Hypertension affects the majority of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease and mortality. Previously, many hypertension guidelines have suggested blood pressure targets in patients with CKD. Recently, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2017 Guideline for Hypertension suggests a new definition for hypertension and therapeutic targets, which were equally applicated to patients with CKD. These changes reflect the results of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) study, but the renal outcome of intensive blood pressure control was not good. Furthermore, the majority of hypertension guidelines including those of the Korean Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Hypertension have retained the traditional definition. Herein, we intend to analyze in detail the effect of intensive blood pressure control on kidney through the post-hoc analyses of the SPRINT study.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mortality ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Most rheumatic diseases are chronic inflammatory diseases. Kidney-related symptoms of rheumatic diseases are often present, which increase mortality and morbidity of patients with rheumatic diseases. When patients with rheumatic diseases show signs or symptoms of renal involvement, management for primary rheumatic diseases should be more aggressive. In general, the risk and severity of renal involvement in patients with rheumatic diseases depend on the type of primary rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic disease itself, chronic use of immunosuppressive agents and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular complications, are the main causes of renal involvement in patients with rheumatic diseases. Many studies have reported the predominant features of renal involvement in most rheumatic diseases. We have attempted to summarize the relationships between rheumatic diseases and renal diseases, and clinical or pathophysiological features of renal involvement resulting from primary rheumatic diseases except systemic lupus erythematosus. Review for renal involvement, particularly in relation to early diagnosis and management of renal involvement in rheumatic diseases, is clinically significant because renal involvement in rheumatic diseases generally implies a bad prognosis.
Comorbidity ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Kidney Diseases ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Rheumatic Diseases*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A diagnosis of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is based on a differential evaluation of acute kidney injury (AKI), which may aggravate the clinical course. This study assessed the clinical significance of the urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (u-NGAL) levels in a differential diagnosis of AKI in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). METHODS: Patients with LC who developed AKI were enrolled prospectively. Clinically, patients with AKI were classified into prerenal azotemia (PRA), HRS, and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) groups. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (male, 74.5%) with LC who exhibited AKI upon admission were enrolled; 28, 9, and 18 patients were included in the PRA, HRS, and ATN groups, respectively. The baseline model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores was similar in the subgroups. The median event creatinine level, measured at the time of the AKI diagnosis, was similar in the HRS and ATN subgroups. On the other hand, the median event u-NGAL level differed significantly between the three subgroups (PRA, HRS, and ATN: 37 vs. 134 vs. 2,625 ng/mL, p=0.003). In particular, the median u-NGAL level of the HRS group was clearly different from those of the PRA (p<0.001) and ATN (p<0.001) groups. Multivariable analysis revealed the natural logarithm of the u-NGAL level (hazard ratio [HR] 1.77, p=0.031) and the MELD score (HR 1.17, p=0.027) to be independent prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with LC and AKI. CONCLUSIONS: The median u-NGAL level differentiated HRS from ATN and served as a clinical indicator of in-hospital mortality for patients with LC and AKI.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Azotemia ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hand ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Kidney Tubular Necrosis, Acute ; Lipocalins ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Liver ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A diagnosis of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is based on a differential evaluation of acute kidney injury (AKI), which may aggravate the clinical course. This study assessed the clinical significance of the urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (u-NGAL) levels in a differential diagnosis of AKI in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).METHODS: Patients with LC who developed AKI were enrolled prospectively. Clinically, patients with AKI were classified into prerenal azotemia (PRA), HRS, and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) groups.RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (male, 74.5%) with LC who exhibited AKI upon admission were enrolled; 28, 9, and 18 patients were included in the PRA, HRS, and ATN groups, respectively. The baseline model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores was similar in the subgroups. The median event creatinine level, measured at the time of the AKI diagnosis, was similar in the HRS and ATN subgroups. On the other hand, the median event u-NGAL level differed significantly between the three subgroups (PRA, HRS, and ATN: 37 vs. 134 vs. 2,625 ng/mL, p=0.003). In particular, the median u-NGAL level of the HRS group was clearly different from those of the PRA (p<0.001) and ATN (p<0.001) groups. Multivariable analysis revealed the natural logarithm of the u-NGAL level (hazard ratio [HR] 1.77, p=0.031) and the MELD score (HR 1.17, p=0.027) to be independent prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with LC and AKI.CONCLUSIONS: The median u-NGAL level differentiated HRS from ATN and served as a clinical indicator of in-hospital mortality for patients with LC and AKI.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Azotemia ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hand ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Kidney Tubular Necrosis, Acute ; Lipocalins ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Liver ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Prospective Studies

To characterize the association between chronic kidney disease (CKD), mortality, severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), treatment modality of CAD, and type of coronary stents among patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG), we retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of the patients who underwent CAG at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in Korea between May 2003 and January 2006. CKD was staged using an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from the creatinine value prior to CAG. There were 3,637 patients included. The presence of CAD was 48% in CKD stage 1, 61% in stage 2, 73% in stage 3, 87% in stage 4, and 81% in stage 5. Survival rate gradually diminished for patients with decreasing renal function. No significant differences in all-cause and cardiac mortality were observed by medical treatment, PCI or CABG, in CKD patients with an eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). CKD patients with drug-eluting stents showed significantly lower all-cause mortality (5.4% vs. 13.3%) and incidence of myocardial infarction (1.7% vs. 10%) than those with bare metal stents. In conclusion, an eGFR is a strong independent prognostic marker among patients undergoing CAG and the severity of CAD increases progressively with worsening renal function.
Aged ; Coronary Angiography/*methods ; Coronary Artery Disease/complications/*diagnosis/mortality ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney/pathology/*physiology ; Kidney Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/mortality ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

This study was conducted to determine clinical parameters predicting future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients without significant stenosis on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). A total of 625 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CCTA that revealed insignificant (< 50%) CAD was reviewed in three cardiac centers. The MACEs including cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina and late (> 90 days after CCTA) revascularization were assessed. During the mean follow-up period of 819 +/- 529 days (median 837 days), there were 28 cases of MACEs (4.5%). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, independent predictors for MACEs were male sex (hazard ratio [HR], 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-5.69; P = 0.046) and low estimated creatinine clearance (eCCr) (< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) (HR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.22-7.74; P = 0.017). Low eCCr was the only independent predictor for hard events including cardiac death and MI (HR, 17.6, 95% CI, 1.44-215.7; P = 0.025). In conclusion, renal function is an independent predictor for cardiovascular events among patients without significant CAD by CCTA. Careful monitoring and preventive strategy are warranted in patients with impaired renal function even without significant CAD.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis/*mortality ; Comorbidity ; Coronary Angiography/*statistics & numerical data ; Coronary Stenosis/mortality/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Diseases/*diagnosis/*mortality ; Kidney Function Tests/*statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Survival Rate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*statistics & numerical data

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important problem in the elderly as well as in general population. The CKD is defined either by a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of less than 60 ml/min/1.73m(2) BSA or by the presence of kidney damage, assessed most commonly by the finding of albuminuria for three or more consecutive months. The severity of CKD can be classified as follows : stage 1, kidney damage with a normal or increased GFR (more than 90ml/min/1.73m(2) BSA); stage 2, kidney damage with a mild decrease in GFR (89 to 60ml/min/1.73m(2) BSA) ; stage 3, a moderate decrease in GFR (59 to 30ml/min/1.73m(2) BSA); stage 4, a severe decrease in GFR (15 to 29ml/min/1.73m(2) BSA); stage 5, kidney failure (i.e., a GFR of less than 15 ml/min/1.73m(2) or conditions requiring dialysis). The CKD in elderly population is closely related with a high risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, functional limitation, and death. We now have to assess the risk among the elderly patients with CKD for the prevention of morbidity and mortality. Clinicians should measure albuminuria and estimate GFR from serum creatinine to detect CKD. Patients with CKD should be evaluated appropriately and treated according to the underlying cause of CKD. Moreover, the medical society should make an effort to inform individuals with increased risk to develop CKD and the necessity of simple diagnostic tests for CKD.
Aged* ; Albuminuria ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Creatinine ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Early Diagnosis ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mortality ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* ; Societies, Medical

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in end- stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The early diagnosis and treatment of CVD could improve survival in dialysis patients. The plasma level of B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) correlates with the severity of LV dysfunction and increases following myocardial ischemia. We investigated the ability of BNP as a predictor of CVD in new ESRD patients whose volume overload status were not corrected. METHODS: CVD was defined as an LV ejection fraction <45% or a positive myocardial SPECT. We measured plasma levels of BNP in 79 new ESRD patients requiring hemodialysis (HD) and investigated the relationships between BNP levels and echocardiography and myocardial SPECT. RESULTS: Median concentrations of BNP were higher in 16 patients with heart failure than those in 63 patients without heart failure (1, 748.5 vs. 127.0 pg/mL, p<0.001) and higher in 12 patients with positive myocardial SPECT than those in 67 patients with negative SPECT (1, 160.5 vs. 129.0 pg/mL, p< 0.001). BNP levels were higher in 23 patients with CVD than those in 56 patients without CVD (1, 234.0 vs. 119.0 pg/mL, p<0.001). There was an inverse correlation between BNP and LV ejection fraction (r=-0.65, p<0.001). The present study demonstrated a significant 34.9% increment of cardiac mortality by the every increase of 100 pg/mL of BNP. The negative predictive value of BNP for excluding CVD was 89.3% (cut-off value, 500 pg/mL). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that BNP could be an effective screening test for the evaluation of the presence of CVD in ESRD patients starting maintenance HD.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Dialysis ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain* ; Plasma ; Renal Dialysis* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: The aims of the present study are to determine the outcomes after acute aortic occlusion (AAO) and analyze the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 24 patients who were diagnosed with AAO from 2002 to 2017 in our registered data. Demographic and radiologic characteristics of AAOs were retrospectively collected. Perioperative treatment outcomes including in-hospital mortality were also assessed and the risk factors of in-hospital mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: The median symptom duration was 21 hours. Five patients had complete paraplegia and 10 patients (41.7%) were initially evaluated for central nervous system disorders instead of acute arterial occlusion. The etiology was determined to be aortoiliac thrombosis in 17 patients (70.8%) and embolic occlusion in 7. Surgical revascularization was performed in 23 patients, and one patient did not receive any treatment. The overall in-hospital mortality was 34.8% (8/23) and 30-day mortality was 26.1%. In the univariate analysis, age (P=0.040), preoperative renal insufficiency (serum creatinine over 1.5 mg/dL at the time of presentation) (P=0.008), postoperative acute kidney injury (need for dialysis or an increase in serum creatinine of >50.0% within 48 hours) (P=0.006), combined external iliac artery occlusion (P=0.019) and combined bilateral internal iliac artery occlusion (P=0.039) were associated with in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of AAO patients were initially evaluated for a central nervous system lesion, which led to a delay in diagnosis. Thus, vascular examinations should always be performed in every patient presenting with lower limb neurologic deficits. Age, perioperative renal function, and combined iliac artery occlusion were associated with the prognosis of AAOs.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Central Nervous System ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Dialysis ; Embolism ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Lower Extremity ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraplegia ; Prognosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis

Infectious complications have been considered as a major cause of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation, especially in the Asian population. Therefore, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of such infections are crucial in kidney transplant recipients. Among all infectious complications, viruses are considered to be the most common agents because of their abundance, infectivity, and latency ability. Herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, Epstein–Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, BK polyomavirus, and adenovirus are well-known etiologic agents of viral infections in kidney transplant patients worldwide because of their wide range of distribution. As DNA viruses, they are able to reactivate after affected patients receive immunosuppressive agents. These DNA viruses can cause systemic diseases or allograft dysfunction, especially in the first six months after transplantation. Pretransplant evaluation and immunization as well as appropriate prophylaxis and preemptive approaches after transplant have been established in the guidelines and are used effectively to reduce the incidence of these viral infections. This review will describe the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of viral infections that commonly affect kidney transplant recipients.
Adenoviridae ; Allografts ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; BK Virus ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis ; DNA Viruses ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B virus ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney* ; Mortality ; Simplexvirus ; Transplant Recipients* ; Virus Diseases