2-Step-Scores with optional nephropathology for the prediction of adverse outcomes for brain-dead donor kidneys in Eurotransplant.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: The decision for acceptance or discard of the increasingly rare and marginal brain-dead donor kidneys in Eurotransplant (ET) countries has to be made without solid evidence. Thus, we developed and validated flexible clinicopathological scores called 2-Step Scores for the prognosis of delayed graft function (DGF) and one-year death-censored transplant loss (1y-tl) reflecting the current practice of six ET countries including Croatia and Belgium. METHODS: The training set was n=620 for DGF and n=711 for 1y-tl, with validation sets n=158 and n=162. In step 1, stepwise logistic regression models including only clinical predictors were used to estimate the risks. In step 2, risk estimates were updated for statistically relevant intermediate risk percentiles with nephropathology. RESULTS: Step 1 revealed an increased risk of DGF with increased cold ischaemia time, donor and recipient BMI, dialysis vintage, number of HLA-DR mismatches or recipient CMV IgG positivity. On the training and validation set, c-statistics were 0.672 and 0.704, respectively. At a range between 18% and 36%, accuracy of DGF-prognostication improved with nephropathology including number of glomeruli and Banff cv (updated overall c statistics of 0.696 and 0.701, respectively).Risk of 1y-tl increased in recipients with cold ischaemia time, sum of HLA-A. -B, -DR mismatches and donor age. On training and validation sets, c-statistics were 0.700 and 0.769, respectively. Accuracy of 1y-tl prediction improved (c-statistics = 0.706 and 0.765) with Banff ct. Overall, calibration was good on the training, but moderate on the validation set; discrimination was at least as good as established scores when applied to the validation set. CONCLUSION: Our flexible 2-Step Scores with optional inclusion of time-consuming and often unavailable nephropathology should yield good results for clinical practice in ET, and may be superior to established scores. Our scores are adaptable to donation after cardiac death and perfusion pump use.

Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Chronic Active Antibody-Mediated Kidney Graft Rejection: Report of the Phase I/II Clinical Trial Case Series.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) therapy has already been studied in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), and the available data showed that it is safe and well tolerated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous MSCs in combination with standard therapy in KTRs with biopsy-proven chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Patients with biopsy-proven chronic active AMR received treatment with autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs (3 × 106 cells/kg iv) after completion of standard therapy and were followed for up to 12 months. The primary endpoints were safety by assessment of adverse events. Secondary endpoints included assessment of kidney graft function, immunological and histological changes related to AMR activity and chronicity assessed by conventional microscopy and molecular transcripts. A total of 3 patients were enrolled in the study before it was terminated prematurely because of adverse events. We found that AMR did not improve in any of the patients after treatment with MSCs. In addition, serious adverse events were observed in one case when autologous MSCs therapy was administered in the late phase after kidney transplantation, which requires further elucidation.

Cobalt Ferrite Magnetic Nanoparticles for Tracing Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tissue: A Preliminary Study.

Therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is promising in many diseases. Evaluation of their efficacy depends on adequate follow-up of MSCs after transplantation. Several studies have shown that MSCs can be labeled and subsequently visualized with magnetic nanoparticles (NPs). We investigated the homing of MSCs labeled with magnetic cobalt ferrite NPs in experimentally induced acute kidney injury in mice. To explore the homing of MSCs after systemic infusion into mice, we developed a pre-infusion strategy for optimal tracing and identification of MSCs with polyacrylic acid-coated cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) NPs by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in various organs of mice with cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury and control mice. By correlative microscopy, we detected MSCs labeled with NPs in the lungs, spleen, kidney, and intestine of cisplatin-treated mice and in the lungs and spleen of control mice. Our results confirm that labeling MSCs with metal NPs did not affect the ultrastructure of MSCs and their ability to settle in various organs. This study demonstrates the usefulness of cobalt ferrite NPs in ex vivo visualization of MSCs and offers correlative microscopy as a useful method in routine histopathology laboratories for tracing MSCs in paraffin-embedded tissue.

Quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the differentiation of kidney allografts with significant histopathological injury.

OBJECTIVE: To identify specific quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) parameters that could distinguish kidney transplants with significant histopathological injury. METHODS: Sixty-four patients were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Biopsies were performed following CEUS and blood examination. RESULTS: 28 biopsy specimens had minimal changes (MC group), while 36 had significant injury (SI group). Of these, 12 had rejection (RI group) and 24 non-rejection injury (NRI group). In RI and NRI groups, temporal difference in time to peak (TTP) between medulla and cortex (ΔTTPm-c) was significantly shorter compared to the MC group (5.77, 5.92, and 7.94 s, P = 0.048 and 0.026, respectively). Additionally, RI group had significantly shorter medullary TTP compared to the MC group (27.75 vs. 32.26 s; P = 0.03). In a subset of 41 patients with protocol biopsy at 1-year post-transplant, ΔTTPm-c was significantly shorter in the SI compared to the MC group (5.67 vs. 7.67 s; P = 0.024). Area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) for ΔTTPm-c was 0.69 in all patients and 0.71 in patients with protocol biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: RI and NRI groups had shorter ΔTTPm-c compared to the MC group. AUROCs for both patient groups were good, making ΔTTPm-c a promising CEUS parameter for distinguishing patients with significant histopathological injury.

Micronodular PEComas of the appendix.

AIMS: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumours (PEComas) of the appendix have been reported very rarely. In this study, we describe three cases of a distinctive micronodular proliferation in the appendix consistent with a variant of PEComa. Although known as 'granular degeneration of smooth muscle' in prior reports, we reappraise its clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features which support a change in classification. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were two females (aged 33 and 41 years) and one male (aged 41). None had a history of tuberous sclerosis. Histologically, each case demonstrated a multifocal nodular proliferation towards the distal tip of the appendix, composed of epithelioid cells with abundant granular eosinophilic to clear cytoplasm. By immunohistochemistry, the lesional cells were positive for muscle markers [smooth muscle actin (SMA) and desmin], melanocytic markers (HMB45, melan A), cathepsin K and the lysosomal marker NKI-C3 in each case. MITF was positive in two of three cases. None expressed S100 protein. Electron microscopy in one case revealed striated electron-dense structures consistent with pre-melanosomes. Follow-up, available in one case, showed no recurrence at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the term 'micronodular PEComa' for this appendiceal lesion to reflect more accurately its histological and immunohistochemical characteristics, which include consistent positivity for both muscle and melanocytic markers. Micronodular PEComa seems to follow an indolent course, consistent with its uniformly low-grade histological features, and appears to be unassociated with tuberous sclerosis.

Secondary oxalate nephropathy in a patient with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency successfully treated, with complete kidney recovery.

INTRODUCTION: Oxalate nephropathy is a relatively rare and under-recognized condition that commonly presents as acute kidney injury (AKI) and often leads to end-stage renal disease. Complete recovery of kidney function is extremely rare even when treatment is instituted early on. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 68-year-old man with known type 2 diabetes mellitus and an asymptomatic unrecognized exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, who was admitted due to dialysis-dependent AKI. Kidney biopsy revealed oxalate nephropathy. A wide diagnostic assessment and a multi-factorial treatment plan that included a change of diet, therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and fat malabsorption, sodium bicarbonate and potassium citrate, calcium supplements with meals, and methylprednisolone, resulted in complete recovery of kidney function. CONCLUSION: It is important for physicians to be aware of oxalate nephropathy in cases of prolonged AKI. After confirmation of diagnosis, a wide diagnostic approach is imperative to identify all the causes that have led to oxalosis. A multi-factorial therapeutic approach can lead to complete kidney recovery.

Characteristics of renal sarcoidosis and tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome in Slovenia: An analysis of the national renal biopsy registry and patient datasets in the last decade.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is characterized by granulomatous inflammation in multiple organs. Renal involvement is rare, and granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) is the predominant histologic feature. TIN is also a hallmark of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome. Diagnoses of both sarcoidosis and TINU syndrome are usually made by exclusion and by combining clinical and histological findings, and often remain misdiagnosed. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the characteristics of renal sarcoidosis and TINU syndrome in Slovenia in the last decade (2010 - 2020). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A thorough search of the national database of renal biopsies from January 2010 to December 2020 was performed. Inclusion criteria were TIN and a clinical history of either sarcoidosis or TINU syndrome. To compare the characteristics of our cohort with others, we also reviewed the global literature reported since 2010. RESULTS: 13 patients (9 female, 4 male) were included in our study. Indications for kidney biopsy were acute kidney injury (n = 8), acute exacerbation of chronic kidney disease (n = 4), and proteinuria (n = 1). Seven patients had clinical and histological evidence of sarcoidosis, and 6 patients were classified as having TINU syndrome. All patients were treated with corticosteroids. Of the 13 patients, 11 had improved kidney function 6 months after treatment, and proteinuria decreased in 9 patients. One patient was on dialysis at the time of diagnosis and remained so thereafter. CONCLUSION: Renal sarcoidosis and TINU syndrome are rare but important causes of kidney injury, with a favorable long-term prognosis if properly diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

Histomorphological and clinical characteristics of patients with thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) is a disorder characterized by ultrastructural abnormalities of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), representing a spectrum of genetic and clinical phenotypes ranging from benign hematuria to proteinuria and chronic kidney disease. Recent studies have shown that a significant percentage of patients who initially present with hematuria later develop proteinuria and worsening renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed records of patients diagnosed with TBMN, including their clinical, laboratory, and histological features, in Slovenia from 2015 to 2020. RESULTS: TBMN was the main diagnosis at kidney biopsy in 34 (65%) of 52 included patients, while in 18 patients (35%) TBMN was diagnosed in addition to other renal diseases. In the isolated TBMN group, 29 of 34 patients had glomerulosclerosis (global, global and segmental, segmental only) accompanied by interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy of varying degrees. 13 patients with isolated TBMN had signs of advanced chronic kidney disease at the time of diagnosis, with estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73m2. 29 patients had proteinuria, which exceeded 3 g/day in 4 patients. TBMN represents a proportion of patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) that have often been classified in the past as etiologically indeterminate FSGS. CONCLUSION: Ultrastructural examination showing diffuse thinning of the GBM is crucial for the TBMN diagnosis. TBMN was the main diagnosis of kidney biopsy in 2/3 of our patients, while it was accompanied by other renal diseases in 1/3. Up to 1/3 of patients with isolated TBMN had evidence of advanced chronic kidney disease at the time of diagnosis.

The predictive value of urinary erythrocyte morphology for proliferative glomerular kidney disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Glomerular erythrocyturia (GlomEry) is usually associated with proliferative kidney diseases. In our retrospective cohort, we aimed to validate the predictive value of GlomEry criteria ≥ 40% dysmorphic erythrocytes (DysEry) or ≥ 5% acanthocytes (AcaEry) or at least 1 erythrocytic cast (CastEry) and of two new indices - the count of DysEry per high power field (HPF) and per microliter of urine (Stansfeld-Webb (SW)) method, for proliferative disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included patients with erythrocyturia from 2015 to 2016. Based on renal histology, we divided them into a proliferative and a non-proliferative disease group. Urine erythrocyte count was done using SW and urinary sediment examination was carried out by skilled nephrologists. Sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff values were determined using ROC curves. RESULTS: We included 90 patients (33% women), median age of 63 (IQR 51, 71) years. In the proliferative group, proteinuria was lower (2.4 vs. 6.6 g/day), and SW erythrocyturia was higher (174 (IQR 60, 353) vs. 44 (IQR 20, 67) × 106/L) than in the non-proliferative group. The threshold to differentiate between the proliferative and non-proliferative group was determined at ˃ 43% of DysEry (sensitivity 73%, specificity 79%, AUC 0.808) and at ˃ 2% AcaEry (sensitivity 71%, specificity 56%, AUC 0.647). No significant difference in CastEry was found between groups. Among tested parameters, the calculated number of DysEry/HPF > 6.7 (sensitivity 77%, specificity 92%, AUC 0.878), followed by DysEry/SW > 28 × 106/L (sensitivity 76%, specificity 86%, AUC 0.879), discriminated those two groups best. CONCLUSION: In concordance with known GlomEry criteria, > 43% of DysEry predicted proliferative kidney disease, whereas CastEry did not, and AcaEry predicted poorly. The best predictor of proliferative glomerular disease was DysEry/HPF, closely followed by DysEry/SW.

Glomerular and tubulointerstitial foscarnet nephropathy of kidney allograft with emphasis on ultrastructural findings: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate hexahydrate) is standard treatment for ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. In the kidney, foscarnet-induced injury may be attributed to reversible tubulointerstitial lesions, but foscarnet crystals have also been observed within glomerular capillaries, suggesting that foscarnet can lead to glomerular lesions such as crescentic glomerulonephritis. We present biopsy and autopsy findings of foscarnet induced nephropathy in a transplanted kidney, with a particular emphasis on the histopathology and electron micrographic peculiarities of drug crystal deposits. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old Caucasian male patient with a deceased donor kidney was treated with several foscarnet applications due to ganciclovir-resistant CMV infection. Transplant kidney biopsy revealed massive glomerular crystalline precipitates, resulting in crescentic glomerulonephritis and tubular damage. The last foscarnet application was complicated with several infections and kidney graft failure. Autopsy revealed multi-organ damage due to foscarnet crystal precipitations associated with systemic CMV and fungal infection. On autopsy of kidney specimens, we succeeded in preserving the rectangular flat plate-like foscarnet crystals in stacks detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after 100% alcohol fixation. The chemical composition of the crystals was confirmed by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. CONCLUSION: Transplant kidney biopsy remains the gold standard in distinguishing between foscarnet crystalline glomerular and/or tubulointerstitial lesions, and various forms of rejection and other causes of impaired renal function in transplant kidney.

Complement activation and cryoglobulinemia are common in monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance: Data from a case series.

INTRODUCTION: Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) denotes kidney diseases caused by monoclonal immunoglobulins in patients who do not have an overt hematological malignancy. Treatment is primarily directed against the underlying clone. Complement activation and cryoglobulinemia are known factors that can contribute to tissue damage, however, the full extent of their involvement is not clear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study including all patients with MGRS referred for consultation to our hospital over a 3-year period. RESULTS: We identified 17 patients, of which 12 had proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits (PGNMID). Treatment with anti-clonal or immunosuppressive therapy was successful in 60% of patients with PGNMID, and treatment success was more common in patients with λ chain (100%) compared to κ chain deposits (20%). Serum markers of complement involvement were identified in 41% of all patients (88% of tested samples), most commonly high serum C5b-9 values or anti-factor H autoantibodies (both 24%). Patients with complement involvement did not respond well to treatment, which was unsuccessful in all treated patients with anti-factor H autoantibodies and 75% of patients with high serum C5b-9 values. Cryoglobulinemia was identified in 29% of all patients (71% tested samples) and was monoclonal in 40% of positive cases and mixed in 60%. None of the patients with cryoglobulinemia had organized deposits, however, there was a trend toward more common intramembranous deposits. In patients with monoclonal cryoglobulinemia both anti-clonal and immunosuppressive treatment were unsuccessful. All patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia were treated successfully with immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSION: Treatment of patients with PGNMID was successful in most cases. Complement involvement as well as monoclonal and mixed cryoglobulinemia were relatively common in our cohort, with the first two generally associated with unsuccessful treatment and the latter with successful treatment.

Renal Tissue miRNA Expression Profiles in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis-A Comparative Analysis.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises autoimmune disease entities that cause target organ damage due to relapsing-remitting small vessel necrotizing vasculitis, and which affects various vascular beds. The pathogenesis of AAV is incompletely understood, which translates to considerable disease- and treatment-related morbidity and mortality. Recent advances have implicated microRNAs (miRNAs) in AAV; however, their accurate characterization in renal tissue is lacking. The goal of this study was to identify the intrarenal miRNA expression profile in AAV relative to healthy, non-inflammatory and inflammatory controls to identify candidate-specific miRNAs. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded renal biopsy tissue samples from 85 patients were obtained. Comprehensive miRNA expression profiles were performed using panels with 752 miRNAs and revealed 17 miRNA that differentiated AAV from both controls. Identified miRNAs were annotated to characterize their involvement in pathways and to define their targets. A considerable subset of differentially expressed miRNAs was related to macrophage and lymphocyte polarization and cytokines previously deemed important in AAV pathogenesis, lending credence to the obtained results. Interestingly, several members of the miR-30 family were detected. However, a validation study of these differentially expressed miRNAs in an independent, larger sample cohort is needed to establish their potential diagnostic utility.

Chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities is a toxin-induced proximal tubular nephropathy.

Almost 30 years after the detection of chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities (CINAC) its etiology remains unknown. To help define this we examined 34 renal biopsies from Sri Lanka, El Salvador, India and France of patients with chronic kidney disease 2-3 and diagnosed with CINAC by light and electron microscopy. In addition to known histopathology, we identified a unique constellation of proximal tubular cell findings including large dysmorphic lysosomes with a light-medium electron-dense matrix containing dispersed dark electron-dense non-membrane bound "aggregates". These aggregates associated with varying degrees of cellular/tubular atrophy, apparent cell fragment shedding and no-weak proximal tubular cell proliferative capacity. Identical lysosomal lesions, identifiable by electron microscopy, were observed in 9% of renal transplant implantation biopsies, but were more prevalent in six month (50%) and 12 month (67%) protocol biopsies and in indication biopsies (76%) of calcineurin inhibitor treated transplant patients. The phenotype was also found associated with nephrotoxic drugs (lomustine, clomiphene, lithium, cocaine) and in some patients with light chain tubulopathy, all conditions that can be directly or indirectly linked to calcineurin pathway inhibition or modulation. One hundred biopsies of normal kidneys, drug/toxin induced nephropathies, and overt proteinuric patients of different etiologies to some extent could demonstrate the light microscopic proximal tubular cell changes, but rarely the electron microscopic lysosomal features. Rats treated with the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine for four weeks developed similar proximal tubular cell lysosomal alterations, which were absent in a dehydration group. Overall, the finding of an identical proximal tubular cell (lysosomal) lesion in CINAC and calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity in different geographic regions suggests a common paradigm where CINAC patients undergo a tubulotoxic mechanism similar to calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity.

Uromodulin and microRNAs in Kidney Transplantation-Association with Kidney Graft Function.

Uromodulin and microRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been investigated as potential biomarkers for kidney graft associated pathology and outcome, with a special focus on biomarkers indicating specific disease processes and kidney graft survival. The study's aim was to determine whether expression of serum uromodulin concentration and selected miRNAs might be related to renal function in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The uromodulin concentration and expression of six selected miRNAs (miR-29c, miR-126, miR-146a, miR-150, miR-155, and miR-223) were determined in the serum of 100 KTRs with stable graft function and chronic kidney disease of all five stages. Kidney graft function was estimated with routine parameters (creatinine, urea, cystatin C, and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration study equations) and precisely measured using chromium-51 labelled ethylenediaminetetraacetic-acid clearance. The selected miRNAs were shown to be independent of kidney graft function, indicating their potential as biomarkers of associated kidney graft disease processes. In contrast, the serum uromodulin level depended entirely on kidney graft function and thus reflected functioning tubules rather than any specific kidney graft injury. However, decreased concentrations of serum uromodulin can be observed in the early course of tubulointerstitial injury, thereby suggesting its useful role as an accurate, noninvasive biomarker of early (subclinical) kidney graft injury.

C3 glomerulopathy in children: Is there still a place for anti-cellular immunosuppression?

AIM: To contribute additional clinical experience to the paucity of reports on C3 glomerulopathy (C3GP) in children, we are reporting our cohort of 11 children with C3GP, emphasizing the therapeutic options in this peculiar entity. METHODS: We describe the incidence, manifestation, histopathology findings, follow-up, treatment and outcome of C3GP in 11 children with C3GP by retrospectively analyzing their clinical charts and renal biopsy reports. RESULTS: Eleven C3GP patients were identified among 240 children who had undergone renal biopsy, accounting for a 4.6% incidence of C3GP. A light microscopy examination showed a membranoproliferative pattern (n = 8), mesangial proliferation (n = 1), a mesangial/membranoproliferative pattern (n = 1) and endocapillary proliferation (n = 1). All children presented with proteinuria of varying degrees, the majority of them with additional hematuria, three with full-blown nephrotic-nephritic syndrome, and two with renal insufficiency at presentation. Very diverse treatments were applied in our cohort of patients, from no specific treatment to different mono or combined anti-cellular immunosuppression treatments, as well as a trial of plasma therapy or eculizumab. Our results are in to some extend in concordance with other studies revealing that an optimal therapy for C3GP is still unknown, but we believe that a trial of classical immunosuppression before eculizumab is still worth trying, while eculizumab can have a beneficial effect, but not in all patients. CONCLUSION: A diverse histological pattern and clinical picture and no known optimal therapy are a hallmark of C3GP.

Acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis and acute rejection in a kidney transplant recipient after zoledronic acid therapy - a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis (AGIN) in native kidneys is most commonly linked to drugs. In allografts, it is a rare complication, and it occurs mostly with infections. CASE PRESENTATION: Our case report presents AGIN with simultaneous acute cellular rejections and acute tubular necrosis in a kidney transplant patient 2 weeks after intravenous application of zoledronic acid. A kidney biopsy showed signs of destructive AGIN with acute cellular rejection. After treatment with methylprednisolone pulses and immunosuppressive therapy modification, rebiopsy confirmed complete regression of AGIN with less intense persistent acute cellular rejection and acute tubular necrosis. Kidney function improved after glucocorticoid and intravenous immunoglobulin G therapy. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case of AGIN related to bisphosphonate zoledronate in a kidney transplant patient with consequent acute cellular rejection. In using intravenous zoledronate infusion in a kidney transplant recipient, we should be aware that it could potentially induce acute granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis and acute rejection.
.

Outcome of polyomavirus nephropathy in renal transplant patients: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Reduction of immunosuppression is a common therapeutic strategy in patients with polyomavirus nephropathy (PVN) but may be associated with acute rejection. This study aimed to evaluate the morphology of PVN in renal biopsies after reduction of immunosuppression. METHODS: Eight of 241 patients who received a kidney transplant between January 2012 and December 2015 presented with BK viremia and biopsy-proven PVN. Morphological evaluation according to Banff criteria and correlation with viremia and kidney function after immunosuppression reduction was performed. RESULTS: PVN grades A and B were diagnosed on average 4.7 months post-transplant in 1 and 7 patients, respectively. Indication biopsies after immunosuppression reduction showed an increase in tubulitis and interstitial inflammation score compared to those at the time of the PVN diagnosis. Surveillance biopsies 1 year after transplantation revealed resolution of interstitial inflammation and tubulitis accompanied by clearance of BK viremia in 4 patients (50%), including 1 patient with rejection. One patient showed residual interstitial inflammation after viral clearance. In these patients, renal function returned to baseline. One patient with persisting low BK virus (BKV) in serum and kidney showed a decrease of tubulointerstitial inflammation but scarring was seen. Rejection occurred in 3 patients (38%). CONCLUSION: PVN-associated interstitial inflammation and tubulitis cannot be differentiated morphologically from T-cell-mediated tubulointerstitial rejection. Significant interstitial inflammation and tubulitis in PVN under low-dose immunosuppression might represent immune reconstitution injury, which is reduced after successful BKV clearance from the serum and kidney. Concomitant rejection in PVN patients on low immunosuppression might be efficiently treated with transient pulse immunosuppressive therapy.
.

Increase in spot urine protein excretion is associated with late kidney graft rejection and predicts rejection phenotype.

AIMS: A noninvasive test that foretells kidney graft rejection before loss of kidney function would be desirable. We hypothesized that an increase in estimated protein excretion rate (ePER) from spot urine samples is associated with graft rejection and predicts rejection phenotype. METHODS: 151 patients who had undergone first-indication kidney biopsy due to graft dysfunction beyond 3 months after transplant were identified from a national cohort of 616 transplant recipients between 2000 and 2012 (25%). ePER were calculated from spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratios at baseline, 3 months before biopsy (ePER-3m), and at the time of biopsy (ePERbiopsy) and were correlated with histologic biopsy findings. RESULTS: Levels of ePER 3 months before biopsy and at the time of biopsy were greater in 32 patients with antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) than in 77 patients with T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) and 42 patients with other findings (median ePER-3m 912 vs. 320 vs. 232 mg/day/1.73m2; and median ePERbiopsy 1,672 vs. 356 vs. 268 mg/day/1.73m2; p < 0.001). Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analyses demonstrated that ePER-3m and ePERbiopsy had good diagnostic accuracy to discriminate between biopsy specimens showing ABMR vs. those showing TCMR or other histologic findings (area under the ROC curve 0.84, 95% CI 0.75 - 0.93 and 0.89, 95% CI 0.82 - 0.97, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An increase in ePER before kidney graft dysfunction appears to be associated with graft rejection and predicts ABMR phenotype.
.

Tubular urinary indexes reliably distinguish between primary tubulointerstitial and primary glomerular diseases in patients referred for kidney biopsy.

AIMS: Kidney biopsy remains the gold standard for accurately diagnosing renal diseases. Urinalysis and assessment of renal function are the cornerstones for assessment of patients prior to biopsy. There is significant overlap in the results of routine urine parameters (proteinuria, erythrocyturia, leukocyturia) among different kidney diseases, which hinders the possibility of adequately estimating disease etiology prior to the biopsy. The aim of our study was to assess whether diverse markers of glomerular and tubular proteinuria - urinary albumin, IgG, α-1-microglobulin (α-1-m) and N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) - are capable of distinguishing between patients with primary tubulointerstitial (TID) and primary glomerular disease (GLOM). METHODS: Our study is a retrospective, single-center, consecutive case series of patients referred for kidney biopsy. We analyzed routine urinalysis results performed on a second morning urine sample immediately prior to the biopsy. RESULTS: Patients with TID had significantly higher values of α-1-m and NAG, with lower values of albumin and IgG in the urine compared to patients with GLOM. Three tubular urinary indexes had high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing TID from GLOM: NAG/albumin, α-1-m/proteinuria, and α-1-m/albumin, with the highest values in the latter index (96.6% and 98.2%, respectively, cut-off point ≥ 0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Prior to kidney biopsy, tubular urinary indexes may present a valuable tool in distinguishing patients with TID from patients with GLOM.
.

Rituximab for the treatment of membranous nephropathy: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy with rituximab was introduced more than a decade ago following experimental data that suggested involvement of B-cell-mediated reactions in its pathogenesis. It was a logical step towards a more selective therapy with less severe side effects as compared to the recommended first-line immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and different immunosuppressant drugs. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the anonymous data of patients who were treated with rituximab for idiopathic membranous nephropathy at our institution from January 2006 to July 2016. Daily proteinuria and serum creatinine were analyzed 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after rituximab application. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to proteinuria. We separately analyzed remission rates in the whole group and in groups with different quantity of daily proteinuria. Other history data and laboratory parameters were also compared within different groups of patients. RESULTS: The study involved 29 rituximab treatments in 26 patients: 7 (26.9%) female and 19 (73.1%) male patients. In 16 out of 29 treatment cases (55.1%), patients had been previously treated with cyclophosphamide and steroids, or cyclosporine with low dose of steroids, or both. In 72.4% of patients, antiphospholipase A2 receptor antibodies were present. In 2 cases of treatment (6.9%), patients received rituximab 375 mg/m2 of body surface area in 3 and 4 weekly doses, respectively. In all other cases, repeated rituximab applications were given as needed according to the levels of circulating CD-20 B-cells. The total remission rate in our cohort of patients was 37.9% (11 out of 29 cases). The average serum creatinine in the group of patients who achieved remission was significantly lower than in the group without remission (86.5 vs. 155.5 µmol/L, p = 0.003). There was no difference in the duration of the disease prior to treatment with rituximab between the groups (53.6 and 56.4 months, respectively). The remission rate was highest in the group with daily proteinuria less than 4 g per day (83.3%). There were no remissions in the group of patients with daily proteinuria more than 12 g per day. CONCLUSION: The remission rate after rituximab treatment in our cohort of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy was lower than in other studies. The reason for this is possibly the application of a single dose of rituximab in the majority of patients, which might have been insufficient in patients with higher proteinuria.
.