Proteinuria predicts relapse in adolescent and adult minimal change disease

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to outline the clinical and laboratory characteristics of minimal change disease in adolescents and adults and establish the clinical and laboratory characteristics of relapsing and non-relapsing patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients with confirmed diagnoses of minimal change disease by renal biopsy from 1979 to 2009; the patients were aged >;13 years and had minimum 1-year follow-ups. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with a median age (at diagnosis) of 34 (23-49) years were studied, including 23 males and 40 females. At diagnosis, eight (12.7%) patients presented with microscopic hematuria, 17 (27%) with hypertension and 17 (27%) with acute kidney injury. After the initial treatment, 55 (87.3%) patients showed complete remission, six (9.5%) showed partial remission and two (3.1%) were nonresponders. Disease relapse was observed in 34 (54%) patients who were initial responders (n = 61). In a comparison between the relapsing patients (n = 34) and the non-relapsing patients (n = 27), only proteinuria at diagnosis showed any significant difference (8.8 (7.1-12.0) vs. 6.0 (3.6-7.3) g/day, respectively, p = 0.001). Proteinuria greater than 7 g/day at the initial screening was associated with relapsing disease. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, minimal change disease in adults may sometimes present concurrently with hematuria, hypertension, and acute kidney injury. The relapsing pattern in our patients was associated with basal proteinuria over 7 g/day

Clinical and histological features of patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis classified by immunofluorescence findings

Abstract Background: New classification for membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis has been proposed in the literature. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, biochemical, etiology and renal biopsy findings of these patients grouped by immunofluorescence as proposed by the new classification. Methods: Patients with renal biopsy-proven membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis unrelated to systemic lupus erythematosus, diagnosed between 1999 and 2014. The patients were divided according to immunofluorescence: Immunoglobulin positive group, C3 positive only and negative immunofluorescence group. Results: We evaluated 92 patients, the majority of which were in the immunoglobulin positive group. Infectious diseases, hepatitis C virus and schistosomiasis, were the most frequent etiology. A negative immunofluorescence group had more vascular involvement in renal biopsy compare with others groups. Conclusions: The only difference between the groups was higher vascular involvement in renal biopsy in negative immunofluorescence group. These new classification was satisfactory for the finding of etiology in one part of the cases

Interstitial expression of angiotensin II and AT1 receptor are increased in patients with progressive glomerulopathies

In animal models, interstitial angiotensin II (ang II) and AT1 receptor (AT1R) are key mediators of renal inflammation and fibrosis in progressive chronic nephropathies. We hypothesized that these molecules were overexpressed in patients with progressive glomerulopathies. In this observational retrospective study, we described the expression of ang II and AT1R by immunohistochemistry in kidney biopsies of 7 patients with minimal change disease (MCD) and in 25 patients with progressive glomerulopathies (PGPs). Proteinuria, serum albumin, and serum creatinine were not statistically different between MCD and PGP patients. Total expression of ang II and AT1R was not statistically different between MCD (108.7 +/- 11.5 and 73.2 +/- 13.6 cells/mm(2), respectively) and PGN patients (100.7 +/- 9.0 and 157.7 +/- 13.8 cells/mm(2), respectively; p>0.05). Yet, interstitial expression of ang II and AT1R (91.6 +/- 16.0 and 45.6 +/- 5.4 cells/mm(2), respectively) was higher in patients with PGN than in those with MCD (22.0 +/- 4.1 and 17.9 +/- 2.9 cells/mm(2), respectively, p<0.05), as was the proportion of interstitial fibrosis (11.0 +/- 0.7% versus 6.1 +/- 1.2%, p<005). In patients with MCD, ang II and AT1R expressions predominate in the tubular compartment (52% and 36% of the positive cells, respectively). In those with PGP, the interstitial expression of ang II and AT1R predominates (58% and 45%, respectively). In conclusion, interstitial expression of ang II and AT1R is increased in patients with progressive glomerulopathies. The relationship of these results and interstitial fibrosis and disease progression in humans warrants further investigations.Brazilian Ministry of Education (CAPES)[33002010117p4

Atualização do tratamento das vasculites associadas a anticorpo anticitoplasma de neutrófilos

As vasculites antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA, anticorpo anticitoplasma de neutrófilos) associadas (VAAs) são caracterizadas por uma inflamação sistêmica das artérias de pequeno e médio calibre (especialmente no trato respiratório superior e inferior, e nos rins). As VAAs compreendem a granulomatose de Wegener (agora chamada de granulomatose com poliangeíte), poliangeíte microscópica, VAA limitada ao rim e a síndrome de Churg-Strauss. Neste artigo, discutiremos as fases de tratamento dessas vasculites, como fase de indução (com ciclofosfamida ou rituximab) e fase de manutenção (com azatioprina, metotrexato ou rituximab). Além disso, discutiremos como manusear os casos refratários à ciclofosfamida

Cytomegalovirus infection in native kidney biopsy

A 61-year-old Brazilian black woman consulted with a nephrologist due to proteinuria identified on a routine urine test. She has a personal history of thymoma resection five years ago, followed by multiple episodes of pulmonary infections including mycobacteriosis, recurrent mucocutaneous candidiasis, and paraneoplastic pemphigus. Physical examination showed no edema or hypertension and laboratory tests identified proteinuria of 2.43 g/day without hematuria, serum creatinine of 0.69 mg/dl, urea 34 mg/dl, serum albumin of 2.4 g/dl, hemoglobin 10.9 g/dl, platelets 292,000/mm3, leukocytes 4950/mm3, lymphocytes 594/mm3 and neutrophils 3910/mm3. The hemolysis tests were negative and serum iron was low. Analysis of glicemia and serum lipids levels were normal as well as serum complement and imunoglobulins, except for an IgM level of 283 mg/dl (normal values 40 to 230 mg/dl) and undetectable IgE. Serologies for Syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, C and antibodies for autoimmune diseases were negative.&nbsp

Bone disease in newly diagnosed lupus nephritis patients.

Bone loss in Lupus Nephritis (LN) patients is common and multifactorial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone status of newly diagnosed LN patients and their correlation with inflammatory factors involved in LN physiopathology.We studied 15 pre-menopausal patients with ≤2 months of diagnosed SLE and LN. Patients with prior kidney or bone disease were excluded. In addition to biochemical evaluation (including 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein (MCP1) dosage), we performed bone biopsies followed by osteoblast culture, histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis.LN patients presented a mean age of 29.5±10 years, a proteinuria of 4.7±2.9 g/day and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 37(31-87) ml/min/1,73 m2. They were on glucocorticoid therapy for 34±12 days. All patients presented vitamin D insufficiency (9.9±4.4 ng/ml, range 4-20). Urinary MCP1 correlated negatively with 25(OH)D (r = -0.53, p = 0.003) and positively with serum deoxypyridinoline (r = 0.53, p = 0.004). Osteoblasts isolated from LN bone biopsies presented a significantly higher expression of MCP-1 when compared to controls (32.0.±9.1 vs. 22.9±5.3 mean fluorescence intensities, p = 0.01). LN patients presented a significantly reduced osteoid volume, osteoid thickness, osteoid surface, mineralization surface and bone formation rate, associated with an increased eroded surface and osteoclast surface. Patient's bone specimens demonstrated a reduced immunostaining for osteoprotegerin (0.61±0.82 vs. 1.08±0.50%, p = 0.003), and an increased expression of Receptor Activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) (1.76±0.92 vs. 0.41±0.28%, p<0.001) when compared to controls.Newly diagnosed LN patients presented a significant disturbance in bone metabolism, characterized by an impaired bone formation and mineralization, associated with an increase in resorption parameters. Glucocorticoid use, vitamin D insufficiency and inflammation might be involved in the physiopathology of bone metabolism disturbance

Proteinuria predicts relapse in adolescent and adult minimal change disease

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to outline the clinical and laboratory characteristics of minimal change disease in adolescents and adults and establish the clinical and laboratory characteristics of relapsing and non-relapsing patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients with confirmed diagnoses of minimal change disease by renal biopsy from 1979 to 2009; the patients were aged >13 years and had minimum 1-year follow-ups. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with a median age (at diagnosis) of 34 (23-49) years were studied, including 23 males and 40 females. At diagnosis, eight (12.7%) patients presented with microscopic hematuria, 17 (27%) with hypertension and 17 (27%) with acute kidney injury. After the initial treatment, 55 (87.3%) patients showed complete remission, six (9.5%) showed partial remission and two (3.1%) were nonresponders. Disease relapse was observed in 34 (54%) patients who were initial responders (n = 61). In a comparison between the relapsing patients (n = 34) and the non-relapsing patients (n = 27), only proteinuria at diagnosis showed any significant difference (8.8 (7.1-12.0) vs. 6.0 (3.6-7.3) g/day, respectively, p = 0.001). Proteinuria greater than 7 g/day at the initial screening was associated with relapsing disease. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, minimal change disease in adults may sometimes present concurrently with hematuria, hypertension, and acute kidney injury. The relapsing pattern in our patients was associated with basal proteinuria over 7 g/day

Glomeruloesclerose segmentar e focal (GESF) colapsante associada ao parvovírus B19: relato de caso

Objetivo: Descrever quadro cl&#237;nico-laboratorial de glomeruloesclerose segmentar e focal (GESF) subtipo colapsante em associa&#231;&#227;o com infec&#231;&#227;o por parvov&#237;rus B19 (PVB19). Relato do caso: Paciente feminino, 37 anos, parda, iniciou quadro de faringoalgia e febre aferida com melhora parcial ap&#243;s penicilina. Com uma semana, observou redu&#231;&#227;o de d&#233;bito urin&#225;rio e edema de membros inferiores. Tabagista, com hist&#243;rico familiar e pessoal negativos para hipertens&#227;o, diabetes ou nefropatias. &#192; admiss&#227;o, apresentava-se com oliguria, hipertens&#227;o e edema, associados &#224; anemia microc&#237;tica e hipocr&#244;mica hipoproliferativa, protein&#250;ria nefr&#243;tica, hemat&#250;ria microsc&#243;pica e altera&#231;&#227;o da fun&#231;&#227;o renal. A investiga&#231;&#227;o reumatol&#243;gica e sorologias para hepatites e HIV foram negativas. Ultrassonografia de rins e vias urin&#225;rias sem altera&#231;&#245;es. PCR foi positivo para PVB19 em aspirado de medula &#243;ssea e sangue. A bi&#243;psia renal conclusiva de GESF subtipo colapsante. Ocorreu remiss&#227;o espont&#226;nea com duas semanas do quadro. Em retorno ambulatorial, o PCR em sangue perif&#233;rico foi negativo para PVB19, sugerindo associa&#231;&#227;o de GESF colapsante a fase aguda ou reativa&#231;&#227;o da infec&#231;&#227;o viral. Conclus&#227;o : Este relato registra a associa&#231;&#227;o temporal entre GESF colapsante e viremia pelo PVB19, seja por infec&#231;&#227;o aguda ou reativa&#231;&#227;o de infec&#231;&#227;o latente. A associa&#231;&#227;o GESF colapsante e PVB19 &#233; descrita na literatura, com demonstra&#231;&#227;o da presen&#231;a do v&#237;rus em tecido renal, por&#233;m, a real rela&#231;&#227;o do v&#237;rus na patog&#234;nese dessa glomerulopatia permanece indefinida

Association of the MCP-1-2518 A/G Polymorphism and No Association of Its Receptor CCR2-64 V/I Polymorphism with Lupus Nephritis

Objective. To evaluate whether the A/G polymorphism at position 2518 in the regulatory region of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) or the V/I polymorphism at position 64 of the receptor. CCR2, are associated with lupus nephritis (LN) or any clinical characteristics of the disease or with renal survival in a patient population. Methods. We selected 197 patients with lupus nephritis and 220 matched healthy controls for study. MCP-1 and CCR2 genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Clinical and laboratory data were compiled from patients` charts over followup that ranged from 6 months to 10 years. Results. The GIG genotype of MCP-1 was more common in LN patients (p = 0.019), while the A allele was associated with healthy controls (p = 0.007) as was the V allele of CCR2 (p = 0.046) compared to LN patients. Clinical index measures [SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)], immunological markers, renal histology, renal function at enrollment, and renal survival were not influenced by these polymorphisms. A less aggressive renal disease, measured by renal SLEDAI index, was associated with the V allele of the CCR2 gene polymorphism. Conclusion. These findings support that MCP-1 2518 GIG is associated with LN but there was no association of this genotype with renal function or renal survival. When studying CCR2 64 V/I polymorphism we showed a positive association of the V allele with healthy controls but no association of the genotype with LN patients. (First Release March 152010; J Rheumatol 2010;37:776-82; doi:10.3899/jrheum.090681)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP