Prospective Comparison of 24-Hour Urine Creatinine Clearance with Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rates in Chronic Renal Disease Patients of African Descent.

Background: The 24-hour (24-h) creatinine clearance (CrCl) is the most common method for measuring GFR in clinical laboratories. However, the limitations of CrCl have resulted in the widespread acceptance of mathematically derived estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using Cockcroft-Gault (CG), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations in predicting eGFR. The aim of the study was to compare 24-h CrCl with eGFR derived from these formulae and to identify which could be the best alternative.

Addressing the Challenge of Potentially Hazardous Elements in the Reduction of Hypertension, Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease in the Caribbean.

Background: Environmental surveys have characterized trace elements such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) as potential risk factors for non-communicable diseases. There have been few studies conducted in the Caribbean region to explore, define or clarify such findings locally. Furthermore, local pollution control efforts are often juxtaposed against more seemingly immediate economic concerns in poor communities.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Jamaica.

There is evidence of an elevated risk of hypertension in populations that are primarily of African origin. Hypertension is predominantly asymptomatic, necessitating increased awareness. May Measurement Month was a descriptive, population-based, cross-sectional study of blood pressure (BP) screening and awareness campaign conducted in 2019 in a sample of 2550 participants (≥18 years) in Jamaica.

Cystatin C, Vitamin D and Thyroid Function Test Profile in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Background: The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is concomitant with complications, including thyroid dysfunction, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to determine serum cystatin C levels, and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and thyroid dysfunction in CKD patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 140 CKD patients (stages 1-5) that were referred to a renal clinic.

Role of Toxic Elements in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: The kidney is central to many complex pathways in the body and kidney injury can precipitate multiple negative clinical outcomes. The resultant effect on nutrition and elemental body burden is bi-directional, confounding the very complex pathways that maintain homeostasis. These elemental changes themselves increase the risk of nutritional and biochemical disturbances.

Late-onset Fanconi anemia in an African-Caribbean patient.

A 38-year-old female of African-Caribbean origin presented with symptomatic anemia and was found to have hypoplastic thumbs and patchy hypopigmentation. Peripheral blood examination revealed pancytopenia and the bone marrow biopsy confirmed marrow hypoplasia. Fanconi anemia was later confirmed by flow cytometry and diepoxybutane testing.