End-Stage Renal Disease and Mortality Outcomes Across Different Glomerulonephropathies in a Large Diverse US Population.

Objective: To compare renal function decline, incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and mortality among patients with 5 common glomerular diseases in a large diverse population.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study (between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2011) of patients with glomerulonephropathy using the electronic health record of an integrated health system was performed. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) change, incident ESRD, and mortality were compared among patients with biopsy-proven focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous glomerulonephritis (MN), minimal change disease (MCD), immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), and lupus nephritis (LN).

Secondary Syphilis Associated with Membranous Nephropathy and Acute Hepatitis in a Patient with HIV: A Case Report.

Introduction: We present a case of membranous nephropathy associated with a secondary syphilis infection in a patient with HIV.

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old white man with HIV who was receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy presented to the Emergency Department with 6 weeks of rectal pain. He had a CD3-CD4 count of 656 cells/mm and an undetectable viral load.

Use of Phosphorus Binders among Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients and Mortality Outcomes.

Background: Whether the benefits of phosphorus binders extend to those without end stage renal disease is uncertain. Among a large diverse non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) population with hyperphosphatemia, we sought to evaluate phosphorus binder use and compare mortality risk between patients prescribed and not prescribed binders.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study within an integrated health system (January 1, 1998 - December 31, 2012) among CKD patients (age ≥18) was performed.

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in a Patient with Ambiguous Genitalia: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

The renal condition referred to as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) presents a diagnostic dilemma for the clinician. It encompasses and displays a nonspecific histologic appearance on a kidney biopsy specimen, rather than a unique disease entity. This characteristic of FSGS often makes treatment decisions and prognostication difficult.

Beer Potomania--An Unusual Cause of Hyponatremia.

The first case of severe hyponatremia, since referred to as beer potomania, in a heavy beer drinker patient was reported in 1972. Excessive consumption of beer in particular, which has a low solute content, may result in severe hyponatremia. We report a case of severe hyponatremia that occurred in a patient who, owing to his underlying colon cancer, was drinking beer and ingesting little food.

25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and hypertension rates.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to cardiovascular disease and risk factors including hypertension. The authors sought to determine prevalence rates of hypertension in adults tested for 25-hydroxyvitamin D categorized by their levels and evaluate odds ratios for hypertension at lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels compared with optimal levels. A cross-sectional study was conducted January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2006, of patients aged 18 years and older within a large ethnically diverse population.

Systemic mastocytosis presenting with acute oliguric renal failure: report of a case and review of the literature.

A 61-year old African-American woman presented with abdominal pain, tender splenomegaly, anemia, and renal insufficiency. Bone marrow biopsy demonstrated systemic mastocytosis. She was treated with mediator-specific therapy and imatinib, but her renal and hepatic function deteriorated and she required maintenance hemodialysis.

Hyponatremia-what is cerebral salt wasting?

Background: Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte imbalance in hospitalized patients. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially if the underlying cause is incorrectly diagnosed and not treated appropriately. Often, the hospitalist is faced with a clinical dilemma when a patient presents with hyponatremia of an unclear etiology and with uncertain volume status.

Vitamin D supplementation and recombinant human erythropoietin utilization in vitamin D-deficient hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: We sought to examine the impact of ergocalciferol (ERGO) on recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) use in a cohort of 25-OH vitamin D (25-D)-deficient hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: Baseline 25-D levels were obtained for all patients who received HD >6 months in our unit. Patients with levels between 10 and 30 ng/mL received ERGO 50,000 IU x 4 doses and patients with levels <10 ng/mL received 50,000 IU x 6 doses over a 4-month period.

Vitamin D deficiency and anemia: a cross-sectional study.

Vitamin D has been suggested to have an effect on erythropoiesis. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of anemia in a population of individuals with vitamin D deficiency compared with those with normal levels in a population of a large integrated healthplan. A cross-sectional analysis in the period 1 January 2004 through 31 December 2006 of subjects with documented concurrent levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and hemoglobin were evaluated.

Sleep apnea in early and advanced chronic kidney disease: Kaiser Permanente Southern California cohort.

Background: Sleep apnea (SA) has been reported to be highly prevalent in the dialysis population. The reported rates of SA in dialysis are severalfold greater than the 2 to 4% estimated in the general population. This study sought to determine whether an association exists between SA and early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) where SA may represent an important comorbidity and potential risk factor in kidney disease.

Comparison of outcomes of peritoneal dialysis catheters placed by the fluoroscopically guided percutaneous method versus directly visualized surgical method.

Purpose: To compare complications in catheters placed by the fluoroscopically guided percutaneous method versus directly visualized surgery.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed. Mechanical complication rate data, including catheter leakage, malfunction, malposition, and bleeding, were compared between the two groups over a 1-year follow-up period.

An overview of nocturia and the syndrome of nocturnal polyuria in the elderly.

Nocturia is common in the elderly population and, aside from being a nuisance, it is associated with morbidity and mortality. Nocturia results from the complex interactions of several factors: changes in the urinary system and renal function with aging, the effects of sleep on renal function, changes in sleeping patterns associated with aging, and the presence of concurrent diseases and medications. Nocturia in the elderly can be caused by many conditions; a common cause is the syndrome of nocturnal polyuria.

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to acquired cystic kidney disease.

A patient with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis developed sudden severe abdominal pain and distension. He suffered a decline in his hematocrit and subsequent abdominal imaging revealed a large left-sided retroperitoneal hemorrhage in the setting of atrophic, severely cystic kidneys. He underwent selective left renal artery angiography and embolization due to continued hemorrhage with stabilization in his condition.

Prevalence of nondiabetic renal disease in diabetic patients.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the USA, yet most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are not formally evaluated with a renal biopsy. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of nondiabetic renal disease (NDRD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to determine common clinical indicators suggestive of NDRD.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on biopsy reports of patients who had undergone native renal biopsy between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2005.

Association of race, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

Heart failure and kidney disease are two important emerging epidemics. The importance of pre-end stage kidney disease was introduced in the 2002 publication of the National Kidney Foundation's Chronic Kidney Disease Guidelines. One in nine US adults has some degree of kidney disease, many of whom also have heart failure.