Anti-slit diaphragm antibodies on kidney biopsy identify pediatric patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome responsive to second-line immunosuppressants.

Podocytopathies represent a group of glomerular disorders associated with minimal changes (MC) or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) lesion patterns at biopsy and heterogeneous responses to steroids. Anti-nephrin antibodies were previously found in such patients, suggesting an autoimmune form of podocytopathy. High resolution confocal microscopy on kidney biopsies of a cohort of 128 pediatric patients revealed localization of IgG along the slit diaphragm in 30% of patients with MC and 25% of those with FSGS, but not in other lesion patterns. Anti-nephrin IgG ELISA assay in the serum and stimulated emission depletion microscopy of kidney biopsies showed IgG-nephrin co-localization only in 77.8% of cases. Similar observations were obtained in a cohort of 48 adult patients with MC or FSGS at kidney biopsy, where IgG-nephrin colocalization was only 44.4%, suggesting the existence of autoantibodies binding to other slit proteins. Patients with anti-slit antibodies showed nephrotic syndrome at onset in 94.4% of cases. Patients with primary steroid-resistance had anti-slit antibodies in 27%, while those with secondary steroid-resistance in 87.5% of cases, irrespective of the histopathological lesion pattern. Steroid-resistant patients with anti-slit antibodies responded to second-line immunosuppressants in 92.3% vs. only 20% of patients that were anti-slit negative. No patient with anti-slit antibodies developed kidney failure vs. 51.7% of those negative for antibodies (66.7% with a genetic cause and 41.2% with a non-genetic cause). Thus, the detection of anti-slit antibodies can identify patients with an autoimmune podocytopathy responsive to treatment with second-line immunosuppressants, irrespective of the histopathological lesion pattern at biopsy.

Doppler-Derived Renal Functional Reserve in the Prediction of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Robotic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative acute kidney injury (PO-AKI) is a frequent complication after surgery. Various tools have been proposed to identify patients at high risk for AKI, including preoperative serum creatinine or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary cell cycle arrest, and tubular damage biomarkers; however, none of these can appropriately assess AKI risk before surgery. Renal functional reserve (RFR) screened by the Doppler-derived intraparenchymal renal resistive index variation (IRRIV) test has been proposed to identify patients at risk for AKI before a kidney insult. IRRIV test has been developed in healthy individuals and previously investigated in cardiac surgery patients. This study aims to evaluate the value of the IRRIV test in identifying PO-AKI among patients undergoing robotic abdominal surgery in the Trendelenburg position for pelvic oncological disease. METHODS: We performed a prospective, double-blinded, observational study. Preoperative baseline renal function and RFR were assessed in 53 patients with baseline eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2, undergoing robotic surgery in the Trendelenburg position for pelvic oncological disease. The capability of Doppler-derived RFR in predicting PO-AKI was investigated with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC). RESULTS: Approximately 15.1% of patients developed AKI within the first 3 postoperative days. Thirty-one (58.5%) patients had a physiologic delta-RRI (ie, ≥0.05), while 22 (41.5%) patients did not. The ROC-AUC for PO-AKI was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.97; P = .007) for serum creatinine, 0.84 (95% CI, 0.71-0.96; P = .006) for eGFR, and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.78-0.91; P = .017) for delta-RRI. When combined with eGFR, the ROC-AUC for delta-RRI was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.9-1). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the preoperative assessment of Doppler-derived RFR combined with baseline renal function improves the capability of identifying patients at high risk for PO-AKI with eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 after robotic abdominal surgery in Trendelenburg position for pelvic oncological disease.

A Clinical Workflow for Cost-Saving High-Rate Diagnosis of Genetic Kidney Diseases.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: To optimize the diagnosis of genetic kidney disorders in a cost-effective manner, we developed a workflow based on referral criteria for in-person evaluation at a tertiary center, whole-exome sequencing, reverse phenotyping, and multidisciplinary board analysis. This workflow reached a diagnostic rate of 67%, with 48% confirming and 19% modifying the suspected clinical diagnosis. We obtained a genetic diagnosis in 64% of children and 70% of adults. A modeled cost analysis demonstrated that early genetic testing saves 20% of costs per patient. Real cost analysis on a representative sample of 66 patients demonstrated an actual cost reduction of 41%. This workflow demonstrates feasibility, performance, and economic effect for the diagnosis of genetic kidney diseases in a real-world setting. BACKGROUND: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) increases the diagnostic rate of genetic kidney disorders, but accessibility, interpretation of results, and costs limit use in daily practice. METHODS: Univariable analysis of a historical cohort of 392 patients who underwent WES for kidney diseases showed that resistance to treatments, familial history of kidney disease, extrarenal involvement, congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract and CKD stage ≥G2, two or more cysts per kidney on ultrasound, persistent hyperechoic kidneys or nephrocalcinosis on ultrasound, and persistent metabolic abnormalities were most predictive for genetic diagnosis. We prospectively applied these criteria to select patients in a network of nephrology centers, followed by centralized genetic diagnosis by WES, reverse phenotyping, and multidisciplinary board discussion. RESULTS: We applied this multistep workflow to 476 patients with eight clinical categories (podocytopathies, collagenopathies, CKD of unknown origin, tubulopathies, ciliopathies, congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, syndromic CKD, metabolic kidney disorders), obtaining genetic diagnosis for 319 of 476 patients (67.0%) (95% in 21 patients with disease onset during the fetal period or at birth, 64% in 298 pediatric patients, and 70% in 156 adult patients). The suspected clinical diagnosis was confirmed in 48% of the 476 patients and modified in 19%. A modeled cost analysis showed that application of this workflow saved 20% of costs per patient when performed at the beginning of the diagnostic process. Real cost analysis of 66 patients randomly selected from all categories showed actual cost reduction of 41%. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnostic workflow for genetic kidney diseases that includes WES is cost-saving, especially if implemented early, and is feasible in a real-world setting.

A Report of 2 Cases of Kidney Involvement in ADA2 Deficiency: Different Disease Phenotypes and the Tissue Response to Type I Interferon.

Adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disease that is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the ADA2 gene. It is considered a monogenic form of polyarteritis nodosa and frequently is positive for a type I interferon (IFN) signature. Renal manifestations in ADA2 deficiency are poorly characterized. We herein report 2 cases of ADA2 deficiency with different kidney patterns due, respectively, to a predominantly macroscopic and microscopic vasculopathy, and review the literature on kidney disease in ADA2 deficiency. Patient 1 presented with a spontaneous perirenal hematoma; angiography demonstrated multiple microaneurysms but no further defects of the renal parenchyma; his kidney function remained normal. Patient 2 experienced slowly deteriorating kidney function and proteinuria. No major angiographic abnormalities were detected, while kidney biopsy revealed massive vasculopathy resembling chronic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) of the small and medium-sized vessels. Both patients had a positive peripheral type I IFN signature. In immunofluorescence staining of a kidney biopsy sample from patient 2, we observed marked expression of the type I IFN-induced protein MXA within endothelial cells, especially in vessels with TMA, and in infiltrating T cells. Our findings confirm that the kidney phenotype of ADA2 deficiency results from small and medium-sized vessel vasculopathy and suggest that type I IFN may be involved in the pathogenesis of kidney lesions.

A multidisciplinary case report of multiple myeloma with renal and cardiac involvement: a look beyond amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant neoplasm associated with kidney involvement in nearly half of the patients. Cast nephropathy, monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD), and light chain (AL) amyloidosis are the most common monoclonal immunoglobulin-mediated causes of renal injury. Cardiac involvement is also present in MM, characterized by restrictive cardiomyopathy generated by light chain deposit or amyloid. Thromboembolic complications such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism are also described. CASE PRESENTATION: We present an unusual multidisciplinary case of a woman with a newly diagnosed MM associated with severe proteinuria and high natriuretic peptide. A renal and fat pad biopsy with Congo red staining were performed but amyloid deposition was not discovered. While immunofluorescence on fresh frozen unfixed tissue was not contributory, the immunofluorescence on fixed tissue and electron microscopy revealed the correct diagnosis. During subsequent investigations, two intracardiac right-sided masses and massive pulmonary embolism were also detected. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights that multiple organ involvement in patients with MM may result from a combination of paraprotein-dependent and -independent factors. Moreover, renal diseases induced by monoclonal gammopathies are a group of complex and heterogeneous disorders. Their subtle presentation and their potential multiorgan involvement require the expertise of a multidisciplinary team able to provide the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic assessment.

Beyond playing games: nephrologist vs machine in pediatric dialysis prescribing.

In a recent article in Pediatric Nephrology, Olivier Niel and colleagues applied an artificial intelligence algorithm to a clinical problem that continues to challenge experienced pediatric nephrologists: optimizing the target weight of children on dialysis. They compared blood pressure, antihypertensive medication and intradialytic symptoms in children whose target weight was prescribed firstly by a nephrologist, then subsequently using a machine learning algorithm. Improvements in all outcome measures are reported. Their innovative approach to tackling this important clinical problem appears promising. In this editorial, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their study and consider to what extent machine learning strategies are suited to optimizing pediatric dialysis outcomes.

Lung ultrasound: a novel technique for detecting fluid overload in children on dialysis.

Background: Optimizing the target weight of infants and children on dialysis remains an important clinical challenge. The use of ultrasound to detect fluid overload in adult patients on dialysis is receiving growing attention. We hypothesized that fluid overload can be quantified in infants and children receiving dialysis using lung ultrasound. Methods: In this prospective observational study, infants and children receiving dialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or acute kidney injury (AKI) in a regional paediatric nephrology centre were eligible. Lung ultrasound examinations were performed during in-centre dialysis, on home visits or in an outpatient clinic. Fluid overload was assessed by quantifying B-lines on ultrasound and compared with proportional (%) increase in patient weight from the target weight. Results: A total of 142 ultrasound assessments were performed in 23 children. In children with AKI, median B-line score reduced from 5 (range 0-22) at presentation to 1.5 (0-4) at recovery (P = 0.04) with concurrent improvement in fluid overload judged by weight from 7.2 (-1.9 to 15.2)% to 0%. A linear correlation between lung ultrasound B-line score and fluid overload judged by weight was observed in children with AKI (r = 0.83) and ESRD (r = 0.61). Inter-observer variability was acceptable. Conclusions: Lung ultrasound is a practical and sensitive method of quantifying subclinical fluid overload in infants and children on dialysis. Interventional studies to determine the benefits of using lung ultrasound to optimize the target weight for children with ESRD are merited.

Finding covert fluid: methods for detecting volume overload in children on dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Lung ultrasound is a novel technique for detecting generalized fluid overload in children and adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Echocardiography and bioimpedance spectroscopy are established methods, albeit variably adopted in clinical practice. We compared the practicality and accuracy of lung ultrasound with current objective techniques for detecting fluid overload in children with ESRD. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed to compare lung ultrasound B-lines, echocardiographic measurement of inferior vena cava parameters and bioimpedance spectroscopy in the assessment of fluid overload in children with ESRD on dialysis. The utility of each technique in predicting fluid overload, based on short-term weight gain, was assessed. Multiple linear regression models to predict fluid overload by weight were explored. RESULTS: A total of 22 fluid assessments were performed in 13 children (8 on peritoneal dialysis, 5 on haemodialysis) with a median age of 4.0 (range 0.8-14.0) years. A significant linear correlation was observed between the number of B-lines detected by lung ultrasound and fluid overload by weight (r = 0.57, p = 0.005). A non-significant positive linear correlation was observed between fluid overload by weight and bioimpedance spectroscopy (r = 0.43, p = 0.2), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.19, p = 0.4) and physical examination measurements (r = 0.19, p = 0.4), while a non-significant negative linear relationship was found between the inferior vena cava collapsibility index and fluid overload by weight (r = -0.24, p = 0.3). In multiple linear regression models, a combination of three fluid parameters, namely lung ultrasound B-lines, clinical examination and systolic blood pressure, best predicted fluid overload (R 2 = 0.46, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lung ultrasound may be superior to echocardiographic methods and bioimpedance spectroscopy in detecting volume overload in children with ESRD. Given the practicality and sensitivity of this new technique, it can be adopted alongside clinical examination and blood pressure in the routine assessment of fluid status in children with ESRD.

Drugs in Development to Treat IgA Nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy is a common glomerulonephritis consequent to the autoimmune response to aberrant glycosylated immunoglobulin (Ig) A antibodies. Although it has historically been considered a benign disease, it has since become clear that a substantial percentage of patients reach end-stage kidney failure over the years. Several therapeutic attempts have been proposed, with systemic steroids being the most prevalent, albeit burdened by possible serious adverse events. Thanks to the more in-depth knowledge of the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy, new treatment targets have been identified and new drugs developed. In this narrative review, we summarise the molecules under clinical development for the treatment of IgA nephropathy. As a search strategy, we used PubMed, Google, ClinicalTrials.gov and abstracts from recent international congresses. TRF budesonide and sparsentan are the two molecules at a more advanced stage, just entering the market. Other promising agents are undergoing phase III clinical development. These include anti-APRIL and anti-BLyS/BAFF antibodies and some complement inhibitors. Other new possible strategies include spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitors, anti-CD40 ligands and anti-CD38 antibodies. In an era increasingly characterised by 'personalised medicine' and 'precision therapy' approaches and considering that the potential therapeutic armamentarium for IgA nephropathy will be very broad in the near future, the identification of biomarkers capable of helping the nephrologist to select the right drug for the right patient should be the focus of future studies.

Lung Ultrasound to Evaluate Fluid Status and Optimize Early Volume-Expansion Therapy in Children with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli-Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Background: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-haemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) can result in kidney and neurological complications. Early volume-expansion therapy has been shown to improve outcomes, but caution is required to avoid fluid overload. Lung ultrasound scanning (LUS) can be used to detect fluid overload and may be useful in monitoring hydration therapy. Methods: This prospective observational pilot study involved children with STEC-HUS who were recruited from a regional paediatric nephrology centre. B-line quantification by LUS was used to assess fluid status at the emergency department (ED) admission and correlated with the decrease in patient weight from the target weight. A control group of children on chronic dialysis therapy with episodes of symptomatic fluid overload was also enrolled in order to establish a B-line threshold indicative of severe lung congestion. Another cohort of "healthy" children, without renal or lung-related diseases, and without clinical signs of fluid overload was also enrolled in order to establish a B-line threshold indicative of euvolemia. Results: LUS assessment was performed in 10 children with STEC-HUS at ED admission, showing an average of three B-lines (range 0-10). LUS was also performed in 53 euvolemic children admitted to the ED not showing kidney and lung disease (healthy controls), showing a median value of two B-lines (range 0-7), not significantly different from children with STEC-HUS at admission (p = 0.92). Children with STEC-HUS with neurological involvement during the acute phase and those requiring dialysis presented a significantly lower number of B-lines at admission compared to patients with a good clinical course (p < 0.001). Patients with long-term renal impairment also presented a lower number of B-lines at disease onset (p = 0.03). Conclusions: LUS is a useful technique for monitoring intravenous hydration therapy in paediatric patients with STEC-HUS. A low number of B-lines at ED admission (<5 B-lines) was associated with worse short-term and long-term outcomes. Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of an LUS-guided strategy for reducing complications in children with STEC-HUS.

Thrombotic Microangiopathy as a Life-Threatening Complication of Long-Term Interferon Beta Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical Phenotype and Response to Treatment-A Literature Review.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) has been observed in some patients receiving interferon beta (IFNß) therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, but little is known about its clinical features and outcomes. We searched the literature to identify cases with IFNß-related TMA and assessed their pattern of organ involvement, the presence of prodromal manifestations, the treatments used, and the outcomes. Thirty-five articles met the inclusion criteria, and data of 67 patients were collected. The median duration of IFNß therapy before the diagnosis of TMA was 8 years, and 56/67 (84%) presented with acute kidney injury (AKI), of which 33 required acute dialysis. All but three patients had manifestations during the four weeks before TMA onset, including flu-like symptoms, headache, and worsening blood pressure control. In only two patients, ADAMTS13 activity was reduced, while 27% had low C3 levels. However, none showed causative genetic mutations associated with development of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. All patients discontinued IFNß, 34 (55%) also received plasma exchange, and 12 (18%) received eculizumab. Complete renal recovery was achieved by 20 patients (30%), while 13 (20%) developed end-stage renal disease. Among those with AKI requiring dialysis, eculizumab therapy was associated with a significantly reduced risk of ESRD compared with plasma exchange. Therefore, TMA with features of aHUS mainly occurs after prolonged treatment with IFNß and is preceded by prodromes, which may lead to an early diagnosis before life-threatening complications occur. Eculizumab appears beneficial in cases with severe kidney involvement, which supports a role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of these forms.

Screening for cardiac amyloidosis in patients with tenosynovial red flags: A collaboration between family medicine and cardiology.

BACKGROUND: Amyloid deposition in tenosynovial structures precedes cardiac involvement up to 20 years. Therefore, a cardiological screening in patients with a history of tenosynovial manifestations of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) could lead to an increased number of early diagnoses. METHODS: Patients with tenosynovial manifestations of CA (carpal tunnel syndrome, atraumatic biceps tendon rupture, lumbar spinal stenosis) have been identified by general practitioners and evaluated in a Referral Center for CA. Patients with a high suspicion of CA underwent the CA diagnostic pathway. RESULTS: Among 50 General Practitioners (GP) contacted, 10 (20%) agreed to participate in the study for a total of 5615 patients ≥60 years. One hundred forty-five patients met the inclusion criteria, 2 of them already had a diagnosis of CA, and 57 agreed to undergo a cardiological evaluation (electrocardiography, echocardiography, NTproBNP assay). The median age was 73 [67-80] years and 31 (54%) were women. Eight patients were suggested to start the CA diagnostic pathway, five of them underwent a complete diagnostic evaluation for CA, three refused to complete the diagnostic exams and no new diagnoses were made. CONCLUSION: A screening program for CA in patients with tenosynovial manifestations identified by general practitioners is feasible, but may not yield a high rate of new diagnosis. In this study, we identified two patients who already had a diagnosis of CA, and among patients at high risk for CA, 37% refused to complete the diagnostic pathway. Increased awareness of CA among patients might increase participation and diagnostic yield in screening studies. Further validation of this protocol is needed to evaluate its diagnostic performance.

Serial Changes in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Parameters in Untreated Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is associated with a progressive reduction of functional capacity. The progression of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters over time is still unknown. METHODS: In this study, 55 patients with ATTR-CM underwent 2 serial cardiologic evaluations and CPETs in a national referral center for cardiac amyloidosis (Careggi University Hospital, Florence). RESULTS: Forty-three patients (78%) had wild-type ATTR. Median age was 80 years (interquartile range [IQR] 76-83 years), and 50 of the patients (91%) were men. At baseline, median peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) was 15 mL/kg/min (IQR 12-18 mL/kg/min), percentage of predicted pVO2 (%ppVO2) was 71% (IQR 60%-83%) and VE/VCO2 slope was 31 (IQR 26-34). After a median follow-up of 14 months (IQR 13-16 months), pVO2, %ppVO2 and VE/VCO2 slope were significantly worsened (-1.29 mL/kg/min [95% confidence interval (CI): -1.85 to -0.74; P < 0.01], -4.5% [95% CI: -6.9 to -2.02; P < 0.01], and 8.6 [95% CI 6-11; P < 0.01], respectively). Furthermore, exercise time (-39 s, 95% CI: -59 to -19; P < 0.01), exercise tolerance (-0.47 metabolic equivalents, 95% CI: -0.69 to -0.2; P < 0.01), and peak systolic pressure (-10.8 mm Hg, 95% CI: -16.2 to -5.4; P < 0.01) were significantly reduced. The worsening in CPET variables did not correspond with a significant change in echocardiographic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiorespiratory response to exercise significantly worsened over a short period of time in patients with ATTR-CM. Serial CPET may be useful to identify early disease progression.

Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Heart Failure on Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Undergoing Radiocontrast Agent Invasive Procedures: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

(1) Background: This single-center retrospective study aimed to evaluate whether sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2-i) therapy may have a nephroprotective effect to prevent contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients with heart failure (HF) undergoing iodinated contrast medium (ICM) invasive procedures. (2) Methods: The population was stratified into SGLT2-i users and SGLT2-i non-users according to the chronic treatment with gliflozins. The primary endpoint was CI-AKI incidence during hospitalization. Secondary endpoints were all-cause mortality and the need for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). (3) Results: In total, 86 patients on SGLT2-i and 179 patients not on SGLT2-i were enrolled. The incidence of CI-AKI in the gliflozin group was lower than in the non-user group (9.3 vs. 27.3%, p < 0.001), and these results were confirmed after propensity matching analysis. Multivariable logistic regression showed that only SGLT2-i treatment was an independent preventive factor for CI-AKI (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.16-0.90, p = 0.045). The need for CRRT was reported only in five patients in the non-SGLT2-i-user group compared to zero patients in the gliflozin group (p = 0.05). (4) Conclusions: SGLT2-i therapy was associated with a lower risk of CI-AKI in patients with HF undergoing ICM invasive procedures.

Presentation and progression of MPO-ANCA interstitial lung disease.

The association between MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been well established. Pulmonary fibrosis may coexist with, follow, or even precede the diagnosis of AAV, and its presence adversely affects the prognosis. The optimal approach to investigating ANCA in patients with ILD remains a subject of ongoing debate. Here we aim to describe presentation and progression of MPO-ANCA ILD. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of a cohort of individuals diagnosed with MPO-ANCA ILD, with or without accompanying renal impairment, at the Immunology and Cell Therapy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, between June 2016 and June 2022. Clinical records, imaging studies, pathologic examinations, and laboratory test results were collected. Among the 14 patients identified with MPO-ANCA ILD, we observed a significant association between MPO-ANCA titers assessed at the time of ILD diagnosis and renal involvement. Renal impairment in these cases often manifested as subclinical or slowly progressive kidney damage. Interestingly, complement C3 deposits were consistently found in all renal biopsy specimens, thereby suggesting the potential for novel therapeutic targets in managing renal complications associated with MPO-ANCA ILD. The presentation of MPO-ANCA vasculitis as ILD can be the first and only clinical manifestation. MPO-ANCA levels at ILD diagnosis could warn on the progression to renal involvement in patients with MPO-ANCA ILD, hence caution is needed because renal disease can be subclinical or smoldering.

To B or not to B. The rationale for quantifying B-lines in pediatric lung diseases.

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is emerging as adjunct tool to be used during clinical assessment. Among the different hallmarks of LUS, B-lines are well known artifacts, which are not correlated with identifiable structures, but which can be used for pathological classification. The presence of multiple B-lines is a sonographic sign of lung interstitial syndrome. It has been demonstrated in adults that there is a direct correlation between the number of B-lines and the severity of the interstitial involvement of lung disease. Counting B-lines is an attempt to enrich the clinical assessment and clinical information, beyond obtaining a simple dichotomous answer. Semiquantitative or quantitative B-line assessment has been shown to correlate with fluid overload and demonstrated prognostic implications in specific neonatal and pediatric conditions. LUS with quantitative B-lines assessment is promising. Current evidence allows for quantification of B-lines in a limited number of neonatal and pediatric diseases.

Prevalence of transthyretin-related amyloidosis in Tuscany: Data from the regional population-based registry.

The limited available data regarding the prevalence of transthyretin amyloidosis, both for wild-type (ATTRwt) and hereditary form (ATTRv), is inferred from highly selected patients and subsequent extrapolations that limit the comprehension of the clinical disease impact. The Tuscan healthcare system in 2006 developed a web-based rare disease registry, to monitor and profile patients affected by rare diseases. Clinicians belonging to regional validated healthcare data centres can register patients at the diagnosis, with a rigorous approach and distinguishing the types of amyloidosis, i.e., ATTRwt versus ATTRv. Thanks to this data collection method, available from July 2006 and extended with electronic therapy plans related to a diagnosis since May 2017, we analysed prevalence and incidence of ATTR and its subtypes. On November 30th 2022, ATTRwt prevalence in Tuscany is 90.3 per 1,000,000 persons and ATTRv prevalence is 9.5 per 1,000,000 persons, whereas the annual incidence ranges from 14.4 to 26.7 per 1,000,000 persons and from 0.8 to 2.7 per 1,000,000 persons, respectively. The male gender is predominant in both forms. All except one patient showed evidence of cardiomyopathy. This epidemiological data requires attention, not only to increase the effort for the clinical management and earlier diagnosis, but also to underline the need for the disease-specific treatments.