RESUMO
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-systemic disorder affecting almost all systems of the body. Involvement of the kidney in this condition is known as lupus nephritis (LN). LN is one of the important disease manifestations of SLE with considerable influence on patient outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality. A 33-year-old female came to the OPD with complaints of abdominal pain, infrequent loose stools since 4 months. The patient also had joint pain, predominantly small joints, since 2 months. Patient was admitted and all routine investigations were done. Patient underwent an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) and colonoscopy for her abdominal pain and loose stools which did not respond to routine medication. Grossly there was edema present in the oesophagus and colon which on microscopy showed eosinophilic infiltration. Urine routine of the patient showed protein 1+and 24-hour urine protein quantification of 1427 mg/24 h. On further evaluation patient was found to have a positive ANA blot (dsDNA, AMAM2, Ro52 and Sm). The patient was planned for a renal biopsy in view of the proteinuria and positive ANA blot. The patient underwent a renal biopsy under USG guidance and was found to have Lupus nephritis Class 3 (ISN RPS staging). SLE is a multi-organ involving disease which if not diagnosed at the earliest can have serious complications and lead to end stage organ failure and even death. Atypical presentations often pose a diagnostic dilemma and may delay diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can give patients of SLE a long and normal life. Diagnostic guidelines have helped in the diagnosis of such atypical presentations.
RESUMO
An 11-year-old patient presented with the primary complaint of hematuria and vomiting. On further investigation and a series of diagnostic tests, including a biopsy and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) profile, the patient was diagnosed with thrombotic microangiopathy. TMA is a pathological process involving endothelial cell injury, leading to thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. This case highlights the importance of considering TMA in pediatric patients presenting with nonspecific symptoms, such as loss of appetite. Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiology and optimal management strategies for pediatric TMA. This case adds to the growing body of literature on pediatric TMA and underscores the need for a high index of suspicion in similar clinical scenarios.
RESUMO
Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is a form of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with acute deterioration of kidney function. Atypical forms of this disease have been described which do not show positive serology for the classical anti-GBM antibody (Ab) but their presence on kidney biopsies. Furthermore, concomitantly any other separate glomerular pathology along with anti-GBM disease has been only rarely seen. A 40-year-old male patient presented with complaints of lower limb swelling and hematuria. Initial blood investigations revealed nephrotic range proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. The patient underwent a renal biopsy. Initial reports showed the presence of "linear" deposits for immunoglobulin G (IgG) Ab and crescent formation in the majority of glomeruli. Treatment with plasmapheresis was initiated for the same. Electron microscopy, which later revealed subepithelial deposits raised suspicion of concomitant membranous nephropathy (MN). This finding was confirmed with a staining biopsy block with an anti-PLA2R Ab stain. Treatment was initiated to treat both glomerular pathologies, which very rarely present together and do not have standard guidelines for treatment. The patient responded to treatment with a reduction in serum creatinine values and did not require maintenance hemodialysis. There have been only a handful of documented cases, only in the form of a few case series that have described the presence of both anti-GBM disease and MN in the same kidney biopsy.
RESUMO
Background Diabetic nephropathy is one of the important causes of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Of the various cytokines playing a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1) is an important one. Its major role is to mediate extracellular matrix deposition. Increased renal expression of TGF-ß1 is found in diabetic nephropathy and its urinary excretion can serve as a useful marker of outcomes. Material and methods A prospective observational study was conducted, which included 10 cases of diabetic nephropathy in group A with age ≥ 18 years and a urinary protein creatinine ratio (UPCR) value of > 0.5 mg/mg and 10 healthy controls in group B. Patients with active urinary tract infection, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage Vd patients on maintenance hemodialysis, and renal transplant recipients were excluded from the study. Urinary TGF-ß1 level estimation in a 24-hour urine sample, 24-hour urine protein, and other baseline laboratory investigations were done. Results In diabetic nephropathy cases (group A), the mean value of urinary TGF-ß1 levels was 88.33± 12.44 ng/24 hours. In the control group (group B), the mean value of urinary TGF-ß1 was 29.03 ± 3.23 ng/24 hours. Urinary TGF-ß1 levels were significantly elevated in group A as compared to group B (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between urinary TGF-ß1 levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r=0.376, p= 0.285) as well as the urinary TGF-ß1 levels and 24-hour urine protein levels (p = 0.334, r = 0.341) in diabetic nephropathy cases. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels didn't correlate with the urinary TGF-ß1 levels (r = -0.265, p = 0.46). Conclusion The urinary TGF-ß1 levels were significantly elevated in diabetic nephropathy patients as compared to healthy controls. There was no significant correlation between urinary TGF-ß1 levels and proteinuria, eGFR, or HbA1c levels in diabetic nephropathy patients.
RESUMO
Background Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation is pivotal in the evaluation of kidney donors. There are various methods available for assessing GFR, but there has been a lack of consensus on the measurement of GFR and the frequency of renal evaluation after kidney donation. Our study aims to analyze the measured GFR (m-GFR) before and three months after kidney donation and note the compensatory abilities of the remnant kidney in live related kidney donors. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Nephrology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, from April 2021 to December 2022. The study included 30 donors from both genders aged between 23 and 73 years. The measured GFR was calculated using a technetium-99m diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Tc-99m DTPA) scan. We analyzed donor characteristics and various parameters that included demography, anthropometry, blood pressure, and serum creatinine and measured GFR (m-GFR) using a Tc-99m DTPA scan, which was compared before and three months after donor nephrectomy. Results Of the 30 donors, 25 (83.3%) were females and five (16.7%) were males. The mean age of donors was 49.23 ± 12.29 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was noted to be 24.73 ± 5.58 kg/m2, whereas the mean body surface area (BSA) was 1.59 ± 0.12 m2. In terms of the measured GFR by DTPA scan, pre-donation and post-donation, the average GFR for our population was 103.83 ± 10.07 mL/minute/1.73 m2 and 60.47±6.57 mL/minute/1.73 m2, respectively. The mean measured GFR of remnant kidney increased by 9.21 ± 4.39 mL/minute/1.73 m2 in 28 donors, while two donors had a fall in the mean measured GFR by 6.8 ± 1.69 mL/minute/1.73 m2. Conclusions To safeguard donor health, accurate measurement of GFR at various timelines after kidney donation should be considered as there are various limitations associated with the use of serum creatinine-based GFR estimating equations for solitary kidneys. However, long-term studies are required to analyze the changes in GFR after nephrectomy and determine the adequacy of compensatory changes in the remnant kidney post-kidney donation.
RESUMO
A male adult patient on maintenance haemodialysis due to end-stage diabetic nephropathy presented with low-grade intermittent fever, cough and generalised weakness for 3 weeks. Initial blood investigations revealed an elevated neutrophil count with raised inflammatory markers. Chest CT revealed loculated hydropneumothorax with multiple cavitary nodules. Repeated blood cultures from the cuffed tunnelled catheter site and the right arm and sputum cultures were negative for pyogenic bacteria and yeast aetiology. The patient complained about left axillary pain on the fourth day of admission. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration from an axillary focal collection and subsequent culture revealed a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Echocardiography detected multiple vegetations on the tricuspid valve. The patient responded clinically to vancomycin and removal of the permanent catheter. This was a case of a tunnelled catheter-related metastatic MRSA infection with infective endocarditis, pulmonary septic embolism with a subacute presentation, and repeated blood culture negativity.
Assuntos
Cateteres Venosos Centrais , Endocardite Bacteriana , Endocardite , Falência Renal Crônica , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina , Embolia Pulmonar , Adulto , Masculino , Humanos , Abscesso/diagnóstico por imagem , Endocardite Bacteriana/complicações , Endocardite Bacteriana/diagnóstico , Falência Renal Crônica/complicações , Falência Renal Crônica/terapia , Diálise RenalRESUMO
Background The role of T-regulatory cells (Tregs) in inflammatory renal disease is not yet established. We attempted to study peripherally circulating T-cells expressing RORγt+Foxp3+ dynamics in acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Aim To determine the role of T-regulatory cells in AKI and CKD. Research methodology This is a cross-sectional study conducted between January 2019 to January 2021 at a single tertiary care centre in Pune, India. Candidates enrolled in the study were either patients with CKD not on maintenance hemodialysis or newly diagnosed cases of AKI. Kidney transplant recipients, patients with autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), IgA nephropathy, or those receiving immuno-suppressants were excluded. T-lymphocytes were analyzed using a flow cytometer. Results We studied 80 patients with kidney injury, 40 each belonging to the AKI and CKD study groups and 10 healthy volunteers as controls. The rationale behind having a small control group was to merely get an idea of T helper 17 (Th17):Treg ratio and different immune cell-phenotype profiles in healthy volunteers without kidney injury, diabetes, hypertension or any other risk factors. The ratio of RORγt:Foxp3 was ≤ 1 in these individuals (control group) while this ratio was significantly altered (MFI RORγt:Foxp3 ≥1) in the AKI/CKD study arm. We examined peripherally circulating T-lymphocytes in acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, comparing their activity to healthy volunteers. Biopsy-proven kidney injury patients (29/80) were also included in this study. We found that the ratio of RORγt:Foxp3 was altered in patients with kidney injury (acute and chronic) and was statistically significant compared to controls, indicating that injury may be attributed to T-cell dysfunction. Conclusion Our study provides some evidence of T-cell dysfunction in the pathology of kidney injury in acute and chronic kidney disease via activity of Foxp3 and RORγt. We found that there is evidence of altered Th17/Treg activity in kidney injury, more prevalent in acute than chronic, when compared to healthy volunteers.
RESUMO
Aim. This study seeks to review the psychosocial factors affecting patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) from a tertiary hospital in Australia. Methods. We audited patients with ESKD, referred to social work services from January 2012 to December 2014. All patients underwent psychosocial assessments by one, full-time renal social worker. Patient demographics, cumulative social issues, and subsequent interventions were recorded directly into a database. Results. Of the 244 patients referred, the majority were >60 years (58.6%), male (60.7%), born in Australia (62.3%), on haemodialysis (51.6%), and reliant on government financial assistance (88%). Adjustment issues (41%), financial concerns (38.5%), domestic assistance (35.2%), and treatment nonadherence (21.3%) were the predominant reasons for social work consultation. Younger age, referral prior to start of dialysis, and unemployment were significant independent predictors of increased risk of adjustment issues (p = 0.004, <0.001, and =0.018, resp.). Independent risk factors for treatment nonadherence included age and financial and employment status (p = 0.041, 0.052, and 0.008, resp.). Conclusion. Psychosocial and demographic factors were associated with treatment nonadherence and adjustment difficulties. Additional social work support and counselling, in addition to financial assistance from government and nongovernment agencies, may help to improve adjustment to the diagnosis and treatment plans as patients approach ESKD.