Background: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with poor outcomes among elderly hospitalized patients with leptospirosis. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study with leptospirosis patients admitted to three tertiary hospitals in Fortaleza, Brazil, from January 1985 to July 2017. Patients were divided into two groups: elderly (age ≥60 years) and young (age <60 years). A comparison of demographical, clinical and laboratory data, treatment and outcomes was executed in order to investigate differences between groups. Results: A total of 507 hospitalized patients were included, with mean age 38 ± 15 years. Elderly group presented lower incidence of myalgia, vomiting, and dyspnea, as well as, higher medium systolic blood pressure. Elderly also manifested higher frequency of AKI (85.9 vs. 74.7%, p = 0.05), hemodialysis requirement (54.7 vs. 37.0%, p = 0.007) and death (32.8 vs. 12.2%, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, age ≥60 years was a predictor of hemodialysis requirement (p = 0.008, OR = 2.049, 95% CI = 1.207-3.477) and death (p < 0.001, OR = 3.520, 95% CI = 1.940-6.386). Conclusion: Leptospirosis in the elderly is associated with less hemodynamic impairment and higher frequency of AKI. Advanced age was also a predictor of poor outcomes, such as hemodialysis requirement and death, mostly due to kidney involvement.

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired genetic disorder characterized by complement-mediated haemolysis, thrombosis and variable cytopenias. Renal involvement may occur and causes significant morbidity to these patients. OBJECTIVE: To review the literature about pathophysiology and provide recommendations on diagnosis and management of renal involvement in PNH. METHODS: Online research in the Medline database with compilation of the most relevant 26 studies found. RESULTS: PNH may present with acute kidney injury caused by massive haemolysis, which is usually very severe. In the chronic setting, PNH may develop insidious decline in renal function caused by tubular deposits of hemosiderin, renal micro-infarcts and interstitial fibrosis. Although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains the only curative treatment for PNH, the drug Eculizumab, a humanized anti-C5 monoclonal antibody is capable of improving renal function, among other outcomes, by inhibiting C5 cleavage with the subsequent inhibition of the terminal complement pathway which would ultimately give rise to the assembly of the membrane attack complex. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of information in literature regarding renal involvement in PNH, albeit it is possible to state that the pathophysiological mechanisms of acute and chronic impairment differ. Despite not being a curative therapy, Eculizumab is able to ease kidney lesions in these patients.

Objective: To describe the prognostic and clinical profile of hospitalized patients with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection focusing on renal outcomes. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including all patients with confirmed chikungunya fever (CHIKF) admitted to 3 different high-complexity hospitals in Fortaleza, Brazil between January 2016 and June 2017. Data analysis was carried out to evaluate correlation between clinical profile and outcomes. Results: Fifty-five patients were included, with a median age of 77 (IQR=21) years, and 23 (41.82%) were male. Twenty-five patients (45.45%, 25/55) developed acute kidney injury (AKI), and 15 (60.00%, 15/25) were classified as KDIGO 1, 1 (4.00%) as KDIGO 2, and 9 (36.00%) as KDIGO 3. The overall mortality was 34.54% whilst AKI-related mortality was 64.00% (16/25). Both AKI and encephalitis were associated with higher mortality. Patients who died were significantly older [82 (IQR=12) years vs. 70 (IQR= 28.75) years, P<0.001)]. In the multivariate analysis, abdominal pain was associated with an increased risk of severe AKI (OR=5.33, 95% CI=1.11–25.64, P=0.037) and AKI was an independent risk factor of death (OR=12.06, 95% CI=2.55–57.15, P=0.002). Recovery of renal function was similar among the different age groups. Conclusions: AKI is present in half of the study population and is an independent risk factor of death. Thus, renal function should be carefully monitored in hospitalized patients with CHIKV infection.

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Background Immune haemolysis in liver transplant (LT) can occur due to autoantibodies and alloantibodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for immune haemolysis in LT.Methods A total of 175 consecutive patients were included. Multiorgan recipients were excluded. Samples, from before LT, seven consecutive days and weekly for 4 weeks, were evaluated for haemolysis and immunohaematological tests. SPSS 24 was used for statistical analysis.Results Nine patients (5Á1%) presented positive antibody screen (AS) before LT, (2Á3% clinically significant), more frequent in RhD-negative (P = 0Á017). Positive DAT occurred in 53 (30Á3%) and was related to high MELD score (P = 0Á048), HCV (P = 0Á005) and furosemide use (P = 0Á001). Positive AS after LT occurred in 22 patients (12Á5%), with nine (5Á7%) clinically significant antibodies. Positive AS occurred more frequently in RhD negative (P = 0Á021) and in those transfused (P = 0Á022). Post-transplant positive DAT was associated with piperacillintazobactam use (P = 0Á021) and minor ABO incompatibility (P = 0Á0038). Five patients presented passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS), all received liver-graft O, four presented haemolysis, and three were transfused due to PLS.Conclusion Auto-and alloantibodies against red blood cell antigens are frequent in LT, but the frequency of immune haemolysis was only 2Á8%. The only risk factor for PLS was minor ABO mismatch.