic behavior could be helpful to improve the current removal strategies. METHODS: We investigated the kinetic behavior of intravenously injected p-cresol (10 mg/kg) in rats with normal and decreased renal function, and compared the results with those obtained for creatinine (60 mg/kg) under similar conditions. Renal failure was obtained by 5/6 nephrectomy. Both p-cresol and p-cresylglucuronide were analyzed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The relation between the p-cresylglucuronide peak height and the underlying amount of p-cresol was determined after hydrolysis of the glucuronide with beta-glucuronidase. We calculated urinary excretion of p-cresol with and without taking p-cresylglucuronide into account. In addition, total, renal, and non-renal clearance, half-life, and volume of distribution were calculated for p-cresol. RESULTS: Over a 4-hour period, p-cresol serum concentration showed only a minimal decline in rats with decreased renal function (t1/2 = 11.7 +/- 0.4 hours), compared to rats with normal renal function (t1/2 = 1.4 +/- 0.7 hours). A similar observation was made for p-cresylglucuronide. In rats with normal renal function, 21.0 +/- 10.0% of the injected p-cresol was excreted in urine as p-cresol and 60.7 +/- 25.0% as p-cresylglucuronide; in rats with renal failure, the respective amounts were 6.7 +/- 7.5% and 32.0 +/- 25.3% (P < 0.05 vs. normal renal function) (total recovery 81.81 +/- 31.07% vs. 38.50 +/- 32.09%, P < 0.05). The volume of distribution of p-cresol was approximately 4 times larger than that of creatinine, but was not significantly affected by renal failure. Not only renal, but also non-renal and total clearance, were much lower in rats with decreased renal function. CONCLUSION: The present data sheds a light on the kinetic behavior of p-cresol in uremic patients; the large volume of distribution, especially, might explain the inadequate dialytic removal of p-cresol. In addition, a substantial amount of p-cresol is removed by metabolism, and both renal and non-renal clearance are disturbed in uremia.

Animals↗

New insights in uremic toxins.

The retention in the body of compounds, which normally are secreted into the urine results in a clinical picture, called the uremic syndrome. The retention compounds responsible for the uremic syndrome are called uremic toxins. Only a few of the uremic retention solutes fully conform to a true definition of uremic toxins. Uremic patients develop atheromatotic vascular disease more frequently and earlier than the general population. The classical risk factors seem to be less important. Other factors have been suggested to be at play, and among those uremic toxins are mentioned as potential culprits. The identification, classification and characterization of the solutes responsible for vascular problems seems of utmost importance but is far from complete due to a lack of standardization and organization. The European Uremic Toxin Work Group (EUTox) has as a primary aim to discuss, analyze and offer guidelines in matters related to the identification, characterization, analytical determination and evaluation of biological activity of uremic retention solutes. The final aim remains the development of new strategies to reduce the concentration of the most active uremic solutes. These activities will at first be concentrated on reducing factors influencing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Humans↗