Severe hypercalcaemia early after kidney transplantation in two patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism previously treated with etelcalcetide.

Cinacalcet and, more recently, etelcalcetide revolutionized the treatment of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Kidney transplant (KT) usually improves CKD-MBD. However, a significant proportion of KT recipients have high serum calcium levels, not requiring any treatment.

Peripheral embolism as first and only clinical symptom of a true aneurysmal degeneration of the radial artery after ligation of a radiocephalic fistula.

True aneurysmal degeneration of the inflow artery after arteriovenous fistula ligation is extremely rare. Pain is the most common symptom and surgical treatment by an autologous venous bypass is considered as the treatment of choice with good long-term results. We present a patient with peripheral embolism as first and only symptom leading to the diagnosis of a true aneurysmal degeneration of the entire left radial artery.

Podocyte Antigen Staining to Identify Distinct Phenotypes and Outcomes in Membranous Nephropathy: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Rationale & Objective: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is characterized by the deposition of immune complexes along glomerular basement membranes. M-Type phospholipase A receptor (PLAR), thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A), exostosin 1 and 2 (EXT1/2), and neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL-1) have been identified as established or potential podocyte antigens in MN. We investigated the association of podocyte antigen staining with MN clinical phenotype and outcomes.

Albumin losses during hemodiafiltration: all dialyzers are not created equal - a case report.

Background: Online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) is associated with better removal of both small and middle molecules and might improve survival compared to conventional hemodialysis (HD). Nevertheless, hemodiafiltration (HDF) can lead to an increase in albumin loss across the dialyzer, especially with high permeability membrane and high convective volume (CV). We present the case of a patient treated by OL-HDF who developed severe hypoalbuminemia resulting from massive albumin loss into dialysate.

The patient with metabolic alkalosis.

Metabolic alkalosis defined by the increase of both plasma HCO3- level (>26 mmol/L) and blood arterial pH (>7.43) is quite frequent and usually accompanied by hypokalemia. Its pathogenesis requires both the generation of alkalosis and its maintenance.

Any use for alternative lock solutions in the prevention of catheter-related blood stream infections?

The prevention of catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI) in hemodialysis (HD) patients remains a challenge because of high morbidity and mortality associated to CRBSI. Alternative locking solutions (ALS) containing an antithrombotic substance with additional antimicrobial or antibiofilm properties (citrate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA], 70% ethanol, thrombolytics) with or without the addition of molecules with specific antimicrobial activity (antibiotics, taurolidine, paraben-methylene-blue) has been proposed with the aim to prevent or eradicate intraluminal biofilm colonization and subsequent CRBSI. In this review, we examine the available evidence concerning their efficacy and potential side effects, in order to determine whether ALS should be implemented widely or only in selected cases.

Azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome: a case report.

We report here the case of a 51-year-old man presenting to the Emergency Department with a febrile cutaneous eruption with diffuse arthralgia 10 days after the onset of azathioprine therapy. The clinical examination did not reveal any inflammatory syndrome and the results of all bacteriological tests were negative. A skin biopsy was performed, which revealed a granulocytary pustula with superficial dermal oedema and a neutrophil infiltration without sign of vasculitis.

Perceptive barriers to peritoneal dialysis implementation: an opinion poll among the French-speaking Belgian nephrologists.

Although peritoneal dialysis (PD) is recognized as an effective renal replacement therapy (RRT) alternative to haemodialysis (HD), its prevalence is around 15% in most of the industrialized countries. In the French-speaking part of Belgium, PD is clearly underused with a prevalence of 8.7% in 2009.

Group C streptococcal psoas abscess associated with a homolateral hip joint prosthesis infection: a case report.

An abscess in the psoas muscle is rare and frequently misdiagnosed. A delay in the diagnosis can increase its mortality rate. Some clinical signs can help the clinician but they all are not always present, and not at the same time.

[World kidney Day 2008: the impact of epidemiology of kidney diseases in Belgium].

The World Kidney Day offers a crucial opportunity to the Belgian associations of nephrologists to inform public and medical communities about the global problem of chronic kidney disease (CKD). According to epidemiological data from GNFB/ NBVN registries in our country, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes 2 are responsible for an increasing amount of CKD cases with pejorative evolution to end-stage renal disease requiring cost-effective renal replacement therapies (haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or renal transplantation). In these patients, the high level of comorbidities and the late referral to the nephrologists are recognized as enhanced morbidity and mortality factors.

[Recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in clinical practice].

These recommendations are largely based on the Executive Summary of the "European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice" proposed by the "Third Joint Task Force of European and other Societies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice". The model used to assess the overall risk was adapted for Belgium. Otherwise, very few things were changed from the Executive Summary of the European Guidelines.

[Recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in clinical practice. Belgian Working Group on Prevention of Ccardiovascular Diseases].

These recommendations are largely based on the Executive Summary of the "European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice" proposed by the "Third Joint Task Force of European and other Societies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice". The model used to assess the overall risk was adapted for Belgium. Otherwise, very few things were changed from the Executive Summary of the European Guidelines.

[Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice].

These recommandations are largely based on the "European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice" proposed by the "Third Joint Task Force of European and other Societies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice". The model used to assess the overall risk was adapted for Belgium. Otherwise, very few things were changed from the Exectutive Summary of the European Guidelines.

Vancomycin and ciprofloxacin: systemic antibiotic administration for peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis.

Objectives: Peritonitis due to peritoneal dialysis (PD) is best treated empirically while waiting for the results of the dialysate culture. Thus, antibiotic therapy must cover both gram-positive and gram-negative micro-organisms. First, over a period of 9 years in a multicenter study we evaluated the efficiency of a vancomycin and ciprofloxacin combination given as the first-line treatment protocol for PD peritonitis.

Late-onset primary hyperoxaluria triggered by hypothyroidism and presenting as rapidly progressive renal failure--description of a new mutation.

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare autosomal metabolic recessive disease, caused by the deficiency of the liver peroxysomal alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT), characterized by accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in kidneys and others organs. We present the case of an elderly woman with PH1, presenting as acute renal failure. Precipitation of calcium oxalate crystals was probably due to amiodarone-induced severe hypothyroidism.

Esophageal abscess complicating endoscopic treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease by Enteryx injection: a first case report.

Enteryx (Boston Scientific) is an injectable solution containing 8% ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide that has been approved for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The technique consists of injecting Enteryx into the lower esophageal sphincter where it solidifies into a sponge-like permanent implant and prevents or reduces gastric acid reflux into the esophagus. The procedure appears to be generally safe, even if minor or moderate adverse events have been observed.

Telithromycin-induced acute interstitial nephritis: a first case report.

Telithromycin, a ketolide antibiotic used for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory infections, is widely prescribed in primary care practice. Treatment-related adverse events are mainly of gastrointestinal origin and generally mild in intensity. The authors report the first case of telithromycin-induced severe acute interstitial nephritis.