A case of renal granulomatosis with polyangiitis following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

Various adverse reactions may occur after intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. Although the virulence of attenuated BCG is low, serious complications such as bacterial cystitis, bladder contractures, granulomatous prostatitis, epididymitis, orchitis, and systemic reactions such as fever and malaise have been described. Disseminated granulomatosis such as hepatitis and pneumonitis have also been described, but are rare. We report here the case of a 67-year-old patient who presented with renal granulomatosis with polyangiitis following intravesical BCG therapy for superficial bladder tumor. The biological evaluation revealed the presence of perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with specificity for antimyeloperoxidase. Renal biopsy specimen revealed pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis with segmental glomerular necrosis, presence of granulomas and no evidence of any caseating necrosis. He received antituberculosis drugs in addition to corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide without any improvement of the renal function

Investigation of the Renal Protective Effect of Combined Dietary Polyphenols in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Aged Rats

Natural polyphenols are widely reported to have a large range of pharmacological properties, especially antioxidant activities and free radical scavenging capacities. In this study, we investigate the effects of naringin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin mixtures (NCQ) on renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic aged rats and its underlying mechanisms for ten consecutive weeks. The oxidative defense system in the kidneys of treated rats was found to be improved. Several biomarkers were investigated including the blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid. Moreover, antioxidant parameters were evaluated and we found that superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, Na+-K+-ATPase activities, the nitric oxide production, the protein carbonyl, the advanced oxidation protein products, lipid peroxidation, and reduced glutathione levels were all significantly balanced and close to control values. In addition, NCQ restored renal injuries and fibrosis as assessed by histological method and molecular biology investigation of the matrix metalloproteinase, the transforming growth factor-beta TGF-β, the tumor necrosis factor TNFα, and p53 expression. Our study proposes the NCQ combination as potential plant-derived bioactive compounds to prevent diabetic nephropathy

Disseminated cryptococcosis as a complication of lupus nephritis

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal infection affects predominately the central nervous system in HIV patients and patients with other immunocompromised states. It has rarely been described in immunocompetent patients. It is a serious infection with a high of mortality rate. We describe a case of a 48-year-old patient diagnosed with lupus nephritis treated with corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil who developed central nervous cryptococcosis complicated by septicemia. She died despite the use of antifungals. Cryptococcal infection is an uncommon, but often a fatal complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Timely diagnosis and effective antifungal therapy could improve its prognosis

A rare cardiac manifestation in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a systemic disorder associated with various extrarenal complications. There is little information regarding the occurrence and distribution of cardiovascular abnormalities during the course of ADPKD. The major cardiovascular complications of ADPKD include valvulopathies and vascular ectasia. Aneurysm of the atrial septum (ASA) is a very rare manifestation in ADPKD. A 37-year-old woman who was diagnosed with ADPKD was admitted to our hospital for advanced renal failure. Pelvic computed tomography revealed multiple variable-sized cysts in both kidneys. Trans-thoracic echocardiography showed ASA while the patient was completely asymptomatic

The diagnosis of tuberculosis in dialysis patients

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is high in patients undergoing chronic dialysis than it is in the general population. The diagnosis of TB is often difficult and extrapulmonary involvement is predominant. This study investigates the spectrum of clinical presentations and outcome in dialysis patients during a nine-year period. TB was diagnosed in 41 patients. Anti-TB drugs, adverse effects of therapy, and outcome were noted. Thirty-eight patients (92.6%) were on hemodialysis and three were on peritoneal dialysis (7.3%). The mean age at diagnosis was 50.8 years and the male/female ratio was 1.16. Four patients had a history of pulmonary TB. Extrapulmonary involvement was observed in 32 (78 %) patients. The bacteriological confirmation was made in 41.46% and histological confirmation was made in 26.83%, and in the rest, the diagnosis was retained on the criterion presumption. Nineteen patients (46.34%) developed adverse effects of antitubercular drugs. Eight patients (19.51%) died during the study from TB or adverse effects of treatment. Low urea reduction ratio and female sex were associated with poor prognosis in our study. The clinical manifestations of TB in patients on dialysis are quite nonspecific, making timely diagnosis difficult, and delaying the initiation of curative treatment, which is a major determinant of the outcome