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Background: We analyzed differences in presentation and survival of Takayasu arteritis (TAK) with or without renal artery involvement (RAI) from a large monocentric cohort of patients with TAK. Methods: Clinical and angiographic features were compared between TAK with versus without RAI, with bilateral versus unilateral RAI, and with bilateral RAI versus without RAI using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. Inter-group differences in survival were analyzed [hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI)] adjusted for gender, age at disease onset, diagnostic delay, baseline disease activity, and significant clinical/angiographic inter-group differences after multivariable-adjustment/propensity score matching (PSM). Results: Of 215 TAK, 117(54.42%) had RAI [66(56.41%) bilateral]. TAK with RAI or with bilateral RAI had earlier disease onset than without RAI (p < 0.001). Chronic renal failure (CRF) was exclusively seen in TAK with RAI. TAK with RAI (vs without RAI) had more frequent hypertension (p = 0.001), heart failure (p = 0.047), abdominal aorta (p = 0.001) or superior mesenteric artery involvement (p = 0.018). TAK with bilateral RAI (vs unilateral RAI) more often had hypertension (p = 0.011) and blurring of vision (p = 0.049). TAK with bilateral RAI (vs without RAI) more frequently had hypertension (p = 0.002), heart failure (p = 0.036), abdominal aorta (p < 0.001), superior mesenteric artery (p = 0.002), or left subclavian artery involvement (p = 0.041). Despite higher morbidity (hypertension, CRF), mortality risk was not increased with RAI vs without RAI (HR 2.32, 95%CI 0.61–8.78), with bilateral RAI vs unilateral RAI (HR 2.65, 95%CI 0.52–13.42) or without RAI (HR 3.16, 95%CI 0.79–12.70) even after multivariable adjustment or PSM. Conclusion: RAI is associated with increased morbidity (CRF, hypertension, heart failure) but does not adversely affect survival in TAK. Key Points •Renal artery involvement in TAK is associated with chronic renal failure. •TAK with renal artery involvement more often have heart failure and hypertension. •Bilateral renal artery involvement (compared with unilateral) is more often associated with hypertension and visual symptoms. •Renal artery involvement is not associated with an increased risk of mortality in TAK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. The incidence of AKI and its outcomes vary in different parts of the world. We aimed to analyze the AKI incidence, predictors of AKI, mortality, and renal function outcomes on follow-up in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods: The study was designed as a retrospective, observational study of electronically captured data on the hospital information system of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients, with and without AKI, between March 2020 to June 2021. The predictor of AKI and mortality and residual damage in recovered AKI patients were analyzed. Results: Of the 3395 patients, 3010 COVID-19 patients were eligible. AKI occurred in 951 (31.5%); with stages 1, 2, and 3 in 605 (63.7%), 138 (14.5%), and 208 (21.8%) patients, respectively. AKI severity increased with COVID-19 severity. Of 951 AKI patients, 403 died, and 548 were discharged. AKI group had higher mortality (42.3%) than the non-AKI (6.6%). At discharge, complete recovery was noticed in 370(67.5%), while 178 (32.5%) had residual damage. At three months of follow-up, 108 (69.6%) of 155 patients showed complete recovery. Residual damage was observed in 47 (30.3%). In 14 (9%) patients, serum creatinine remained elevated above the baseline. Thirty-three (21.2%) patients showed proteinuria (n = 24) and microscopic hematuria (n = 9). Conclusions: AKI is common among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and is associated with high mortality. Residual kidney damage post-COVID-19 in recovered AKI patients may increase the CKD burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Primary objective of this study was to compare R2* value of the post-stenotic kidney with contralateral kidney, kidneys of essential hypertensive patients, and healthy subjects using blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD MRI) technique. The secondary objective was to study the effect of severity of stenosis and viability of kidneys on R2* value. Methods: We compared 4 groups of kidneys including 92 with renal artery stenosis, 37 normal contralateral kidneys of unilateral renal artery stenosis patients, 62 kidneys of essential hypertensive patients, and 40 kidneys of healthy controls using BOLD MRI. Deoxyhemoglobin level represented by R2* was calculated before and after giving furosemide and was compared among different groups. Results: Baseline means cortical R2* value did not differ between groups. Response to furosemide was reduced in stenotic kidneys as compared to essential hypertensive and healthy control groups (p < 0.001). The mean R2* value of the contralateral normal kidney group was not significantly different from the stenotic group. Baseline R2* value and delta R2* values did not differ between different degrees of stenosis. Higher mean cortical R2* was seen in stenotic kidneys which were small (< 7 cm) in size (24.27 ± 5.65 vs 21.7 ± 3.88; p value 0.02) or with poor corticomedullary differentiation (24.64 ± 5.8 vs 20.74 ± 3.34; p value 0.006) as compared to other stenotic kidneys. Similarly, the delta R2* value was also blunted in these small shrunken kidneys (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: R2* values on BOLD MRI are significantly different between kidneys with and without renal artery stenosis and can potentially also predict the utility of revascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this study, we compared non-contrast MR angiography (NC-MRA) with conventional 3D contrast-enhanced MRA (CE-MRA) in patients suspected to have renal artery stenosis (RAS). Methods: From March 2014 to March 2020, patients who were evaluated for RAS and had a glomerular filtration rate > 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 underwent MR imaging on a 3T MR Scanner (Signa Hdxt General Electrics, Milwaukee, USA) using a Torso PA coil. The NC-MRA sequence was performed using a 3D fat-suppressed inflow inversion recovery balanced steady state free precession (SSFP) sequence (Inhance 3D Inflow IR, GE Medical) whereas the CE-MRA sequence was a 3D fast spoiled gradient echo (FSPGR). Overall quality of images was rated 1 to 4. Stenosis was reported as grade 1 (Normal), 2 (< 50% narrowing), 3 (> 50% narrowing) and 4 (Total occlusion). Grade 3 and 4 were considered haemodynamically significant. Results: During the study period, 201 patients were enrolled (400 renal arteries). For hemodynamically significant (grade 3/4) stenosis, NC-MRA correctly diagnosed 72 patients (95 arteries) while in 2 patients (2 arteries), NC-MRA underdiagnosed the stenosis as grade 2 (these were found to have grade 3 stenosis on CE-MRA). The kappa value of agreement between NC-MRA and CE-MRA for detection of RAS showing excellent agreement (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In one of the largest series of patients so far, we found that NC-MRA is a viable alternative to CE-MRA for detection of RAS, highly correlating with CE-MRA for grade of stenosis and with additional advantage of lack of gadolinium based contrast agents toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the preferred modality of dialysis among children with end-stage renal disease. Methods: To study the incidence of technique failure and survival among children with end-stage renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), we included children younger than 18 years of age who commenced and continued PD for more than 3 months as their primary form of dialysis between 1st January 2005 and 31st December 2016. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was applied to analyze the CAPD outcomes. Results: A total of 68 Tenckhoff (58 double cuffs, and ten single cuffs) catheters were inserted in 66 patients (mean age 12.3 ± 3.91 years) during the study period. Of the 66 children, 31 (47%) experienced 45 episodes of peritonitis. The total duration on CAPD was 107.58 years with a peritonitis rate of 0.42 episodes per year. Overall, the mean patient survival was 41 (95% confidence interval (CI) 29–54) months, with mean patient survival of 72% at 12 months, declining to 30% at 36 months and then remaining stable until the end of follow-up (106 months). The overall mean technique survival was 55 (95% CI 40–69) months, with mean technique survival of 69% at 12 months, declining to 44% at 36 months and then remaining stable until the end of follow-up (106 months). Conclusion: CAPD is a viable option for end-stage renal disease in children from developing countries with a lack of access to automated PD and pediatric hemodialysis centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a parenterally-transmitted hepatotropic virus that often causes chronic infection, which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Development of highly effective direct-acting anti-viral agents (DAAs) has led to a paradigm change in the treatment of HCV infection over the last 4-5 years. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a higher risk of acquiring HCV infection. In these patients, diagnosis of HCV infection, assessment of the consequent liver disease and management of HCV infection pose some specific problems. This article reviews the available recent information on HCV infection and CKD, including the association between these conditions and their effect on each other, and prevention, evaluation, and management of HCV infection in persons with CKD. This review looks at this issue particularly from the perspective of readers in Asia, especially India, since the epidemiology of HCV-CKD association and the repertoire of anti-HCV drugs available in this region differ from those elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent past, direct-acting anti-viral drugs (DAAs) have become the standard of care for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the experience with the use of these drugs in Indian renal transplant recipients is limited. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with DAA-based treatment for HCV infection in such patients. Between April 2015 and December 2016, six adults (median age 41 [range 34-52] years, male 5; GT1 2, GT3 3, and GT4 1; including three with prior failed interferon-based treatment) had received genotype-guided, DAA-based anti-HCV treatment 1 to 158 (median 15) months after renal transplantation. Of them, four completed the planned 24-week treatment without any significant adverse event. One of them had increase in serum creatinine after 16 weeks of treatment with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with acute interstitial nephritis on kidney biopsy; his renal function improved on stopping the drugs. The other patient had preexisting mild renal dysfunction, which worsened after 8 weeks of sofosbuvir-ledipasvir treatment; this did not reverse on stopping treatment. All the six patients achieved undetectable HCV RNA after 4 weeks of treatment and also achieved sustained virologic response, i.e. lack of detectable HCV RNA in serum 12 weeks after stopping treatment. Overall, DAA-based treatment was effective in treating HCV infection in our renal transplant recipients; however, caution and monitoring of renal function during such treatment is advisable in patients who have additional factors that predispose to renal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concurrent thrombotic and hemorrhagic manifestations are uncommon in patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Case characteristics: A 10-year-old girl with fever, edema, rash and joint pains, who later developed deep venous thrombosis (DVT), stroke, thrombotic microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and pulmonary hemorrhage. Investigations confirmed Antiphospholipid syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Outcome: She went into complete remission with intravenous immunoglobulins, plasmapheresis, immunosuppression and anticoagulation. Message: Thrombotic microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and anti-phospholipid syndrome can be the presenting manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is highly endemic in India, being the most common cause of acute hepatitis; however, no case of chronic infection has been reported. All the human isolates of HEV from India till date have belonged to genotype 1. In contrast, in non-endemic areas, genotype 3 is the most prevalent, and persistent HEV infection has been reported among solid-organ transplant recipients. Whether persistent infection occurs with genotype 1 HEV is unclear. We therefore looked for evidence of HEV infection among renal transplant recipients with elevated alanine transaminase (ALT). Methods: Renal transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy were screened for ALT levels, irrespective of time duration since renal transplant. For those with ALT levels equal to or exceeding 50 IU/mL on at least two occasions ≥3 weeks apart, serum was tested for HEV RNA using a sensitive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. For those testing positive, HEV genotyping and follow up for duration of viral persistence were planned. Results: Of the 275 patients studied, 49 (17.8 %, 44 male, median age = 39.5 years) had elevated ALT levels (median = 62 [range = 50-477] IU/L). None of these 49 patients had detectable HEV RNA in the serum using an assay with detection sensitivity of 300 copies of RNA/mL of specimen. Conclusion: Our data indicate that persistent HEV infection is an infrequent cause of ALT elevation in Indian renal transplant recipients who are receiving immunosuppressive drugs. This suggests that infection with genotype 1 HEV may have either no or low potential to cause persistent infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common viral infection following kidney transplant, has been recognized as a major factor for graft loss and increased incidence of acute rejection. Different studies have reported a variable incidence of CMV disease with the use of Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). We retrospectively analyzed our renal transplant recipients to review the results of CMV disease and to compare CMV disease in patient on Azathioprine and MMF for this purpose we retrospectively reviewed 521 live related kidney transplant recipients at our institute. 74 (14.2 %) live related allograft recipients developed CMV disease after a median interval of 7.18 ± 4.35 months from transplantation. The mean age was 36.15 ± 10.7 years. 63 of the patients were male. Malaise, fever and diarrhea were among most common symptoms. 20 (27.02 %) of the 74 recipients developed transaminitis, 13 (17.2 %) developed CMV gastritis, 5 (9.13 %) recipients developed pneumonia, and 3 (4.05 %) patient developed colitis. 59 (80 %) patients had leucopenia and 41 (56.5 %) developed thrombocytopenia. Mean serum creatinine level was 1.5 ± 0.4 (0.9-2.4) mg/dl before the disease, 1.9 ± 0.6 (1.3-3.6) mg/dl at the time of the diagnosis, and 1.7 ± 0.06 (0.8-4.2) mg/dl at the end of the treatment. CMV disease developed in 9 (36 %) of recipients who received basiliximab as induction therapy and 13 (30.24 %) of recipients who received ATG ( p > 0.05). The incidence of CMV disease was similar in cyclosporine based regimen (13.2 %) and Tacrolimus based regimen 27 (16.16 %) ( p = 0.137) and was also similar in Azathioprine 41 (9.5 %) and MMF group 33 (14.3 %) ( p = 0.163). There was no significant difference in severity of CMV disease in both groups, except a higher incidence of leucopenia in Azathioprine group (86 vs. 74 %, p < 0.05) as compared to MMF group. 51 (68.91 %) patient developed graft dysfunction during CMV disease. In conclusion we report a low incidence (14.2 %) and milder form of cytomegalovirus disease at our center. Use of universal cytomegalovirus prophylaxis was associated with a low incidence and milder form of the disease. Incidence of CMV disease was similar between Azathioprine and MMF groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]