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.

Pilot prospective open, single-arm multicentre study on off-label use of tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19.

Objectives: No agent has yet been proven to be effective for the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a pilot prospective open, single-arm multicentre study on off-label use of tocilizumab (TCZ) involving 63 hospitalised adult patients (56 males, age 62.6±12.

[Renal Infarction: multicentric cases in Piedmont].

Unlabelled: We describe factors associated to renal infarction, clinical, instrumental and laboratoristic features, and therapeutic strategies too. This is an observational, review and polycentric study of cases in Nephrologic Units in Piedmont during 2013-2015, with diagnosis of renal infarction by Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA). We collected 48 cases (25 M, age 57±16i; 23 F age 70±18, p = 0.

Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis Undergoing Renal Replacement Therapy in Intensive Care Units: A Five-Million Population-Based Study in the North-West of Italy.

Background: Metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is a severe complication of drug administration with significant morbidity and mortality. So far no study in large population areas have examined the incidence, clinical profile and outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI)-MALA patients admitted in intensive care units (ICUs) and treated by renal replacement therapy (MALA-RRT).

Methods: Retrospective analysis over a 6-year period (2010-2015) in Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions (5,305,940 inhabitants, 141,174 diabetics treated with metformin) of all MALA-RRT cases.

[Severe hyperkalemia in patients referred to an emergency departement: the role of antialdosterone drugs and of renin-angiotensin system blockers].

We analyzed the clinical features and the factors associated with the presence of hyperkalemia (serum potassium >5.3 mmol/L) in a cohort of patients presenting to an Emergency Department. A total of 168 cases were observed (89 males and 79 females), mean age 77.

[Acute pielonephritis and renal abscesses in Piedmont and Aosta Valley].

The Piedmont Group of Clinical Nephrology compared the activity of 18 nephrology centers in Piedmont and Aosta Valley as regards acute pielonephritis (APN). Data from more than 500 cases per year of APN were examined. The microbial spectrum of APN consists mainly of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Excess dietary sodium and inadequate potassium intake by hypertensive patients in Italy: results of the MINISAL-SIIA study program.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the age-specific, sex-specific, and region-specific average sodium and potassium intake and its association with anthropometric characteristics in a sample of the Italian adult hypertensive population.

Methods: A total of 1232 hypertensive patients were recruited consecutively by 47 centers recognized by the Italian Society of Hypertension. The enrolled participants were on stable antihypertensive treatment.

[Immigrants and dialysis: a survey in Piedmont].

The number of immigrants has been rapidly increasing in Italy in the last decade, with potentially profound effects on the national health care system. Yet, few data are available on the clinical and demographic features of these subjects, or on their need for nephrological care and dialysis treatment. A survey was conducted in 19 dialysis facilities of Piedmont (a northwestern Italian region) about immigrants on chronic dialysis treatment.

Is it possible to diagnose primary anti-phospholipid syndrome (PAPS) on the basis of renal thrombotic microangiopathy (PAPS nephropathy) in the absence of other thrombotic process?

The kidneys are a major target of PAPS. The histologic lesions of PAPS nephropathy are vascular; among them thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is the most characteristic. It is still not clear in the literature whether the nephropathy can be the unique manifestation of PAPS in the absence of other thrombotic processes; that is: do the renal microthrombotic lesions allow to make the diagnosis of PAPS in presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies (APA)? With this purpose we present three clinical cases.

The verapamil versus amlodipine in nondiabetic nephropathies treated with trandolapril (VVANNTT) study.

Background: We tested whether the combination of verapamil (V) or amlodipine (A) with trandolapril (T) affected proteinuria differently from T alone in patients with nondiabetic nephropathies.

Methods: After T, 2 mg, in open conditions for 1 month, 69 patients were randomly assigned to be administered T, 2 mg, combined with V, 180 mg, plus a placebo or T, 2 mg, plus A, 5 mg, once a day in a double-blind fashion. Patients were followed up for 8 months.

Selective stenting and the course of atherosclerotic renovascular nephropathy.

Background: The effectiveness of percutaneous revascularisation (PTRA) in the treatment of atherosclerothic renovascular nephropathy (ARN), a leading cause of progressive renal failure, is still a matter of debate.

Methods: we reviewed 52 patients submitted to selective stenting from 1991 to 2000 because of ARN, followed for a mean of 22.3 months before and 24.

Acute pyelonephritis: analysis of 52 cases.

Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a frequent disease, but diagnostic approach, evolution into abscesses, and indication to hospitalization are still open problems. We have made a retrospective analysis of APN cases observed in our hospital. We identified 58 patients (pt) and selected 52 of these who presented fever and loin pain at the onset (31 were hospitalized in Nephrology and 21 in other units).

Salt intake and kidney disease.

We have reviewed the role of salt intake in kidney diseases, particularly in relation to renal hemodynamics, renal excretion of proteins, renal morphological changes and progression of chronic renal failure. High salt intake may have detrimental effects on glomerular hemodynamics, inducing hyperfiltration and increasing the filtration fraction and glomerular pressure. This may be particularly important in elderly, obese, diabetic or black patients, who have a high prevalence of salt-sensitivity.