Incidence and Importance of C4d Deposition in Renal Allograft Dysfunction

PubMed ID: 18261578Recent studies showed that peritubular capillary deposition of C4d is a marker of humoral immune responses directed against a renal allograft. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the incidence, clinical features, and prognostic implications of C4d deposition in renal allograft biopsy specimens. The biopsies had been performed due to acute graft dysfunction. This study of 104 renal allograft biopsies performed in 2004 classified histopathological findings according to Banff criteria. All paraffin-embedded biopsy samples were stained with an immunohistochemical method for C4d deposition. Demographic data, clinical findings, and biochemical findings were obtained from patients' charts. C4d staining was positive in 15/104 (14%) samples. The staining pattern was diffuse in 8 and focal in 7 patients. Nine patients were males. The overall mean age was 33 ± 6 years. Ten received live-donor grafts. The biopsy occurred at a mean of 1007 ± 1415 (range, 15-4712) days after the operation with a mean serum creatinine (SCr) level of 2.8 ± 1.5 (1.25-6.0) mg/dL. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the occurrence time: early (before 100 days) and late (after 100 days). Among the early group (n = 5), the mean SCr level was 2.8 ± 1.5 mg/dL; a diffuse staining pattern was seen in 4 (80%) patients. Histological findings were acute rejection in 3, borderline changes in 1, or thrombotic microangiopathy in 1 patient. Two patients were treated with pulse steroids and 3 with ATG, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasmapheresis. Three patients lost their grafts at the mean of 118 ± 100 days after the biopsy. In the late group (n = 10), the mean SCr level was 2.8 ± 1.7 mg/dL with a diffuse staining pattern in 4 (40%) patients. The histological findings included acute rejection in 6, chronic vascular rejection in 2, thrombotic microangiopathy in 1, and chronic allograft nephropathy in 1 patient. Six patients were treated with pulse steroids, and 3 with ATG and intravenous immunoglobulin. Five patients lost their grafts at a mean of 200 ± 270 days. The overall incidence of C4d deposition was 14%; it was seen both in the early and late posttransplantation period. Although a diffuse staining pattern was more frequently seen in the early period, C4d deposition indicated a poor allograft prognosis in both periods. Introduction of C4d staining into the routine may guide more specific treatments directed toward the humoral alloresponse. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm, a rare cause of sciatic pain: Case report and literature review

PubMed ID: 12177552This article describes a very unusual case of sciatic pain and motor dysfunction resulting from gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm, A 36-year-old woman with primary infertility sustained an iatrogenic injury to her left gluteal artery during transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration. Twenty-five days after the procedure she developed severe left sciatic pain and motor dysfunction. Pelvic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a huge pelvic hematoma. Angiography demonstrated a gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm. Because endovascular occlusion of the aneurysm did not relieve the pain, the patient underwent surgery for evacuation of the hematoma and release of the lumbosacral plexus, This eliminated all her sciatic pain and restored her motor dysfunction completely, The English literature details only five other cases of sciatic pain resulting from gluteal artery aneurysm, and these reports are also discussed