Ungprasert, Patompong

Abstract Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that may affect the myocardium. This study evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Methods: Eighty-three patients with extracardiac, biopsy-proven sarcoidosis and definite/probable diagnosis of cardiac involvement diagnosed from January 2005 through December 2016 were included. In order to analyze the alteration of strain parameters in early stages of CS, a subgroup of 23 CS patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) within normal limits (LVEF>52% for men: >54% for women, mean value: 57.3%±3.8%) and no wall motion abnormalities was compared with 97 controls (1:4) without cardiac disease. LV and right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS), and radial (GRS) strain and strain rate (SR) analyses were performed with TomTec software and correlated with cardiac outcomes (including heart failure and arrhythmias). This study was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board, and all patients gave informed written consent to participate. Results: Mean age of CS patients was 53.6±10.8 years, and 34.9% were women. Mean LVEF was 43.2%±12.4%; LV GLS, -12.4%±3.7%; LV GCS, -17.1%±6.5%; LV GRS, 29.3%±12.8%; and RV wall GLS, 14.6%±6.3%. In the 23 patients with early stage CS with normal LVEF and RV systolic function, strain parameters were significantly reduced when compared with controls (respectively: LV GLS, -15.9%±2.5% vs -18.2%±2.7% [ P =.001]; RV GLS, -16.9%±4.5% vs -24.1%±4.0% [ P <.001]). A LV GLS value of -16.3% provided 82.2% sensitivity and 81.2% specificity for the diagnosis of CS (AUC 0.91), while a RV value of -19.9% provided 88.1% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity (AUC 0.93). Hospital admission and heart failure significantly correlated to impaired LV GLS (> -14%). Conclusion: Reduced strain values in the LV GLS and RV GLS can be used in the diagnostic algorithm in patients with suspicion of cardiac sarcoidosis. These values also correlate with adverse cardiovascular events.

AbstractBackground/objectivesSeveral epidemiologic studies have suggested that patients with celiac disease may be at an increased risk of sarcoidosis but the results were inconsistent. This systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted with the aim to better characterize this risk by summarizing all available data.MethodsA literature review was performed using MEDLINE and EMBASE database from inception to February 2019. Studies that compared the risk of sarcoidosis among patients with celiac disease versus individuals without celiac disease were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random‐effect, generic inverse variance method.ResultsOf 426 retrieved studies, four studies with 693 639 participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in meta‐analysis. The risk of sarcoidosis among patients with celiac disease was higher than individuals without celiac disease with the pooled OR of 7.16 (95% CI, 1.48‐34.56). The statistical heterogeneity of this study was high (I2 = 95%).ConclusionsThis systematic review and meta‐analysis found a significantly higher risk of sarcoidosis among patients with celiac disease.

Background Limited data exist regarding the effects of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on acute pancreatitis (AP). This study aimed to evaluate the association between ESRD and outcomes and resource utilization of AP. Materials and methods The 2014 National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify all hospitalized patients with a principal diagnosis of AP. Propensity score matching was performed to create a matched cohort of ESRD and non-ESRD patients. The in-hospital mortality, morbidity, resource utilization and expenditures of AP in ESRD patients were compared to non-ESRD patients. Multivariate analysis was performed for further adjustment for potential confounders. Results Of 382 595 AP patients, 7380 ESRD patients and 8050 non-ESRD patients were created after propensity score matching. ESRD patients had more tendency to have hypercalcemia-related or AP-related to other/unspecified causes, whereas non-ESRD patients had more tendency to have alcohol-related, gallstone-related, and hypertriglyceridemia-related AP. In multivariate analysis, ESRD was associated with increased in-hospital mortality, increased length of hospital stay, and increased hospitalization costs and charges. No differences were observed in inpatient morbidity, imaging study use, and procedures performed during hospitalization. Conclusion In this large nationwide study using inpatient USA database, we demonstrate higher AP-related mortality, and resource utilization among ESRD patients when compared with non-ESRD patients.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the hospitalization rates for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) among renal transplant patients with adult polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and its outcomes, when compared to non-ADPKD renal transplant patients. Methods: The 2005–2014 National Inpatient Sample databases were used to identify all hospitalized renal transplant patients. The inpatient prevalence of SAH as a discharge diagnosis between ADPKD and non-ADPKD renal transplant patients was compared. Among SAH patients, the in-hospital mortality, use of aneurysm clipping, hospital length of stay, total hospitalization cost and charges between ADPKD and non-ADPKD patients were compared, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The inpatient prevalence of SAH in ADPKD was 3.8/1000 admissions, compared to 0.9/1000 admissions in non-ADPKD patients (p < 0.01). Of 833 renal transplant patients with a diagnosis of SAH, 30 had ADPKD. Five (17%) ADPKD renal patients with SAH died in hospitals compared to 188 (23.4%) non-ADPKD renal patients (p = 0.70). In adjusted analysis, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality, use of aneurysm clipping, hospital length of stay, or total hospitalization costs and charges between ADPKD and non-ADPKD patients with SAH. Conclusion: Renal transplant patients with ADPKD had a 4-fold higher inpatient prevalence of SAH than those without ADPKD. Further studies are needed to compare the incidence of overall admissions in ADPKD and non-ADPKD patients. When renal transplant patients developed SAH, inpatient mortality rates were high regardless of ADPKD status. The outcomes, as well as resource utilization, were comparable between the two groups.

Background: The study’s aim was to summarize the incidence and impacts of post-liver transplant (LTx) acute kidney injury (AKI) on outcomes after LTx. Methods: A literature search was performed using the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Databases from inception until December 2018 to identify studies assessing the incidence of AKI (using a standard AKI definition) in adult patients undergoing LTx. Effect estimates from the individual studies were derived and consolidated utilizing random-effect, the generic inverse variance approach of DerSimonian and Laird. The protocol for this systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (no. CRD42018100664). Results: Thirty-eight cohort studies, with a total of 13,422 LTx patients, were enrolled. Overall, the pooled estimated incidence rates of post-LTx AKI and severe AKI requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) were 40.7% (95% CI: 35.4%–46.2%) and 7.7% (95% CI: 5.1%–11.4%), respectively. Meta-regression showed that the year of study did not significantly affect the incidence of post-LTx AKI (p = 0.81). The pooled estimated in-hospital or 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality rates of patients with post-LTx AKI were 16.5% (95% CI: 10.8%–24.3%) and 31.1% (95% CI: 22.4%–41.5%), respectively. Post-LTx AKI and severe AKI requiring RRT were associated with significantly higher mortality with pooled ORs of 2.96 (95% CI: 2.32–3.77) and 8.15 (95%CI: 4.52–14.69), respectively. Compared to those without post-LTx AKI, recipients with post-LTx AKI had significantly increased risk of liver graft failure and chronic kidney disease with pooled ORs of 3.76 (95% CI: 1.56–9.03) and 2.35 (95% CI: 1.53–3.61), respectively. Conclusion: The overall estimated incidence rates of post-LTx AKI and severe AKI requiring RRT are 40.8% and 7.0%, respectively. There are significant associations of post-LTx AKI with increased mortality and graft failure after transplantation. Furthermore, the incidence of post-LTx AKI has remained stable over the ten years of the study.

Background and objectives: Fluid overload and central sleep apnea are highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF). We performed this meta-analysis to assess the effects of acetazolamide therapy on acid/base balance and apnea indexes. Methods: A literature search was conducted using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Database from inception through 18 November 2017 to identify studies evaluating the use of acetazolamide in HF. Study results were analyzed using a random effects model. The protocol for this systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; no. CRD42017065401). Results: Nine studies (three randomized controlled trials and six cohort studies) with a total of 229 HF patients were enrolled. After acetazolamide treatment, there were significant decreases in serum pH (mean difference (MD) of −0.04 (95% CI, −0.06 to −0.02)), pCO2 (MD of −2.06 mmHg (95% CI, −3.60 to −0.53 mmHg)), and serum bicarbonate levels (MD of −6.42 mmol/L (95% CI, −10.05 to −2.79 mmol/L)). When compared to a placebo, acetazolamide significantly increased natriuresis (standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.08 to 1.27)), and decreased the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (SMD of −1.06 (95% CI, −1.75 to −0.36)) and central apnea index (CAI) (SMD of −1.10 (95% CI, −1.80 to −0.40)). Egger’s regression asymmetry tests revealed no publication bias with p = 0.20, 0.75 and 0.59 for analysis of the changes in pH, pCO2, and serum bicarbonate levels with use of acetazolamide in HF patients. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates significant reduction in serum pH, increase in natriuresis, and improvements in apnea indexes with use of acetazolamide among HF patients.

AbstractBackgroundBone and mineral metabolism disorders are common among end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, which could lead to hip fracture. It is unclear whether the hip fracture risk is different among patients on hemodialysis (HD) versus peritoneal dialysis (PD). This meta‐analysis was conducted to evaluate the hip fracture risk in ESRD patients on HD, when compared to PD.MethodsA literature review was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases through January 31, 2018 to identify studies that appraised the rate or risk of hip fracture among patients on HD, when compared to PD. Effect estimates from the individual studies were derived and consolidated utilizing random‐effect, generic inverse variance approach of DerSimonian and Laird.ResultsFive cohort studies with 1 276 677 ESRD patients were enrolled. HD status was associated with a significantly higher risk of hip fracture with the pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50‐1.73, I2 = 10.0%), compared with PD. When the analysis was limited to studies with confounder‐adjusted analysis, the pooled OR of hip fracture among HD patients was 1.57 (95% CI 1.43‐1.72, I2 = 13.6%). Funnel plots and Egger's regression test demonstrated no significant publication bias in our meta‐analysis.ConclusionsAmong ESRD patients, HD status is associated with a 61% higher risk of hip fracture compared to PD.