Background . Non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy occurs in various somatic conditions with thiamine deficiency, excessive excretion of thiamine, or impaired thiamine metabolism. Very few cases of this pathology have been described in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We present a unique case of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy in a patient with a kidney transplant is presented. Past medical history . The patient underwent kidney transplantation in 2008. Outpatient follow-up by a nephrologist was irregular. Renal graft function remained relatively stable: blood creatinine 200–240 μmol/L, estimated glomerular filtration rate 40–30 mL/min, tacrolimus plasma concentrations tended to increase (5.7–7.6–8.4–10.4 ng/mL); repeated graft biopsy (in 2015 and in 2017) determined the chronic toxicity of calcineurin inhibitors. The patient’s condition worsened in late January 2020: body temperature increased to 38°C, nausea, vomiting, loose, watery stools for up to 5 times per day, 8 kg weight loss, decreased diuresis. A few days later, double vision, shaky gait and then immobility appeared. Biochemical examination results: potassium 3.8 mmol/L, sodium 139 mmol/L, alpha-amylase 159 units/L (norm 0–100 units/L), creatinine 242 mmol/L, urea 13.2 mmol/L; ultrasound signs of pancreatitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain: bilateral diffuse lesions of the midbrain, thalamus, and cerebellum. Based on the clinical picture and on brain MRI results, Wernicke’s encephalopathy was diagnosed. Parenteral administration of thiamine had a good effect. Conclusion . Possible mechanisms of the development of Wernicke’s encephalopathy in a patient were discussed. Vigilance is required regarding this disease when metabolic disorders occur in patients with CKD.

Transplantation in elderly patients is obviously more challenging due to existing underlying diseases, changes in pharmacokinetics of immunosuppressive drugs, polypragmasy, and transformation of immunoreactivity (immunosenescence). Our review presents data on modification of adaptive and innate immunity during aging. It also considers the possibility of both reduced and adapted immunosuppressive therapy in elderly renal transplant recipients in achieving an optimal balance between efficacy and complications.

The editorial touches upon the problem of the possible impact of COVID-19 on CKD patients, mediated by the forced reorganization of the health care system in a whole, the redistribution of its resources in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of regular outpatient monitoring, delayed diagnosis and therapy in patients with kidney dysfunction are factors of adverse clinical outcomes - accelerated disease progression, ESKD development and the need for KRT, life-threatening complications, reduced quality of life and survival. The data of a pooled analysis of the impact of the pandemic on specialized renal care and its availability in a number of regions of the Northwest Federal District of Russia and the Moscow Region are presented: a fall in hospital admissions, outpatient consultations and a decrease in the use of hospital beds (on average, by 37 %, 40 % and 32 %, respectively). Principles and conditions of the functioning of health systems associated in the COVID-19 pandemic have been discussed. The main approaches to maintaining the standard level of renal patients care have been formulated, aimed at preventing an unfavorable patient-oriented CKD outcomes.

Parvovirus B19 (PV B19) infection can cause pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and severe normochromic anemia resistant to treatment with erythropoietin in renal transplant recipients. Active parvovirus infection usually develops in the first months after kidney transplantation (KT), but is not always accompanied by clinical symptoms. The incidence of PV B19-associated anemia is low - not more than 1–1.5 %. A confirmation of the etiology of the disease, in addition to the characteristic histological picture of the bone marrow (a decrease in the number of erythrokaryocytes of less than 5% with preserved myelopoiesis and megakaryopoiesis, the appearance of single giant pronormoblasts), is the detection of PV B19 DNA in the blood and / or bone marrow. The detection of specific IgM antibodies to parvovirus plays a less significant role in the diagnosis of active PV B19 infection in patients after KT receiving immunosuppressive therapy and should not be used as the only diagnostic method. There is no specific antiviral treatment for PV B19 infection, therefore other approaches to therapy are used: reduction of immunosuppression, transfusion of red blood cells, administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). The article describes the clinical observation of a 33-year-old patient with stage 5 CKD who developed severe normochromic anemia resistant to treatment with erythropoietin 4 weeks after a successful KT. A cytological examination of the bone marrow revealed PRCA, and a large number of copies of PV B19 DNA were detected in the patient’s blood, while antibodies to parvovirus IgG and IgM were not revealed. A decrease of immunosuppression (withdrawal of mycophenolic acid), repeated administration of IVIG in a total dose of 147 g resulted to lasting normalization of red blood cells number and hemoglobin level after five months of treatment. The function of the renal transplant remained normal throughout the observation period.

Atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome (aHUS) is an extremely rare complement-mediated disease that belongs to the group of thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA). It often reoccurs after kidney transplantation (KT). Previously, KT was considered contraindicated in both children and adults with aHUS due to high (up to 50% and above) incidence of early graft loss associated with post-transplant recurrent TMA. Introduction of specific complement inhibitor therapy into clinical practice has improved outcomes in patients with aHUS and has significantly reduced the risk of post-transplant recurrence of underlying disease. We describe the clinical observation of a 20-year-old female patient with aHUS associated with antibodies to factor H, a major regulator of complement activation. The patient underwent KT and eculizumab was used for prophylactic purposes. In the postoperative period, the patient developed ureteral necrosis that required reconstructive surgery, followed by graft pyelonephritis. Despite postoperative complications, which were highly likely to trigger uncontrolled complement activation, TMA recurrence was avoided due to early treatment of the complications and prophylactic use of complement inhibitor therapy.

Aim. To improve the efficiency of treatment of the patients with pancreatic necrosis through correcting the platelet-coagulation potential by methods of combined plasma filtration, selective sorption of cytokines with hemofiltration and plasmapheresis. Methods. The effects of selective sorption of cytokines with hemofiltration and plasmapheresis upon coagulation potential were studied in 70 patients with acute pancreatitis. Plasmapheresis was performed on PCS 2 (Haemonetics, USA); selective sorption of cytokines with hemofiltration – on Lynda ® machine (Bellco, Italy). The method of computer laser phasemeter was used for vital assessing of platelet morphofunctional status. Results. In patients with pancreatic necrosis in the fermentation phase the percentage of resting platelets was 51.3%, which is 12% below the control numbers. The number of activated platelets increased: 25.1% of the cells were represented by platelets with low activation; 15.5% – highly activated cells. The number of degenerative-modified platelets increased by two times – up to 8.1%. In the phase of sequestration and suppurative complications the percentage of resting platelets was only 42.3%, which is 1.5 times lower than the control numbers. 34.2% of the cells were presented by platelets with low activation; 11.0% – highly activated cells. The number of degenerative-modified platelets exceeded 12.5%. The analysis of the morphological structure of the platelets population revealed that due to plasmapheresis inclusion into therapeutic complex in the phase of intoxication of pancreatic necrosis the normalization of platelet activation status of hemostasis was observed. In 5 (20%) patients the normalization of average platelets morphometric parameters was shown after selective sorption of cytokines with hemofiltration and plasmapheresis. These patients demonstrated positive clinical dynamics. In 15 patients morphometric values of platelets either remained at the same value or continued to increase progressively. In this subgroup of the patients purulent complications progressed in 9 patients, mortality was 35%. Conclusion. Thus, the level of thrombocyte hemostasis in different phases of pancreatic necrosis can be quantified using indicators of morphofunctional status of circulating platelets. When dealing with coagulation version of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome the number of activated cells is on the rise up to 40% or more. The development of consumption coagulopathy is characterized with progressive increase of degenerative platelets up to 10% or more. Combined plasma filtration, selective adsorption of cytokines with hemofiltration and exchange plasmapheresis are effective methods for adjusting of platelet and coagulation hemostasis in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis.

This review presents recent data on urinary tract infections and urosepsis after allogeneic kidney transplantation. Urosepsis is an extremely serious complication in these patients. Differentiated approach to early etiological, pa - thogenetic diagnosis still remains a priority problem of modern transplantation, as mortality in urosepsis remains high and is at least 60%.