Transient acute kidney injury after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in patients with hematological malignancies.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 30% of patients infused with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors and long-term outcomes after AKI in patients who received CAR T-cell therapy. Methods: Medical records of 115 adult patients with R/R hematological malignancies treated with CD19-targeted CAR T-cells at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital between July 2018 and May 2021. Baseline demographic data including age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and co-morbidities, as well as the type of hematological neoplasia and prior lines of therapy were collected. Laboratory parameters including serum creatinine and whole blood hemoglobin were retrospectively reviewed and values were gathered for days +1, +7, +14, +21, and +28 post-infusion. Results: A total of 24/115 (21%) patients developed AKI related to CAR T-cell therapy; 6/24 with AKI over chronic kidney disease (CKD). Two patients had AKI in the context of lymphodepleting (LD) chemotherapy and the other 22 after CAR T-cell infusion, starting at day+1 in 3 patients, day+7 in 13 patients, day +14 in 1 patient, day+21 in 2 patients, and day+28 in 3 patients. Renal function was recovered in 19/24 (79%) patients within the first month after infusion. Male gender, CKD, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) were associated with AKI. Male gender, CKD, ICANS grade ≥3 and CRS grade ≥2 were identified as independent risk factors for AKI on multivariable analysis. In terms of the most frequent CAR T-cell related complications, CRS was observed in 95 (82%) patients and ICANS in 33 (29%) patients. Steroids were required in 34 (30%) patients and tocilizumab in 37 (32%) patients. Six (5%) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (1 for septic shock, 4 for CRS grade ≥2 associated to ICANS grade ≥2, and 1 for CRS grade ≥3). A total of 5 (4.4%) patients died in the first 30 days after CAR T-cell infusion for reasons other than disease progression, including 4 cases of infectious complications and 1 of heart failure. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AKI is a frequent but mild adverse event, with fast recovery in most patients.

The coexistence of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy is associated with worse kidney outcomes.

Background: Up to 50-60% of patients with diabetes have non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD) on kidney biopsy. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes frequently associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN). The objective of the current study was to investigate the kidney outcomes and survival in patients with biopsy diagnoses of DN and NDKD according to the presence of DR. Methods: We conducted an observational, multicentre and retrospective study of the pathological findings of renal biopsies from 832 consecutive patients with diabetes from 2002 to 2014 from 18 nephrology departments. The association of DR with kidney replacement therapy (KRT) or survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results: Of 832 patients with diabetes and renal biopsy, 768 had a retinal examination and 221/768 (22.6%) had DR. During a follow-up of 10 years, 288/760 (37.9%) patients with follow-up data needed KRT and 157/760 (20.7%) died. The incidence of KRT was higher among patients with DN (alone or with NDKD) and DR [103/175 (58.9%)] than among patients without DR [88/216 (40.7%), P < .0001]. The incidence of KRT was also higher among patients with only NDKD and DR than among those without DR [18/46 (39.1%) versus 79/331 (23.9%), P < .0001]. In multivariate analysis, DR or DN were independent risk factors for KRT {hazard ratio [HR] 2.48 [confidence interval (CI) 1.85-3.31], P < .001}. DN (with or without DR) was also identified as an independent risk factor for mortality [HR 1.81 (CI 1.26-2.62), P = .001]. Conclusions: DR is associated with a higher risk of progression to kidney failure in patients with histological DN and in patients with NDKD.

Role of light chain clearance in the recovery of renal function in multiple myeloma: another point of view.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) requiring renal replacement treatment (RRT) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early reduction of serum free light chains (FLC) using both targeted therapy against MM and intensive hemodialysis (IHD) may improve renal outcomes. We evaluated the effectiveness of two different RRT techniques on renal recovery in an MM patient population: standard dialysis procedure vs IHD with either polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion (HFR). Methods: This was a multicentric retrospective study with severe AKI related to MM, between 2011 and 2018. Twenty-five consecutive patients with AKI secondary to MM requiring RRT were included. Patients that underwent IHD received six dialysis sessions per week during the first 14 days (PMMA vs HFR). All patients were diagnosed with de novo MM or first relapsed MM. Primary outcome was renal recovery defined as dialysis-free at 6 months follow-up. Results: A total of 25 patients were included. Seventeen patients received IHD and eight standard dialysis. All patients were treated with targeted therapy, 84% bortezomib-based. Of the 25 patients included, 14 (56%) became dialysis independent. We observed a higher proportion of patients who received IHD in the group who recovered kidney function compared with those who remained in HD (92.9% vs 36.4%, P = .007). In our study, the use of IHD to remove FLC had a statistically significant association with renal recovery compared with the standard dialysis group (P = .024). Conclusion: Early reduction of FLC with IHD as an adjuvant treatment along with MM-targeted therapy may exert a positive impact on renal recovery.

Epidemiology of Immune-Mediated Glomerulopathies before and after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: A Tertiary Referral Hospital Experience.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is a known trigger for the appearance of immune-mediated glomerulopathies (IMG). The appearance of IMG after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with suspected causality has been described. Our aim is to analyze the incidence of IMG flares before and after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in our center. METHODS: All persons with native kidney biopsy (KB) from January 2019 to March 2022 in our center were included in the study. We compared the incidence of IMG before and after the start of vaccination. We also collected information about whether the patients had received a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine or have suffered from COVID in the six weeks before the IMG. We also evaluated the analytical characteristics of the outbreaks. RESULTS: A total of 386 KB were studied. Of them, 86/218 (39.4%) were IMG performed pre- and 85/168 (50.6%) post-SV (029). The incidence of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), studied separately, was also significantly increased post-vaccination (n = 18 (10.7%)) compared to pre-vaccination (n = 11 (5%)) (p = 0.036). There were no differences in the incidence of vasculitis or IgA nephropathy. Up to 17 (20%) flares occurred 6 weeks before SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and only 2 (2.4%) within the first 6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Within those 17 flares, the most common diagnosis was IgAN (n = 5 (29.4%)); a total of 14 (82.4%) received an mRNA vaccine and 9 (52.9%) took place after the 1st vaccine dose. There were 13 cases of minimal change disease (MCD) with debut/recurrence pre-SV and 20 MCD with debut/recurrence post-SV (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IMG, INS and MCD flares in our center increased significantly after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Importantly, 20% of IMG flares took place within the first 6 weeks after receiving a vaccine dose, with the first dose being the riskiest one and IgAN the most frequent diagnosis.

The Presence of ANCA in IgA Crescentic Nephropathy Does Not Lead to Worse Prognosis with Intensive Rescue Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide. The concomitant presence of both crescentic proliferation and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) in this pathology represents a rare coincidence. However, it is not clear to what extent the presence of ANCA (IgA or IgG) in these patients could have any clinical significance. The aim of the current work is to describe the presence of ANCA (IgA or IgG) in patients with IgAN and crescentic proliferation and its possible clinical implications. METHODS: We retrospectively recruited all patients in our center with a histological diagnosis of IgAN with crescentic proliferation between January 2013 and December 2020. The main demographic and clinicopathologic data, fundamental histological characteristics, as well as the treatments implemented and main kidney outcomes, were collected and analyzed at a 6 and 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: Between January 2013 and December 2020, a total of 17 adults were diagnosed with concomitant crescentic proliferation through a kidney biopsy of IgAN. Five (29.4%) patients showed ANCA, three (60%) showed IgA-ANCA and two (40%) showed IgG-ANCA. All ANCA-positive patients had some degree of crescentic proliferation. At diagnosis, the mean age of patients was 48 years old (range: 27-75). Nine of them were women (52%) and the most common clinical presentation was hypertension (71%). At the time of biopsy, the mean serum creatinine and proteinuria were 2.2 mg/dL (DS 1.42) and 3.5 g/mgCr (DS 1.22), respectively, with no statistical differences between ANCA-positive and -negative patients. Histological analyses showed that 11 out of the 12 (91%) ANCA-negative IgAN patients displayed less than 25% cellular crescents, whereas 100% of ANCA-positive IgAN patients displayed more than 25% cellular crescents (p = 0.04). Notably, five (30%) patients displayed fibrinoid necrosis, with four of them (80%) being IgAN-ANCA-positive (p = 0.01). Only one ANCA-negative patient needed renal replacement therapy (RRT) upon admission (5%). The mean serum creatinine and proteinuria were 1.94 mg/dL (DS 1.71) and 1.45 g/gCr (DS 1.78), respectively, within 6 months of immunosuppressive therapy. At 12-month follow-up, the mean creatinine was 1.57 mg/dL (DS 1). Four (23.5%) patients needed RRT at the end of the follow-up and four (23.5%) patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Probably due to the limited number of IgAN-ANCA-positive and IgAN-ANCA-negative patients, no significant differences were found between the clinical and laboratory characteristics. IgAN-ANCA-negative patients seemed to display less extracapillary proliferation than IgAN-ANCA-positive patients, who tended to show significantly higher fibrinoid necrosis. There were no differences regarding renal prognosis and patient survival after aggressive immunosuppressive therapy within 6 and 12 months when comparing the two samples.

Expert Clinical Management of Severe Immune-Related Adverse Events: Results from a Multicenter Survey on Hot Topics for Management.

There are differences in recommendations for the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). To assess the real-world management of irAEs, three surveys regarding ICI-induced hepatitis (IIH), renal irAEs, and myositis were developed and sent to experts in each area. Fifty-six surveys were completed (17 IIH, 20 renal irAEs, and 19 myositis). All experts agreed on performing imaging in every suspected case of severe IIH. Sixty-five percent agreed on performing a liver biopsy in patients not responding to corticosteroids. The most common indication for corticosteroid use (59%) was for severe IIH not improving after discontinuation of ICIs. Additionally, 60% of the experts agreed on performing a biopsy for stage 2/3 acute kidney injury (AKI), and 70% recommended imaging for any stage of AKI. Thirty-five percent favored corticosteroids in AKI patients with creatinine levels 2-3-fold above baseline. For myositis, 58% would recommend a muscle biopsy in a patient with weakness and creatine kinase levels of 5000 U/L; 47% would also opt for an endomyocardial biopsy when the troponin levels are increased. Fifty-eight percent recommended oral corticosteroids for myositis, and 37% recommended additional therapy, mainly immunoglobulins. These results show substantial differences in expert practice patterns for the management of severe liver, kidney, and muscular irAEs.

COVID-19 infection and renal injury: where is the place for acute interstitial nephritis disease?

Novel coronavirus disease infection (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic in March 2020 and since then has become a major public health problem. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection and acute kidney injury (AKI) is variable depending on several factors such as race/ethnicity and severity of illness. The pathophysiology of renal involvement in COVID-19 infection is not entirely clear, but it could be in part explained by the viral tropism in the kidney parenchyma. AKI in COVID-19 infection can be either by direct invasion of the virus or as a consequence of immunologic response. Diverse studies have focused on the effect of COVID-19 on glomerulonephritis (GN) patients or the 'novo' GN; however, the effect of COVID-19 in acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) has been scarcely studied. In this article, we present five cases with different spectrums of COVID-19 infection and ATIN that may suggest that recent diagnosis of ATIN is accompanied by a worse clinical prognosis in comparison with long-term diagnosed ATIN.

Immunotherapy and the Spectrum of Kidney Disease: Should We Individualize the Treatment?

The new targeted cancer therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been demonstrated to improve the survival of oncological patients, even in cases of metastatic cancer. In the past 5 years, several studies have revealed that ICI can produce several immune-mediated toxicities involving different organs, such as the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, and, of course, the kidney. The most frequent lesion of immunotoxicity in the kidney is acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), although other nephropathies have also been described as a consequence of the use of ICI, such as glomerulonephritis and acute thrombotic microangiopathy, among others. In addition, kidney rejection has also been reported in kidney transplant patients treated with ICI. Normally randomized clinical trials with ICI exclude patients with end-stage kidney disease, namely, patients undergoing dialysis and kidney transplant patients. Several important questions need to be addressed in relation to immunotherapy and patients with kidney disease: (a) when to start corticosteroid therapy in a patient with suspected acute kidney injury (AKI) related to ICI, (b) the moment of nephrologist referral and kidney biopsy indication, (c) management of ICI in patients undergoing dialysis, and (d) the effect of ICI in kidney transplantation, immunosuppressive personalized treatment, and risk of allograft rejection in kidney transplant patients. The objective of this review was to summarize the recently published literature on a wide spectrum of kidney disease patients with cancer and ICI. This review will address three main important groups of individuals with kidney disease and cancer immunotherapy, AKI associated with ICI, patients undergoing dialysis, and kidney transplant recipients. We believe that the information provided in this review will enlighten the personalized ICI treatment in individuals with a broader spectrum of kidney diseases.

Safety of Obtaining an Extra Biobank Kidney Biopsy Core.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kidney biopsy (KB) is the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of nephropathies and it is a diagnostic tool that presents a low rate of complications. Nowadays, biobank collections of renal tissue of patients with proven renal pathology are essential for research in nephrology. To provide enough tissue for the biobank collection, it is usually needed to obtain an extra kidney core at the time of kidney biopsy. The objective of our study is to evaluate the complications after KB and to analyze whether obtaining an extra core increases the risk of complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study of KBs performed at Vall d'Hebron Hospital between 2019 and 2020. All patients who accepted to participate to our research biobank of native kidney biopsies were included to the study. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed and we studied risk factors associated with complications. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients were included, mean age 56.6 (±16.8) years, 130 (58.8%) were men, creatinine was 2.24 (±1.94) mg/dL, proteinuria 1.56 (0.506-3.590) g/24 h, hemoglobin 12.03 (±2.3) g/dL, INR 0.99 (±0.1), and prothrombin time (PT) 11.86 (±1.2) s. A total of 38 patients (17.2%) presented complications associated with the procedure: 13.1% were minor complications, 11.3% (n = 25) required blood transfusion, 1.4% (n = 3) had severe hematomas, 2.3% (n = 5) required embolization, and 0.5% (n = 1) presented arterio-venous fistula. An increased risk for complication was independently associated with obtaining a single kidney core (vs. 2 and 3 cores) (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: KB is an invasive and safe procedure with a low percentage of complications. Obtaining an extra kidney core for research does not increase the risk of complications during the intervention, which remains low in concordance with previously published reports.

Acute kidney injury in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated acute kidney injury (ICPi-AKI) has emerged as an important toxicity among patients with cancer. METHODS: We collected data on 429 patients with ICPi-AKI and 429 control patients who received ICPis contemporaneously but who did not develop ICPi-AKI from 30 sites in 10 countries. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ICPi-AKI and its recovery. A multivariable Cox model was used to estimate the effect of ICPi rechallenge versus no rechallenge on survival following ICPi-AKI. RESULTS: ICPi-AKI occurred at a median of 16 weeks (IQR 8-32) following ICPi initiation. Lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, and extrarenal immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were each associated with a higher risk of ICPi-AKI. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis was the most common lesion on kidney biopsy (125/151 biopsied patients [82.7%]). Renal recovery occurred in 276 patients (64.3%) at a median of 7 weeks (IQR 3-10) following ICPi-AKI. Treatment with corticosteroids within 14 days following ICPi-AKI diagnosis was associated with higher odds of renal recovery (adjusted OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.58 to 4.41). Among patients treated with corticosteroids, early initiation of corticosteroids (within 3 days of ICPi-AKI) was associated with a higher odds of renal recovery compared with later initiation (more than 3 days following ICPi-AKI) (adjusted OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.16 to 3.79). Of 121 patients rechallenged, 20 (16.5%) developed recurrent ICPi-AKI. There was no difference in survival among patients rechallenged versus those not rechallenged following ICPi-AKI. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who developed ICPi-AKI were more likely to have impaired renal function at baseline, use a PPI, and have extrarenal irAEs. Two-thirds of patients had renal recovery following ICPi-AKI. Treatment with corticosteroids was associated with improved renal recovery.

A Nephrologist Perspective on Obesity: From Kidney Injury to Clinical Management.

Obesity is one of the epidemics of our era. Its prevalence is higher than 30% in the U.S. and it is estimated to increase by 50% in 2030. Obesity is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality and it is known to be a cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Typically, obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) is ascribed to renal hemodynamic changes that lead to hyperfiltration, albuminuria and, finally, impairment in glomerular filtration rate due to glomerulosclerosis. Though not only hemodynamics are responsible for ORG: adipokines could cause local effects on mesangial and tubular cells and podocytes promoting maladaptive responses to hyperfiltration. Furthermore, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, two conditions generally associated with obesity, are both amplifiers of obesity injury in the renal parenchyma, as well as complications of overweight. As in the native kidney, obesity is also related to worse outcomes in kidney transplantation. Despite its impact in CKD and cardiovascular morbility and mortality, therapeutic strategies to fight against obesity-related CKD were limited for decades to renin-angiotensin blockade and bariatric surgery for patients who accomplished very restrictive criteria. Last years, different drugs have been approved or are under study for the treatment of obesity. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are promising in obesity-related CKD since they have shown benefits in terms of losing weight in obese patients, as well as preventing the onset of macroalbuminuria and slowing the decline of eGFR in type 2 diabetes. These new families of glucose-lowering drugs are a new frontier to be crossed by nephrologists to stop obesity-related CKD progression.

Risk factors for non-diabetic renal disease in diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients with kidney disease have a high prevalence of non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD). Renal and patient survival regarding the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) or NDRD have not been widely studied. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of NDRD in patients with diabetes and to determine the capacity of clinical and analytical data in the prediction of NDRD. In addition, we will study renal and patient prognosis according to the renal biopsy findings in patients with diabetes. METHODS: Retrospective multicentre observational study of renal biopsies performed in patients with diabetes from 2002 to 2014. RESULTS: In total, 832 patients were included: 621 men (74.6%), mean age of 61.7 ± 12.8 years, creatinine was 2.8 ± 2.2 mg/dL and proteinuria 2.7 (interquartile range: 1.2-5.4) g/24 h. About 39.5% (n = 329) of patients had DN, 49.6% (n = 413) NDRD and 10.8% (n = 90) mixed forms. The most frequent NDRD was nephroangiosclerosis (NAS) (n = 87, 9.3%). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.05, P < 0.001], microhaematuria (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.03-2.21, P = 0.033) and absence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.19-0.42, P < 0.001) were independently associated with NDRD. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with DN or mixed forms presented worse renal prognosis than NDRD (P < 0.001) and higher mortality (P = 0.029). In multivariate Cox analyses, older age (P < 0.001), higher serum creatinine (P < 0.001), higher proteinuria (P < 0.001), DR (P = 0.007) and DN (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for renal replacement therapy. In addition, older age (P < 0.001), peripheral vascular disease (P = 0.002), higher creatinine (P = 0.01) and DN (P = 0.015) were independent risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent cause of NDRD is NAS. Elderly patients with microhaematuria and the absence of DR are the ones at risk for NDRD. Patients with DN presented worse renal prognosis and higher mortality than those with NDRD. These results suggest that in some patients with diabetes, kidney biopsy may be useful for an accurate renal diagnosis and subsequently treatment and prognosis.

The current role of renal biopsy in diabetic patients.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a worldwide health problem due to its high prevalence, incidence and impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most important complications of DM. The indication of renal biopsy in diabetic patients is a widely debated topic and the final decision is usually individualized. The results of renal biopsy in diabetic patients can be classified into three groups: diabetic nephropathy (DN), non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD) or DN plus NDRD (mixed forms). Renal involvement in DN has been widely studied and different pathological classifications have been proposed. Some groups demonstrated a relationship between the pathological classifications in DN and renal prognosis. However, to our knowledge renal biopsy in diabetic patients with DN has not demonstrated an impact on their survival and renal prognosis. Some recent studies suggest that non-proteinuric diabetic patients may be affected of DN. In addition, kidney biopsy in DN under new treatments may have a fundamental role in assessing renal protection or even regression of diabetic histological lesions. On the other hand, the accurate and early diagnosis and subsequent treatment of diabetic patients with NDRD has been shown to benefit both their renal and patient prognosis. Renal involvement in patients with DM is very heterogeneous. Thus, the role of renal biopsy in diabetic patients is becoming increasingly important.

The large spectrum of renal disease in diabetic patients.

The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy (DN) among diabetic patients seems to be overestimated. Recent studies with renal biopsies show that the incidence of non-diabetic nephropathy (NDN) among diabetic patients is higher than expected. Renal impairment of diabetic patients is frequently attributed to DN without meeting the KDOQI criteria or performing renal biopsy to exclude NDN. In this editorial, we update the spectrum of renal disease in diabetic patients and the impact on diagnosis, prognosis and therapy.

Renal graft survival according to Banff 2013 classification in indication biopsies. / Supervivencia del injerto renal según la categoría de Banff 2013 en biopsia por indicación.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of acute rejection in kidney graft survival is well known, but the prognosis of other diagnoses is uncertain. We evaluated the frequency and impact on graft survival of different diagnostic categories according to the Banff 2013 classification in a cohort of renal transplant recipients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 495 renal biopsies by indication in 322 patients from 1990-2014. Two independent observers reviewed the histological reports, reclassifying according to the Banff 2013 classification. RESULTS: Of 495 biopsies, 28 (5.7%) were not diagnostic. Of the remaining 467, 10.3% were «normal¼ (category 1), 19.6% antibody-mediated changes (category 2), 5.9% «borderline¼ changes (category 3), 8.7% T-cell-mediated rejection (category 4), 23.4% interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA) (category 5) and 26.5% with other diagnoses (category 6). As time after transplantation increases, diagnoses of categories 1, 3 and 4 decrease, while categories 5 and 2 increase. Worse graft survival with category 2 diagnosis was observed (45% at 7.5 years, HR 4.29 graft loss [95% CI, 2.39-7.73]; P≤.001, compared to category 1). Grafts with «unfavourable histology¼ (chronic antibody-mediated rejection, moderate-severe IFTA) presented worse survival that grafts with «favourable histology¼ (normal, acute tubular necrosis, mild IFTA). CONCLUSIONS: The Banff 2013 classification facilitates a histological diagnosis in 95% of indication biopsies. While diagnostic category 6 is the most common, a change in the predominant histopathology was observed according to time elapsed since transplantation. Antibody-mediated changes are associated with worse graft survival.

Predictive factors for non-diabetic nephropathy in diabetic patients. The utility of renal biopsy. / Factores predictivos de nefropatía no diabética en pacientes diabéticos. Utilidad de la biopsia renal.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diabetic renal lesions can only be diagnosed by kidney biopsy. These biopsies have a high prevalence of non-diabetic lesions. The aims of the study were to determine the predictability of non-diabetic nephropathy (NDN) in diabetics and study differences in survival and renal prognosis. In addition, we evaluated histological lesions and the effect of proteinuria on survival and renal prognosis in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective study of kidney biopsies of diabetics between 1990 and 2013 in our centre. RESULTS: 110 patients were included in the study: 87 men (79%), mean age 62 years (50-74), mean serum creatinine 2.6mg/dl (0.9-4.3) and proteinuria 3.5g/24hours (0.5-6.5). 61.8% showed NDN, 34.5% showed DN and 3,6% showed DN+NDN. The most common NDN was IgA nephropathy (13,2%). In the multivariate analysis, creatinine (OR: 1.48, 1.011-2.172, p=0.044), proteinuria/24hours (OR: 0.813, 0.679-0.974, p=0.025), duration of diabetes (OR: 0.992, 0.987-0.998, p=0.004), age (OR: 1.068, 95% CI: 1.010-1.129, p=0.022), and diabetic retinopathy (OR: 0.23, 0.066-0.808, p=0.022) were independently associated with NDN. We did not find any differences in survival or renal prognosis. Concerning patients with DN, increased nodular mesangial expansion (p=0.02) and worse renal prognosis (p=0.004) were observed in nephrotic proteinuria as compared to non-nephrotic proteinuria. We did not find differences in patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: The most common cause of NDN was IgA nephropathy. Higher creatinine levels, shorter duration of diabetes, absence of diabetic retinopathy, lower proteinuria, and older age were risk factors for NDN. Patients with DN and nephrotic-range proteinuria had worse renal prognosis.