Tag Archives: chronic kidney disease

Ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula with multilocular gigantic aneurysmal dilatation: a case report

Emil-Marian Arbănași1, Eliza Russu1,2, Adrian Vasile Mureșan1,2, Eliza-Mihaela Arbănași3, Reka Kaller1

1. Clinic of Vascular Surgery, Emergency County Hospital, Târgu-Mureș, Romania
2. First Department of Surgery, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
3. Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2021-0035

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistula dysfunction has been associated with a range of problems such as thrombosis, stenosis, dilatation, and infection.
Case presentation: We present the case of a 64-year-old patient with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis and with aneurysmal dilatation of the ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula, having an increased risk of rupture. A temporary dialysis catheter is placed in the left femoral vein, an aneurysmal basilic vein is ligated at the anastomosis, aneurysmal dilatation is emptied by compression, and a right radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula is performed. The patient undergoes hemodialysis on the second day and subsequently three times a week for six weeks until the new arteriovenous fistula develops. He returns for aneurysmal sac resection.
Conclusion: The purpose of this paper is the presentation and management of a 15-year-old ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula with multilocular aneurysmal development and an imminent rupture.

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Markers of Atherosclerosis in Hypertensive Patients with Less Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Claudia Floriana Suciu, Andreea Varga, Corneliu Florin Buicu, Ioan Tilea

University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2019-0022

Objective: Our study aimed to validate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker for aortic arch calcification in hypertensive patients with less advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Methods: A number of forty-four hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (categories G3a and G3b – 2012 KDIGO nomenclature) were included in the study. Considering the presence of aortic arch calcification (AAC) on chest X-ray, the study population was divided into two groups: 27 patients AAC present and seventeen without aortic arch calcification. Laboratory data were collected for each patient and NLR was computed. Comorbidities were also recorded: stable coronary artery disease, lower extremity arterial disease and hypertensive heart disease.
Results: A positive correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and aortic arch calcification in hypertensive CKD patients was identified. Furthermore, advanced age, increased alkaline phosphatase and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate had a positive association with aortic arch calcification. We found no statistical correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and other laboratory features in both groups of patients.
Conclusions: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may be viewed as a potential risk factor for vascular calcification in patients with moderate chronic kidney disease; nevertheless, future extensive studies are necessary. In the management of hypertensive patients, general medicine might particularly benefit of this simple, readily available inflammatory marker.

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The Monitoring of Immunosuppressive Therapy with Tacrolimus in Patients with Kidney Transplant, Based on the Pharmacokinetic Criteria

Stoica Ciprian Mihai1, Căldăraru Carmen Denise2*, Vari Camil Eugen3, Tarța Dorin Ionuț1, Dogaru Maria Titica3, Carașca Emilian4, Dogaru Grigore Aloiziu1

1 Department of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mureş, România
2 Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mureş, România
3 Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mureş, România
4 Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mureş, România

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0082

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) with kidney transplant, represents a major post transplant concern due to the characteristics of this special category of patients, particularities which can generate changes of the pharmacokinetic profile of the administered medication.
Material and methods: The current study is a retrospective pharmacokinetic study, over a period of 50 months, including a group of 36 kidney transplanted patients with CKD. Tacrolimus blood concentration was determined by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC), at a 12 hour time interval from the last administration of the immunosuppressive medication and before the following dose (Residual concentration, Cmin(trough)).
Results: During the monitoring of therapy, based on the pharmacokinetic criteria, 252 measurements of blood concentration were determined, 58 of these being outside the therapeutic window.
Conclusions: The results obtained show that it is mandatory to continue to monitor closely medical therapy based on the pharmacokinetic criteria in view of improving drug administration. The other ways of monitoring therapy: the clinical and biochemical criteria should not be overlooked. In addition, the interindividual variability of patients should be considered, as well as drug interaction which can alter the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus.

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Arylsulfatase A: An Important Metabolic Factor in Pathophysiology of Different Diseases

Kovacs Zsolt*, Tripon Robert, Nemes Nagy Eniko, Balogh Samarghitan Victor, Tilinca Mariana, Martha Orsolya, Fazakas Zita

Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0064

Arylsulfatase A (ARSA) is a lysosomal enzyme that plays an important role in catalysis of degradation of cerebrosidesulphate. The deficiency of this lysosomal enzyme causes an autosomal recessive disorder, called metachromatic leucodystrophy. However, a low ARSA activity can be observed in clinically healthy people, called ARSA pseudodeficiency. In our study we investigated the possible linkage between ARSA activity and sulfatide deficiency causing characteristic aspects of degenerative diseases, such as end stage kidney disease, type 2 Diabetes mellitus, Parkinson syndrome, prostate cancer and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection. We used a spectrophotometric method to determine the activity of ARSA. This method of enzyme dosage is based on a 4 hour long hydrolysis of the ARSA enzyme on 4-nitrocatechol sulfate (p-NCS) substrate. The unit of this measurement is nmol/ml/4h. Our findings show significant values in type 2 diabetes, Parkinson syndrome and chronic kidney disease. The importance of sulfatide in these diseases is well-known, thus presumably the variation of the ARSA’s activity might play an important role in the pathophysiology of these diseases, involving a vicious cycle between sulfatide degradation andthese diseases.

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Office Assessed Blood Pressure and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Versus Kidney Transplant Recipients

Tarta DI, Căldăraru Carmen Denise, Tarta Cristina, Frigy A, Carașca E, Carlan Otilia, Dogaru AG

University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tirgu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0029

How reliable is office assessed blood pressure (BP) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and kidney transplant (KTx) recipients is yet to be determined, although the diagnosis of arterial hypertension has been based on these measurements. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential differences between office assessed BP and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in CKD patients and KTx recipients.
We conducted a prospective study which enrolled 45 patients. Morning and evening seated office BPs were assessed using a sphygmomanometer at 5 consecutive outpatient visits. A mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) was calculated. Ambulatory blood pressure was measured over 24 hours using a Meditech ABPM-05 device. Office SBP was statistically significant higher in CKD patients than KTx recipients both in the morning and evening (p=0.0433 and p=0.0066 respectively). ABPM showed higher night-time SBPs (p=0.0445) and higher overall, day-time and night-time DBPs in KTX recipients (p=0.0001, p=0.0006, p<0.0001 respectively). In CKD patients, office SBPs and DBPs are significantly higher than overall SBPs and DBPs as assessed by 24hr ABPM. Office BP monitoring as assessed by clinician is acceptable but tends to overestimate BP in both CKD and KTx study groups.

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