Browsing by Author "Birne, R"
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- Achieving K/DOQI Targets with Cinacalcet in Dialysis Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. A Portuguese Observational StudyPublication . Macário, F; Frazão, JM; Ferreira, A; Weigert, A; Mota, M; Machado, D; Birne, R; Neto, R; Baldaia Moreira, A; Soares, C; Ribeiro, S; Mendes, T; Alves, R; Gomes, H; Raposo, HSecondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complication of chronic kidney disease. The elevated serum intact parathyroid hormone, phosphorus, calcium and calcium x phosphorus product have been independently associated with an increased relative risk of mortality. The standard therapy for secondary hyperparathyroidism, including active vitamin D analogues and phosphate binders, is often insufficient to allow patients to achieve the recommended Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative targets for bone and mineral metabolism. Randomised controlled phase III clinical studies in chronic kidney disease patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism have shown that cinacalcet treatment increases the proportion of patients achieving the recommended Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative targets for intact parathyroid hormone, phosphorus, calcium and calcium x phosphorus product. Aims: This observational multicentre study aims to evaluate cinacalcet’s ability to achieve and maintain Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative targets in a population with secondary hyperparathyroidism on chronic haemodialysis in Portugal. Patients and Methods: Patients on chronic dialysis that received cinacalcet during a free sampling programme were enrolled. Retrospective and prospective monthly data were collected from 3 months before until 6 months after the beginning of cinacalcet treatment. Additional assessment included a 12 month evaluation of all parameters. Results: 140 dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism were enrolled, 60% male, mean age 57.4±14.1 years. The mean intact parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus, and calcium x phosphorus product values at baseline were 751.7±498.8 pg/ml, 9.7±3.8 mg/dl, 5.5±1.5 mg/dl, and 52.7±25.3 mg2/dl2, respectively. After 6 months’ cinacalcet treatment, 26.2%, 53.6%, 59.3%, and 81.0% of the patients achieved the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative recommended levels for intact parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus, and calcium x phosphorus product, respectively. The mean dose of cinacalcet at 6 months was 57.1±29.7 mg/day. Conclusions: The use of cinacalcet in clinical practice is an effective option for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic dialysis patients, allowing more patients to reach and maintain the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative targets.
- A Comparative Study of Cardiovascular Tolerability with Slow Extended Dialysis Versus Continuous Haemodiafiltration in the Critical PatientPublication . Birne, R; Branco, P; Marcelino, P; Marum, S; Fernandes, AP; Viana, H; Adragão, T; Ferreira, A; Mourão, LBackground: In the haemodynamically unstable patient the method of treatment of acute renal failure is still largely controversial. The purpose of our study was to compare slow extended dialysis with continuous haemodiafiltration in the critical patient with indication for renal replacement therapy and haemodynamic instability. Patients and Methods: This is a cohort study comparing in 63 ventilated critical patients a 12 month period when only continuous haemodiafiltration was used (n=25) with an equal period of slow extended dialysis (n=38). Our primary objective was to evaluate the impact of the dialytic procedure on cardiovascular stability in those patients. As secondary aims we considered system coagulation/thrombosis and predictors of mortality. In the two groups we analysed the first session performed, the second session performed and the average of all the sessions performed in each patient. Results: In these patients, mortality in the intensive care unit was high (68% in the continuous haemodiafiltration group and 63% in the slow extended dialysis group). We did not find any association between the dialytic technique used and death; only the APACHE score was a predictor of death. Slow extended dialysis was a predictor of haemodynamic stability, a negative predictor of sessions that had to be interrupted for haemodynamic instability, and a predictor of achieving the volume removal initially sought. Slow extended dialysis was also associated with less coagulation of the system. Conclusions: Our data suggested that slow extended dialysis use was not inferior to continuous haemodiafiltration use in terms of cardiovascular tolerability.
- Effect of Empagliflozin Beyond Glycemic Control: Cardiovascular Benefit in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Established Cardiovascular DiseasePublication . Monteiro, P; Aguiar, C; Matos, P; Silva-Nunes, J; Birne, R; Branco, P; Calado, J; Melo, M; Polónia, JThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) continues to increase, and its association with cardiovascular (CV) disease has led to the inclusion of CV endpoints in clinical trials on the treatment of T2D. This article explores the various trials already performed and under development in this field, with particular focus on the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial. In this trial, empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, demonstrated a reduction in CV risk in patients with T2D and established CV disease, in addition to CV safety and a decrease in glycated hemoglobin. This represents a paradigm shift that has led to changes in the international guidelines for the treatment of T2D. These results were maintained in subsequent subgroup analysis for heart failure, chronic kidney disease and peripheral arterial disease, although there are many questions concerning the mechanisms involved in these effects, including whether they are hemodynamic, metabolic or due to decreased myocardial cytoplasmic sodium concentrations. With this reduction in risk for major CV events in patients with T2D, the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial demonstrated CV protection from a hypoglycemic drug for the first time, and opened a new era in the treatment and management of T2D. This study has led to the development of ongoing trials that will establish which patients will benefit most from this therapy, particularly with regard to comorbidities.
- Empagliflozina e a Nova Era no Tratamento da Diabetes Tipo 2: Para Além do Controlo GlicémicoPublication . Silva Nunes, J; Aguiar, C; Birne, R; Branco, P; Calado, J; Matos, P; Melo, M; Monteiro, P; Polónia, JA diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DMT2) tem associado um risco aumentado de mortalidade, principalmente, por doença cardiovascular (DCV). Interessa ter disponíveis opções terapêuticas que permitam o controlo glicémico mas que considerem, igualmente, a atuação sobre fatores de risco cardiovascular e a redução de eventos micro e macrovasculares. Nos últimos anos foram desenvolvidos vários inibidores do transporte renal de glicose via cotransporte de sódio/glicose (iSGLT), nomeadamente a empagliflozina, para promover a excreção urinária de glicose filtrada pelo rim. A empagliflozina é um inibidor competitivo, reversível, altamente potente e seletivo dos SGLT2, indicada no tratamento da hiperglicemia da DMT2. O EMPA-REG OUTCOME®, um ensaio clínico de resultados cardiovasculares aleatorizado, em dupla ocultação, controlado com placebo, que incluiu 7020 indivíduos com DMT2 e DCV estabelecida, avaliou o efeito da empagliflozina versus placebo, associado ao tratamento standard, na ocorrência de um compósito de 3 pontos MACE (Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events) - morte por causa cardiovascular, acidente vascular cerebral não fatal ou enfarte agudo de miocárdio não fatal. Com os resultados do EMPA-REG OUTCOME®, a empagliflozina foi o primeiro iSGLT2 a demonstrar uma redução de morbilidade cardiovascular em indivíduos com DMT2 com elevado risco cardiovascular, adicionando a proteção cardiovascular ao efeito anti-hiperglicémico do fármaco e abrindo uma nova era no tratamento e gestão da DMT2.
- Mineral and Bone Disease (MBD) on a Kidney Transplant PatientPublication . Birne, R; Adragão, T; Ferreira, A; Dickson, J; Silva, R; Casqueiro, A; Oliveira, R; Martins, AR; Torres, J; Matias, P; Branco, P; Jorge, C; Weigert, A; Bruges, M; Machado, DA 50-year-old post-menopausal recipient of a kidney allograft with bone pain, osteoporosis, persistent hypercalcaemia and elevated parathormone (PTH) levels, despite a satisfactory graft function, was treated with bisphosphonates and cinacalcet starting, respectively, 5 and 6 months after renal transplantation (RT). Sixteen months after treatment, there was improvement of bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). A bone biopsy was taken, unveiling a surprising and worrisome result. Post-RT bone disease is different from classic CKD-MBD and should be managed distinctly, including, in some difficult cases, an invasive evaluation through the performance of a bone biopsy, as suggested in the KDIGO guidelines.