Aim To investigate the prevalence of burnout syndrome among physicians of all specialties, including residents and non-specialists, on a national level in Croatia. Methods This cross-sectional study, conducted in October 2017, used anonymous online survey based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey. The Croatian version of the inventory was assessed for acceptability, factorial validity, and reliability. Key dimensions of burnout – emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment were assessed. Respondents scoring high for emotional exhaustion or depersonalization were defined as burned-out. Results The response rate was 18% (2557/14 427). Respondents’ median age was 41 years (range 25-80), and 68% (1737/2557) were women. Good sampling adequacy and scale reliability were confirmed. Factorial validity suggested the presence of three overall factors, and no items were eliminated. Sixty-three percent of physicians were burned-out. High score on emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment were found in 58%, 29%, and 52% of respondents, respectively. As many as 16% of the respondents simultaneously experienced high levels of all three burnout dimensions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that residents and physicians in tertiary or primary care were at an increased risk of burnout, while physicians working in institutes were at a decreased risk. Conclusion Active national measures are needed to reduce the high prevalence of burnout among Croatian physicians.

Background and Aims The aim of the research was to evaluate patient and renal as well as relapse free survival in ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) patients in our center. Despite the advances in understanding pathogenesis of AAVs and advances in treatment, the outcomes of AAV patient differ in various centers. Method This study included 106 consecutive AAV patients with renal involvement in the period from 2007-2017. We performed renal biopsy on patients using automatic 16 Gauge needle. Light, immunofluorescent and electronic microscopy were performed. All the patients were treated with cyclophosphamide and steroids in induction treatment with adjuvant PLEX and dialysis depending on renal function and lung manifestations. Primary outcomes were combined outcome progression to end-stage renal disease, defined as persistent (more than three months) need for renal replacement therapy or permanent reduction of EGFR to <15ml/minute (according to CKD EPI formula) and/or death (ESRDD), death (D) and ESRD alone, and disease relapse. Kaplan Meyer survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were used to explore difference between phenotypes and finding significant predictors regarding outcomes. Out of 106 patients (55,6% female, median age 61; IQR 51-70) there were 66 (61,1%) microscopic poliangitiis (MPA), 20 (18,5%) granulomatosis with angitiis and 20 (18,5%) with renal limited vasculitis (RLV),There were 14 (13%) PR3-ANCA positive patients, 57 (52,8%) MPO ANCA positive, 5 (4,6%) PR3-ANCA+MPO-ANCA positive and 32 (29,6%) ANCA negative patients. Histologically (Berden classification) 43 (39,8%) patients had crescentic, 19 (17,6%) focal, 34 (31,5%) mixed and 12 (11,1%) sclerotic class. Follow up time ranged from 1 to 127 months. Median follow up time was 21 months (IQR = 7-44). Median time to diagnosis was 3 months (IQR 2,0-6,0). Results During follow up 21 (19,8%) patients died, 26 (24,5%) patients reached ESRD and 10 (9,4%) patients relapsed. There was no significant difference in outcomes between clinical, serological or histological phenotypes. In multivariant analysis independent predictors for death were age (HR = 1,059, 95% CI =1,001-1,120; p = 0,046), anemia (HR = 0,952, 95% CI =0,908-0,998; p = 0,040) and BVAS (HR = 1,093, 95% CI =1,030-1,159; p = 0,003), for ESRD. the need for acute dialysis (HR = 4,674, 95% CI =1,996-10,946; p = < 0,001), and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) percentage over 50% (HR = 2,652, 95% CI =1,157-6,081; p = 0,021). and for relapse rate younger age (HR = 0,924, 95% CI = 0,870-0,981; p =0,010), lower serum creatinine levels (HR = 0,996, 95% CI = 0,992-1,000; p = 0,033), and the need for acute dialysis (HR = 59,545, 95% CI =3,467-1022,665; p = 0,005). Event free survival after 12, 24, 36 and 60 months was for death 83,9, 81,2, 79 and 74,7%, for ESRD 80,6, 77,9, 76,1 and 71% and for relapse 95,3, 88,4, 88,4 and 85%. Conclusion Timely diagnosis and treatment can ensure better outcomes in AAV patients. Though there is an overlap in predictive factors between different cohorts, there are still distinctive differences especially between cohorts from clinical trials and those from observational studies. Our study is among few to show significance of anemia as clinical predictor and IFTA percentage as pathohistological predictor.

Background and Aims Dialysis dependence and ESRD are known complications of ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) with renal involvement. What is not so often discussed is the role of dialysis treatment at the time of diagnosis and how it affects patient outcomes as well as characteristics of such patients. We present data showing the importance of dialysis treatment at the time of diagnosis as the predictor of clinical outcomes. Method This study included 106 consecutive AAV patients with renal involvement in the period from 2007-2017. We performed renal biopsy on patients using automatic 16 Gauge needle. Light, immunofluorescent and electronic microscopy were performed. Primary outcomes were combined outcome progression to end-stage renal disease, defined as persistent (more than three months) need for renal replacement therapy or permanent reduction of EGFR to <15ml/minute (according to CKD EPI formula) and/or death (ESRDD), death (D) and ESRD alone, and disease relapse. Kaplan Meyer survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were used to explore difference between phenotypes and finding significant predictors regarding outcomes. Results Out of 106 patients (55,6% female, median age 61; IQR 51-70) there were 66 (61,1%) microscopic poliangitiis (MPA), 20 (18,5%) granulomatosis with angitiis and 20 (18,5%) with renal limited vasculitis (RLV). Out of those 14 (13%) were PR3-ANCA positive patients, 57 (52,8%) MPO ANCA positive, 5 (4,6%) PR3-ANCA+MPO-ANCA positive and 32 (29,6%) ANCA negative patients. Average serum creatinine (SCr) levels was 316,5 μmol/l (IQR 207,0-548,5), 24-hour proteinuria median was 1,7g/24h (IQR 0,8-2,8). According to the Berden classification 43 (39,8%) patients had crescentic, 19 (17,6%) focal, 34 (31,5%) mixed and 12 (11,1%) sclerotic class. Follow up time ranged from 1 to 127 months. Median follow up time was 21 months (IQR = 7-44). Median time to diagnosis was 3 months (IQR 2,0-6,0). Patients requiring dialysis treatment at the time of diagnosis were more often MPO – (p=0,04), had more severe anemia (p=0,001), higher CRP (p=0,003), and more pronounced hypoalbuminemia (serums albumin <30g/l; p=0,006).Such patients were older than those not requiring dialysis (p=0,055) na had shorter time to diagnosis (p=0,001). Clinically such patient s presented more often with RPGN (p<0,001) which is in a way expected thus having higher SCr levels (p=<0,001). Histologically dialysis treated patients predominantly had crescentic class, while non-dialysis group had focal class (p<0,001). Of note dialysis group had more acute tubular damage (p=0,007). Interestingly enough there was slightly more positive C3 deposition in dialysis group (p=0,09). In univariate analysis the need for acute dialysis at the time of diagnosis of AAV was significant predictor for combined ESRDD, D, ESRD and relapse rate. In multivariate analysis the need for acute dialysis at the time of diagnosis of AAV remained significant predictor for ESRD (HR = 4,674, 95% CI =1,996-10,946; p = < 0,001) and relapse rate (HR = 59,545, 95% CI =3,467-1022,665; p = 0,005). Conclusion The need for dialysis at the time of AAV diagnosis is a strong predictor for ESRD and relapse rate. It is also interesting to further study differences between patients needing dialysis at the time of diagnosis and those who don’t need it.

Background and Aims Kidneys are often damaged in paraproteinemic conditions. Paraproteins are monoclonal immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fractions that are produced by a clonal population of B- or plasma cell lineage and can cause a variety of histological patterns of kidney injury, such as light chain (AL) amyloidosis or light chain cast nephropathy (LCCN). Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) represents a group of disorders in which a monoclonal immunoglobulin secreted by B- or plasma cell clone causes renal damage. By definition, these disorders do not meet diagnostic criteria for overt, symptomatic multiple myeloma or a lymphoproliferative disorder, but in contrast to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) there is evidence of end-organ damage that can warrant therapy. Method All patients with paraproteinemic kidney disease were identified by retrospective review of the Hospital Register of kidney biopsies done at Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, in Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, from 2009 until 2018. Every kidney biopsy was analyzed by light, immunofluorescent and electron microscopy. Laboratory findings, including serum protein electrophoresis, serum free light chain level and immunofixation of serum proteins, were done for every patient. Clinical and histologic features of patients and features of underlying hematological conditions were analyzed. Results We identified 47 patients (3,28% of all biopsies that were done in that period) with kidney disease with clear hematological background. The mean patients' age at the time of the biopsy was 63 years and 27 of them were females. Two patients had signs of direct infiltration of kidneys with malignant lymphomic cells (non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and were excluded from the analysis. Clinical presentation of the patients at the time of biopsy were: proteinuria in 85% of patients, full nephrotic syndrome in 55%, azotemia in 66% of patients (80% had acute kidney injury of unclear etiology) and hematuria in 12,7%. Most common histologic patterns of kidney injury were AL amyloidosis (45%) and LCCN (30%) but additionally 7 different histological patterns were found: light chain depostion disease, light chain proxymal tubulopathy, fibrillary and imunotactoid glomerulopathy, proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition, crioglobulinemic glomerulopathy type I and tubulointerstitial damage caused by immunoglobulin deposition. Figure 1 shows main features of patients with AL amyloidosis and cast LCCN. Conclusion Kidney disease can be initial presentation of an underlying paraproteinemia and, as our data showed, can clinicaly present with acute kidney injury, nephrotic or subnephrotic range proteinuria or full nephrotic syndrome. Variety of histologic patterns of kidney injury were described and AL amyloidosis and LCCN were the most common histological findings. Detailed hematologic workup should follow kidney biopsy in order to determine the exact nature and extension of the disease and therefore the most appropriate therapy.

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