Introduction: National data on chronic dialysis treatment are essential for the development of health policies that aim to improve patient treatment. Objective: To present data from the Brazilian Society of Nephrology on patients with chronic dialysis for kidney disease in July 2018, making a comparative analysis of the past 10 years. Methods: Data collection from dialysis units, with filling in an online questionnaire for 2018. Data from 2009, 2013 and 2018 were compared. Results: 288 (36.6%) centers answered the questionnaire. In July 2018, the estimated total number of patients on dialysis was 133,464. Estimates of the prevalence and incidence rates of patients undergoing dialysis treatment per million of the population (pmp) were 640 and 204, respectively, with average annual increases of 23.5 pmp and 6 pmp for prevalence and incidence, respectively. The annual gross mortality rate was 19.5%. Of the prevalent patients, 92.3% were on hemodialysis and 7.7% on peritoneal dialysis, with 29,545 (22.1%) on the waiting list for transplantation. Median bicarbonate concentration in the hemodialysis bath was 32 mEq/L. Venous catheters were used as access in 23.6% of the hemodialysis patients. The prevalence rate of positive serology for hepatitis C showed a progressive reduction (3.2%). Conclusion: The absolute number of patients and rates of incidence and prevalence in dialysis in the country increased substantially in the period, although there are considerable differences in rates by state. There has been a persistent increase in the use of venous catheters as an access for dialysis; and reduction in the number of patients with positive serology for hepatitis C.

The first case of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in Brazil was reported on February 26th, 2020, in São Paulo. On June 30th, Brazil ranked 2nd in the world in the number of cases, with 1.4 million victims officially reported and an average number of 37,600 new cases per day [Coronavirus disease case panel 2019 (COVID-19) in Brazil by the Ministry of Health. Available at: https ://covid .saude .gov.br/. Accessed June 27, 2020.]. Brazil is the third country in the world in the number of patients on chronic dialysis, with 133,500 in July, 2018 [2]. Ninety-two percent of them are on in-center hemodialysis (HD). A large number of kidney disease patients particularly those with kidney failure on dialysis are at a higher risk of complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) infection [3, 4]. The Brazilian Society of Nephrology, in conjunction with the Brazilian Association of Dialysis and Transplant Centers, has been conducting a national on-line survey of Covid-19 on kidney failure patients undergoing regular HD, since June 1st, 2020. In the present study, we describe the incidence, mortality, and fatality rates due to Covid-19 since the beginning of the outbreak until June 30th in a sample of 37,852 hemodialysis patients. Cases were considered confirmed if they had laboratory isolation of the SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR test from nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs. As of June 30th, there were 1,402,041 cases and 59,594 deaths reported in the overall Brazilian population [1, 5].

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BackgroundFabry Disease (FD) is a genetic disorder caused by alpha-galactosidase A deficiency. Certain drugs, such as hydroxychloroquine, can produce renal deposits that mimic morphological findings seen in FD, characterizing a type of drug-induced renal phospholipidosis.Case presentationCase 1: A 28-year-old female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who had been using hydroxychloroquine for 14 months presented subnephrotic proteinuria. Renal biopsy showed deposits compatible with FD. Neither activity analysis of alpha-galactosidase A nor genetic analysis were available and were not performed. These deposits were not detected in a subsequent renal biopsy three years after withdrawal of the medication, characterizing a possible hydroxychloroquine-induced renal phospholipidosis. Case 2: A 29-year-old male patient presented with acroparesthesia, angiokeratomas, cornea verticillata and subnephrotic proteinuria. Deposits compatible with FD were detected upon renal biopsy. The evaluation of alpha-galactosidase A showed no activity in both blood and leukocytes. Genetic analysis identified an M284 T mutation in exon 6, and such mutation was also found in other family members.ConclusionClinical investigation is necessary in suspected cases of Fabry Disease upon renal biopsy in order to confirm diagnosis. Drug-induced renal phospholipidosis should be considered in differential diagnosis in cases with intracellular osmiophilic, lamellar inclusions in electron microscopy.

Introduction: National data on chronic dialysis treatment are essential for the development of health policies that aim to improve the treatment of patients. Objective: To present data from the Brazilian Dialysis Survey 2019, promoted by the Brazilian Society of Nephrology. Methods: Data collection from dialysis units in the country through a completed online questionnaire for 2019. Results: 314 (39%) centers responded the questionnaire. In July 2019, the estimated total number of patients on dialysis was 139,691. Estimates of the prevalence and incidence rates of patients undergoing dialysis treatment per million of the population (pmp) were 665 and 218, respectively, with mean annual increases of 25 pmp and 14 pmp for prevalence and incidence, respectively. The annual gross mortality rate was 18.2%. Of the prevalent patients, 93.2% were on hemodialysis and 6.8% on peritoneal dialysis; and 33,015 (23.6%) on the waiting list for transplantation. 55% of THE centers offered treatment with peritoneal dialysis. Venous catheters were used as access in 24.8% of THE patients on hemodialysis. 17% of the patients had K ≥ 6.0mEq/L; 2.5% required red blood cell transfusion in July 2019 and 10.8% of the patients had serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D < 20 ng/mL. Conclusion: The absolute number of patients, the incidence and prevalence rates in dialysis in the country continue to increase, as well as the percentage of patients using venous catheter as dialysis access. There was an increase in the number of patients on the list for transplantation and a tendency to reduce gross mortality.