Frontiers in nephrology最新文献

Lupus nephropathy is a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with immune-mediated inflammatory damage to the glomerulus leading to acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease. Occasionally, patients present with renal-limited lupus nephropathy with classic full-house staining on immunofluorescence and no signs of systemic lupus. Limited data are available on renal-limited "lupus-like nephropathy" in pregnancy. A 24-year-old G1P0 woman at 14 weeks of gestation was referred to nephrology for further evaluation of 8.4g proteinuria. She was found to be ANA negative with a decreased C1q level and a renal biopsy revealing membranous nephropathy. Immunofluorescence staining was positive for IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, and C1Q, consistent with full-house pattern. She was started on 500 mg pulse dose methylprednisolone for 3 days, which was gradually tapered to 5 mg daily, and cyclosporine 75 mg BID. She delivered a healthy baby via induction at 36 weeks. Six-month follow-up revealed 1g protein on 24-hour urine collection, normal C3/C4 levels, and no signs of SLE. This case report adds to the literature discussing renal-limited "lupus-like nephropathy" in pregnancy and helps guide further management of this condition.

Background: Vitamin C deficiency is an underrecognized yet prevalent concern in hemodialysis patients, driven by dietary restrictions, increased oxidative stress, and vitamin losses during dialysis. While supplementation could mitigate deficiency-related complications and reduce inflammation and oxidative damage, clinical implementation remains limited due to concerns about oxalosis and potential pro-oxidative effects.

Case presentation: We report the case of a 74-year-old female with End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) secondary to diabetic nephropathy who developed scurvy after prolonged hemodialysis. She presented with unintended weight loss, gingival bleeding, and recurrent pulmonary edema. Physical examination revealed characteristic dermatological findings, including perifollicular erythema predominantly on the lower extremities. Laboratory testing confirmed severe vitamin C deficiency, with serum levels below the detection limit of 4 mg/L, along with hypoalbuminemia and elevated inflammatory markers. Nutritional assessment indicated adherence to standard hemodialysis dietary restrictions, likely exacerbating deficiency.

Intervention and outcomes: Oral vitamin C supplementation resulted in significant clinical improvement, including resolution of dermatological manifestations, cessation of gingival bleeding, improvement in cardiac function, and without recurrence of pulmonary edema episodes, with no adverse effects observed.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of considering scurvy in hemodialysis patients, particularly those with inflammation and restrictive dietary patterns. It underscores the clinical manifestations of vitamin C deficiency, its potential cardiovascular implications, and the need to revisit supplementation guidelines in this population. The findings support the safe and effective use of vitamin C supplementation in reversing deficiency-related complications while emphasizing the broader consideration of routine vitamin C supplementation in hemodialysis patients, even in the absence of overt clinical manifestations.

Background: Regular follow-up care after kidney transplantation is performed in transplant centers together with local nephrologist practices in Germany. Patients after kidney transplantation have to fulfill many tasks and manage their disease, follow a complex therapeutic regimen, communicate with the transplant center and home nephrologists, and coordinate doctor appointments. It has been shown that mHealth solutions such as mobile phone applications (apps) can support patients in their self-management. However, stand-alone apps have limitations and ideally, the mHealth solutions are embedded in a holistic treatment approach, including healthcare professionals.

Methods: We will conduct a 1-year, prospective, randomized, 2-armed, parallel group multicenter trial in three German Kidney Transplant Centers (KTCs) to demonstrate that additional and continuous interventional telemedical management will improve health after kidney transplantation in patients of all ages. Therefore, a composite endpoint of seven key outcome variables [fewer hospitalizations, shorter length of hospitalization, less development of de novo donor-specific antibody (DSA), better medication adherence, lower tacrolimus intra-patient variability, better blood pressure control, and better renal function after kidney transplantation]was defined. All the patients will receive the same routine post-transplant aftercare. The patients in the interventional arm will receive additional predefined telemedical management, including regular telemedicine visits and automatic bidirectional data transfer (e.g., vital signs, wellbeing, medication plan, and laboratory data together with a chat option) between the patient at home and the KTC through a certified smartphone app. If necessary, a home nephrologist can be included in the automatic data transfer. In the interventional arm, the iBox score will be used to better detect patients at risk for early graft failure and drug-drug interactions will be regularly checked with certified software.

Discussion: The study aims to prolong patient and graft survival through additional telemedical services in order to reduce avoidable hospitalizations, improve treatment of co-morbidities, and improve adherence through patient empowerment, which should result in lower health care costs, and better quality of life of patients after kidney transplantation.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05897047.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognized for its potential to enhance nephrology training and practice. However, the integration of AI into fellowship training remains inadequately explored. This study aimed to assess current AI utilization, perceptions, and educational needs among nephrology fellows at Mayo Clinic.

Methods: A structured online survey was administered to 23 fellows-including those specializing in kidney transplantation and onco-nephrology-across three Mayo Clinic sites (Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida). The survey addressed domains such as current AI usage, perceived relevance of AI in clinical practice, interest in formal AI training, self-assessed comfort with AI integration, and barriers to adopting AI technologies in nephrology education.

Results: A total of 21 fellows (91% response rate) participated in the survey. 76% of respondents rated AI as moderately to highly relevant to nephrology. Similarly, 76% indicated a moderate to very high interest in receiving targeted AI training. Despite these favorable perceptions, 76% had rarely or never used AI in their clinical or research activities, and none reported any formal AI education. Interactive workshops emerged as the preferred modality for AI training (52%), with limited knowledge cited as the primary barrier to adoption. Optimism was especially high regarding AI applications in predictive modeling (86%) and diagnostic imaging (81%), while confidence in AI for direct clinical decision-making remained cautious.

Conclusion: There is significant interest among nephrology fellows in AI, along with a critical need for formal education and training. The enthusiasm for AI's potential contrasts with a cautious perspective towards its current use in clinical decision-making. Our study highlights the necessity for educational initiatives that bridge the knowledge gap and foster confidence in the appropriate use of AI technologies in Nephrology fellowship.

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) leads to organ dysfunction due to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Complement may play a role in CAPS, and its blockade could prevent antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) complications after kidney transplantation (KT). Here, we report a case of APS recurrence after KT in a 38-year-old woman with early acute cortical kidney allograft necrosis despite preventive eculizumab treatment, probably because of insufficient complement blockade. The patient had recurrent but controlled CAPS for years with renal dysfunction, leading to preemptive KT. Anticoagulation and eculizumab were administered to prevent thrombosis and TMA after KT. She developed acute kidney injury (AKI) with incomplete biological TMA. Imaging revealed cortical necrosis in the renal allograft. In the absence of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies, we concluded a relapse. Additional doses of eculizumab and plasma exchange allowed the normalization of biological tests and improvement of kidney allograft function. A retrospective complement analysis showed an incomplete blockade at the time of AKI. One year after KT, the renal allograft function was impaired. This suggests that inadequate complement blockade leads to a relapse of APS in the renal allograft with cortical necrosis and dysfunction. Our case highlights the importance of monitoring complement activity and adjusting the dose of eculizumab or ravulizumab.

Introduction: Renal vasculitis is a rare disease, the incidence of which increased markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic in our center. The aim of this study is to compare the incidence and the clinical and histopathological characteristics of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A single-center observational retrospective analysis of 61 patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis who were divided into two groups according to date of diagnosis: pre-pandemic from 2008 to 2020 (n=37) and during the pandemic from 2020 to the middle of 2022 (n=24). The annual incidence rate was compared, as were characteristics such as age, gender, Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) score, renal clinic, organ involvement, and ANCA serotype. Biopsy findings, such as optical microscopy glomerular characteristics, crescents, interstitium, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy findings, were analyzed. Mortality and renal replacement therapy needs were also compared.

Results: The annual incidence rate was higher in the pandemic group compared to the pre-pandemic group, with 9.6 cases per year vs. 3.1 cases per year [incidence rate ratio (IRR)=3.11, 95% CI 1.86 to 5.20]. No significant differences between the groups were found for clinical characteristics, except for greater hemoptysis frequency in the pandemic group. Significant differences in immunofluorescence and electronic microscopy were observed, with a higher IgG deposit and C3 in the pandemic group (37.5% vs 8.1%, p=0.0064; 43.5% vs 10.8%, p=0.009, respectively), whereas the incidence of pauci-immune patterns was higher in the pre-pandemic group (81.1% vs 54.1%, p=0.016). Mortality and the need for renal replacement therapy were significant higher in the pandemic group (IRR=3.56, CI 95% 1.27-9.98 and IRR=4.24, CI 95% 2.08-8.65, respectively).

Conclusion: The incidence of ANCA vasculitis increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and was associated with higher rates of IgG deposit and C3 in the immunofluorescence findings and with higher rates of deaths and dialysis in the pandemic group compared with the pre-pandemic group.

Recipients of kidney transplants often outlive the function of the renal allograft will need ESRD management. Patients face a higher risk of mortality in the period of transition from failing allograft to dialysis. Long term risk of cardiovascular complications and risk of infections and cancer with use of long-term immune suppression contribute to poor outcomes. Patients with failing transplants appear to have poorer control of CKD complications and are more likely to initiate hemodialysis using a catheter. Outcomes of peritoneal dialysis in the setting of the failing allograft in general are equivalent to hemodialysis. Management of these patients in transplant center clinics specifically focused on patients with failing allografts may have benefit, but maximal utility has yet to be demonstrated. Patients with failed transplants can have a survival benefit with retransplant, even in older patients. There may not be a benefit to retransplant in patients older than 70 years of age. Patients with failing renal grafts should be assessed as to whether they are potential candidates for retransplant prior to needing to start dialysis to allow for identification of a living kidney donor or to be listed as soon a possible on the kidney transplant wait list as to minimize the wait time on dialysis. Decisions regarding reduction of immunosuppression once the patient has started dialysis should be made with guidance from the transplant center in the context of patient-centric factors such as candidacy for retransplant and minimizing complications of long-term immunosuppression.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent and severe medical condition that is frequently observed in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although numerous biomarkers have been identified to predict the prognosis of AKI, the lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio [LDH/ALB ratio (LAR)] has not been extensively investigated. The principal objective of this study was to assess the relationship between LAR and all-cause mortality in patients with AKI.

Methods: A total of 6,831 AKI patients were included in this study, divided into survival (n = 5,152) and non-survival groups (n = 1,679). The association between LAR and mortality was examined through restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis and Cox regression analysis. Subgroup analysis was used to search for interactive factors. Additionally, the prognostic capability of LAR was further evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: The LAR was remarkably higher in the non-survival group (p < 0.001). RCS indicated a non-linear correlation between LAR and ICU death (p for non-linearity < 0.001). A LAR of 10.4 was used as the cutoff point to generate the high-LAR and low-LAR subgroups, and the Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that the ICU cumulative survival rate for patients with AKI was significantly lower in the high-LAR group (log-rank p < 0.001). The LAR's prediction of ICU mortality in AKI patients yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.65.

Conclusion: Our research suggests that LAR monitoring may be promising as a prognostic marker among patients with AKI. Higher LAR is associated with greater ICU mortality.

This Festschrift in honor of Dr. Jeffrey Hymes, a distinguished leader in nephrology and a pioneer in the field of dialysis care. Dr. Hymes' career has been marked by his unwavering commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative approaches and data-driven insights. His contributions have not only advanced the practice of nephrology but have also had a profound impact on the lives of countless patients.