IN THE NEWS: New guidelines for Hypertension in Pregnancy

A recent task force from ACOG ( included high risk OB, anesthesiologists, nephrologists) in 2013 re-evaluated the definition and concept of using proteinuria in the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. Proteinuria is not going to be considered a hard finding anymore for the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. The ACOG felt that this would delay diagnosis in many cases. The entire report is found here.
Proteinuria seemed to have been down graded in many instances in the report. 

Diagnosis:

BP criteria remained
Proteinuria over 5gm has been eliminated from the term of severe preclampsia.
Severe features of pre-eclampsia now include: BP changes, SBP>160mmHg, low platelets, impaired liver function, AKI, pul edema and new onset cerebral disturbances.

Some other changes:

• Screening to predict preeclampsia beyond taking an appropriate medical history to evaluate for risk factors is not recommended.
• Vitamin C or vitamin E to prevent preeclampsia is not recommended.
• Daily low-dose aspirin to help prevent preeclampsia is suggested in very high-risk women with a history of preeclampsia and preterm delivery.
• Antihypertensive medication is recommended for severe hypertension during pregnancy.
• A decision to deliver should not be based on the amount of proteinuria or change in the amount of proteinuria.
• The use of magnesium sulfate is recommended for severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, or HELLP syndrome.

Risk factors the task force came up with for pre-eclampsia:

Primiparity

Prior pre eclampsia

CKD

Chronic HTN

Thrombophilia history

Multi-fetal pregnancy

IVF

Family history

DM I or II

Obesity

SLE

Advanced maternal age ( >40)

Clinical Case 77 Answers and Summary

A 56 y old on PD presents with PD peritonitis and bacteremia as well likely related to the peritonial infection. How would you treat?

The role of IV antibiotics in PD peritonitis has always been questions. A recent Cochrane review was done on this topic. They identified 36 studies (2089 patients): antimicrobial agents (30); urokinase (4), peritoneal lavage (1) intraperitoneal (IP) immunoglobulin (1). No superior antibiotic agent or combination of agents were identified. Primary response and relapse rates did not differ between IP glycopeptide-based regimens compared to first generation cephalosporin regimens, although glycopeptide regimens were more likely to achieve a complete cure (3 studies, 370 episodes: RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.58). IP antibiotics were superior to IV antibiotics in reducing treatment failure (1 study, 75 patients: RR 3.52, 95% CI 1.26 to 9.81). Based on one study, IP administration of antibiotics is superior to IV dosing for treating PD peritonitis. Intermittent and continuous dosing of antibiotics are equally efficacious.
What about bacteremia in addition to the PD peritonitis?  This is a hard question that hasn’t been looked at. A study did analyze the incidence rates and risks of bacteremia and HD and PD. Placement of a permanent access (fistula, graft, or PD catheter) prior to initiation of dialysis, smoking cessation, and better nutritional status (i.e. higher serum albumin) were associated with a reduced risk of bacteremia in dialysis patients. Higher serum albumin was also associated with a reduced bacteremia-associated mortality.
Two cases reports have looked at treating cases of peritonitis and bacteremia. Most used IP only but some had combo treatment. The jury is still out.
http://www.pdiconnect.com/content/31/3/366.long
http://www.pdiconnect.com/content/30/3/381.long

Crizotinib and the Kidney

Does crizotinib cause AKI? and is it reversible?

Crizotinib is a ROS-1 inhibitor and acts on anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) to treat non small cell lung cancer.It also inhibits the hepatocyte growth factor tyrosine kinase. Hence, another angiogenesis inhibitor.
In 2011, it was approved for use in NSCLC with abnormal ALK gene mutation. There was some initial concern regarding this agent and renal function. A biopsy proven case of ATN was published not too long ago from France.

A recent analysis from Univ of Colorado looked at 38 patients with NSCLC who got this agent. The mean GFR decreased by 23.9% compared to baseline and most happened in the first 2 weeks of therapy. Pre renal causes were excluded. 84% of the patients recovered renal function back to baseline after cessation of therapy. The investigators thought that the rapid reversibility raised the possibility that this was a tubular creatinine secretion effect rather than nephrotoxic effect. They didn't have biopsy data.

Here is a commentary on this study.

HIV associated TMA: Is this an ADAMTS13 mediated entity or CMV related?

HIV associated TMA was more common in the AIDS era. After advent of HAART therapy, this entity is rare.

Traditional Risk factors are:
Low CD4 count, high viral load, concurrent Hep C and AIDS, blacks

Most secondary causes of TMA, treating the underlying cause or removing the underlying medication would treat the TMA(HUS or TTP variant).
Interestingly, one study looked at TMA from HIV in more detail and the use of plasma exchange. They prospectively looked at biological differences and response to the therapy. Response was much better in the HAART + plasma exchange arm versus HAART arm alone.  Interestingly, 80% of the patients that developed TMA , had either low ADAMTS13 levels or antibodies to them-in which case TPE or plasma exchange would offer benefit. Does HIV modulate ADAMTS13 or lead to inhibition?

Another study looked at the role of CMV viremia for causing TMA in HIV patients. They looked at clinical and pathological data for 29 patients with TMA and HIV infection. The diagnosis of TMA was confirmed by histological examination of kidney biopsy specimens (18 cases). Endothelial cytomegalovirus (CMV) inclusions were associated with TMA in nine of 18 cases, whereas histological examination did not detect CMV in any control specimens (P < .001).  This study using a case controlled method demonstrated a link of TMA and clinical systemic CMV infection by an odds ratio of close to 4.

So lets revise the risk factors for HIV associated TMA

1. Low CD4, high viral load
2. AIDS
3. Blacks
4. Hep C
5. Concurrent CMV viremia
6. ADAMTS13 inhibition or deficiency.

The MORAL of CORAL

The CORAL trial finally has arrived. Stenting the renal vessels has always been a topic of debate.  This is the largest trial to date that directly compared intervention to medical therapy in atherosclerotic renal stenosis.

1. Investigators randomly assigned over 900 patients to either medical therapy or stenting.
2. Cardiovascular or renal events were the end points. - MI, stroke, need for ESRD and or death
3. 43 months of follow up and no different in primary endpoints. No difference in mortality. Blood pressure slight better in stent group
4. Meds that were used in their protocol:- Atacand with or without HCTZ and a combo of CCB and statin.
5. All renal arteries with stenosis >60% or more were treated( prior studies some severe cases were excluded)
6. Close to 50% in both arms had patients with CKD stage 3 or higher( makes it hard to offer stenting already)
7. Looking closely at the data, it appears that there were more strokes in the medical therapy arm but still not statistically significant. Interestingly, more patients reached ESRD in stent arm than medical therapy arm but not statistically significant.
8. Author's recommendation- no significant benefit to stenting in atherosclerotic renal artery disease.

Is this the end of RAS in atherosclerotic renal disease?-I think so!

ANION GAP ACIDOSIS: GOLD-MARK makes a MARK:

GOLDMARK  is the new MUD PILES

A new mnemonic has been created in the last few years for anion gap acidosis. 

Glycols( ethylene glycol, propylene glycol)
Oxoproline
L- lactate
D-lactate
Methanol
Aspirin
Renal failure
Ketoacidosis

Two popular mnemonics were often used to remember the major causes of the high-gap metabolic acidoses. The first is KUSMALE which represents Ketoacidosis, Uremia, Salicylate poisoning, Methanol, Aldehyde (paraldehyde), Lactate, and Ethylene glycol. 

The second is MUD PILES( most popular), spells out Methanol, Uremia, Diabetic ketoacidosis, Paraldehyde, Iron (and Isoniazid), Lactate, Ethylene glycol, and Salicylate.

Why GOLDMARK then? The causes have changed in the 21^st century. We barely see any more paraldehyde any more, neither we see that much Iron and INH related causes.

Newer causes: D-lactate: seen with short gut syndrome( especially after sugary drinks), diabetes can lead to d-lactate as well. Other new causes is pyroglutamic acid ( oxoproline) seen with chronic Tylenol use. Finally, propylene glycol infusion that is usually found in lorazepam, phenobarb and banana bags.

Initially this was proposed in LANCET

Is BK Virus oncogenic?

EBV virus has been associated with PTLD and many other viruses have oncogenic potential. Does a common urological virus such as BK have oncogenic potential in our transplant patients?    

Given its predilection to lower GU tract, cancers of bladder have been reported with BK( just case reports). In the tumor cells, it is possible to detect fragments of the viral genome that could alter the control mechanisms of the cell cycle and DNA repair.

Besides the correlation between BKVN and graft failure, a small number of case reports suggest an association between BKV infection and the development of renal and bladder cancers in renal transplant recipients. Indeed, for more than 30 years, an oncogenic potential of BKV has been observed in vitro and in animal models. In humans, however, the implication of BKV in tumor development is still unclear.

A table in a recent publication summarizes some of the cases. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482068/table/T1/

Interestingly, Lithium has been associated with collecting duct carcinomas due to the mode of it’s action. At ASN this year, the pathologist presented a case of collecting duct cancer in a transplanted kidney in  a patient who was on Lithium and had persistent BK nephropathy. The biopsy showed a tumor burden as well significant BK virus staining. Talk about second hits!