Doppler ultrasound surveillance of recently formed haemodialysis arteriovenous fistula: the SONAR observational cohort study.

Background: Arteriovenous fistulas are considered the best option for haemodialysis provision, but as many as 30% fail to mature or suffer early failure.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of performing a randomised controlled trial that examines whether, by informing early and effective salvage intervention of fistulas that would otherwise fail, Doppler ultrasound surveillance of developing arteriovenous fistulas improves longer-term arteriovenous fistula patency.

Design: A prospective multicentre observational cohort study (the 'SONAR' study).

Early Ultrasound Surveillance of Newly-Created Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Fistula.

Introduction: We assess if ultrasound surveillance of newly-created arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) can predict nonmaturation sufficiently reliably to justify randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluation of ultrasound-directed salvage intervention.

Methods: Consenting adults underwent blinded fortnightly ultrasound scanning of their AVF after creation, with scan characteristics that predicted AVF nonmaturation identified by logistic regression modeling.

Results: Of 333 AVFs created, 65.

Mycobacterium abscessus - an uncommon, but important cause of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis - case report and literature review.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a form of therapy for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and peritonitis is a known complication. Mycobacterium (M) species associated peritonitis in PD patients is uncommon. Our experience of managing PD associated peritonitis caused by M abscessus in a middle-aged man with ESKD due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is shared in this article with a review of the literature on this condition.

Surveillance arterioveNous fistulAs using ultRasound (SONAR) trial in haemodialysis patients: a study protocol for a multicentre observational study.

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are considered the best and safest modality for providing haemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease. Only 20% of UK centres achieve the recommended 80% target for achieving dialysis of the prevalent dialysis population via permanent access (as opposed to a central venous catheter). This is partly due to the relatively poor maturation rate of newly created fistulas, with as many as 50% of fistulas failing to mature.

Pfeifer-Weber-Christian disease and successful treatment with mycophenolate mofetil: a case report.

Inflammatory conditions manifest with a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. Panniculitis is such a condition affecting the subcutaneous fat and presents as tender erythematous nodules. It is also associated with a systemic response and has been described in the literature as early as in 1892 by Pfeifer and in the 1920s by Weber and Christian.

Spleno-renal artery transposition in a solitary functioning kidney for treatment-resistant hypertension and acute kidney injury.

Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS) is an important cause of treatment-resistant hypertension. Uncontrolled hypertension with RAS can cause progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) leading to end-stage kidney disease. Therapeutic revascularisation can be helpful in appropriate circumstances where pharmaceutical intervention has failed and significant renovascular disease contributes to resistant hypertension.

Hyperparathyroidism in a renal transplant patient: an unusual cause of resistance to therapy.

A long-term renal transplant patient who was regularly followed up in the transplant clinic with stable renal allograft function was found to have elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels on a biointact PTH assay. The elevated PTH levels were resistant to suppression on increasing doses of 1-alfacalcidol. Detailed history taking and clinical examination revealed the reason for apparent resistance to therapy.

Oesophageal anomaly in a newborn after maternal exposure to mycofenolate mofetil.

Pregnancy in women with lupus nephritis is associated with increased risk of fetal and maternal complications. The risk of poor outcome is higher if there are signs of disease activity at conception. The presence of hypertension and anti-phospholipid antibodies worsens the prognosis.