Publications by authors named "Bassam AlHelal"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the differences in chronic kidney disease (CKD) management and characteristics between Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates, revealing that expatriates face restricted access to public health services and lower incomes, impacting their health outcomes.
  • - Data from 2,610 CKD patients showed that Kuwaitis were older with slightly lower kidney function (eGFR), but exhibited better blood pressure and diabetes control compared to expatriates, who had overall higher kidney function but poorer management of diabetes and hypertension.
  • - The conclusion emphasizes that CKD is predominantly caused by diabetes and hypertension, particularly in expatriates, and stresses the need for improved healthcare access, better treatment utilization, and more effective antihypertensive therapies for all patients.
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  • - Hyperkalemia, a condition common in heart failure and kidney disease patients using RAAS inhibitors, complicates their treatment; new potassium binders like sodium zirconium cyclosilicate show promise for managing this issue.
  • - A panel of twelve experts from Kuwait used a modified Delphi method to reach a consensus on hyperkalemia management, resulting in 44 statements covering treatments for acute cases, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and hemodialysis.
  • - The consensus highlights the inconsistencies in current management guidelines and aims to provide standardized guidance for healthcare practitioners in Kuwait, addressing the treatment gaps in the Arabian Gulf region.
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  • The study investigates the incidence and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Kuwait, focusing on differences between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti patients, who face limited access to healthcare.
  • A total of 3,744 adult inpatients with AKI were analyzed from seven public hospitals in 2021, revealing that non-Kuwaitis were younger, had better kidney function at baseline, and a higher rate of AKI caused by community factors.
  • Despite differences in demographics, there were no significant variations in mortality or kidney recovery rates between the two groups, with a high overall mortality rate of 34.4% among AKI patients within 30 days of hospitalization.
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Background: Iron deficiency is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not on dialysis (ND). Restoring depleted iron stores through intravenous (IV) route is faster and associated with less side effects. There is conflicting data regarding intravenous iron use and its impact on clinical outcomes in this population.

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Introduction: Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection but infection rates vary. Our objectives are to describe COVID-19 positive HD patients' characteristics, infection rates, and factors associated with mortality in HD COVID-19 cases in Kuwait.

Methods: Data on demographics, comorbidities, and treatments received, as well as mortality for HD patients admitted to hospitals for COVID-19, from 1/March to 31/July 2020, prospectively collected and analyzed.

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the use rituximab (RTX) and outcomes in immune-mediated glomerular diseases (glomerulonephritis [GN]) and to compare it to the established literature.

Methods: Adult GN patients who received RTX between January 2014 and January 2018 in three public hospitals were reviewed. Membranous nephropathy (MN) and minimal change disease (MCD) were considered diseases with the literature supporting RTX use.

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Introduction: COVID-19 infection is associated with high mortality among hemodialysis patients. Standard vaccine response is generally lower among these patients. The adequate antibody titer response and the outcome of COVID-19 vaccine responders versus non-responders are unknown.

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The total number of end-stage kidney disease patients treated with dialysis in 2019 in Kuwait was 2230, with a 6% increase from the year before. Dialysis prevalence was 465 per million population (PMP) and dialysis incidence was100 PMP. Kuwaiti nationals represented 70% of the dialysis population and males represented 52%.

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Background: Glomerulonephritides (GN) are relatively rare kidney diseases with substantial morbidity and mortality. They are often difficult to treat, sometimes with no cure, and can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage kidney disease (ESKD). Kidney biopsy is the diagnostic procedure of choice with variable indications from center to center.

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To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities and their active risk factors in the selected hemodialysis centers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Dialysis Outcome and Practice Pattern Study (DOPPS) was performed on 40 dialysis centers in the six GCC countries from June 2012 to May 2015. There were 21 dialysis centers from Saudi Arabia, nine from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), four from Kuwait, four from Oman, two from Qatar, and one from Bahrain. There were 922 patients participating in the study; 419 patients from Saudi Arabia, 144 from the UAE, 164 from Kuwait, 89 from Oman, 58 from Qatar, and 25 from Bahrain.

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Kuwait has a small, relatively young population plagued with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, making the risk of development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) very high. The total dialysis population of Kuwait in 2015 was 1720. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has divided the country into six health regions.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the histopathological patterns of kidney biopsies in Kuwait over five years, focusing on the incidence of glomerulonephritis (GN) related to various factors.
  • In total, 214 biopsies were analyzed, revealing that primary GN accounted for 46.7%, secondary GN for 42.9%, and tubulointerstitial disease for 10.3%, with membranous GN being the prevalent type among primaries.
  • The findings highlight the importance of understanding the prevalence of different GN types, such as lupus nephritis being the most common among secondary GN cases.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious condition in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, and its diagnosis depends on serum creatinine measurements. Unfortunately, creatinine is a delayed and unreliable indicator of AKI. The lack of early biomarkers has limited our ability to translate promising experimental therapies to human AKI.

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Introduction: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is characterized by aggregation of platelets in the renal and/or systemic circulation, thrombocytopenia and intravascular hemolysis. The syndrome classically spares the lung. The term pulmonary-renal syndrome describes a number of diseases in which pulmonary hemorrhages and glomerulopathy coexist.

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Management of secondary hyperparathyroidism is difficult because of the interrelationship of parathyroid hormone, calcium and phosphorus. This study was carried out to assess the efficacy of intravenous administration of alfacalcidol once weekly versus twice weekly in patients with severe hyperparathyroidism. Twenty-one hemodialysis patients with intact parathyroid hormone >88 pmol/L were divided into two groups.

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