Can we further improve the quality of nephro-urological care in children with myelomeningocele?

Myelomeningocele (MMC) results from a failure of normal neural tube fusion in early fetal development. Retrospective, observational study of medical data of 54 children treated in Pediatric Nephrology and Urology Clinics for five years was performed. The following data were analyzed: serum creatinine, eGFR, urine analysis, renal scintigraphy (RS), renal ultrasound, and urodynamics. Mean age of studied population: 12.3 years, median of eGFR at the beginning and at the end of survey was 110.25 and 116.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 accordingly. Median of frequency of urinary tract infections (fUTI): 1.2 episodes/year. In 24 children: low-pressure, in 30 children: high-pressure bladder was noted. Vesicouretral reflux (VUR) was noted in 23 children (42.6%). fUTI were more common in high-grade VUR group. High-grade VURs were more common in group of patients with severe renal damage. At the end of the survey 11.1% children were qualified to higher stages of chronic kidney disease. Renal parenchyma damage progression in RS was noted in 22.2% children. Positive VUR history, febrile recurrent UTIs, bladder wall trabeculation, and older age of the patients constitute risk factors of abnormal renal scans. More than 2.0 febrile, symptomatic UTIs annually increase by 5.6-fold the risk of severe renal parenchyma damage after five years

Genetic drivers of kidney defects in the digeorge syndrome

BACKGROUND The DiGeorge syndrome, the most common of the microdeletion syndromes, affects multiple organs, including the heart, the nervous system, and the kidney. It is caused by deletions on chromosome 22q11.2; the genetic driver of the kidney defects is unknown. METHODS We conducted a genomewide search for structural variants in two cohorts: 2080 patients with congenital kidney and urinary tract anomalies and 22,094 controls. We performed exome and targeted resequencing in samples obtained from 586 additional patients with congenital kidney anomalies. We also carried out functional studies using zebrafish and mice. RESULTS We identified heterozygous deletions of 22q11.2 in 1.1% of the patients with congenital kidney anomalies and in 0.01% of population controls (odds ratio, 81.5; P = 4.5×1014). We localized the main drivers of renal disease in the DiGeorge syndrome to a 370-kb region containing nine genes. In zebrafish embryos, an induced loss of function in snap29, aifm3, and crkl resulted in renal defects; the loss of crkl alone was sufficient to induce defects. Five of 586 patients with congenital urinary anomalies had newly identified, heterozygous protein-Altering variants, including a premature termination codon, in CRKL. The inactivation of Crkl in the mouse model induced developmental defects similar to those observed in patients with congenital urinary anomalies. CONCLUSIONS We identified a recurrent 370-kb deletion at the 22q11.2 locus as a driver of kidney defects in the DiGeorge syndrome and in sporadic congenital kidney and urinary tract anomalies. Of the nine genes at this locus, SNAP29, AIFM3, and CRKL appear to be critical to the phenotype, with haploinsufficiency of CRKL emerging as the main genetic driver

Variability of diagnostic criteria and treatment of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome across European countries

The aim of the surveys conducted by the Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome Working Group of the ESPN was to study the possible variability of treatment in Europe at different stages of the disease by means of questionnaires sent to members of the Working Group. Four surveys have been completed: treatment of the first flare, treatment of the first relapse and the issue of steroid dependency, use of rituximab, and the management of steroid-resistant patients. A uniform treatment of the first flare was applied in only three countries, and ten additional centers have adopted one of the three main protocols. Reported treatment of the first relapse was relatively uniform, whereas the use of additional immunosuppressants in steroid dependency was widely variable. Rituximab had already been used in hundreds of patients, although the formal evidence of efficiency in steroid dependency was relatively recent at the time of the survey. The definition of steroid resistance was variable in the European centers, but strikingly, the first-line treatment was uniform throughout the centers and included the combination of prednisone plus calcineurin antagonists. Conclusion: The variability in the approach of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is unexpectedly large and affects treatment of the first flare, strategies in the case of steroid dependency, as well as the definitions of steroid resistance.What is Known:• Steroids and immunosuppressants are the universal treatment of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.What is New:• The variability of treatments and strategy of treatment in European centers of pediatric nephrology

Genetic Drivers of Kidney Defects in the DiGeorge Syndrome

Background The DiGeorge syndrome, the most common of the microdeletion syndromes, affects multiple organs, including the heart, the nervous system, and the kidney. It is caused by deletions on chromosome 22q11.2; the genetic driver of the kidney defects is unknown. Methods We conducted a genomewide search for structural variants in two cohorts: 2080 patients with congenital kidney and urinary tract anomalies and 22,094 controls. We performed exome and targeted resequencing in samples obtained from 586 additional patients with congenital kidney anomalies. We also carried out functional studies using zebrafish and mice. Results We identified heterozygous deletions of 22q11.2 in 1.1% of the patients with congenital kidney anomalies and in 0.01% of population controls (odds ratio, 81.5; P=4.5×10(-14)). We localized the main drivers of renal disease in the DiGeorge syndrome to a 370-kb region containing nine genes. In zebrafish embryos, an induced loss of function in snap29, aifm3, and crkl resulted in renal defects; the loss of crkl alone was sufficient to induce defects. Five of 586 patients with congenital urinary anomalies had newly identified, heterozygous protein-altering variants, including a premature termination codon, in CRKL. The inactivation of Crkl in the mouse model induced developmental defects similar to those observed in patients with congenital urinary anomalies. Conclusions We identified a recurrent 370-kb deletion at the 22q11.2 locus as a driver of kidney defects in the DiGeorge syndrome and in sporadic congenital kidney and urinary tract anomalies. Of the nine genes at this locus, SNAP29, AIFM3, and CRKL appear to be critical to the phenotype, with haploinsufficiency of CRKL emerging as the main genetic driver. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others.)

Ramipril and Risk of Hyperkalemia in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors provide well known cardiorenal-protective benefits added to antihypertensive effects in chronic renal disease. These agents are underused in management of patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) because of common concern of hyperkalemia. However, few studies have investigated effect of renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade on serum potassium in hemodialysis patients. We assessed the safety of ramipril in patients on maintenance HD. We enrolled 28 adult end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated by maintenance HD and prescribed them ramipril in doses of 1.25 to 5 mg per day. They underwent serum potassium concentration measurements before ramipril introduction and in 1 to 3 months afterwards. No significant increase in kalemia was found. Results of our study encourage the use of ACE inhibitors in chronically hemodialyzed patients, but close potassium monitoring is mandatory

A rare cause of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome – a case report

Steroid resistance is a common condition occurring in children with nephrotic syndrome. Until now, over 50 genes involved in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) pathogenesis have been identified, among which the most prevalent are NPHS1, NPHS2, CD2AP, and PTPRO. The patterns of inheritance of SRNS are autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, or mitochondrial, and tissues of those patients show focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) signs in histopathological image analysis. We present a case of a 6-year-old girl who was admitted to the pediatric nephrology department due to nephrotic range proteinuria and edema of the lower leg. We started therapy with prednisone at a dose of 45 mg (60 mg/m 2 ), enalapril as a nephroprotection, and antihistamines as an additional treatment. During in-patient treatment, we detected increased blood pressure. Due to persistent proteinuria in spite of 6-week treatment with steroids at the maximal dose, we confirmed disease resistance to steroids. Additionally, FSGS signs were confirmed in kidney biopsy samples. After genetic screening for SRNS and detection of the rare gene mutation NUP93 we reduced prednisone but maintained nephroprotective treatment and administered cyclosporin A. The girl remains currently under the care of nephrologists with normal arterial blood pressure, trace proteinuria in follow-up examination, and normal kidney function. NUP93 mutation is extremely rare; therefore few cases have been described to date. The onset of the symptoms in all pediatric patients appeared before the age of 8 and they developed end stage kidney disease (ESKD). They might manifest symptoms from the other systems

Nephronophthisis – various clinical manifestations

Nefronoftyza (NPH) jest genetycznie heterogenną chorobą nerek dziedziczoną autosomalnie recesywnie. Najczęściej (u 20% chorych) wykrywana jest mutacja w genie NPHP1. W obrazie klinicznym dominują zaburzenia zdolności zagęszczania moczu, obecność torbielek na granicy korowo-rdzeniowej i utrata funkcji nerek przed 30 r.ż. Wyróżnia się trzy podtypy kliniczne choroby: niemowlęcą, młodzieńczą i dorosłych. Pozanerkowe manifestacje nefronoftyzy, występujące u 10–20% chorych, to m.in. retinopatia barwnikowa, włóknienie wątroby i deformacje kostne. W pracy opisano troje dzieci z rozpoznaniem nefronoftyzy potwierdzonej badaniem genetycznym. Pierwszymi objawami choroby były niedokrwistość i moczenie nocne. Ze względu na pierwsze niespecyficzne objawy kliniczne, brak zmian w badaniu ogólnym moczu lub zmiany łagodne (zmniejszenie ciężaru właściwego moczu) oraz początkowo prawidłowy obraz nerek w badaniu ultrasonograficznym NPH zostało rozpoznane późno.Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is an autosomal recessive, genetically heterogenic kidney disorder. Most commonly (in 20% of cases) a mutation in the NPHP1 gene is detected. The phenotype is characterized by a reduced urinary concentrating ability, corticomedullary cysts and kidney failure, with progression to end-stage renal disease before the age of 30. Three clinical cases of nephronophthisis are distinguished: infantile, juvenile and adult. Extrarenal manifestations occur in 10–20% of cases of nephronophthisis and include i.a. retinitis pigmentosa, hepatic fibrosis and bone deformities. The article comprises the cases of three children with nephronophthisis confirmed by a genetic test. The initial medical signs of the disease were anaemia and nocturnal enuresis. As a result of initial nonspecific medical signs, no or minor abnormalities detected in urine tests (a reduced urinary concentrating ability), as well as an initially normal ultrasonography examination, NPHP was diagnosed late

Nephronophthisis – various clinical manifestations

Nefronoftyza (NPH) jest genetycznie heterogenną chorobą nerek dziedziczoną autosomalnie recesywnie. Najczęściej (u 20% chorych) wykrywana jest mutacja w genie NPHP1. W obrazie klinicznym dominują zaburzenia zdolności zagęszczania moczu, obecność torbielek na granicy korowo-rdzeniowej i utrata funkcji nerek przed 30 r.ż. Wyróżnia się trzy podtypy kliniczne choroby: niemowlęcą, młodzieńczą i dorosłych. Pozanerkowe manifestacje nefronoftyzy, występujące u 10–20% chorych, to m.in. retinopatia barwnikowa, włóknienie wątroby i deformacje kostne. W pracy opisano troje dzieci z rozpoznaniem nefronoftyzy potwierdzonej badaniem genetycznym. Pierwszymi objawami choroby były niedokrwistość i moczenie nocne. Ze względu na pierwsze niespecyficzne objawy kliniczne, brak zmian w badaniu ogólnym moczu lub zmiany łagodne (zmniejszenie ciężaru właściwego moczu) oraz początkowo prawidłowy obraz nerek w badaniu ultrasonograficznym NPH zostało rozpoznane późno.Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is an autosomal recessive, genetically heterogenic kidney disorder. Most commonly (in 20% of cases) a mutation in the NPHP1 gene is detected. The phenotype is characterized by a reduced urinary concentrating ability, corticomedullary cysts and kidney failure, with progression to end-stage renal disease before the age of 30. Three clinical cases of nephronophthisis are distinguished: infantile, juvenile and adult. Extrarenal manifestations occur in 10–20% of cases of nephronophthisis and include i.a. retinitis pigmentosa, hepatic fibrosis and bone deformities. The article comprises the cases of three children with nephronophthisis confirmed by a genetic test. The initial medical signs of the disease were anaemia and nocturnal enuresis. As a result of initial nonspecific medical signs, no or minor abnormalities detected in urine tests (a reduced urinary concentrating ability), as well as an initially normal ultrasonography examination, NPHP was diagnosed late