Biomedical subjects

Anupkumar Shetty

Publications and source records attributed to Anupkumar Shetty.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Anaemia is common after kidney transplantation, especially among African Americans.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is a major cardiovascular risk factor in renal disease. It might be appropriate to extrapolate this association of anaemia with cardiovascular disease to renal transplant recipients who continue to have a significant cardiovascular risk. There are very few studies addressing the issue of anaemia after renal transplantation. METHODS: We studied 192 consecutive kidney transplant recipients over a 5-year period in a tertiary referral centre in Michigan, USA. Patients who were followed up at the ambulatory transplant clinic for at least 1 year after transplantation were studied. Haemoglobin (Hb) level at 6 months and 1 year after renal transplantation was recorded. Risk factors for anaemia were evaluated using multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Significant anaemia (Hb <11 g/dl in females and <12 g/dl in males) was common (19.3% at 6 months, 19.8% at 1 year). Anaemia was more common in African American (AA) than in non-AA patients both at 6 months and 1 year after transplantation. Multivariate analysis showed that serum creatinine was an independent risk factor for anaemia. Female gender was associated with significant anaemia at 1 year. Intriguingly, AA race was also an independent risk factor at 6 months and strong trend for risk at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia is common during the first year after kidney transplantation. AA race as well as high serum creatinine and female gender are independent risk factors for post-transplant anaemia. The importance of anaemia as a risk factor in AA patients after renal transplantation should be more recognised.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Fivefold reduction in peritonitis using a multifaceted continuous quality initiative program.

Despite recent advances in peritoneal dialysis (PD) systems, peritonitis is a significant clinical problem in patients on PD. Risk factors for peritonitis are identifiable and modifiable and require focused intervention. During a baseline period in 1998, we observed consistent differences in peritonitis rates among patients using various PD connection systems. In January 1999, motivated by a need to reduce peritonitis, we initiated a multifaceted continuous quality initiative (CQI) program that included retraining all current patients and all new patients 6 months after initiation and then annually; changing from plastic to titanium adapters between the catheter and the transfer set; and using equipment from a single PD manufacturer for all new patients and for current patients with high peritonitis rates. Furthermore, all patients using HomeChoice cyclers (Baxter Healthcare Corporation, McGaw Park, IL, U.S.A.) were taught to use the Compact Exchange Device II to avoid contamination when spiking solution bags. Peritonitis rates improved from 1 episode per 7.5 patient-months (over 512 patient-months) in 1998 to 1 episode per 36.5 patient-months (over 292 patient-months) as of September 2002. Further analysis also showed a significant difference in peritonitis rates between equipment produced by various manufacturers. There was a statistically significant difference in peritonitis for automated peritoneal dialysis systems. Patients using the Freedom Cycler PD+ (Fresenius Medical Care, Frankfurt, Germany) had an average peritonitis rate of 1 episode per 6.9 patient-months as compared with patients using the HomeChoice cycler (Baxter Healthcare), who experienced 1 episode of peritonitis per 23.9 patient-months on average (p < 0.0001). For continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients using UltraBag (Baxter Healthcare), the peritonitis rate was 1 episode per 26 patient-months as compared with the Premier Double Bag (Fresenius Medical Care), for which a peritonitis rate of 1 episode per 6.3 patient-months was seen (p < 0.0001). Comparison of the UltraBag (1 episode per 26.0 patient-months) with the Disposable Freedom Set, a single-bag "Y" system (Fresenius Medical Care; 1 episode per 7.5 patient-months) yielded similar results (p < 0.0001). We conclude that ongoing CQI efforts can significantly reduce peritonitis rates. Our efforts included aggressive patient retraining, protocol changes, use of a titanium adapter between the catheter and the transfer set, and careful choice of connectology systems (possible supplier-dependent effect).

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Feasibility of adequate solute clearance in obese patients on peritoneal dialysis: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: It is widely assumed that obese patients are poorly suited for peritoneal dialysis (PD). Mathematical models predicting weight limits to achieve adequate solute clearance in anuric patients on continuous ambulatory PD therapy do not apply to the majority of obese patients on PD therapy. METHODS: To define the extent to which obesity or large body size interferes with successful PD, the feasibility of achieving adequate solute clearance, defined by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines, was studied. We reviewed prospectively recorded data for 25 obese patients (body mass index > or = 29) from a group of 58 prevalent PD patients treated in an inner-city ambulatory dialysis center. Adequacy of solute clearances was assessed by comparing weekly Kt/V and weekly creatinine clearance (WCC) with those recommended by the K/DOQI. Adequacy also was examined separately for large patients, defined as those with total-body water (TBW) by the Watson and Watson equation of 48 L or greater. Similar analyses were performed separately for 10 anuric obese patients. RESULTS: Eighty four percent and 88% of the 25 obese patients achieved K/DOQI targets for weekly Kt/V and WCC, respectively. Among the 10 anuric obese patients, 90% and 70% achieved these targets. Only 60% of those with TBW of 48 L or greater met the Kt/V target. CONCLUSION: PD remains a viable option for obese patients with end-stage renal disease. It is possible for the majority of obese patients on PD therapy to achieve solute clearances recommended by the K/DOQI.

Body Mass Index↗