Assessing the Nutritional Status of Hemodialysis Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experience of Two Hemodialysis Centers in Niger

Introduction: Patients with end-stage chronic renal failure (ESKD) have a significant impairment in their nutritional status. Our study is aiming at evaluating the nutritional status based on clinical and biological parameters. Patient and method: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study carried out in two departments of nephrology/dialysis in Niger from 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2015. The assessment of nutritional status relied on the Body Mass Index (BMI), albuminemia, serum phosphate, hemoglobin, CRP, urea, creatinine levels. Results: Sixty-five patients were involved in the study. The mean age was 44.35 ± 13 years with a sex ratio of 2.09 in favor of men and an average dialysis duration of 43.47 ± 36.55 months. The mean BMI was 21.60 ± 4.47 kg/m2. Undernutrition was noted in 19 patients (29.23%), hypoalbuminemia was found in 13 patients, C-reactive protein (CRP) level was high in 11 patients. In comparative analysis according to the BMI, several parameters were significantly related to undernutrition: hypo-albuminemia, hyperphosphatemia, high CRP, hyperazotemia, anorexia, MUAC, comorbidities, central venous catheter. Conclusion: The prognostic value of undernutrition in chronic hemodialysis patients fosters early recognition and management of all nutritional disturbances in these patients. Assessment and monitoring of nutritional status in chronic hemodialysis require the simultaneous determination of several markers in order to weight the limits of each of the criteria taken in isolation.

Prognosis of Acute Renal Failure of the Child during Severe Malaria in Niamey-Niger

Introduction: In malaria-endemic areas, acute renal failure (ARF) is one of the most serious complications, it occurs in 40% of severe forms of malaria in adults and is linked to 75% of deaths, especially when extra-renal cleaning is not available. In children, studies of ARF during malaria are limited. We have no published studies on this topic in Niger. The main objective of our study is to evaluate the prognosis of ARF during severe malaria in children. Patients and Method: This is a one-year prospective study (January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016) conducted in the resuscitation unit of the pediatric department of the National Lamordé Hospital of Niamey (Niger). We included in the study children aged 0 to 15 years hospitalized for severe malaria with impaired renal function. Patients who had chronic renal failure or who had acute renal failure with a thick negative drop were excluded from the study. Acute renal failure is defined according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria basing on creatinine clearance. Results: The incidence of ARF was 12.60%. The mean age of the patients was 4.25 ± 1.3 years [8 months - 15 years]. The mean hemoglobin level was 8.2 ± 2.7 g/dl. In 54.02% of cases, the hemoglobin level is ≤5 g/dl. Mean serum creatinine was 543.7 ± 69.5 μmol/l [107 - 2500 μmol/l] and mean azotemia was 27.5 ± 3.5 mmol/l. Severe anemia (54.02%) were more related to the occurrence of ARF(with p = 0.014). According to the RIFLE classification, 55 patients (63.22%) were in the Risk stage, 18 patients (20.69%) were in the injury stage and 14 patients (16.09%) in the failure stage. All patients were placed on injectable Artesunate. The average length of hospital stay was 8.6 ± 4.5 days [5 to 22 days]. Dialysis was reported in 15/87 (17.24%). For technical and financial reasons only 8 patients were hemodialysed. Indications for dialysis were severe uremic syndrome 7 cases (8.04%), fluid overload 5 cases (5.75%) and severe hyperkalemia 3 cases (3.45%). Conclusion: The etiological factors of ARI in malaria were massive hemoglobinuria, severe anemia and shock. Adequate management of simple cases of malaria and the early transfer of severe cases to resuscitation services can prevent certain complications such as acute renal failure.