Chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology in Sri Lanka is a possible sequel of interstitial nephritis!

INTRODUCTION: The majority of published data on chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) is on asymptomatic patients who were detected in screening programs. The clinicopathological profile of a group of patients presenting with acute symptoms and renal dysfunction from CKDu endemic regions in Sri Lanka was studied. METHODS: 59 patients > 10 years of age with backache, feverish fatigue feeling, dysuria, joint pain, or dyspepsia, singly or in combination with elevated serum creatinine (> 116 and > 98 µmol/L for male and females, respectively) were included in the study. Those patients who had normal-sized kidneys were biopsied after excluding clinically detectable causes for renal dysfunction. Histology was scored with activity and chronicity indices. These patients' urinary sediment and inflammatory markers were checked. Patients were stratified into three groups based on duration of symptom onset to the time of biopsy. The natural course of the disease was described using serial mean serum creatinine and histological activity as well as chronicity indices in these 3 groups. RESULTS: These patients' mean age, occupation, and sex ratio were 44 (9) years, 57 farmers, and male : female 55 : 4, respectively. Mean serum creatinine at biopsy was 143.8 (47.9) µmol/L. Elevated inflammatory markers and active urine sediment were reported. Histology was compatible with an interstitial nephritis with a mixture of acute and chronic tubulointerstitial lesions and glomerular scarring. In the natural course of an acute episode of CKDu, serum creatinine and histological activity were reduced while histological chronicity increased. CONCLUSION: CKDu may be preceded by an acute episode of tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN).

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome presenting as antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Primary antiphospholipid syndrome can be a difficult diagnosis in the absence of typical clinical features. We describe an unusual presentation of primary antiphospholipid syndrome mimicking vasculitis for which the only diagnostic clue on initial presentation was antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old Sri Lankan woman presented with features mimicking vasculitis with no obvious clinical features of antiphospholipid syndrome. Classical symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome only appeared months later. A retrospective analysis showed that the only evidence of antiphospholipid syndrome at her first presentation was antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy on her renal biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: A high degree of suspicion of antiphospholipid syndrome is needed when patients present with non-specific vasculitis features. It has a broad clinical impact as antiphospholipid syndrome can present to any clinician with rare manifestations such as nephropathy. This significantly adds to the advancement of knowledge as antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy should be recognized as a true entity and considered as a classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome.

Long term outcome of acute kidney injury due to leptospirosis? A longitudinal study in Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease of variable severity and is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in tropics. However the knowledge on long term renal outcome in leptospirosis is scarce. This study aims to assess the long-term renal outcome of AKI caused by leptospirosis. FINDINGS: Hospital records of patients who had developed AKI following leptospirosis (Serologically confirmed) presented to two Teaching Hospitals in Kandy district over 3 years from 2007 were studied. A total of 44 patients were included and they had been followed up at least for one year in out patient clinics with regular assessment including renal status. Renal histology was studied in two patients. The primary outcome measure was normalization of renal function at one year. Of the 44 patients, 31 were in the risk and injury stage (Group 1), and the rest of them were in the failure stage (Group 2) under RIFLE criteria. Of group 2 patients, 11 had abnormal renal functions on discharge. Their mean serum creatinine and GFR values on discharge were 392 mmol/l and 20 ml/min/1.73 m2. Other two patients had full renal recovery whilst in the hospital. Nine in the group 2 required renal replacement therapy by means of peritoneal dialysis, intermittent haemodialysis or haemofiltration. Seventeen out of the total had persistently abnormal renal functions on discharge. Of them 13 recovered their renal functions to normal. Four patients (9%) who belonged to group 2, had persistently abnormal renal functions after first year compatible with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renal histology of two patients showed tubulointerstitial lymphocyte infiltrate, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. CONCLUSION: The long term renal outcome of AKI following leptospirosis is satisfactory as only 9% of patients had abnormal renal functions compatible with early stage of CKD. Even among them, advanced CKD or dialysis dependency had not been observed.