Background and objectives: Hyperuricemia is associated with hypertension, inflammation, renal disease progression, and cardiovascular disease. However, no data are available regarding the effect of allopurinol in patients with chronic kidney disease.Design, setting, participants, & measurements: We conducted a prospective, randomized trial of 113 patients with estimated GFR (eGFR) <60 ml/min. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with allopurinol 100 mg/d (n ‫؍‬ 57) or to continue the usual therapy (n ‫؍‬ 56). Clinical, biochemical, and inflammatory parameters were measured at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 months of treatment. The objectives of study were: (1) renal disease progression; (2) cardiovascular events; and (3) hospitalizations of any causes.Results: Serum uric acid and C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased in subjects treated with allopurinol. In the control group, eGFR decreased 3.3 ؎ 1.2 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 , and in the allopurinol group, eGFR increased 1.3 ؎ 1.3 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 after 24 months. Allopurinol treatment slowed down renal disease progression independently of age, gender, diabetes, C-reactive protein, albuminuria, and renin-angiotensin system blockers use. After a mean follow-up time of 23.4 ؎ 7.8 months, 22 patients suffered a cardiovascular event. Diabetes mellitus, previous coronary heart disease, and C-reactive protein levels increased cardiovascular risk. Allopurinol treatment reduces risk of cardiovascular events in 71% compared with standard therapy.Conclusions: Allopurinol decreases C-reactive protein and slows down the progression of renal disease in patients with chronic kidney disease. In addition, allopurinol reduces cardiovascular and hospitalization risk in these subjects.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02111655.

QA-based surveillance combining Doppler ultrasound and ultrasound dilution reduces the frequency of thrombosis, is cost effective, and improves thrombosis free and secondary patency in autologous AVF.

Background: A small number of hemodialysis (HD) patients have normal hemoglobin (Hb) levels without the need for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). The factors associated with this condition have been little studied. The objective of this prospective study was to determine these factors in a prevalent population of HD patients. Materials and Methods: All patients who had normal Hb levels and who had not received ESAs in the last 6 months (non-ESA group) were included. Epidemiological and laboratory data were collected and we performed an abdominal ultrasound to assess hepatic and renal cysts. This group was compared to a control group of 205 prevalent HD patients on ESA therapy (control group). Results: We included 45 patients (16% from the whole group) in the non-ESA group. In this group, there was a higher proportion of men (76.5 vs. 61%), patients were younger (61.1 ± 14.7 vs. 67.5 ± 15.2 years), had a longer duration of renal replacement therapy (RRT) (9.4 ± 8.3 vs. 5.3 ± 5.8 years) and had a higher prevalence of adult polycystic kidney disease (APKD) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver disease (42.2 vs. 10.2%), p < 0.01. In the non-ESA group, HCV+ patients had a lower prevalence of APKD (2.2 vs. 38.4%) and hepatic cysts (2.2 vs. 19.2%), but significantly higher endogenous erythropoietin levels (55.8 ± 37.1 vs. 30.9 ± 38.4 mU/ml). No significant differences in anemia, iron metabolism, insulin, IGF-1 and renin were found between non-ESA and control groups. Non-ESA patients had a significantly higher number of renal (90.6 vs. 36.5%) and hepatic cysts (12.5 vs. 3.4%), and these were also larger in size (3.3 ± 2.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.8 cm). In the multivariate Cox analysis, independent predictor factors for absence of anemia in HD patients were number of renal cysts >10 cysts (95% CI 1.058–1.405; p = 0.00), HCV+ liver disease (95% CI 1.147–1.511; p = 0.05) and time on RRT (95% CI 1.002–1.121; p = 0.05). Conclusions: The absence of anemia in HD patients is not infrequent. Its frequency is higher in men and younger patients with long-term RRT, in patients with HCV+ liver disease and in APKD. It is associated with increased endogenous erythropoietin production and the presence of renal and hepatic cysts.