Factors Associated with Renal Impairment in Patients on Tenofovir for Chronic Hepatitis B in Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Background: Tenofovir (TFV) is widely used to treat patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. But kidney abnormalities are the main concern using this drug. Few studies have described the renal impairment due to the TFV in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective was to evaluate factors associated with renal impairment observed in patients on TFV for CHB. Method: It was a hospital based cross sectional prospective study carried out from June 2023 to July 2023 in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and included any patient treated with TFV for CHB during at least a period of 6 months. For each participant, we collected in the medical report socio-demographic data, clinical data, baseline creatinine, treatment information (type of TFV which was Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) or Alafenamide (TAF), duration). Then, we collected blood samples to measure serum creatinine and phosphate levels and urine dipstick analysis. Factors associated with renal impairment were assessed with the Odds Ratio. A p value of Results: A total of 60 participants were included. The median age was 44 years [36-55] and median duration of TFV therapy was 17.5 months [11.7-25.7]. The prevalence of reduced eGFR (Conclusion: Kidney function was impaired in some patients receiving TFV for CHB. It should be monitored, particularly after 36 months and for those receiving TDF prodrug.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of Acute Kidney Injury in Elderly Adults in a Tertiary Hospital in Cameroon

Background: Elderly patients have a high risk of acute Kidney Injury (AKI) due to aging, decreased renal function and the presence of comorbidities. There is limited data on AKI in elderly patients in low income regions, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. We therefore sought to describe the clinical profile and outcome of AKI in elderly in a tertiary hospital in Cameroon. Methods and Materials: We reviewed the medical records of all patients admitted with the diagnosis of AKI in the internal medicine unit of the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital, from January 2015 to February 2018. Records of elderly patients (≥65 years) were retrieved and analysed. AKI was diagnosed and classified using the KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) 2012 classification. The diagnosis, aetiologies and mechanisms of AKI were clinical. Renal outcomes were evaluated on day 7, 14, 28, 60 and 90 of hospital stay. Results: We included 76 elderly (66% males) patients with a median [interquartile rate—IQR] age of 69 [65 - 75] years. Hypertension (60.5%), diabetes mellitus (36.8%) and heart failure (26.3%) were the most common comorbidities. The median [IQR] Charlson index was 4 [3 - 5]. Infections (47.4%) and hypovolemia (69.7%) were the most frequent risk factors for AKI. AKI was mainly community acquired (89.5%) and most of the patients were in stage 2 (34.2%) or 3 (29%). Pre-renal AKI (58%) was the leading mechanism involved. Hypovolemia and sepsis were the most common aetiologies. Of the 14.5% with indication for dialysis, only 2.6% had access to it. The overall prognosis was good with a mortality rate of 2.6%, complete and partial renal recovery at 3 months of 70%, and 26.3% respectively. Conclusion: AKI in the elderly, in our setting was community-acquired and affected mainly those with comorbidities. Pre-renal AKI was the main mechanism;hypovolemia and sepsis were the major aetiologies. Most participants had complete renal recovery at 3 months.

Burden of COVID-19 in a Hemodialysis Center in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic remains a great challenge to healthcare workers, especially caregivers of patients with chronic diseases. Despite the advances in knowledge on COVID-19, data on COVID-19 in haemodialysis (HD) remains rare in Africa. Methods: We conducted a review of records from 2020 May 13th to 2021 June 24th in the HD center of Yaoundé General Hospital. All staff and patients in the HD unit were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data and patient outcome data were collected. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 21.0 software (Chicago, IL). Results: In all 30 HD patients and 3 staff members were positive for COVID-19 during the period. The median age of the infected population was 56 years (37.25 - 62). The median dialysis vintage was 42 months (24 - 96). Hypertension (73.3%) and diabetes (36.6%) were frequent comorbidities. About 10% (n = 3) were asymptomatic whereas those who were symptomatic had a mean duration of symptoms of 7 ± 5.6 days. Fatigue (23/30), fever (21/30), cough (14/30) and diarrhoea (11/30) were the main symptoms. Oxygen saturation was low in 36.6% (n = 11) ranging from 82% - 89%. About 50% were admitted in hospital for social isolation;there was no admission in intensive care unit. Three patients (10%) died: 2 for respiratory distress and 1 for severe anaemia. Laboratory test was done in 60% (n = 18) of case and revealed in 72.2% (n = 13) patients low lymphocytes count (median 896/mm3 [800 - 1513]) and anaemia in 77.7% (median 8.5 g/dl [7.5 - 9.8]). Conclusions: HD patients are highly susceptible and HD centres are high risk areas during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Hematological Disorders during Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3 to 5 Non-Dialysed in Cameroon

Introduction: Haematological disorders are common complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) leading by anemia which increase with the severity of the disease. Objective: Assess the haematological profile of CKD patients stages 3 to 5 non-dialysed seen at the first nephrology consultation in Cameroon. Patients and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July 2018 at the nephrology unit of the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital and Douala General Hospital. All adults’ (≥18 years old) patients who provided a written informed consent and attended their first nephrology consultation with a nephrologist diagnosis of CKD stages 3 to 5 non-dialysed were included. Clinical and paraclinical data (serum creatinine, full blood count, reticulocytes count, iron status, vitamin B12 and folates count, and bleeding time) were collected. Parametric, non-parametric and correlations tests were used to compare variables. Results: We included 105 (59% males) participants with a mean age of 55.2 ± 13.6 years divided into 20 (19%), 36 (34.3%) and 49 (46.7%) respectively in stage G3, G4 and G5 of CKD. The profile of hematological abnormalities was anemia (86.7%), leucopenia (15.2%), hyperleucocytosis (6.7%), thrombopenia (23.8%), thrombocytosis (3.8%) and prolonged bleeding time (13.3%) without any association with the stage of CKD (p > 0.05). The pattern of anemia was mainly normocytic and normochromic (59.3%) and aregenerative (92.3%) with iron deficiency found in 23 (21.9%) participants. There was no case of vitamin B12 and folates deficiency. Prolonged bleeding time was observed in 14 (13.3%) participants with a weak correlation between platelets count and bleeding time (r = 0.122). Conclusion: We observed that aregenerative normocytic normochromic anemia is the leading haematological abnormality during CKD in this setting. None of the full blood count parameters was associated with CKD stages and there was a week correlation between bleeding time and platelet count.