Ana P. Bernardo, MD, PhD

Integrated PhD Researcher

orcid.org/0000-0002-1794-3174

Academic degrees:

PhD, Medical Sciences, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto University.

Medical Doctor, Coimbra University Medical School

Current Positions:

• Clinical activity as a Nephrologist, in an outpatient Hemodialysis Unit since 2011, providing care to more than 100 patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5D.
• Medical Director of an outpatient Hemodialysis Unit (NephroCare, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal)
  
• Invited Assistant Professor at Beira Interior University Medical School

Research interests:

• Clinical research on nutritional care in end stage renal disease patients on dialysis (haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis).
• Clinical research on metabolic impact of peritoneal dialysis, investigating the potential effects of glucose in metabolic outcomes in this population.

Research area keywords:

Dialysis, Nutrition, Insulin resistance, Peritoneal membrane transport

Major Scientific Achievements:

• In hyperphosphatemic and or anuric patients, the decision on the optimal PD modality should take into account peritoneal phosphate transport characteristics, beyond the traditional adequacy parameters (urea Kt/V and creatinine peritoneal clearance). Increasing dwell times or transfer to CAPD could be effective strategies to improve phosphate handling in patients with inadequate phosphate control on APD, especially if they are slow phosphate transporters.
• Peritoneal dialysis patient´s adipokines profile depends on patient´s body composition, independently of peritoneal glucose absorption. Obese patients present higher leptin and lower adiponectin level that translated into a higher leptin/adiponectin ratio; patients with protein-wasting present a lower leptin and a higher adiponectin that translates into a lower leptin/adiponectin ratio.
• Obesity and adipokines profile play a major role in insulin resistance development in PD, independently of glucose absorption and small solute transport status.
• Free water transport quantification is feasible during a 4-hour, 3.86% glucose PET evaluation, with a temporary drainage of the peritoneal cavity at 60 minutes, in a Two-in-One PET Protocol.

Selected publications:

1. Bernardo AP, Azorin S., Bajo MA, Del Peso G, Ossorio M, Cabrita A, Selgas R."Peritoneal membrane transport phosphate status: a cornerstone in phosphate handling in peritoneal dialysis". Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 6: 591-592, 2011.
2. Bernardo AP, Bajo MA, Santos O, Del Peso G, Carvalho MJ, Cabrita A, Selgas R, Rodrigues A."Two-in-one protocol: simultaneous small pore and ultrasmall-pore peritoneal transport quantification".Perit Dial Int 32(5): 537-544, 2012.
3. Bernardo AP, Fonseca I, Oliveira JC, Santos O, Carvalho MJ, Cabrita A, Rodrigues A."Adipokines in peritoneal dialysis: clinical relevant impact according to body composition". Ther Apher Dial. 2015 Apr;19(2):144-53. doi: 10.1111/1744-9987.12239. Epub 2014 Nov 3.
4. Bernardo AP, Fonseca I, Oliveira JC, Santos O, Carvalho MJ, Cabrita A, Rodrigues A. Heoatocyte growth factor signalizes ultrafiltration failure in peritoneal diaçysis patients. BMC Nephrology 2014;15:201 doi:10.1186/1471-2369-15-201.
5. Bernardo AP, Fonseca I, Oliveira JC, Santos O, Carvalho MJ, Cabrita A, Rodrigues A. “Insulin resistance in nondiabetic peritoneal dialysis patients: associations with body composition, peritoneal transport and peritoneal glucose absorption”. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2015, doi: 10.2215/CJN.03170315.

Prizes, honors, awards:

2016- Prize Raul Martins; Portuguese Society of Nephrology. Bernardo AP, Fonseca I, Oliveira JC, Santos O, Carvalho MJ, Cabrita A, Rodrigues A. Insulin resistance in nondiabetic peritoneal dialysis patients: associations with body composition, peritoneal transport and peritoneal glucose absorption. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2015, doi: 10.2215/CJN.03170315

2015- Prize Raul Martins; Portuguese Society of Nephrology. Bernardo AP, Fonseca I, Oliveira JC, Santos O, Carvalho MJ, Cabrita A, Rodrigues A. Adipokines in peritoneal dialysis: clinical relevant impact according to body composition. Ther Apher Dial. 2015 Apr;19(2):144-53. doi: 10.1111/1744-9987.12239. Epub 2014 Nov 3.

2012- Prize Raul Martins; Portuguese Society of Nephrology. Bernardo AP, Bajo MA, Santos O, Del Peso G, Carvalho MJ, Cabrita A, Selgas R, Rodrigues A. Two-in-one protocol: simultaneous small pore and ultrasmall-pore peritoneal transport quantification. Perit Dial Int 32(5): 537-544, 2012.

2011- Prize Raul Martins; Portuguese Society of Nephrology. Bernardo AP, Azorin S., Bajo MA, Del Peso G, Ossorio M, Cabrita A, Selgas R. Peritoneal membrane transport phosphate status: a cornerstone in phosphate handling in peritoneal dialysis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 6: 591-592, 2011.

2010- Prize Raul Martins; Portuguese Society of Nephrology. Bernardo AP, Fonseca I, Rodrigues A, Carvalho MJ, Cabrita A. Overweigth rather than malnutrition is widely prevalent in peritoneal dialysis Patients. Advances in Peritoneal Dialysis, Vol.25, 2009.