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Introduction: Obesity may be a risk factor for kidney donors to develop reduced renal function. The Framingham heart study suggested that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) confers a more adverse metabolic profile compared with subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Asians tend to have a higher VAT composition and it is unclear if their kidney function is affected differently. We hypothesized that Asian living kidney donors who have visceral obesity are at a higher risk of renal function deterioration 1 year after donation. Methods: Between 2011 and 2014, we retrospectively evaluated data from 73 consecutive patients (52% male; mean age 44.9 ± 11.7 years) before they underwent donor nephrectomy and at their 1 year routine follow-up. VAT and SAT were measured at the level of the umbilicus on pre-operative computerized tomography (CT). Visceral obesity (VO) was defined as a VAT > 100 cm [2] and patients were then further divided and compared in two subgroups: VAT > 100 and < 100 cm [2]. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, mL/min per 1.73 m [2]) was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation pre-operatively and 1 year post-operatively. Results: Both subgroups had similar baseline kidney function (P = NS) pre-operatively. At the 1 year follow-up, patients with VO experienced a more significant decline of renal function (109 ± 9 to 89 ± 8 mL/min per 1.73 m2), compared to those without VO (111 ± 12 to 96 ± 11 mL/min per 1.73 m2, P = 0.013). VO was associated with a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 (P < 0.001), male gender (P < 0.001) and older age at the time of donor nephrectomy (48.0 vs 39.5 years, P = 0.01). The presence of hypertension or hyperlipidaemia pre-operatively, choice of surgical approach, and post-operative complication rates, did not differ significantly between the subgroups. Conclusions: Visceral obesity as defined by VAT > 100 cm2 at the level of the umbilicus on cross-sectional imaging, may have a significant impact on early renal function after donor nephrectomy. Adiposity markers, as measured by cross-sectional CT imaging, may be incorporated into routine pre-operative kidney donor workup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines recommend different blood pressure (BP) goals for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Usage of antihypertensive medication and attainment of BP targets in Asian CKD patients remain unclear. This study describes the profile of antihypertensive agents used and BP components in a multiethnic Asian population with stable CKD.Methods: Stable CKD outpatients with variability of serum creatinine levels < 20%, taken > 3 months apart, were recruited. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured using automated manometers, according to practice guidelines. Serum creatinine was assayed and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculated using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration equation. BP and antihypertensive medication profile was examined using univariate analyses.Results: 613 patients (55.1% male; 74.7% Chinese, 6.4% Indian, 11.4% Malay; 35.7% diabetes mellitus) with a mean age of 57.8 ± 14.5 years were recruited. Mean SBP was 139 ± 20 mmHg, DBP was 74 ± 11 mmHg, serum creatinine was 166 ± 115 µmol/L and GFR was 53 ± 32 mL/min/1.73 m(2). At a lower GFR, SBP increased (p < 0.001), whereas DBP decreased (p = 0.0052). Mean SBP increased in tandem with the number of antihypertensive agents used (p < 0.001), while mean DBP decreased when ≥ 3 antihypertensive agents were used (p = 0.0020).Conclusion: Different targets are recommended for each BP component in CKD patients. A majority of patients cannot attain SBP targets and/or exceed DBP targets. Research into monitoring and treatment methods is required to better define BP targets in CKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The use of spot urine protein to creatinine ratios in estimating 24 hr urine protein excretion rates for diagnosing and managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) predated the standardization of creatinine assays. The comparative predictive performance of spot urine ratios and 24 hr urine collections (of albumin or protein) for the clinical outcomes of CKD progression, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and mortality in Asians is unclear. We compared 4 methods of assessing urine protein excretion in a multiethnic population of CKD patients. Methods. Patients with CKD (n=232) provided 24 hr urine collections followed by spot urine samples the next morning. We created multiple linear regression models to assess the factors associated with GFR decline (median follow-up: 37 months, IQR 26–41) and constructed Cox proportional-hazards models for predicting the combined outcome of ESRD and death. Results. The linear regression models showed that 24 hr urine protein excretion was most predictive of GFR decline but all other methods were similar. For the combined outcomes of ESRD and death, the proportional hazards models had similar predictive performance. Conclusions. We showed that all methods of assessments were comparable for clinical end-points, and any method can be used in clinical practice or research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to develop a risk prediction model for first-year mortality (FYM) in incident dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease. We retrospectively examined patient comorbidities and biochemistry, prior to dialysis initiation, using a single-center, prospectively maintained database from 2005-2010, and analyzed these variables in relation to FYM. A total of 983 patients were studied. 22% had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%. FYM was 17%, and independent predictors included URate <500 or >600 μmol/l, LVEF <45% (higher odds ratio if <30%), Age >70 years, Arteriopathies (cerebrovascular and/or peripheral-vascular diseases), serum Albumin <30 g/l, and Alkaline phosphatase >80 U/l (p < 0.05, C-statistic 0.74), and these constitute the acronym UREA5. Using linear modeling, risk weightage/integer of 3 was assigned to LVEF <30%, 2 to age >70 years, and 1 to each remaining variable. Cumulative UREA5 scores of ≤1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 were associated with FYM of 6, 8, 22, 31, and 46%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Increasing UREA5 scores were strongly associated with stepwise worsening of FYM after dialysis initiation. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To examine the ethnic differences in the association between metabolic syndrome components and CKD in Asian populations. Methods: We analyzed data from three independent populations in Singapore representing the three major Asian ethnic groups (n =3167 Chinese, 3082 Malays and 3228 Indians) aged 40–80 years. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60mL/min/1.73m2. Factor analysis of metabolic syndrome components was conducted and factor scores were used as independent variables in multivariable logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of CKD was highest among Malays (21.0% vs. 7.4%, 5.9% in Indians and Chinese). Factor analysis identified three factors among Chinese (glycemia, blood pressure [BP], and obesity/lipid) and Malays (glycemia, BP, and lipids) accounting for 70% of the variance and four factors (glycemia, BP, lipids, and obesity) among Indians accounting for 82% of the variance. Glycemia was positively associated with CKD in all three ethnic groups. BP was positively associated with CKD among Malays (OR [95% CI] of 1.16 [1.06–1.28]), whereas it showed an inverse association among Chinese (0.84 [0.71–0.99]) and Indians (0.84 [0.73–0.97]). However, this inverse association lost significance after adjusting for antihypertensive medication use in Chinese and Indians. Obesity/lipids among Chinese and obesity among Indians showed a positive association; lipids showed an inverse association among Malays. Conclusions: These data suggest that while hyperglycemia was associated with CKD in all three ethnic groups, the impact of BP, lipids, obesity on CKD varies across ethnic groups. Understanding the specific associations may allow greater understanding of how CKD develops in different racial/ethnic groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT: Aim: To determine the precision of multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis (MFBIA) in quantifying acute changes in volume and nutritional status during haemodialysis, in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods: Using whole-body MFBIA, we prospectively studied changes in total body water (TBW), extracellular volume (ECV), intracellular volume (ICV), lean body mass (LBM), body cell mass (BCM) and fat mass (FM), pre- and post-haemodialysis and tested the agreement of volume changes with corresponding acute weight change and ultrafiltration volume (UF) using Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Forty-four prevalent and 17 incident haemodialysis patients were studied (median age 55 years, 56% males). MFBIA-derived TBW, ECV, ICV, LBM and BCM were significantly reduced after haemodialysis ( P < 0.001), but FM remained constant. TBW change estimated weight change with mean bias of −0.52 L, with 56/61 (91.8%) data points within limits of agreement (−2.74 L, 1.69 L). TBW change estimated UF with mean bias of −0.62 L, with 55/61 (90.2%) data points within limits of agreement (−2.68 L, 1.43 L). ECV change underestimated weight change and UF with mean bias of −1.17 L and −1.27 L respectively. Similarly, ICV change underestimated both clinical measures with corresponding mean bias of −1.34 L and −1.44 L. Comparing incidents versus prevalent haemodialysis patients, TBW change estimated weight change with smaller mean bias (−0.10 L vs−0.69 L, respectively) and narrower limits of agreement. Conclusion: Multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis-derived TBW change has the best agreement with acute clinical volume change during haemodialysis compared to ECV or ICV change alone, but overall degree of precision remains poor. Nutritional assessment using LBM and BCM measurements is significantly confounded by hydration status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined serum high-sensitivity troponin concentrations in a multi-ethnic Asian population with stable chronic kidney disease. Topics covered include the cardiac effect of elevated troponins in CKD, the use of a high-sensitivity assay in the study, and basic characteristics of the study participants.