Lowering Pulmonary Wedge Pressure after Heart Transplant: Pulmonary Compliance and Resistance Effect

AbstractBackground:Right ventricular (RV) afterload is an important risk factor for post-heart transplantation (HTx) mortality, and it results from the interaction between pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and pulmonary compliance (CPA). Their product, the RC time, is believed to be constant. An exception is observed in pulmonary hypertension because of elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressures.Objective:Using HTx as a model for chronic lowering of LV filling pressures, our aim was to assess the variations in RV afterload components after transplantation.Methods:We retrospectively studied 159 patients with right heart catheterization before and after HTx. The effect of Htx on hemodynamic variables was assessed.Results:Most of the patients were male (76%), and the mean age was 53 ± 12 years. HTx had a significant effect on the hemodynamics, with normalization of the LV and RV filling pressures and a significant increase in cardiac output and heart rate (HR). The PVR decreased by 56% and CPA increased by 86%. The RC time did not change significantly, instead of increasing secondary to pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP) normalization after HTx as expected. The expected increase in RC time with PWP lowering was offset by the increase in HR (because of autonomic denervation of the heart). This effect was independent from the decrease of PWP.Conclusion:The RC time remained unchanged after HTx, notwithstanding the fact that pulmonary capillary wedge pressure significantly decreased. An increased HR may have an important effect on RC time and RV afterload. Studying these interactions may be of value to the assessment of HTx candidates and explaining early RV failure after HTx.

Diagnosis of Rejection by Analyzing Ventricular Late Potentials in Heart Transplant Patients

Background: Heart transplant rejection originates slow and fragmented conduction. Signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) is a stratification method in the risk of rejection. Objective: To develop a risk score for rejection, using SAECG variables. Methods: We studied 28 transplant patients. First, we divided the sample into two groups based on the occurrence of acute rejection (5 with rejection and 23 without). In a second phase, we divided the sample considering the existence or not of rejection in at least one biopsy performed on the follow-up period (rejection pm1: 18 with rejection and 10 without). Results: On conventional ECG, the presence of fibrosis was the only criterion associated with acute rejection (OR = 19; 95% CI = 1.65-218.47; p = 0.02). Considering the rejection pm1, an association was found with the SAECG variables, mainly with RMS40 (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.87-0.99; p = 0.03) and LAS40 (OR = 1.06; 95% IC = 1.01-1.11; p = 0.03). We formulated a risk score including those variables, and evaluated its discriminative performance in our sample. The presence of fibrosis with increasing of LAS40 and decreasing of RMS40 showed a good ability to distinguish between patients with and without rejection (AUC = 0.82; p < 0.01), assuming a cutoff point of sensitivity = 83.3% and specificity = 60%. Conclusion: The SAECG distinguished between patients with and without rejection. The usefulness of the proposed risk score must be demonstrated in larger follow-up studies.

Atendimento no Ambulatório de Nutrição Renal da Faculdade de Nutrição da Universidade Federal Fluminense e Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro : efeitos de um programa de treino de força intradialítica em pacientes renais crónicos

Relatório de estágio de mestrado, Nutrição Clínica, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina, 2015

Do funccionamento renal na febre amarella, na convalescença e após a cura

Graphico n. 1 - A. s. C., Reg. 169 A., 22 annos, branco, portuguez. Inicio com cephalalgia, mal estar e vomitos. Ao ser internado sentia grande abatimento, olhos injectados, ictericia bem nitida da esclerotica. Baço crescido. Dôr epigastrica. Bulhas cardiacas abafadas. Exame da urina: grande quantidade de albumina, cylindros granulosos, urobilina. Até o 13º dia continuou com grande adynamia. Até o 8º dia de molestia tinha cylindros na urina, persistindo depois traços de albumina. Graphico n. 2 - S. I. Reg. 829, 10 annos, branco, brasileiro. Adoeceu com dores musculares, fraqueza nos membros inferiores e peso na cabeça. Ao internar-se apresentava olhos brilhantes e injectados, e vaso dilatação peripherica. Baço augmentado. Durante 3 dias teve cylindros na urina e traços de albumina. Graphico n. 3 - I. D., Reg. 853, 14 annos, branco, russo. Inicio com cephalalgia, dores lombares e temperatura elevada. Ansiedade e dôres epigastricas. Vomitos de "borra de café" desde o 2º dia de molestia. Grande prostração, olhos brilhantes, sub-ictericia. Exame da urina, ao entrar: Grande quantidade de albumina, cylindros granulosos e epitheliaes e cellulas renaes. O estado do doente aggravou-se até o 7º dia de molestia, tendo dias de delirio. A ictericia augmentou progressivamente. Os signaes urinarios melhoraram depois do 16º dia. Graphico n. 4 - F. W., Reg. 165 A., 12 annos, branco, hungaro. Cephalalgia, fortes dores lombares, mau estar, vomitos e oppresão epigastrica. Grande prostração, rubor da face, vaso-dilatação peripherica. Face vultuosa. Depois de internado teve vomitos pretos. Os cylindros desappareceram depois do 8º dia e a albumina no 10º. Graphico n. 5 - A. H. M., 824, 22 annos, brancos, portuguez. Adoeceu com cephalalgia, dores lombares, calafrio e elevação thermica. Face vultuosa, olhos injectados. Albumina e cylindros na urina por muitos dias. Ictericia desde o 4º dia. Graphico n. 6 - Y. P., Reg. 824, 15 annos, branca, brasileira. Calafrios e elevação thermica. Cephalalgia e grande mal estar. Vomitos de "borra de café" desde o 4º dia. Nos primeiros dias o symptomas se aggravaram. Cylindruria até o 6º dia de molestia, restando traços de albumina. Graphico n. 7 - M. M., Reg. 829, 28 annos, branco, portuguez. Inicio com calafrios, febre, cephalalgia e dores lombares. Ao internar-se apresentava grande prostração, ruboe da face, olhos brilhantes e injectados. Lingua humida com muita saburra. A urina revelou grande quantidade de albumina e cylindros granulosos. Os signaes renaes duraram até o 16º dia. Não teve vomitos. Icterica intensa. Graphico n. 8 - A. S. S., Reg. 868, 18 annos, pardo, brasileiro. Internado em estado de confusão mental. Adynamia com grande apathia. Mucosas labiaes sangrando à pressão. Leve ictericia. Pequeno edema das palpebras. Baço palpavel. Oliguria. Grande quantidade de albumina e abundancia de cylindros granulosos e epitheliaes e cellulas renaes. Sómente depois de 10º dia de hospitalização foi que as melhoras se accentuaram e nesse dia desappareceram os cylindros. Traços de albumina. Graphico n. 9 - A. A. F., Reg. 821, 19 annos, branco, portuguez. Cephalalgia, rachialgia, adynamia. Face vultuosa. Suffusões sanguineas nos labios. As mucosas do nariz, gengivas e labios sangraram por muitos dias. Urina: grande quantidade de albumina, cylindros granulosos e epitheliaes e cellulas renaes, tendo este signaes desapparecido depois de 10º dia. Icterica muito accentuada.

Intoxicação por veneno de cobra: necrose symetrica da cortex renal: uremia

Em um caso fatal de ophidismo, em individuo de 15 annos de edade, picado por uma cobra jararaca (Bothrops jararaca) na face externa da perna direita e que veio a fallecer 26 dias apoz o accidente, os A.A, descrevem as lesões anatomo-pathologicas encontradas e as modificações do metabolismo, evidenciadas pelos exames chimicos do sangue. As principaes alterações existentes, acham-se localisadas nos rins os quaes apresentam lesões de glomerulonephrite diffusa e o aspecto typico da necrose cortical symmetrica. Como alterações de maior significação observam-se ainda lesões vasculares de grande intensidade e constituidas essencialmente por processo de endoarterite productiva. A necrose symmetrica da cortex renal, a vista das intensas alterações vasculares (endoarterite productiva) que acarretaram a obliteração das arterías, é considerada como a consequencia immediata de taes lesões vasculares. Os vasos renaes, séde do processo inflammatorio, são as arterias interlobar, arciforme e interlobular, mas principalmente as arteriolares da camada cortical. O processo de endoarterite assume sempre o carater progressivo, de modo que a luz vascular vae sendo aos poucos, totalmente obstruida. Ao contrario do que se tem observado nos casos de necrose cortical symmetrica, citados na literatura, em que as alterações parenchymatosas são consequentes a thrombose dos vasos reanes, no caso presente esse aspecto não foi verificado mas tão sómente a existencia da endoarterite productiva obliterante. Consideram os A.A. as lesões renaes no caso que estudaram, como a resultante da actuação lenta e prolongada do veneno de cobra sobre as estructuras renaes, baseados nos seguintes factos já conhecidos e admittidos: eliminação do veneno de cobra pelos rins; capacidade do mesmo veneno, determinar a glomerulo-nephrite diffusa e acção do veneno de cobra sobre o endothelio vascular, facilitada essencialmente pela funcção especifica do orgão. As modificações do metabolismo se traduziram por alterações urinarias e sanguineas. As urinas foram emitidas em muito pequena quantidade (50 cc. em 24 horas) não havendo comtudo, anuria absoluta. Cylindros hyalinos e granulosos, bem como leucocytos e cellulas renaes, associadas á albuminoria, era presentes. Os exames chimicos do sangue, revelaram: Proteinas totaes 7,61 grs. em 1000 cc.; Albumina 2,39 grs em 1000 cc.; Globulina 5,22 grs. em 1000 cc.; Uréa 6,42 grs. em 1000 cc.; Fibrinogeneo 0,324 grs. em 1000 cc.; Indican +++; Cl. plasmatico 339 mgrs. em 100 cc.; Cl. globular 170 mgrs. em 100 cc.; Cholesterol 163 mgrs. em 100 cc.; Creatinia 260 mgrs. em 100 cc.; Ph. inorganico 13,4 mgrs. em 100 cc.; Calcio 10,3 mgrs em 100 cc.; Potassio 28 mgrs. em 100 cc.; Sodio 328 mgrs. em 100 cc.. O exame hematologico revelou 11% de hemoglobina; 960.000 hematias por mm.³; e 5.200 leucocytos por mm.³. A formula leucocytaria revelou augmento dos neutrophilos, com 74% dos segmentados. A proporção entre sôro o coagulo foi 9 x 3 cc. A reacção de Wassermann no sôro sanguineo foi negativa. A insufficiencia renal se traduziu no caso em estudo, por modificações humoraes, particularmente pela azotemia elevada, pelo augmento da creatinina, do phosphoro inorganico e do indican. Em contraste com a existencia de taes modificações, o doente não apresentou os signaes clinicos observados nos casos emque a azotemia se mantem elevada, reproduzindo tal facto, o quadro clinico descripto para a necrose symmetrica da cortex renal.

Tumor misto do rim com estrutura de Miosarcoma Mipernefroma e blastema renal em individuo adulto

O A. descreve um caso de turmor misto do rim, em indivíduo do sexo masculino, com 58 anos de idade. A doença teve evolução lenta, somente sendo suspeitada, quando atingiu a fase final. O exame necroscópico revelou a existência de volumoso tumor do rim direito, apresentando forma bosselada, medindo 19 x 10 x 10 cm e pesando 940 g. A massa tumoral destrói quase completamente a estrutura renal, desta pouca restando reconhecivel. Fora do rim, encontra-se tambem tecido blastomatoso no figado, nos gânglios linfáticos mesentéricos, no peritônio e no epiploon. A estrutura do tumor, observada nos cortes histológicos, é variavel conforme o tecido examinado: no rim hipernefroma; fígado, gãnglios linfáticos, nos nódulos do peritônio e do epiploon, sarcoma mioblástico; em alguns gânglios do mesentério, alem da estrutura de sarcoma mioblástico, existe tecido nefrógeno, representado por formações pouco numerosas, constituidas por túbulos epiteliais, reproduzindo a estrutura de túbulo urinífero. casos desta natureza teem sido referidos com particular raridade, muito se aproximando o caso estudado do descrito por CHEVREL-BODIN e MARUELLE.

Tuberculose renal: considerações gerais referentes à étio-patogenia, anatomia patológica, bacteriologia, diagnóstico e tratamento

Os A.A., tomando por base cerca de 100 observações feitas durante alguns anos, apresentam a sua maneira de encarar a tuberculose renal, principalmente sob o ponto de vista da sua étio-patogenia, diagnóstico e tratamento. Êsses diferentes aspectos são analisados depois de ligeiro histórico, e a documentação original que apresentam, constante de 115 figuras, oferece as melhores provas em abono das idéias aqui expendidas.

Acth e enzimas na supra-renal

Estudou-se a atividade da ceruloplasmina, adenosina desaminase (AD) e transaminases glutâmico oxalacética (TGO) e glutâmico pirúvica (TGP) na supra-renal de ratos normais e injetados previamente (24 horas antes) com uma injeção única, por via intraperitoneal, de ACTH em doses de 0,5 e 1,2 un. internacionais. observou-se uma elevação estatisticamente significativa das TGO e ceruloplasmina enquanto a AD sofria diminuição sensível em sua atividade.

Técnica de peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) em biópsia renal: estudo comparativo

Os métodos de imunoperoxidase têm muito em comum com os da imunofluorescência para a demonstração de antígenos teciduais e celulares como no campo das doenças renais relacionadas a imunoglobinas e imunocomplexos. Neste trabalho os autores fazem um estudo comparativo da sensibilidade dos dois métodos (IF e PAP) em tecido de congelação e blocos parafinizados de material de biópsia renal. A análise estatística dos resultados mostrou uma concordãncia significativa entre a IF de congelação e a imunoperoxidase em tecido parafinizado com exceções para a detecção de frações de complemento e de fibrinogênio. Não houve concordância entre a IF em congelação e IF em tecido parafinizado.

Effect on renal function of tenofovir co-administered with either efavirenz or boosted lopinavir or boosted atazanavir: the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Reduced re'nal function has been reported with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). It is not clear whether TDF co-administered with a boosted protease inhibitor (PI) leads to a greater decline in renal function than TDF co-administered with a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).Methods: We selected ail antiretroviral therapy-naive patients in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) with calibrated or corrected serum creatinine measurements starting antiretroviral therapy with TDF and either efavirenz (EFV) or the ritonavir-boosted PIs, lopinavir (LPV/r) or atazanavir (ATV/r). As a measure of renal function, we used the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We calculated the difference in eGFR over time between two therapies using a marginal model for repeated measures. In weighted analyses, observations were weighted by the product of their point of treatment and censoring weights to adjust for differences both in the sort of patients starting each therapy and in the sort of patients remaining on each therapy over time.Results: By March 2011, 940 patients with at least one creatinine measurement on a first therapy with either TDF and EFV (n=484), TDF and LPVlr (n=269) or TDF and ATV/r (n=187) had been followed for a median of 1. 7, 1.2 and 1.3 years, respectively. Table 1 shows the difference in average estimated GFR (eGFR) over time since starting cART for two marginal models. The first model was not adjusted for potential confounders; the second mode! used weights to adjust for confounders. The results suggest a greater decline in renal function during the first 6 months if TDF is used with a PI rather than with an NNRTI, but no further difference between these therapies after the first 6 months. TDF and ATV/r may lead to a greater decline in the first 6 months than TDF and LPVlr.Conclusions: TDF co-administered with a boosted PI leads to a greater de cline in renal function over the first 6 months of therapy than TDF co-administered with an NNRTI; this decline may be worse with ATV/r than with LPV/r.

Swiss clinical practice guidelines for skin cancer in organ transplant recipients.

Patients with a solid organ transplant have increased in numbers and in individual survival in Switzerland over the last decades. As a consequence of long-term immunosuppression, skin cancer in solid organ recipients (SOTRs) has been recognized as an important problem. Screening and education of potential SOTRs about prevention of sun damage and early recognition of skin cancer are important before transplantation. Once transplanted, SOTRs should be seen by a dermatologist yearly for repeat education as well as early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC) is the most frequent cancer in the setting of long-term immunosuppression. Sun protection by behaviour, clothing and daily sun screen application is the most effective prevention. Cumulative sun damage results in field cancerisation with numerous in-situ SCC such as actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease which should be treated proactively. Invasive SCC is cured by complete surgical excision. Early removal is the best precaution against potential metastases of SCC. Reduction of immunosuppression and switch to mTOR inhibitors and potentially, mycophenolate, may reduce the incidence of further SCC. Chemoprevention with the retinoid acitretin reduces the recurrence rate of SCC. The dermatological follow-up of SOTRs should be integrated into the comprehensive post-transplant care.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support after heart explantation: a proposal on how to deal with hyperacute rejection of heart transplant

Purpose: In extreme situations, such as hyperacute rejection of heart transplant or major bleeding per-operating complications, an urgent heart explantation might be the only means of survival. The aim of this experimental study was to improve the surgical technique and the hemodynamics of an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support through a peripheral vascular access in an acardia model. Methods: An ECMO support was established in 7 bovine experiments (59±6.1 kg) by the transjugular insertion to the caval axis of a self-expanded cannula, with return through a carotid artery. After baseline measurements of pump flow and arterial and central venous pressure, ventricular fibrillation was induced (B), the great arteries were clamped, the heart was excised and right and left atria remnants, containing the pulmonary veins, were sutured together leaving an atrial septal defect (ASD) over the cannula in the caval axis. Measurements were taken with the pulmonary artery (PA) clamped (C) and anastomosed with the caval axis (D). Regular arterial and central venous blood gases tests were performed. The ANOVA test for repeated measures was used to test the null hypothesis and a Bonferroni t method for assessing the significance in the between groups pairwise comparison of mean pump flow. Results: Initial pump flow (A) was 4.3±0.6 L/min dropping to 2.8±0.7 L/min (P B-A= 0.003) 10 minutes after induction of ventricular fibrillation (B). After cardiectomy, with the pulmonary artery clamped (C) it augmented not significantly to 3.5±0.8 L/min (P C-B= 0.33, P C-A= 0.029). Finally, PA anastomosis to the caval axis was followed by an almost to baseline pump flow augmentation (4.1±0.7 L/min, P D-B= 0.009, P D-C= 0.006, P D-A= 0.597), permitting a full ECMO support in acardia by a peripheral vascular access. Conclusions: ECMO support in acardia is feasible, providing new opportunities in situations where heart must urgently be explanted, as in hyperacute rejection of heart transplant. Adequate drainage of pulmonary circulation is pivotal in order to avoid pulmonary congestion and loss of volume from the normal right to left shunt of bronchial vessels. Furthermore, the PA anastomosis to the caval axis not only improves pump flow but it also permits an ECMO support by a peripheral vascular access and the closure of the chest.

Giant warts in a kidney transplant patient: regression with sirolimus.

Purpose: Recent reports have suggested that intraabdominal postoperative infection is associated with higher rates of overall and local recurrence and cancer-specific mortality. However, the mechanisms responsible for this association are unknown. We hypothesized that the greater inflammatory response in patients with postoperative intraabdominal infection is associated to an increase in local and systemic angiogenesis. Methods: We designed a prospective cohorts study with matched controls. Patients with postoperative intra-abdominal infection (abscess and/or anastomotic leakage) (group 1; n=17) after elective colorectal cancer resection operated on for cure were compared to patients with an uncomplicated postoperative course (group 2; n=17). IL-6 and VEGF levels were determined by ELISA in serum and peritoneal fluid at baseline, 48 hours and postoperative day 4 or at the time the peritoneal infection occurred. Results: No differences were observed in age, gender, preoperative CEA, tumor stage and location and type of procedure performed. Although there were no differences in serum IL-6 levels at 48 hours, this pro-inflammatory cytokine was higher in group 1 on postoperative day 4 (group 1: 21533 + 27900 vs. group 2: 1130 + 3563 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Serum VEGF levels were higher in group 1 on postoperative day 4 (group 1: 1212 + 1025 vs. group 2: 408 + 407 pg/ml; p < 0.01). Peritoneal fluid VEGF levels were also higher in group 1 at 48 hours (group 1: 4857 + 4384 vs. group 2: 630 + 461 pg/ml; p < 0.001) and postoperative day 4 (group 1: 32807 + 98486 vs. group 2: 1002 + 1229 pg/ml; p < 0.001). A positive correlation between serum IL-6 and VEGF serum levels was observed on postoperative day 4 (r=0.7; p<0.01). Conclusions: These results suggest that not only the inflammatory response but also the angiogenic pathways are stimulated in patients with intra-abdominal infection after surgery for colorectal cancer. The implications of this finding on long-term follow-up need to be evaluated.

Renal sodium handling and nighttime blood pressure.

Blood pressure follows a circadian rhythm with a physiologic 10% to 20% decrease during the night. There is now increasing evidence that a blunted decrease or an increase in nighttime blood pressure is associated with a greater prevalence of target organ damage and a faster disease progression in patients with chronic kidney diseases. Several factors contribute to the changes in nighttime blood pressure including changes in hormonal profiles such as variations in the activity of the renin-angiotensin and the sympathetic nervous systems. Recently, it was hypothesized that the absence of a blood pressure decrease during the nighttime (nondipping) is in fact a pressure-natriuresis mechanism enabling subjects with an impaired capacity to excrete sodium to remain in sodium balance. In this article, we review the clinical and epidemiologic data that tend to support this hypothesis. Moreover, we show that most, if not all, clinical conditions associated with an impaired dipping profile are diseases associated either with a low glomerular filtration rate and/or an impaired ability to excrete sodium. These observations would suggest that renal function, and most importantly the ability to eliminate sodium during the day, is indeed a key determinant of the circadian rhythm of blood pressure.

Renal transplantation following aorto-iliac reconstruction is a safe a strategy

Introduction: Renal transplantation is considered the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. However, the association of occlusive aorto-iliac disease and chronic renal failure is frequent and aorto-iliac reconstruction may be necessary prior to renal transplantation. This retrospective study reviews the results of this operative strategy.Material and Methods: Between January 2001 and June 2010, 309 patients underwent renal transplantation at our institution and 8 patients had prior aorto-iliac reconstruction using prosthetic material. There were 6 men and 2 women with a median age of 62 years (range 51-70). Five aorto-bifemoral and 2 aorto-bi-iliac bypasses were performed for stage II (n=5), stage IV (n=1) and aortic aneurysm (n=1). In one patient, iliac kissing stents and an ilio-femoral bypass were implanted. 4 cadaveric and 4 living donor renal transplantations were performed with an interval of 2 months to 10 years after revascularization.The results were analysed with respect of graft and patients survival. Differences between groups were tested by the log rank method.Results: No complications and no death occurred in the post-operative period. All bypasses remained patent during follow-up. The median time of post transplantation follow-up was 46 months for all patients and 27 months for patients with prior revascularization. In the revascularized group and control group, the graft and patient survival at 1 year were respectively 100%/96%, 100%/99% and at 5 years 86%/86%, 86%/94%, without significant differences between both groups.Discussion: Our results suggest that renal transplantation following prior aorto-iliac revascularisation with prosthetic material is safe and effective. Patients with end-stage renal disease and concomitant aorto-iliac disease should therefore be considered for renal transplantation. However, caution in the interpretation of the results is indicated due to the small sample size of our study.