Renal cell carcinoma preceded by a rheumatoid­like paraneoplastic syndrome: A case report.

A man with polycystic kidney disease and a history of renal transplantation at the age of 55 years developed seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the age of 68 years. Treatment with a biological derivative led to remission; however, the patient relapsed 2 years later. After being switched to baricitinib, the patient again achieved remission. After 2 years, when the patient was aged 72 years, RA recurred, and the right native kidney became enlarged due to the presence of a large tumor. Surgical nephrectomy was performed, and the tumor was classified as renal cell carcinoma (RCC), not otherwise specified. The cancer tissue comprised sarcomatoid and rhabdoid cells with marked neutrophil infiltration, and the tumor cells were positive for interleukin-6. The patient, aged 73 years, experienced a resolution of joint pain following surgical intervention; however, they died because of systemic metastases ~10 weeks post-operation. Based on the clinical course, the RA-like lesions and subsequent RCC were considered to represent a paraneoplastic syndrome.

A case report of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor-related kidney disease combined with renal cancer.

A kidney biopsy was performed in a 64-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus and less than 1 g of proteinuria who rapidly progressed to end-stage renal failure after approximately 2 years of treatment with two dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The biopsy revealed not only a coincidental diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma, which was not evident on pre-biopsy computed tomography, but also severe thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)-like glomerular endothelial cell damage in the noncancerous areas. These results suggest that DPP4 inhibitors may have been involved in two kidney diseases.

A case of renal limited myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive vasculitis treated with maintenance avacopan monotherapy.

A 76-year-old woman was admitted with progressive renal function decline. A kidney biopsy was performed because of myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA; 333 IU/mL), proteinuria (1.21 g/d), and urinary erythrocyte sediment (10-19/high-power field). Renal-limited ANCA-positive vasculitis with pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis (ANCA-associated vasculitis, AAV) was diagnosed. Glucocorticoid therapy was started, and the patient responded well. About 1 year later, avacopan treatment was started and glucocorticoid therapy was discontinued. Avacopan did not normalize ANCA levels and did not make urinary findings negative. However, further progression of renal function decline is prevented. Factors attributed to the development of AAV in this case were investigated; AAV developed after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and ANCA levels re-elevated after the fifth dose. This suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine may have contributed to the development of AAV in this elderly patient. Avacopan monotherapy has been shown to be effective as maintenance therapy to control the progression of renal failure although not sufficient for complete remission of AAV.

Renal and cardiac biopsy findings in an adolescent patient with the 3243A>G mitochondrial DNA mutation: Favorable renal prognosis post renal transplantation from the mother.

We investigated the pathogenesis of a perihilar variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis detected by kidney biopsy in a 16-year-old male. The disease was refractory to steroid therapy, and at the second kidney biopsy, abnormal mitochondrial proliferation was newly observed in the podocytes. The patient also developed late-onset hearing loss and had a family history of diabetes, and genetic testing confirmed the mitochondrial DNA mutation 3243A>G (48%). Eight months after hemodialysis was started, encephalopathy occurred presumably due to rapid dehydration. After changing dialysis into continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, encephalopathy was resolved, but the patient developed myocardial hypertrophy, probably because of the myocardial overreaction to congestion. A myocardial biopsy showed mitochondrial proliferation in the myocardium. After renal transplantation from his mother with a heteroplasmy of 4%, the cardiomyopathy improved, and the renal function has remained stable for 4 years. We speculated that the abnormal mitochondrial morphology in the kidney and heart may be characteristic of mitochondrial genetic disease, and renal transplantation from the mother with a low heteroplasmy was considered desirable for mitochondrial nephropathy with poor prognosis.

Long-term clinicopathological characteristics of TAFRO syndrome and its relapse: a case series study.

Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the clinical course of TAFRO syndrome in patients through extended follow-up, focusing on recurrent cases and long-term remission. Methods: This was a retrospective case series study. We assessed the clinical course of patients diagnosed with TAFRO syndrome between January 2012 and September 2022 at Toranomon Hospital or Toranomon Hospital Kajigaya, excluding those patients who died during the initial hospitalization. Results: Twelve patients were included. Baseline characteristics, laboratory findings, treatment modalities, and outcomes were assessed. During the median follow-up period of 1474 days, two patients experienced recurrence following a reduction in tocilizumab (TCZ) dose, whereas two achieved remission for >400 days without TCZ treatment. The remaining eight patients maintained remission under the continued TCZ therapy. Recurrence diagnosis was complicated by the non-simultaneous presentation of the five manifestations of TAFRO syndrome. The patients who experienced recurrence showed milder manifestations and faster recovery than the initial onset. Glomerular endotheliopathy was evident in kidney biopsies during recurrence, which was similar to the initial presentation. In a case where only inflammation preceded other manifestation, a kidney biopsy was pivotal in distinguishing TAFRO syndrome relapse from other inflammatory conditions such as infection. Pretreatment serum IL-6 levels were within the reference range only in patients who experienced long-term remission without TCZ treatment. Conclusions: This is the first study to perform kidney biopsies on recurrent TAFRO cases, highlighting recurrence after TCZ dosage reduction, non-simultaneous manifestation of symptoms, the utility of kidney biopsies in recurrence diagnosis, and potential non-IL-6 pathogenesis factors. Pretreatment serum IL-6 levels may help identify patients suitable for maintenance therapy without TCZ. Further investigation is warranted to identify stratified treatment approaches based on individual etiologic factors.

Digital whole-slide imaging of changes in amyloid after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in patients with amyloid light-chain amyloidosis.

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) has made amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis treatable. After PBSCT, hematological complete remission (HCR) can be achieved, leading to improved renal prognosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether whole slide imaging of biopsy samples shows a post-treatment reduction in amyloid deposits in patients with AL amyloidosis. Patients were divided into three groups: Group A (n = 8), not eligible for PBSCT and treated with other therapies; Group B (n = 11), treated with PBSCT and achieved HCR; and Group C (n = 5), treated with PBSCT but did not achieve HCR. Clinical findings and amyloid deposition in glomeruli, interstitium, and blood vessels were compared before and after treatment using digital whole-slide imaging. Proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia improved more in Group B than in the other groups, and in Group B, amyloid deposition improved more in the glomeruli than in the interstitium and blood vessels. The long-term renal and survival prognosis was better in Group B than in the other groups. PBSCT can be expected to improve long-term clinical and renal histological prognosis in patients with AL amyloidosis who achieve HCR. Amyloid disappearance from renal tissue may take a long time even after clinical HCR.

A case of immunoglobulin G4-related kidney disease manifesting after dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor treatment.

A 68-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus was admitted with decreased renal function. He had high IgG4 (1070 mg/dL) and hypocomplementemia (CH50, 25 U/mL). Kidney biopsy showed tubulointerstitial nephritis with IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration. Four years later, a second kidney biopsy revealed a new manifestation of membranous nephropathy and tubulointerstitial nephritis with exacerbated fibrosis formation. Six years later, the patient developed bullous pemphigoid, which was thought to be caused by DPP4 inhibitors, so DPP4 inhibitor treatment was discontinued. The use of DPP4 inhibitors correlated with changes in renal function, and the patient was diagnosed with IgG4-related kidney disease related to DPP4 inhibitors.

A case of hypertensive emergency with alveolar hemorrhage and thrombotic microangiopathy.

A 28-year-old woman with a 5-year history of untreated hypertension was admitted for respiratory distress, hemoptysis, and retinopathy. Computed tomography showed diffuse plaques in both lung fields. Acute kidney injury, hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia were noted. Kidney biopsy showed thrombosis with fibrinoid necrosis and edematous intimal thickening and luminal narrowing of the small renal artery, indicating thrombotic microangiopathy; the majority of glomeruli were collapsed. After 8 weeks of treatment with antihypertensive drugs, serum creatinine decreased to 1.0 mg/dL, and the patient recovered. In the absence of any other underlying disease, malignant nephrosclerosis associated with a hypertensive emergency was diagnosed.

De novo posttransplant membranous nephropathy after COVID-19 vaccination 9 years after renal transplantation in a patient with polycystic kidney disease.

A 63-year-old man with polycystic kidney disease underwent kidney transplantation from his wife. Nine years later, after the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccination, he developed proteinuria, hematuria, and elevated C-reactive protein. Kidney biopsy 7 months after the initial appearance of proteinuria showed immunoglobulin (Ig)-G granular stain, predominantly IgG1, and spike formation in the glomerular basement membrane. Electron microscopy revealed mainly subepithelial deposits, which corresponds to membranous nephropathy (MN) stage 3 of the Ehrenreich-Churg classification indicating chronic disease, but it also showed electron-dense deposits and endothelial damage. Because a kidney biopsy was performed 1 h after renal transplantation and a biopsy of the patient's native kidney showed intact glomeruli, atypical de novo posttransplant membranous nephropathy (MN) was diagnosed, and a close relationship with COVID-19 vaccination was assumed. Clinicians should consider the involvement of COVID-19 vaccination in de novo posttransplant MN with unclear pathogenesis.

Is Podocytopathy Associated with Gross Hematuria after COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy?

We experienced three cases of a fever and subsequent severe, prolonged gross hematuria after COVID-19 vaccination. A kidney biopsy revealed immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, and electron microscopy showed two types of podocytopathy (podocyte damage): loss of foot processes from the glomerular basement membrane and foot process effacement. Mesangial interposition was also present in cases 1 and 3 but not in case 2. Podocytopathy is known to be a cause of proteinuria; however, the reactions to COVID-19 vaccination described here suggest that it may also be related to hematuria in IgA nephropathy.

Gastric Burkitt's monomorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after kidney transplantation: A case report.

We report on a 53-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with gastric Burkitt's monomorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (B-PTLD) after endoscopy for gastric discomfort 28 months after the patient underwent renal transplantation in Ethiopia. Serum Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) tests were negative before transplantation, but the tumor cells collected from a gastric biopsy showed positive EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBER) at B-PTLD onset. Intensive treatment started with R(rituximab)-CHOP therapy and continued with DA-EPOCH-R therapy has been effective, and relapse has not yet occurred. Burkitt lymphoma has a poor prognosis, but B-PTLD may be effectively treated with high-dose chemotherapy. This is a rare case of gastric B-PTLD in a Japanese patient.

Autopsy of a 45-year-old Man with Liver Failure Due to Polycystic Liver Disease.

A 37-year-old man with autosomal polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) was admitted to our hospital with a liver volume of 8,000 cm3. Hepatic arterial embolization was performed using a microcoil but was ineffective. Eight years later, the hepatomegaly progressed to liver failure and death. At autopsy, the liver weighed 21.5 kg, and the entire liver had been replaced by cysts; in the few remaining areas of liver parenchyma, microscopic, small cysts of various sizes and fibrosis were evident, with only a few normal hepatocytes observed. Hepatic arterial branches developed; however, the portal vein could not be observed.

Immunoglobulin G4-related Dacryoadenitis Successfully Treated with Baricitinib.

A 48-year-old woman visited our hospital because of bilateral lacrimal gland enlargement. Her serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level was high, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed significant positive findings in the bilateral lacrimal gland. A biopsy revealed a considerable increase in IgG4/CD138, leading to a diagnosis of IgG4-related dacryoadenitis. The disease did not respond to steroid therapy, so treatment was started with baricitinib because of exacerbation of the original atopic dermatitis and dacryoadenitis after the second dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. Baricitinib was effective for resolving both dermatitis and dacryoadenitis, and steroids were able to be discontinued. The IgG4 level also improved.

Anti-factor H antibody-positive C3 glomerulonephritis secondary to poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis with diabetic nephropathy.

Poststreptococcal acute kidney glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) has been seen in adults in recent years, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the renal prognosis has not always been good. There have been cases of PSAGN in which complete remission was not achieved and hematuria and proteinuria persisted, leading to end-stage renal disease. Previous reports showed that the patients subjected to PSAGN have an underlying defect in regulating the alternative pathway of complement, and they identified that antibodies to the C3 convertase, C3 nephritic factors (C3NeF), are involved. C3NeF stabilizes C3 convertase, sustains C3 activation, and causes C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN). On the other hand, factor H is a glycoprotein that suppresses the overactivation of the alternative pathway by decaying the C3 convertase. Anti-factor H (aFH) antibodies interfere with factor H and cause the same activation of the alternative pathway as C3NeF. However, a limited number of reports describe the clinical course of C3GN with aFH antibodies. We encountered a 49-year-old Japanese man with type 2 diabetes mellitus. He was referred to our hospital because of his elevated serum creatinine, proteinuria, hematuria, and developed edema on both legs. He was diagnosed as PSAGN at the first kidney biopsy, and his renal function improved and edema and hematuria disappeared, but proteinuria persisted after 5 months. He was diagnosed as C3GN at the second kidney biopsy. In our case, no C3NeF was detected. However, a high titer of aFH antibodies was detected in stored serum from the initial presentation, providing a unified diagnosis of aFH antibody-positive C3GN secondary to PSAGN. He progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and hemodialysis was started. The persistence of high levels of aFH autoantibodies may have caused C3GN secondary to PSAGN due to activating the alternative complement pathway, which eventually worsened the nephropathy and led to ESRD.

Histologically Proven Recurrent Synovitis after Nivolumab Treatment.

A 58-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed with methotrexate-associated Hodgkin lymphoma. After receiving several chemotherapy regimens, she started nivolumab treatment. Two weeks later, she was hospitalized with worsening finger, wrist, and elbow joint pain. A synovial biopsy of the wrist joint showed villous synovial proliferation and linear infiltration of CD68-/CD3-positive T cells (with more CD8 than CD4 T cells) but no CD20-positive B cells or CD138-positive macrophages. These findings corresponded to synovitis associated with immune-related adverse events, which are induced mainly by T cells and are different from typical rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in which B cells play a central role.

Helicobacter fennelliae Localization to Diffuse Areas of Human Intestine, Japan.

The site of enterohepatic Helicobacter colonization/infection in humans is still unknown. We report microbiologically and histopathologically confirmed H. fennelliae localization in the large intestine in an immunocompromised patient in Japan. This case contributes to better understanding of the life cycle of enterohepatic Helicobacter species.

A case of bullous pemphigoid and renal disease after dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor administration.

A 62-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was admitted because of a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate from 72 to 17.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 in 10 years and development of widespread bullous skin lesions. His hemoglobin A1c level had been maintained at 6.0-7.0% for 10 years with a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor. Skin biopsy showed typical bullous pemphigoid, and kidney biopsy showed tubulointerstitial nephritis with eosinophilic infiltration and glomerular endothelial cell proliferation. After discontinuing the DPP-4 inhibitor, skin lesions improved, and renal decline slowed. This case indicates that DPP-4 inhibitors can cause not only skin lesions but also renal disease.

A Case of Glomerular Microangiopathy-like Nephropathy Caused by Hyperthyroidism.

A 49-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with weight loss of 15 kg, nephrotic-range proteinuria (4.5 g/g.Cre), and hematuria over a 6-month period. She had received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine one year before the onset of the disease, after which the estimated glomerular filtration rate increased. Laboratory tests and other tests led to a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, and a kidney biopsy showed thrombotic microangiopathy-like glomerular microangiopathy comprising mainly glomerular endothelial cell damage. Thiamazole (30 mg) was started for the hyperthyroidism. Three months later, the thyroid function normalized, and two months later, the proteinuria and hematuria disappeared, suggesting that COVID-19 vaccination and these events were related.

Syphilis-related Membranous Nephropathy in a 35-year-old Woman.

A 35-year-old woman was admitted for the examination of lower leg edema and proteinuria. A kidney biopsy showed membranous nephropathy (MN) with fine granular deposits of IgG along the glomerular capillary and poor spike formation, differing from primary MN in the presence of positive IgG3 and C1q. Lupus nephritis was excluded because serum complement and anti-dsDNA antibody, anti-Smith antibody, and anti-cardiolipin antibody tests were negative. The serological test for syphilis was positive, as was the Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test. The patient was diagnosed with syphilis, and the proteinuria disappeared with antibiotic treatment. In MN with positive IgG3 and C1q, syphilis nephropathy may be a differential diagnosis.