Patient Perspectives on Renal Replacement Therapy Modality Choice: A Multicenter Questionnaire Study on Bioethical Dimensions.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) incidence and prevalence in Germany are low compared with hemodialysis (HD), an underachievement with multifactorial causes. Patient perspectives on renal replacement therapy (RRT) choice play a growing role in research. To date, and to the best of our knowledge, the importance of bioethical dimensions in the context of RRT choice has not been analyzed.

Short- and long-term effects of the use of RAAS blockers immediately after renal transplantation.

Background: The efficacy and safety of renin angiotensin aldosterone system blockers (RAASB's) if introduced immediately after renal transplantation have not been extensively investigated.

Methods: The medical charts of 142 kidney transplant recipients who received a RAASB in the early postoperative period and of 114 matched controls were analyzed. The RAASB was given primarily for blood pressure control.

Cotrimoxazole plasma levels, dialyzer clearance and total removal by extended dialysis in a patient with acute kidney injury: risk of under-dosing using current dosing recommendations.

Background: Dosing of antibiotics in critically ill patients is challenging. It becomes even more difficult if renal or hepatic impairment ensue. Modern means of renal replacement therapy are capable of removing antibiotics to a higher rate than decades ago, leaving clinicians with a high degree of uncertainty concerning the dose of antibiotics in this patient population.

New high-cutoff dialyzer allows improved middle molecule clearance without an increase in albumin loss: a clinical crossover comparison in extended dialysis.

Background: Accumulation of middle molecules is thought to have adverse effects in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Elimination of middle molecules by non-convective means, i.e.

Daptomycin for a complicated urinary tract infection with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in a renal transplant recipient.

There is an increasing prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by multiresistant gram-negative enteric bacilli such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase as well as Gram-positive enterococci whose vancomycin-resistance can be as high as 25%. We report on a 68-year-old Caucasian female with a UTI caused by a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, only tested to be susceptible to gentamycin, linezolid and daptomycin. Within a day after administration of the bactericidal daptomycin clinical and laboratory signs of infection regressed and graft function recovered.

Angiopoietin-2 is a potential mediator of endothelial barrier dysfunction following cardiopulmonary bypass.

Introduction: Endothelial activation leading to vascular barrier dysfunction and organ failure is a well-recognized complication of cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The endothelial-specific angiopoietin-Tie2 ligand-receptor system has been identified as a non-redundant regulator of endothelial activation. Binding of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) to the Tie2 receptor antagonizes Tie2 signaling and renders the endothelial barrier responsive to pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Pharmacokinetics of ampicillin/sulbactam in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury undergoing extended dialysis.

Background And Objectives: The fixed antibacterial combination of ampicillin and sulbactam is frequently used for various infections. Intact kidneys eliminate approximately 71% of ampicillin and 78% of sulbactam. Patients on thrice-weekly low-flux hemodialysis exhibit an ampicillin t(1/2) of 2.

Biopsy proven acute interstitial nephritis after treatment with moxifloxacin.

Background: Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is an important cause of reversible acute kidney injury. At least 70% of AIN is caused by various drugs, mainly penicillins and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Quinolones are only rarely known to cause AIN and so far cases have been mainly described with older fluoroquinolones.

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome in an 82 year old patient following a tetanus-diphteria-poliomyelitis-vaccination.

Background: The most common cause of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children and younger adults is the minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). In the elderly MCNS is relatively uncommon. Over the last decade some reports suggest a rare but possible association with the administration of various vaccines.

Pharmacokinetics and dialysate levels of daptomycin given intravenously in a peritoneal dialysis patient.

In this report we present pharmacokinetic (Pk) data of daptomycin given intravenously in a peritoneal dialysis patient. Daptomycin plasma levels were within therapeutic range; however, half-life of the drug was prolonged compared to haemodialysis. Both plasma and dialysate levels were found to be consistently above the minimal inhibitory concentration for daptomycin sensitive strains.