Nefrologia最新文献

Background and objective

Kidney transplantation (KT) should be postponed in those people with active bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic processes, since these must be treated and resolved previously. The objective of this study is to present the screening circuit implemented by the Nephrology clinic and describe the prevalence of tropical and imported infections in KT candidates born or coming from endemic areas.

Materials and methods

Descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out in 2021. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, serological data of general infections and specific tests of tropical infectious diseases were collected. A descriptive analysis of the data was carried out.

Results

Sixty seven TR candidates from Latin America (32.8%), North Africa (22.4%), Sub-Saharan Africa (14.9%) and Asia (29.9%) were included. 68.7% were men and the mean age was 48.9 ± 13.5 years. After the general and specific studies, 42 (62.7%) patients were referred to the Infectious Diseases Service to complete this study or indicate treatment. 35.8% of the patients had eosinophilia, and in one case parasites were detected in feces at the time of the study. Serology for strongyloidiasis was positive in 18 (26.9%) cases, while positive serology for other tropical infections was hardly detected. 34.3% of patients had latent tuberculosis infection.

Conclusions

The prevalence of tropical and imported infections in migrant candidates for RT was low, except for strongyloidiasis and latent tuberculosis infection. Its detection and treatment are essential to avoid serious complications in post-TR. To this end, the implementation of an interdisciplinary screening program from the KT access consultation is feasible, necessary and useful.

Introduction

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown etiology is one of the main causes of renal replacement therapy in our environment. Previous studies in other territories suggest that hereditary diseases could be one of the potential causes of this pathology, especially in younger patients. The GENSEN study will evaluate the presence of pathogenic genetic variants in subjects who have developed CKD category G5 before the age of 46, of unknown etiology.

Methods

Observational, prospective and multicenter study, which evaluates the diagnostic usefulness of massive high-throughput sequencing (HTS) directed at a set of genes, in identifying the cause of CKD. Patients from all over Spain will be included, from whom a blood or saliva sample will be extracted, subsequently analyzing a panel of 529 genes associated with hereditary kidney disease. This publication communicates the study protocol and design.

Conclusion

The GENSEN study will allow to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a gene panel study in young subjects from our environment with the development of category G5 CKD without a clear cause. An etiological diagnosis would offer potential benefits for patients and relatives (targeted therapies, clinical trials, detection of extrarenal manifestations, evaluation of relatives for living kidney donation, estimation of the risk of recurrence in the kidney graft, genetic counseling, among others) and would allow genetic study to be brought closer to nephrology in our country.

Introduction

Lupus nephritis (LN) is known to be one of the most serious complications of SLE and it is a major predictor of poor prognosis. Despite the improvement in understanding the pathophysiology of lupus nephritis and greater improvement in diagnostic approaches, lupus nephritis patients have poorer outcomes.

Objectives

Study the relation between renal resistive index (RRI) and renal function and histopathological parameters in lupus nephritis (LN) patients. Also to investigate the usefulness of RRI in predicting response to treatment.

Patients and methods

This study included 126 patients who were split into two groups (group 1: 101 LN patients and group 2: 25 SLE patients without renal affection); and 100 healthy controls (group 3). The RRI was measured for all participants through a colored Doppler ultrasound examination. LN patients underwent renal biopsy and received their therapy and were followed up for 6 months.

Results

The RRI was significantly greater in the LN group (mean ± SD; 0.64 ± 0.07) than in SLE patients without nephritis (0.5884 ± 0.04) (P < 0.0001). The RRI was greater in LN class IV (P < 0.0001). RRI significantly correlated with the chronicity index (r = 0.704, P < 0.0001), activity index (r = 0.310, P = 0.002), and serum creatinine (r = 0.607, P < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with eGFR (r = −0.719, P < 0.0001). Almost eighty-five percent (84.8%) of LN patients responded to induction therapy. RRI was significantly greater in the nonresponder group (mean ± SD, 0.73 ± 0.02) than that in the responder group (0.63 ± .07) (P < 0.0001). All non-responders to induction therapy while only 29.8% of responders had an RRI of ˃0.7. RRI, according to regression analysis was a significant predictor of response to treatment in LN patients.

Conclusion

RRI was significantly greater in the LN group and significantly correlated with kidney function and histopathological parameters. RRI can predict response to induction therapy in LN patients.

Up to 50% of patients admitted for heart failure have congestion at discharge despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances. Both persistent congestion and diuretic resistance are associated with worse prognosis. The combination of hypertonic saline and loop diuretic has shown promising results in different studies. However, it has not yet achieved a standardized use, partly because of the great heterogeneity in the concentration of sodium chloride, the dose of diuretic or the amount of sodium in the diet. Classically, the movement of water from the intracellular space due to an increase in extracellular osmolarity has been postulated as the main mechanism involved. However, chloride deficit is postulated as the main up-regulator of plasma volume changes, and its correction may be the main mechanism involved. This ‘chloride centric’ approach to heart failure opens the door to therapeutic strategies that would include diuretics to correct hypochloremia, as well as sodium free chloride supplementation.

Background

There is a little information about of expression of C4d (complement fragment) in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) subtypes. Our aim was to determine the expression of C4d in FSGS subtypes in percutaneous native renal biopsies in a second-level hospital and its correlation with clinical, biochemical and histological variables.

Material and methods

A retrospective study in paraffin blocks of patients with biopsy with FSGS aged 16-65 years, indistinct sex, not diabetic or obese. Immunohistochemistry was performed for C4d and their expression was analyzing in non-sclerosed glomerular capillaries (GC) and sclerosis areas (SA). Clinical and biochemical variables were recorded. The cases were divided into C4d positive and C4d negative groups and compared. The correlation between C4d staining scores in CG and SA with clinical and biochemical variables were analyzed.

Results

Twenty samples were analyzed, 4 for each subtype. At the time of biopsy average age was 38.8 ± 18.6 years, 65% male, 8.7% with hypertension. The percentage of positivity for C4d was 40% in GC, 30% SA and 35% in mesangium. The highest expression was for cellular and collapsing subtypes. C4d positivity cases had increased proteinuria (p = 0.035). A significant correlation was found between percentage of C4d expression in CG with SA (p = 0.012) and SA with tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

C4d expression in FSGS predominated in the cellular and collapsing subtypes, which translates complement activation. C4d is a possible surrogate marker in GSFS.