How effective is rescue therapeutic plasma exchange in treatment of SARS-Coronavirus-2?

Introduction: After the FDA gave emergency approval for the use of therapeutic plasma exchange in treatment for SARS-Coronoavirus-2, we analyzed its efficacy in patients who had failed all other known therapies.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of 42 patients with SARS-Coronoavirus-2 who had failed conventional therapy and were treated with therapeutic plasma exchange. Pre- and postexchange clinical and laboratory parameters were monitored.

Outcomes Among Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices Receiving Maintenance Outpatient Hemodialysis: A Case Series.

Rationale & Objective: The incidence of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation as destination therapy for heart failure is increasing and kidney failure requiring maintenance hemodialysis is a common complication. Because little is known about the safety or efficacy of outpatient hemodialysis among patients with LVADs, this study sought to describe their clinical course.

Study Design: Case series of patients with an LVAD undergoing maintenance outpatient hemodialysis whose clinical data were obtained from an electronic medical record.

Pre-End-Stage Renal Disease Hemoglobin Variability Predicts Post-End-Stage Renal Disease Mortality in Patients Transitioning to Dialysis.

Background: Hemoglobin variability (Hb-var) has been associated with increased mortality both in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. However, the impact of Hb-var in advanced NDD-CKD on outcomes after dialysis initiation remains unknown.

Methods: Among 11,872 US veterans with advanced NDD-CKD transitioning to dialysis between October 2007 through September 2011, we assessed Hb-var calculated from the residual SD of at least 3 Hb values during the last 6 months before dialysis initiation (prelude period) using within-subject linear regression models, and stratified into quartiles.

Association of the frequency of pre-end-stage renal disease medical care with post-end-stage renal disease mortality and hospitalization.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that early pre-end-stage renal disease (ESRD) nephrology care could improve postdialysis prognosis. However, less is known about the specific types of interventions responsible for the improved outcomes. We hypothesized that more frequent predialysis laboratory testing is associated with better postdialysis outcomes in incident ESRD patients.

Late Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Outcomes after Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy.

Development of acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is associated with graft loss and can occur both early (<3 months) and late (>3 months) post-transplant. Treatment and prognosis differ in early and late AMR. Herein, we present a single-center experience using high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) (2g/kg) for the treatment of late AMR.