Elevated Systemic Pentraxin-3 Is Associated With Complement Consumption in the Acute Phase of Thrombotic Microangiopathies

Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to regulate complement activation in vitro, but their role has not been investigated in complement consumption in vivo. Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) are often accompanied by complement overactivation and consumption, therefore we analyzed the relation of the systemic pentraxin levels to the complement profile, laboratory parameters and clinical outcome of TMA patients. We determined the PTX3 and CRP levels, complement factor and activation product concentrations in blood samples of 171 subjects with the diagnosis of typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) (N = 34), atypical HUS (aHUS) (N = 44), secondary TMA (N = 63), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) (N = 30) and 69 age-matched healthy individuals. Clinical data, blood count and chemistry were collected from medical records. To determine the in vitro effect of PTX3 on alternative pathway (AP) activation, sheep red blood cell-based hemolytic assay and AP activity ELISA were used. We found that PTX3 levels were elevated in the acute phase of STEC-HUS, aHUS and secondary TMA, whereas PTX3 elevation was exceptional is TTP. Conversely, a significantly higher median CRP was present in all patient groups compared to controls. PTX3, but not CRP was associated with signs of complement consumption in vivo, and PTX3 significantly decreased the AP hemolytic activity in vitro. Our results provide a detailed description of acute phase-TMA patients' complement profile linked to changes in the systemic pentraxin levels that may support further molecular studies on the function of PTX3 in disease pathogenesis and add to the laboratory assessment of complement consumption in TMA

Kidney Transplantation in Small Children: Association Between Body Weight and Outcome—A Report From the ESPN/ERA-EDTA Registry

Background: Many centers accept a minimum body weight of 10 kg as threshold for kidney transplantation (Tx) in children. As solid evidence for clinical outcomes in multinational studies is lacking, we evaluated practices and outcomes in European children weighing below 10 kg at Tx. Methods: Data were obtained from the European Society of Paediatric Nephrology/European Renal Association and European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry on all children who started kidney replacement therapy at <2.5 y of age and received a Tx between 2000 and 2016. Weight at Tx was categorized (<10 versus ≥10 kg) and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate its association with graft survival. Results: One hundred of the 601 children received a Tx below a weight of 10 kg during the study period. Primary renal disease groups were equal, but Tx <10 kg patients had lower pre-Tx weight gain per year (0.2 versus 2.1 kg; P < 0.001) and had a higher preemptive Tx rate (23% versus 7%; P < 0.001). No differences were found for posttransplant estimated glomerular filtration rates trajectories (P = 0.23). The graft failure risk was higher in Tx <10 kg patients at 1 y (graft survival: 90% versus 95%; hazard ratio, 3.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-11.84), but not at 5 y (hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-4.30). Conclusions: Despite a lower 1-y graft survival rate, graft function, and survival at 5 y were identical in Tx <10 kg patients when compared with Tx ≥10 kg patients. Our results suggest that early transplantation should be offered to a carefully selected group of patients weighing <10 kg

Kidney Transplantation in Small Children: Association between Body Weight and Outcome - A Report from the ESPN/ERA-EDTA Registry

Background. Many centers accept a minimum body weight of 10 kg as threshold for kidney transplantation (Tx) in children. As solid evidence for clinical outcomes in multinational studies is lacking, we evaluated practices and outcomes in European children weighing below 10 kg at Tx. Methods. Data were obtained from the European Society of Paediatric Nephrology/European Renal Association and European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry on all children who started kidney replacement therapy at <2.5 y of age and received a Tx between 2000 and 2016. Weight at Tx was categorized (<10 versus ≥10 kg) and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate its association with graft survival. Results. One hundred of the 601 children received a Tx below a weight of 10 kg during the study period. Primary renal disease groups were equal, but Tx <10 kg patients had lower pre-Tx weight gain per year (0.2 versus 2.1 kg; P < 0.001) and had a higher preemptive Tx rate (23% versus 7%; P < 0.001). No differences were found for posttransplant estimated glomerular filtration rates trajectories (P = 0.23). The graft failure risk was higher in Tx <10 kg patients at 1 y (graft survival: 90% versus 95%; hazard ratio, 3.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-11.84), but not at 5 y (hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-4.30). Conclusions. Despite a lower 1-y graft survival rate, graft function, and survival at 5 y were identical in Tx <10 kg patients when compared with Tx ≥10 kg patients. Our results suggest that early transplantation should be offered to a carefully selected group of patients weighing <10 kg

Kidney Transplantation in Small Children: Association Between Body Weight and Outcome - A Report From the ESPN/ERA-EDTA Registry

Background: Many centers accept a minimum body weight of 10 kg as threshold for kidney transplantation (Tx) in children. As solid evidence for clinical outcomes in multinational studies is lacking, we evaluated practices and outcomes in European children weighing below 10 kg at Tx. Methods: Data were obtained from the ESPN/ERA-EDTA Registry on all children who started kidney replacement therapy (KRT) at <2.5 years of age and received a Tx between 2000 and 2016. Weight at Tx was categorized (<10 kg versus ≥10 kg) and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate its association with graft survival. Results: One hundred of the 601 children received a Tx below a weight of 10 kg during the study period. Primary renal disease groups were equal, but Tx <10 kg patients had lower pre-Tx weight gain per year (0.2 kg versus 2.1 kg; p<0.001) and had a higher preemptive Tx rate (23% versus 7%; p<0.001). No differences were found for posttransplant estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) trajectories (p=0.23). The graft failure risk was higher in Tx <10 kg patients at 1 year (graft survival: 90% versus 95%; aHR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.24-11.84), but not at 5 years (aHR: 1.71, 95% CI: 0.68-4.30). Conclusions: Despite a lower 1-year graft survival rate, graft function and survival at 5 years were identical in Tx <10 kg patients when compared with Tx ≥10 kg patients. Our results suggest that early transplantation should be offered to a carefully selected group of patients weighing <10 kg

NPHS2 p.V290M mutation in late-onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The most frequently mutated gene of steroid- resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is NPHS2. Current guidelines propose the sequencing of all NPHS2 exons only in childhood- onset SRNS. METHODS: A cohort of 38 Hungarian patients with childhood-onset nephrotic-range proteinuria was screened for NPHS2 mutations. The frequency of the p.V290M mutation in late- onset SRNS was examined in the French and PodoNet cohorts. RESULTS: Of the 38 Hungarian patients screened, seven carried NPHS2 mutations on both alleles, of whom two-diagnosed with proteinuria through school screening programs at the age of 9.7 and 14 years, respectively-did not develop nephrotic syndrome in childhood. The first, an 18-year-old boy, homozygous for p.V290M, has never developed edema. The second, a 31-year-old woman-compound heterozygous for p.V290M and p.R138Q-was first detected with hypoalbuminemia (<30 g/l) and edema at the age of 24.3 and 27.5 years, respectively. Both patients currently have a normal glomerular filtration rate. The mutation p.V290M was carried by three of the 38 patients in the Hungarian cohort, by two of the 95 patients with late-onset SRNS in the PodoNet cohort and by none of the 83 patients in the French cohort. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that not only the p.R229Q variant, but also the p.V290M mutation should be screened in Central and Eastern European patients with late-onset SRNS

Chronic kidney disease and neurological disorders: are uraemic toxins the missing piece of the puzzle?

International audienceAbstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) perturbs the crosstalk with others organs, with the interaction between the kidneys and the heart having been studied most intensively. However, a growing body of data indicates that there is an association between kidney dysfunction and disorders of the central nervous system. In epidemiological studies, CKD is associated with a high prevalence of neurological complications, such as cerebrovascular disorders, movement disorders, cognitive impairment and depression. Along with traditional cardiovascular risk factors (such as diabetes, inflammation, hypertension and dyslipidaemia), non-traditional risk factors related to kidney damage (such as uraemic toxins) may predispose patients with CKD to neurological disorders. There is increasing evidence to show that uraemic toxins, for example indoxyl sulphate, have a neurotoxic effect. A better understanding of factors responsible for the elevated prevalence of neurological disorders among patients with CKD might facilitate the development of novel treatments. Here, we review (i) the potential clinical impact of CKD on cerebrovascular and neurological complications, (ii) the mechanisms underlying the uraemic toxins’ putative action (based on pre-clinical and clinical research) and (iii) the potential impact of these findings on patient care

Acidosis, cognitive dysfunction and motor impairments in patients with kidney disease

International audienceMetabolic acidosis, defined as a plasma or serum bicarbonate concentration &lt;22 mmol/L, is a frequent consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and occurs in ~10–30% of patients with advanced stages of CKD. Likewise, in patients with a kidney transplant, prevalence rates of metabolic acidosis range from 20% to 50%. CKD has recently been associated with cognitive dysfunction, including mild cognitive impairment with memory and attention deficits, reduced executive functions and morphological damage detectable with imaging. Also, impaired motor functions and loss of muscle strength are often found in patients with advanced CKD, which in part may be attributed to altered central nervous system (CNS) functions. While the exact mechanisms of how CKD may cause cognitive dysfunction and reduced motor functions are still debated, recent data point towards the possibility that acidosis is one modifiable contributor to cognitive dysfunction. This review summarizes recent evidence for an association between acidosis and cognitive dysfunction in patients with CKD and discusses potential mechanisms by which acidosis may impact CNS functions. The review also identifies important open questions to be answered to improve prevention and therapy of cognitive dysfunction in the setting of metabolic acidosis in patients with CKD