How histopathological diagnosis interacts with kidney ultrasound parameters and glomerular filtration rate.

The evaluation of estimated GFR (eGFR) is a pivotal staging step in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and renal ultrasound plays an important role in diagnosis, prognosis and progression of CKD. The interaction between histopathological diagnosis and ultrasound parameters in eGFR determination has not been fully investigated yet. The study examined the results of native kidney biopsies performed in 48 Italian centers between 2012 and 2020.

PMMA dialyzers modulate both humoral and cell-mediate immune response to anti-COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) in a cohort of chronic hemodialyzed patients.

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) have a high risk of death from COVID-19. We evaluated the humoral and cell-mediated immune response to BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine in HD patients, comparing HD with Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and HD with Polysulphone (PS). Samples were collected before vaccination (T0) and 14-days after the 2ndvaccine (T2) in a TG (TG, n = 16-Foggia) and in a VG (CG, n = 36-Novara).

Peritoneal videodialysis: first Italian audit.

Conceived and developed since 2001 at the Alba Center, Videodialysis (VD) was used initially to prevent dropout in prevalent PD patients by guiding them in performing dialysis (VD-Caregiver). Subsequently, its use was extended to the clinical follow-up of critical patients (VD-Clinical), problems relating to transport to the Center (VD-Transport), and since 2016 for training/retraining all patients (VD-Training). Since 2017 other Centers have employed VD using modalities analyzed in this paper.

[Vascular ultrasonography in the preparation and surveillance of arteriovenous fistula: a monocentric experience].

Creating an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is complicated by the gradual increase in the average age of patients initiating chronic haemodialysis treatment and by the greater prevalence of pathologies that impact the cardiovascular system. In the past, the choice of which vessels to use for the creation of the AVF was essentially based on the physical examination of the upper limbs. Current international guidelines suggest that a colour doppler ultrasound (DUS) should be performed to complete the physical examination.

Increase of continuous treatments and regional citrate anticoagulation during renal replacement therapy in the ICUs of the North-West of Italy from 2007 to 2015.

Background: Few reports have addressed the change in renal replacement therapy (RRT) management in the Intensive care Units (ICUs) over the years in western countries. This study aims to assess the trend of dialytic practice in a 4.5-million population-based study of the northwest of Italy.

Citrate high volume on-line hemodiafiltration modulates serum Interleukin-6 and Klotho levels: the multicenter randomized controlled study "Hephaestus".

Background: Studies addressing the anti-inflammatory properties of citrate dialysate enrolled patients in both hemodialysis (HD) and hemodiafiltration (HDF), the latter not adjusted for adequate convective exchange. This is a potential source of confounding in that HDF itself has anti-inflammatory effects regardless of the buffer, and optimal clinical outcomes are related to the amount of convection.

Methods: To distinguish the merits of the buffer from those of convection, we performed a 6-month, prospective, randomized, crossover AB-BA study.

Clinical exome sequencing is a powerful tool in the diagnostic flow of monogenic kidney diseases: an Italian experience.

Background: A considerable minority of patients on waiting lists for kidney transplantation either have no diagnosis (and fall into the subset of undiagnosed cases) because kidney biopsy was not performed or histological findings were non-specific, or do not fall into any well-defined clinical category. Some of these patients might be affected by a previously unrecognised monogenic disease.

Methods: Through a multidisciplinary cooperative effort, we built an analytical pipeline to identify patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a clinical suspicion of a monogenic condition or without a well-defined diagnosis.

Effectiveness of Switch to Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA) Biosimilars versus Maintenance of ESA Originators in the Real-Life Setting: Matched-Control Study in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: In hemodialysis (HD), switching from erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) originators to biosimilars is associated with the need for doses approximately 10% higher, according to industry-driven studies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy on anemia control of switching from ESA originators to biosimilars in daily clinical practice.

Methods: We retrospectively selected consecutive HD patients receiving stable intravenous ESA doses, and who had not been transfused in the previous 6 months, from 12 non-profit Italian centers.

Peritoneal ultrafiltration in refractory heart failure: a cohort study.

Introduction: Acutely decompensated heart failure (HF) in patients with diuretic resistance is often treated with extracorporeal ultrafiltration. Peritoneal ultrafiltration (PUF) has been proposed for the long-term management of severe HF after resolution of the acute episode. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of PUF in the treatment of chronic refractory HF in patients without end-stage renal disease.

Survival and complications of arteriovenous fistula dialysis access in an elderly population.

Purpose: In recent years, the number of elderly uremic patients who commence renal replacement therapy has increased. A retrospective review assessed the survival rate and incidence of complications in elderly patients with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) created between January 2000 and August 2008.

Methods: A total of 78 patients, 48 men and 30 women aged ≥75 with a mean age of 82.