M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (APLA2R) is considered the major antigen involved in the pathogenesis of adult primary membranous nephropathy (MN), which is the leading cause of non-diabetic nephrotic syndrome. Antibodies to this antigen have been proved to be an excellent biomarker of disease activity in primary MN. In fact, preliminary data suggest that the higher the antibody level the more proteinuria, and that a decrease in antibody level precedes the remission of proteinuria, but more solid evidence is needed. The present work aims to characterize the predictive value of the level of antibodies against PLA2R as a biomarker of disease course and treatment response in a well-defined cohort of 62 patients from University Hospitals Clinic of Barcelona and Josep Trueta in Girona. The primary outcome was the appearance of a spontaneous complete remission (CR), defined as induction of a CR without the use of immunosuppressive agents. In common with other reports, this work confirms that spontaneous CR is more frequent in patients with low titre of APLA2R at diagnosis, but strikingly, in this cohort we found that spontaneous CR was achieved in patients with APLA2R levels 8 g/day. In conclusion, these findings point out the important role of APLA2R as a tool to predict the disease course and establish personalized therapeutic options at the moment of diagnosis of primary MN. Specifically, patients with low titre of APLA2R (<40 UI/mL) and proteinuria <4/day could obtain benefit of a longer period of follow-up with conservative treatment after diagnosis.

Background: Recurrence of immunoglobulin (Ig)A nephropathy (rIgAN) is a growing cause of kidney allograft dysfunction. This study was aimed at investigating factors associated with rIgAN and the subsequent progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods: Retrospective study including consecutive patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) who received a kidney transplant in our center between 1992 and 2016 and had a renal biopsy by clinical indication. The date of detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) 5 was used as renal outcome. Results: Eighty-six kidney transplants were performed in patients with IgAN, 38 (44%) were from living donors (related n = 26). rIgAN was diagnosed in 23 allografts (27%). Renal function and proteinuria at the end of the follow-up period were worst in the rIgAN patients compared to those without rIgAN (2.2 vs. 1.4 mg/dL, p = 0.014, and 1.16 vs. 0.49 g/day, p = 0.005, respectively). Risk of rIgAN and progression to CKD 5 decreased with patient’s age (hazard ratio [HR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.98, p = 0.002, and HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.83–0.97, p = 0.008 per year, respectively). Patients with rIgAN had a higher risk of progression to CKD 5 (HR 6.7, 95% CI 1.3–35.7, p = 0.025). Full donor-recipient mismatch in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B loci decreased the risk of rIgAN (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.06–0.76, p = 0.017). Conclusions: rIgAN was an independent risk factor for ESRD after renal allograft. Younger age increased the risk of rIgAN and CKD 5. Conversely, HLA-B mismatching was a potential protective factor for rIgAN of this glomerular disease.

The dialysis membrane based on a hydrophilic polymer (Hydrolink NV) was designed to enhance the movement of adsorbed water at the blood–membrane interface, aiming to achieve antithrombogenic and antifouling effects. This study aimed to assess the performance and albumin loss of the Hydrolink NV dialyzer in hemodialysis (HD) and post-dilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) with different infusion flows (Qis) and compare it with the hydrophilic FX CorAL dialyzer in post-dilution HDF. A prospective study was carried out in 20 patients. Patients underwent five dialysis sessions with the same routine dialysis parameters: four sessions with the Toraylight NV 2.1 (HD, post-dilution HDF with 50, 75 or auto-substitution Qi) and one with the FX CorAL 800 (post-dilution HDF with auto-substitution Qi). The reduction ratios’ (RRs’) wide range of molecular weight molecules were assessed and the dialysate albumin loss was quantified. The lowest β₂-microglobulin, indoxyl-sulfate, and p-cresyl sulfate RR values were observed with the Toraylight NV 2.1 in HD, and they improved progressively with an increased Qi, without differences being observed between the two dialyzers in auto-substitution. A different removal profile was observed in terms of myoglobin, kFLC, prolactin, α₁-microglobulin, α₁-acid glycoprotein, and λFLC, whose RRs also improved progressively with an increased Qi but were significantly higher with the Toraylight NV than the CorAL in the same convective condition. There were significant differences in the albumin dialysate losses, with the highest value obtained with the Toraylight NV in auto-substitution HDF, with more than 50% of patients surpassing 5 g per session. The Toraylight NV dialyzer has great potential for efficacy but should be used at the optimal convective volume (Qi not exceeding 75 mL/min or FF not exceeding 25%) to avoid excessive albumin loss.

Background: High-volume online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) has proven to be the most efficient dialysis modality and to offer better clinical outcomes in patients on hemodialysis. Longer and more frequent dialysis sessions have demonstrated clinical and survival benefits. Methods: A single-center observational study of the first one hundred patients on nocturnal every-other-day OL-HDF was conducted with the aim of reporting the experience with this treatment schedule and evaluating analytical and clinical outcomes as well as the patient and technique survival. Results: Nocturnal OL-HDF on alternate days was highly accepted, with no adverse symptoms, good clinical tolerance, and maintained active work in 62%. Kt, and the convective volume increased from 67.6 ± 12 L to 105.4 ± 11.7 L, and from 27.1 ± 4.6 L to 48.1 ± 6.4 L, respectively, from the baseline to 24 months. An improved calcium–phosphate balance and blood pressure control were observed, as the use of phosphate binders and antihypertensive medications decreased from 76.7% to 3.3% and from 56.7% to 28.3%, respectively. Furthermore, 58.3% of patients required phosphate supplementation in the dialysis fluid to prevent intradialytic hypophosphatemia. Additionally, doses of iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents were reduced. The global patient survival was 94% at the end of the follow-up. It was higher in those on the transplant waiting list, with 98.1% survival compared to 84.6% in non-wait-listed patients at 24 months. The main reason for treatment discontinuation was kidney transplantation, accounting for 78.4% of the 88 withdrawals, while death was the leading cause of discontinuation in non-listed patients (41.6%). Conclusions: Nocturnal every-other-day OL-HDF is a well-tolerated dialysis regimen that offers significant clinical benefits, which may positively impact morbidity and mortality. Additionally, it allows patients to integrate the treatment into their social and occupational lives.

Introduction: Patient safety in intensive care units with intermittent renal replacement therapy is influenced by different factors; including patient-related, human, and technical factors. Objective: Identify risk factors and major incidences present in clinical practice affecting the patient safety on intermittent renal replacement therapy. Material and Method: Descriptive and retrospective study of 413 sessions of intermittent renal replacement therapy. Demographic and clinical data, clinical and technical complications, monitor controls, corrective measures, and nurse-related risk factors were obtained using a dialysis expert questionnaire. Results: Out of the 413 sessions, 52.1% were intermittent hemodialysis. Patients had a mean age of 65 years and 78.7% were male. 35.1% were admitted by septic shock. Incidences include error in modality assignment (33.2%), outdated protocols (30.5%) and vascular access dysfunction (15.7%). As clinical complications found 47.6% in intermittent hemodialysis and 41.2% had hypotension. Technical complications in 37.7% of sessions, with total or partial extracorporeal circuit coagulation (16.7%). As personnel related factors highlighted the lack of standardized training program (57.1%), personnel variability (81%), and not attending scheduled training (52.4%). Conclusions: Patient safety with renal replacement therapy in intensive care units is a multifactorial process involving non-modifiable patient-related aspects, incidences during the procedure, and complications. Although no major adverse effects were produced in the patient’s clinical evolution, risk factors are considered potential and some of them predictable, controllable, and avoidable.

Pain is a frequent and disturbing symptom among hemodialysis patients. Protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) are related to cardiovascular and overall mortality, and they are difficult to remove with current hemodialysis treatments. The PBUT displacers, such as furosemide, tryptophan, or ibuprofen, may be promising new strategies for improving their clearance. This study aims to compare ibuprofen versus other analgesic drugs in PBUT removal. A prospective study was carried out in 23 patients. Patients underwent four dialysis sessions with routine dialysis parameters, except for analgesic drugs administered (lysine acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, dexketoprofen, and ibuprofen). The reduction ratios (RRs) of a wide range of molecular weight molecules were assessed, including total p-cresyl sulfate and total indoxyl-sulfate. There were no complications related to the administered drug, and pain was controlled independently of the drug. There were no differences in the RR of small-size and medium-sized molecules between all four study treatments. However, indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate RRs when ibuprofen was administered were significantly higher than lysine acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, and dexketoprofen treatments. In conclusion, patients with pain may benefit from treatment with ibuprofen instead of lysine acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, or dexketoprofen, since in addition to improving pain, it increases the removal of PBUTs.