Thrombotic microangiopathy in patients with malignant hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a complication of malignant hypertension (mHTN) attributed to high blood pressure (BP). However, no studies have investigated in patients with mHTN of different aetiologies whether the presence of TMA is associated with specific causes of mHTN. METHODS: We investigated the presence of TMA (microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia) in a large and well-characterized cohort of 199 patients with mHTN of different aetiologies [primary HTN 44%, glomerular diseases 16.6%, primary atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) 13.1%, renovascular HTN 9.5%, drug-related HTN 7%, systemic diseases 5.5%, endocrine diseases 4.5%]. Outcomes of the study were kidney recovery and kidney failure. RESULTS: Patients with TMA [40 cases (20.1%)] were younger, were more likely female and had lower BP levels and worse kidney function at presentation. Their underlying diseases were primary aHUS (60%), drug-related mHTN (15%), glomerular diseases [all of them immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN); 10%], systemic diseases (10%) and primary HTN (5%). The presence of TMA was 92.3% in primary aHUS, 42.9% in drug-related HTN, 36.4% in systemic diseases, 12.1% in glomerular diseases and 2.3% in primary HTN. No patient with renovascular HTN or mHTN caused by endocrine diseases developed TMA, despite BP levels as high as patients with TMA. A higher proportion of TMA patients developed kidney failure as compared with patients without TMA (56.4% versus 38.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of TMA in patients with mHTN should guide the diagnosis towards primary aHUS, drug-related mHTN, some systemic diseases and IgAN, while it is exceptional in other causes of mHTN.

IgA Nephropathy Is the Most Common Underlying Disease in Patients With Anticoagulant-Related Nephropathy.

Introduction: Anticoagulant-related nephropathy (ARN) is a relatively novel recognized entity characterized by hematuria-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) in the context of overanticoagulation. Preexisting or underlying kidney disease seems to be a predisposing factor; however, few studies have described histologic findings in patients with ARN. We aimed to evaluate underlying kidney pathology in patients on oral anticoagulation who presented an episode of AKI with hematuria in whom a kidney biopsy was performed. Methods: Retrospective observational multicenter case study in patients treated with oral anticoagulants who developed macroscopic or intense hematuria followed by AKI. Only patients with available kidney biopsy specimens were included. Histologic findings and clinical data throughout follow-up were analyzed. Results: A total of 26 patients were included with a median age of 75 years (62-80) and a follow-up period of 10.1 months. Of the patients, 80% were male, and most cases (92%) were on anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). At admission, median serum creatinine (SCr) level was 4.2 mg/dl (2.8-8.2), median international normalized ratio (INR) 2.4 (1.5-3.4), and 11 patients (42%) required acute dialysis during hospitalization. Kidney biopsy results revealed that all patients except 1 had an underlying nephropathy: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in 19, probable IgAN in 1, diabetic nephropathy in 3, nephrosclerosis in 1, and idiopathic nodular glomerulosclerosis in 1. At 12 weeks after discharge, only 6 subjects (24%) attained complete kidney recovery whereas 7 (28%) remained on chronic dialysis. Conclusion: IgAN was the most common underlying kidney disease in our biopsy-proven series of ARN, in which a significant percentage of patients did not achieve kidney function recovery.

C3 glomerulopathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy: impact of chronic histologic lesions and beneficial effects of clone-targeted therapies.

BACKGROUND: C3 glomerulopathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy (C3G-MIg) is a rare entity. Herein we analysed the clinical and histologic features of a cohort of C3G-MIg patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicentre, observational study. Patients diagnosed with C3G-MIg between 1995 and 2021 were enrolled. All had genetic studies of the alternative complement pathway. The degree of disease activity and chronicity were analysed using the C3G histologic index. Descriptive statistics and propensity score matching (PSM) analysis were used to evaluate the main outcome of the study [kidney failure (KF)]. RESULTS: The study group included 23 patients with a median age 63 of years [interquartile range (IQR) 48-70], and 57% were males. Immunoglobulin G kappa was the most frequent MIg (65%). The diagnosis of C3G-MIg was made in transplanted kidneys in seven patients (30%). Five (22%) patients had C3 nephritic factor and five (22%) had anti-factor H antibodies. One patient carried a pathogenic variant in the CFH gene. During a follow-up of 40 months (IQR 14-69), nine patients (39%) reached KF and these patients had a significantly higher total chronicity score on kidney biopsy. Patients who received clone-targeted therapy had a significantly higher survival compared with other management. Those who achieved haematological response had a significantly higher kidney survival. Outcome was remarkably poor in kidney transplant recipients, with five of them (71%) reaching KF. By PSM (adjusting for age, kidney function, proteinuria and chronicity score), no significant differences were observed in kidney survival between C3G patients with/without MIg. CONCLUSIONS: The C3G histologic index can be used in patients with C3G-MIg to predict kidney prognosis, with higher chronicity scores being associated with worse outcomes. Clone-targeted therapies and the development of a haematological response are associated with better kidney prognosis.

Validation of a Histologic Scoring Index for C3 Glomerulopathy.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: A previous study that evaluated associations of kidney biopsy findings with disease progression in patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) proposed a prognostic histologic index (C3G-HI) that has not yet been validated. Our objective was to validate the performance of the C3G-HI in a new patient population. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 111 patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria of C3G between January 1995 and December 2019, from 33 nephrology departments belonging to the Spanish Group for the Study of Glomerular Diseases (GLOSEN). PREDICTORS: Demographic, clinical parameters, C3G-HI total activity score, and the C3G-HI total chronicity score. OUTCOME: Time to kidney failure. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Intraclass correlation coefficients and κ statistic were used to summarize inter-rater reproducibility for assessment of histopathology in kidney biopsies. The nonlinear relationships of risk of kidney failure with the total activity score and total chronicity score were modeled using Cox proportional hazards analysis that incorporated cubic splines. RESULTS: The study group included 93 patients with C3 glomerulonephritis and 18 with dense-deposit disease. Participants had an overall meanage of 35±22 (SD) years. Forty-eight patients (43%) developed kidney failure after a mean follow-up of 65±27 months. The overall inter-rater reproducibility was very good for the total activity score (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=0.63) and excellent for total chronicity score (ICC=0.89). Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 24-hour proteinuria, and treatment with immunosuppression were the main determinants of kidney failure in a model with only clinical variables. Only tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis were identified as predictors in a model with histological variables. When the total activity score and total chronicity score were added to the model, only the latter was identified as an independent predictor of kidney failure. LIMITATIONS: Only a subset of the kidney biopsies was centrally reviewed. Residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS: We validated the performance of C3G-HI as a predictor of kidney failure in patients with C3G. The total chronicity score was the principal histologic correlate of kidney failure.

Complement Activation and Thrombotic Microangiopathies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is a form of thrombotic microangiopathy caused by dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway. There is evidence showing complement activation in other thrombotic microangiopathies. The aim of this study was to evaluate complement activation in different thrombotic microangiopathies and to monitor treatment response. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Complement activation was assessed by exposing endothelial cells to sera or activated-patient plasma-citrated plasma mixed with a control sera pool (1:1)-to analyze C5b-9 deposits by immunofluorescence. Patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (n=34) at different stages of the disease, HELLP syndrome (a pregnancy complication characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) or severe preeclampsia (n=10), and malignant hypertension (n=5) were included. RESULTS: Acute phase atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome-activated plasma induced an increased C5b-9 deposition on endothelial cells. Standard and lower doses of eculizumab inhibited C5b-9 deposition in all patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, except in two who showed partial remission and clinical relapse. Significant fibrin formation was observed together with C5b-9 deposition. Results obtained using activated-plasma samples were more marked and reproducible than those obtained with sera. C5b-9 deposition was also increased with samples from patients with HELLP (all cases) and preeclampsia (90%) at disease onset. This increase was sustained in those with HELLP after 40 days, and levels normalized in patients with both HELLP and preeclampsia after 6-9 months. Complement activation in those with malignant hypertension was at control levels. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed methodology identifies complement overactivation in patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome at acute phase and in other diseases such as HELLP syndrome and preeclampsia. Moreover, it is sensitive enough to individually assess the efficiency of the C5 inhibition treatment.

Severe and malignant hypertension are common in primary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Malignant hypertension is listed among the causes of secondary thrombotic microangiopathy, but pathogenic mutations in complement genes have been reported in patients with hypertension-induced thrombotic microangiopathy. Here we investigated the frequency and severity of hypertension in 55 patients with primary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). A genetic analysis was performed in all patients, and funduscopic examination was performed in all the patients with Grades 2 and 3 hypertension. A cohort of 110 patients with malignant hypertension caused by diseases other than aHUS served as control. Thirty-six patients with aHUS presented Grade 2 or Grade 3 hypertension and funduscopic examination showed malignant hypertension in 19. Genetic abnormalities in complement were found in 19 patients (37% among patients with malignant hypertension). Plasmapheresis was performed in 46 patients and 26 received eculizumab. Renal and hematological responses were significantly lower after plasmapheresis (24%) than after eculizumab (81%). Renal survival was significantly higher in patients treated with eculizumab (85% at one, three and five years) compared to patients who did not receive this treatment (54%, 46% and 41%), respectively. Response to eculizumab was independent of hypertension severity and the presence of complement genetic abnormalities. Among patients with malignant hypertension caused by other diseases the prevalence of thrombotic microangiopathy was very low (5%). Thus, severe and malignant hypertension are common among patients with aHUS and eculizumab treatment leads to a higher renal survival when compared to plasmapheresis. However, thrombotic microangiopathy is uncommon among patients presenting with malignant hypertension caused by diseases other than aHUS.

[Infectious complications in 159 consecutive kidney transplant recipients]. / Complicaciones infecciosas en 159 receptores de trasplante renal consecutivos.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of infections has decreased in kidney transplant (KT) recipients owing to advances in the surgical techniques and clinical management of this population. Nevertheless, these complications continue to occur and the causes seem to be changing, in part because of the prophylactic strategies used. METHOD: Prospective, observational study investigating infections occurring during the first 2 years post-transplantation in KT recipients who underwent surgery between July 2003 and December 2005 at Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors associated with the development of infection. RESULTS: The incidence of infection was 1.11 episodes per patient over 510+/-234 days. The most common infections were urinary tract infection (UTI) (46.6%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (22.7%), and surgical site infection (8%). The causes were bacterial (50.4%), viral (45.9%), and fungal (3.6%) agents. The most frequent pathogens were CMV (36%), Escherichia coli (28%), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producers (26%), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (6.3%). Seventy-nine percent of infection episodes occurred in the 4 months following KT. One recipient died 30 days after the infection episode. In the infection group, patient and graft survival at the end of follow-up was 98% and 89%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent syndromes were UTI, CMV infection and surgical site infection. The infections were mainly produced by bacteria, in particular gram-negative rods, and there was a high rate of ESBL E. coli.

Donor-specific antibodies against HLA, MICA, and GSTT1 in patients with allograft rejection and C4d deposition in renal biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Production of antibodies against donor-specific antigens is one of the central mechanisms of allograft rejection. This antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is evidenced by the presence of circulating donor-specific antibodies and deposition of complement component C4d on renal endothelium. Although anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies account for a high proportion of AMR, in many cases anti-HLA antibodies cannot be demonstrated. In liver transplant, antibodies against glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) expressed on the graft may induce an antibody response leading to a severe graft dysfunction. In addition, presence of antibodies against major-histocompatibility-complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA) has been associated with a poor graft survival in kidney transplantation. METHODS: Pre- and posttransplantation sera from 19 patients fulfilling the criteria for AMR including C4d deposition in renal biopsies were included. Donor-specific antibodies against HLA-I and -II and MICA were studied using Luminex. Anti-GSTT1 antibodies were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence and by an ELISA method. A control group of 39 patients with graft dysfunction negative for C4d was also included. RESULTS: At the time of the biopsy, 4 (21%) patients had only anti-HLA class I antibodies; 3 (15.8%) had anti-GSTT1, 2 (10.5%) had anti-HLA-class II, and 2 (10.5%) had anti-MICA; four patients had combination of antibodies: HLA-I + MICA (n=1), HLA-I + GSTT1 (n=2), and GSTT1+MICA (n=1). No antibodies were found in 4 (21%) patients. In total, 6 (31.6%) C4d+ patients had anti-GSTT1 antibodies, whereas, among the 39 C4d-negative patients, only 3 (7.7%) had anti-GSTT1 antibodies (P=0.027). CONCLUSION: Besides anti-HLA antibodies, donor-specific antibodies against MICA and GSTT1 antigens could be responsible for the occurrence of antibody-mediated kidney graft rejection.