Prevalence, Mechanisms, Treatment, and Complications of Hypertension Postliving Kidney Donation.

Living kidney donors represent a unique population of patients. Potential donors are selected based on the belief that their preoperative fitness is likely to mitigate the risks of long- and short-term harm following uninephrectomy. Studies performed on postdonation outcomes have largely focused on mortality and the risk of end-stage renal failure, but have also investigated secondary outcomes such as cardiovascular morbidity and hypertension. It has been postulated that hypertension is a possible outcome of living kidney donation. A variety of studies have been conducted to investigate the prevalence, epidemiology, mechanisms, treatment strategies, and long-term ramifications of hypertension postdonation. These studies are heterogeneous in their population, design, methodology, and outcome measures and have presented contradicting outcomes. Additionally, the absence of a well-matched control group has made it challenging to interpret and generalise the reported findings. As such, it is not possible to definitively conclude that hypertension occurs at a higher rate among donors than the general population. This article will review the evidence of postdonation hypertension prevalence, mechanisms, treatment, and complications.

Renal graft outcome in autosomal dominant medullary cystic kidney disease type 1.

BACKGROUND: Medullary cystic kidney disease (MCKD) is an inherited interstitial nephritis, leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) between the fourth and seventh decade of life. MCKD shares clinical and morphological features with nephronophthisis, although advances in molecular genetics have distinguished these 2 entities. Data regarding graft survival after kidney transplantation in MCKD patients are extremely limited. The aim of this study was to compare renal graft survival in transplanted MCKD1 and non-MCKD1 patients, to discover whether renal transplantation can be considered as an acceptable treatment for MCKD. METHODS: Thirty-three transplanted patients with MCKD1 and 33 controls (transplanted due to other causes) were included in the study. Graft losses were considered censored for death. Graft survival was evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and comparisons between groups were made by log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of several variables on graft survival, and the chi-square test was used to compare groups of categorical data. RESULTS: The 1-year cumulative graft survival rate for the MCKD1 group was 97%, while at 5 and 10 years it was 94% and 86%, respectively. For the control group, the respective values at years 1, 5 and 10 were 97%, 97% and 90%. Comparisons of graft survival rates between the 2 groups revealed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Renal graft survival of transplanted MCKD1 patients was not shown to be inferior in comparison with that for patients undergoing transplants due to other causes. Therefore, it may represent a treatment of choice in MCKD1 patients with ESRD.

Primary renal MALT lymphoma presenting with cryoglobulinaemia.

Primary renal lymphoma is a rare clinicopathologic entity that typically presents as renal mass or renal impairment with enlarged kidneys. We describe the case of a 66-year-old woman who presented with type II mixed cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis as the first manifestation of underlying low-grade primary renal lymphoma.

Hydroxyethyl starch 6% (130/0.4) ameliorates acute lung injury in swine hemorrhagic shock.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic hemorrhage induces acute lung injury. The aim of this study was to assess whether lactated Ringer's solution or 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 would have different effects on acute lung injury following hemorrhagic shock. METHODS: Twenty healthy pigs (19 ± 2 kg) were subjected to hemorrhage and were randomly allocated to two groups: Group A (10 pigs) who received lactated Ringer's solution and Group B (10 pigs) who received hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4. Hemodynamic response and serum lactate were measured at predetermined phases. Four hours after fluid resuscitation animals were euthanized. Lungs were harvested, and tissue samples were collected. Focal thickening of the alveolar membranes, vascular congestion, number of activated neutrophils, alveolar edema, interstitial neutrophil infiltration, intraalveolar infiltration, and alveolar hemorrhage were assessed. Each feature was given a score from 0 to 3 (0 = absence, 3 = severe). The wet/dry ratio was also calculated, and with the use of Evans blue dye extravasation method, capillary permeability was assessed. RESULTS: The total histology score of Group A differed significantly from that of Group B, being significantly lower in Group B animals P = 0.048. The wet/dry weight ratio was significantly higher in the lactated Ringer's group (median [range]) (Group A, 5.1 [0.5]; Group B, 4.9 [0.3]; P = 0.009). The Evans blue dye extravasation method was utilized to study the lung capillary permeability. The animals in Group B showed a marked reduction in microvascular capillary permeability compared with the animals in Group A (Group A, 58.5 [21] mg/g; Group B, 51.5 [14] mg/g; P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that resuscitation after hemorrhagic shock with hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 led to less lung edema and less microvascular permeability in this swine model.

Transcription factor Sp1 expression is upregulated in human glomerulonephritis: correlation with pSmad2/3 and p300 expression and renal injury.

BACKGROUND: Sp1 is a ubiquitous transcription factor that mediates the fibrogenic factor transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signals through cooperation with Smad proteins. The transcriptional coactivator p300 is also suggested to play a role in Smad signal transduction. METHODS: We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of Sp1 as well as the expression of pSmad2/3 and the coactivator p300 in 157 renal biopsy specimens from patients with various types of glomerulonephritis (GN). Correlations between immunohistochemical, clinical, and histologic parameters were performed. RESULTS: Sp1 exhibited an increased glomerular and proximal tubular expression in all forms of GN compared to controls. The proximal tubular expression of Sp1 was significantly increased in proliferative GNs (p = 0.025), whereas in secondary GNs, there was a significant increase in the molecule's glomerular expression (p = 0.008). Sp1 correlated positively with pSmad2/3 and p300 expression in proximal tubules (r = 0.241, p = 0.018 and r = 0.244, p = 0.014, respectively), while in proliferative GNs, its expression correlated positively with pSmad2/3 expression in glomeruli (r = 0.32, p = 0.028). Sp1 glomerular and proximal tubular immunostaining correlated positively with serum creatinine levels (r = 0.265, p = 0.02 and r = 0.306, p = 0.006, respectively), while its proximal tubular expression showed a similar correlation with interstitial fibrosis (r = 0.213, p = 0.025). Sp1 was constantly detected in hyperplastic lesions and cellular crescents (each 100%), and very often in micro adhesions (94%) and segmentally or globally sclerotic areas (each 83%). CONCLUSIONS: This study documents the upregulation of Sp1 expression in glomeruli and proximal tubules of GN specimens. Our findings suggest a possible cooperation of Sp1 with pSmad2/3 and p300 in mediating renal injury as well as a possible role for this molecule in the pathogenesis and the progression of human GN.

Mycophenolate mofetil and intravenous cyclophosphamide are similar as induction therapy for class V lupus nephritis.

Class V lupus nephritis (LN) occurs in one-fifth of biopsy-proven cases of systemic lupus erythematosus. To study the effectiveness of treatments in this group of patients, we pooled analysis of two large randomized controlled multicenter trials of patients with diverse ethnic and racial background who had pure class V disease. These patients received mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVC) as induction therapy for 24 weeks, with percentage change in proteinuria and serum creatinine as end points. Weighted mean differences, pooled odds ratios, and confidence intervals were calculated by using a random-effects model. A total of 84 patients with class V disease were divided into equal groups, each group had comparable entry variables but one received MMF and one received IVC. Within these groups, 33 patients on MMF and 32 patients on IVC completed 24 weeks of treatment. There were no differences between the groups in mean values for the measured end points. Similarly, no difference was found regarding the number of patients who did not complete the study or who died. In patients with nephrotic syndrome, no difference was noted between those treated with MMF and IVC regarding partial remission or change in urine protein. Hence we found that the response to MMF as induction treatment of patients with class V LN appears to be no different from that to IVC.

A young woman with renal colic presenting with urogenital anomaly: a case report.

A 26-year-old female presented with a two-week history of right flank pain. She underwent abdomen ultrasound which revealed moderate pelvicalyceal dilatation in the right kidney and proximal ureter with no apparent cause. Intravenous pyelography showed a fish-hook (reversed 'J') shape of ureter. No renal tract calcification was noticed. The findings were consistent with that of a retrocaval ureter.

Interstitial cystitis: an unsolved enigma.

Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) is a chronic disease of unknown etiology characterized by vague bladder pain and nonspecific urinary symptoms, such as urgency and frequency. Although it was initially considered to be a rare condition, its prevalence has significantly increased, possibly because of different definitions used and greater physician awareness. Because of the multiple diagnostic criteria used, there is significant variation in its prevalence. In addition, there is often a delay in the diagnosis of PBS/IC. It affects predominantly women of middle age, and it significantly decreases quality of life. Diagnosis of PBS/IC is mainly a diagnosis of exclusion; there are no characteristic symptoms or pathognomonic findings. Therefore, it is important to rule out diseases that have a similar clinical picture (i.e., urinary infections, bladder carcinoma) but definite therapies and worse prognosis if left untreated. PBS/IC management suffers from lack of evidence; many therapies are empiric or based on small studies and case series. Treatment includes supportive therapies (psychosocial, behavioral, physical), oral treatments, and intravesical treatments, whereas other more invasive treatments such as electric neuromodulation and reconstructive surgery are reserved for refractory cases. Physicians should always keep in mind the diagnosis of PBS/IC in patients presenting with chronic urinary symptoms after excluding other more common diseases.

Renal biopsy in the very elderly.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Data regarding renal biopsy in the very elderly (>or=age 80 yr) are extremely limited. The aim of this study was to examine the causes of renal disease and their clinical presentations in very elderly patients who underwent native renal biopsy. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: All native renal biopsies (n = 235 including 106 men, 129 women) performed in patients aged >or=80 yr over a 3.67-yr period were retrospectively identified. Results were compared with a control group of 264 patients aged 60 to 61 who were biopsied over the same period. RESULTS: The indications for biopsy were acute kidney injury (AKI) in 46.4%, chronic-progressive kidney injury in 23.8%, nephrotic syndrome (NS) in 13.2%, NS with AKI in 9.4%, and isolated proteinuria in 5.5%. Pauci-immune GN was the most frequent diagnosis (19%), followed by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis secondary to hypertension (7.6%), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (7.1%), IgA nephropathy (7.1%) and membranous nephropathy (7.1%). Comparison with the control group showed pauci-immune GN to be more frequent (P < 0.001) and diabetic glomerulosclerosis (P < 0.001) and membranous nephropathy (P < 0.05) less frequent in the very elderly. Diagnostic information had the potential to modify treatment in 67% of biopsies from the very elderly, particularly in those with AKI or NS. CONCLUSIONS: Renal biopsy in very elderly patients is a valuable diagnostic tool that should be offered in clinical settings with maximal potential benefit. Advanced age per se should no longer be considered a contraindication to renal biopsy.

The "fish-vertebra" sign.

The "fish-vertebra" sign appears as biconcave lumbar vertebrae with bone softening in lateral and posterior-anterior radiographs of the spine as an exaggeration of the normal concavity of the superior and inferior surfaces of one or more vertebral bodies. This is due to ischaemia of the central growth plate of the spine, and is typically seen in sickle cell disease.