Efficacy and safety of garadacimab, a factor XIIa inhibitor for hereditary angioedema prevention (VANGUARD): a global, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema is a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic disease that is associated with kallikrein-kinin system dysregulation. Garadacimab (CSL312), a novel, fully-human monoclonal antibody that inhibits activated factor XII (FXIIa), is being studied for the prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-monthly subcutaneous administrations of garadacimab as prophylaxis for hereditary angioedema. METHODS: VANGUARD was a pivotal, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial that recruited patients (aged ≥12 years) with type I or type II hereditary angioedema across seven countries (Canada, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, and the USA). Eligible patients were randomly assigned (3:2) to receive garadacimab or placebo for 6 months (182 days) by an interactive response technology (IRT) system. Randomisation was stratified by age (≤17 years vs >17 years) and baseline attack rate (1 to <3 attacks per month vs ≥3 attacks per month) for the adult group. The randomisation list and code were kept by the IRT provider during the study, with no access by site staff and funding representatives. All patients and investigational site staff, and representatives from the funder (or their delegates) with direct interaction with the study sites or patients, were masked to treatment assignment in a double-blind fashion. Randomly assigned patients received a 400-mg loading dose of subcutaneous garadacimab as two 200-mg injections or volume-matched placebo on day 1 of the treatment period, followed by five additional self-administered (or caregiver-administered) monthly doses of 200-mg subcutaneous garadacimab or volume-matched placebo. The primary endpoint was the investigator-assessed time-normalised number of hereditary angioedema attacks (number of hereditary angioedema attacks per month) during the 6-month treatment period (day 1 to day 182). Safety was evaluated in patients who received at least one dose of garadacimab or placebo. The study is registered with the EU Clinical Trials Register, 2020-000570-25 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04656418. FINDINGS: Between Jan 27, 2021, and June 7, 2022, we screened 80 patients, 76 of whom were eligible to enter the run-in period of the study. Of 65 eligible patients with type I or type II hereditary angioedema, 39 were randomly assigned to garadacimab and 26 to placebo. One patient was randomly assigned in error and did not enter the treatment period (no dose of study drug received), resulting in 39 patients assigned to garadacimab and 25 patients assigned to placebo being included. 38 (59%) of 64 participants were female and 26 (41%) were male. 55 (86%) of 64 participants were White, six (9%) were Asian (Japanese), one (2%) was Black or African American, one (2%) was Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and one (2%) was listed as other. During the 6-month treatment period (day 1 to day 182), the mean number of investigator-confirmed hereditary angioedema attacks per month was significantly lower in the garadacimab group (0·27, 95% CI 0·05 to 0·49) than in the placebo group (2·01, 1·44 to 2·57; p<0·0001), corresponding to a percentage difference in means of -87% (95% CI -96 to -58; p<0·0001). The median number of hereditary angioedema attacks per month was 0 (IQR 0·00-0·31) for garadacimab and 1·35 (1·00-3·20) for placebo. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were upper-respiratory tract infections, nasopharyngitis, and headaches. FXIIa inhibition was not associated with an increased risk of bleeding or thromboembolic events. INTERPRETATION: Monthly garadacimab administration significantly reduced hereditary angioedema attacks in patients aged 12 years and older compared with placebo and had a favourable safety profile. Our results support the use of garadacimab as a potential prophylactic therapy for the treatment of hereditary angioedema in adolescents and adults. FUNDING: CSL Behring.

Assessment of communication environment and health literacy of patients on chronic hemodialysis: a multicenter observational study (SMEL-HD study).

BACKGROUND: The ability to access health and medical information have implications for prognosis and quality of life. This study investigated the current communication environment and health literacy in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and their associations with patients' physical condition and clinical findings. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, single-arm, multicenter exploratory study. Data were collected from 211 patients (64 males) undergoing chronic HD at five facilities. This included a survey of communication environments, health literacy, dialysis management information, and clinical findings. RESULTS: Among the participants, 145 (68.7%) reported using the Internet. They primarily collected health-related as well as everyday life information through the Internet. Health literacy fell within the problematic range. In terms of e-Health literacy, "understanding" and "easy" showed a positive trend, while "accessing," "appraising," and "applying" were perceived as "difficult." Three groups were identified based on Internet usage: good communication environment (CE) group (134 participants), poor-CE group (56 participants), and a group that did not respond (21 participants). Grip strength, serum albumin level, and "information acquisition" were significantly lower in the poor-CE group. Health literacy increases as the duration of dialysis extends, and decreases with advancing age. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who used the Internet gained a wide range of information, including health-related information, for their daily lives. The use of ICT is lower among patients with decreased physical activity, and further investigation is desired into how actively encouraging these patients to collect health information via the Internet can enhance their health literacy.

Rapidly progressive cognitive impairment resulting in heavy psychosocial burden in a patient with Fabry disease undergoing hemodialysis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Long-term enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) may improve prognosis in the patients with Fabry disease (FD), however, detail psychosocial burden has not been focused on long life expectancy. We experienced a male case of FD under ERT, he was placed on hemodialysis and presented rapidly progressive cognitive function. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old male patient with FD has been receiving ERT from age of 38 years. Hemodialysis was initiated at the age of 47 years. The patient experienced several attacks of cerebral infarction, and brain images demonstrated wide-spread asymptomatic ischemic lesions. His behavior became problematic at the age of 51 years. He often exhibited restlessness during hemodialysis sessions and failure to communicate effectively. The patient experienced impairment of attention and executive function, topographical disorientation, and amnesia. Consequently, it was necessary for medical staff and family members to monitor his behavior for safe extracorporeal circulation and daily life activities. Annual standardized neuropsychiatric testing revealed worsening of cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: Despite treating with long-term ERT, it is necessary to determine the psychosocial burden derived from the progression of cognitive impairment in patients with FD undergoing hemodialysis.

Gut Microbiome and Microbiome-Derived Metabolites in Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease.

The composition of the gut microbiome is altered in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dysbiosis leads to decreased levels of stool organic acids (OAs) and systemic inflammation, followed by accumulation of uremic toxins (UTs) and the development of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We assessed the relationship between the microbiome and UT levels or the development of ESKD by comparing patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and those with normal renal function (NRF). This cross-sectional study recruited 41 patients undergoing HD and 38 sex- and age-matched patients with NRF, and gut microbiome, levels of plasma UTs, inflammatory markers, and stool OAs were compared. The indices of beta-diversity differed significantly between patients with NRF and those undergoing HD, and between patients undergoing HD with and without type 2 diabetes. The levels of stool total OA, inflammatory markers, and UTs differed significantly between the patients with NRF and those undergoing HD. The combined main effects of type 2 diabetes and kidney function status were accumulation of indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate. The relative abundances of Negativicutes and Megamonas were associated with development of ESKD and with the levels of UTs, even after adjustment for factors associated with the progression of ESKD. The present study indicates that the gut environment differs between patients with NRF and those undergoing HD and between patients undergoing HD with and without type 2 diabetes. Moreover, ESKD patients with diabetes accumulate more UTs derived from the gut microbiome, which might be associated with cardio-renal diseases and poor prognosis.

Efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of subcutaneous C1-esterase inhibitor as prophylaxis in Japanese patients with hereditary angioedema: Results of a Phase 3 study.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of angioedema. HAE types I and II result from deficient or dysfunctional C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). This Phase 3 study assessed the efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), and safety of subcutaneous (SC) C1-INH in Japanese patients with HAE. METHODS: The prospective, open-label, multicenter, single-arm Phase 3 study recruited patients with HAE types I or II to an initial run-in period, followed by a 16-week treatment period where patients received 60 IU/kg C1-INH (SC) twice weekly. The two primary endpoints were the time-normalized number of HAE attacks per month and C1-INH functional activity at Week 16. RESULTS: Nine patients entered the treatment period and completed the study. Treatment with C1-INH (SC) significantly reduced the mean monthly attack rate from 3.7 during the run-in period to 0.3 during treatment (exploratory p value of within-patient comparison = 0.004). After the last dose of C1-INH (SC) at Week 16, the mean trough concentration of C1-INH was 59.8%, and the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve to the end of the dosing period and to the last sample were 5317.1 and 13,091.5 h•%, respectively. During the study, there were no deaths, serious adverse events, or adverse events leading to study discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: C1-INH (SC) (60 IU/kg twice weekly) was efficacious and well tolerated as a prophylaxis against HAE attacks in Japanese patients with HAE types I or II, which was supported by the increased and maintained C1-INH functional activity. EudraCT Number 2019-003921-99; JapicCTI-205273.

Circulating immune-complexes and complement activation through the classical pathway in myeloperoxidase-ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis (AAGN) is the fulminant glomerular diseases with poor renal prognosis. Activation of the complement system has recently been reported in the pathogenesis of AAGN, but it remains to be clarified as to which complement pathway is mainly involved. METHODS: 20 patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-AAGN were retrospectively evaluated. Using serum samples, circulating immune-complexes (CICs) were assessed by the monoclonal rheumatoid factor assay, and C5a and C5b-9 were assessed by ELISA. Complement activation through the classical pathway was further evaluated by the WIESLAB® Complement System Classical Pathway kit. The affinities of ANCAs were evaluated by a competitive inhibition method using ELISA, and were classified into the high, and low-affinity group. Deposition of complement components, such as C3, C5, C4d, C5b-9, factor Bb, mannan-binding lectin serine peptidase (MASP)-1, MASP-2, and mannose/mannan-binding lectin (MBL), in frozen renal sections were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: CICs were found to be positive in 65% of the patients. All CIC-positive patients belonged to the high-affinity group. Furthermore, serum C5a and C5b-9 were significantly increased in MPO-AAGN patients, and these levels positively correlated with CIC levels. A significant negative correlation was also found between levels of WIESLAB® classical pathway kit and CICs. By immunofluorescence staining, glomerular deposition of C4d, C5, and C5b-9 were observed in similar distributions in MPO-AAGN patients, whereas the deposition of MASP-1, MASP-2, MBL, and factor Bb were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the involvement of immune-complex induced complement activation through the classical pathway in the pathogenesis of MPO-AAGN.

Oral berotralstat for the prophylaxis of hereditary angioedema attacks in patients in Japan: A phase 3 randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: With no approved treatments in Japan for the prevention of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks, there is a significant unmet need for long-term prophylactic therapies for Japanese patients with HAE. Berotralstat (BCX7353) is an oral, once-daily, highly selective inhibitor of plasma kallikrein in development for prophylaxis of angioedema attacks in HAE patients. METHODS: APeX-J is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, 3-part trial conducted in Japan (University Hospital Medical Information Network identifier, UMIN000034869; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT03873116). Patients with a clinical diagnosis of type 1 or 2 HAE underwent a prospective run-in period of 56 days to determine eligibility, allowing enrollment of those with ≥2 expert-confirmed angioedema attacks. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) and stratified by baseline attack rate (≥2 vs. <2 expert-confirmed attacks/month between screening and randomization) to receive once-daily berotralstat 110 mg, berotralstat 150 mg, or placebo. The primary endpoint was the rate of expert-confirmed angioedema attacks during dosing in the 24-week treatment period. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were randomized to receive once-daily berotralstat 110 mg (n = 6), berotralstat 150 mg (n = 7), or placebo (n = 6). Treatment with berotralstat 150 mg significantly reduced HAE attacks relative to placebo (1.11 vs. 2.18 attacks/month, p = .003). The most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in berotralstat-treated patients (n = 13) were nasopharyngitis (n = 4, 31%), abdominal pain, cough, diarrhea, and pyrexia (n = 2 each, 15%). CONCLUSIONS: Orally administered, once-daily berotralstat 150 mg significantly reduced the frequency of HAE attacks and was safe and well tolerated, supporting its use as a prophylactic therapy in patients with type 1 or 2 HAE in Japan.

Management of hereditary angioedema in Japan: Focus on icatibant for the treatment of acute attacks.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by unpredictable, recurring and painful swelling episodes that can be disabling or even life-threatening. Awareness of HAE has progressively grown worldwide, and options for treatment of acute attacks and prevention of future attacks continue to expand; however, unmet needs in diagnosis and treatment remain. In Japan, recognition of HAE within the medical community remains low, and numerous obstacles complicate diagnosis and access to treatment. Importance of timely treatment of HAE attacks with on-demand therapies is continually demonstrated; recommended agents per the WAO/EAACI treatment guidelines published in 2018 include C1 inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrate, ecallantide, and icatibant. In Japan, multiple factors contribute to delayed HAE treatment (potentially leading to life-threatening consequences), including difficulties in finding facilities at which C1-INH agents are readily available. Recognition of challenges faced in Japan can help promote efforts to address current needs and expand access to effective therapies. Icatibant, a potent, selective bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, has demonstrated inhibition of various bradykinin-induced biological effects in preclinical studies and has shown efficacy in treating attacks in various clinical settings (e.g. clinical trials, real-world studies), and HAE patient populations (e.g. with C1-INH deficiency, normal C1-INH). Icatibant was approved in Japan for the treatment of HAE attacks in September 2018; its addition to the HAE treatment armamentarium contributes to improved patient care. In Japan, disease awareness and education campaigns are warranted to further advance the management of HAE patients in light of the unmet needs and the emerging availability of modern diagnostic approaches and therapies.

The diagnosis and treatment of hereditary angioedema patients in Japan: A patient reported outcome survey.

BACKGROUND: The rate at which patients are accurately diagnosed with hereditary angioedema (HAE), as well as diagnosed patients access to modern treatments differs greatly among countries. Moreover, the severity and burden of HAE on patients have been reported mostly on the basis of physician-reported surveys. To gain insight into the real-world conditions of patients with HAE through a patient-reported survey in Japan and identify any unmet needs. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to 121 patients with HAE via a Japanese HAE patient organization during 2016-2017. Responses were collected from 70 patients (57.9%) and subjected to analysis. RESULTS: The average periods from the initial appearance of symptoms (e.g. edema) to a HAE diagnosis was 15.6 years (min-max, 0-53). Patients visited an average of 4.6 different departments until receiving a definitive diagnosis. The average age at the first visit was 25.6 years (3-73) and at diagnosis 32.8 years (0-73). Patients reported an average of 15.7 (0-100) attacks per year, but only 53.1% of attacks were treated. The days of hospitalization due to severe attacks was 14.3 (0-200) before diagnosis, but these declined to 4.3 (0-50) after diagnosis. In the treatment for attacks, 82% of the patients were treated with the plasma-derived C1 inhibitor concentrate, and 69% of the patients reported experiencing a therapeutic effect. CONCLUSIONS: There is a long gap between first attack and diagnosis of HAE, and the number of non-treated attacks is high in Japan. Steps are needed to improve the diagnostic and treatment environments to address these issues.

A validation study of the Japanese version of the Angioedema Activity Score (AAS) and the Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL).

BACKGROUND: Recurrent angioedema (RecAE) has a substantial impact on patients' daily lives. However, there have been no disease-specific patient-reported outcomes (PROs) available in Japan to measure disease activity and health-related QoL impairment in such patients. METHODS: Japanese versions of the Angioedema Activity Score (AAS) and the Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL) were examined for their validity and reliability. By using these questionnaires, the relationship between disease activity and QoL impairment among the Japanese population of RecAE were analyzed in real-world setting. RESULTS: The Japanese AAS and AE-QoL domains showed good internal consistency of 0.967 and > 0.835. For known group validity, AAS28 and AE-QoL total scores were higher in more severe patients than those with milder disease and QoL impairment, respectively. AAS28 showed strong correlation with indexes of disease activity, while the AE-QoL total score correlated with Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Sufficient reproductivity of the AAS and AE-QoL was shown by their intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.890 and 0.700. The Japanese population is characterized by the total score of AAS28, 34.3 ± 38.8 (mean ± SD); and AE-QoL, 38.7 ± 25.2. Each domain score of AE-QoL was 32.4 ± 29.7 in "Functioning", 35.0 ± 27.8 in "Fatigue/mood", 50.7 ± 30.6 in "Fears/shame", or 24.7 ± 29.8 in "Food". Changes in AAS28 and AE-QoL positively correlated to Patient global assessment of disease activity and DLQI, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Japanese AAS and AE-QoL are valid and reliable instruments for Japanese patients with RecAE, and active disease affecting QoL. They help assess disease activity and QoL of RecAE in routine patient care and clinical trials.

Hepcidin-25/erythroferrone ratio predicts improvement of anaemia in haemodialysis patients treated with ferric citrate hydrate.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepcidin-25 (HEP-25) and erythroferrone (ERFE) are key regulators of iron homeostasis. Correlations among serum ferritin, ERFE and HEP-25 levels and improvements in anaemia have not been evaluated after administration of ferric citrate hydrate (FCH). METHODS: This retrospective observational study investigated 24 patients on haemodialysis with both anaemia (haemoglobin (Hb) < 12 g/dL) and hyperphosphatemia (inorganic phosphorus ≥6 mg/dL). The patients who were administered FCH (1500 mg/day) for 12 consecutive weeks and 12 control patients who were administered a phosphate binder other than FCH were included. Correlations among Hb, HEP-25 and ERFE levels were studied. We then stratified the FCH group into two subgroups using the median baseline values of ferritin, HEP-25, ERFE and HEP-25/ERFE ratio to predict whether these markers could serve as prognostic indicators in the treatment of anaemia. RESULTS: In the FCH group, Hb, transferrin saturation, ferritin, HEP-25 and ERFE levels were all significantly increased, while inorganic phosphorus levels, dosage of erythropoietin-stimulating agent, and erythropoietin resistance index were all significantly decreased after drug administration. A significant inverse correlation was apparent between Hb and HEP-25 levels, and a significant positive correlation was seen between Hb and ERFE levels. A significant inverse correlation was found between HEP-25 and serum ERFE levels. Compared with the high HEP-25/ERFE ratio group, only the low HEP-25/ERFE ratio group exhibited significantly increased Hb levels at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: HEP-25/ERFE ratio could be a novel prognostic marker for increases in Hb levels following FCH administration.

Vitamin E-Coated Dialyzer Inhibits Oxidative Stress.

AIM: To examine the effects of vitamin E-coated dialyzer on oxidative stress in vitro. METHODS: A dialyzer with a synthetic polymer membrane (APS-11SA) and vitamin E-coated dialyzer (VPS-11SA) were connected to a blood tubing line, and U937 cells were circulated in the device. The circulating fluid was collected at 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cycles, which are estimated numbers of passes through the dialyzer. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, malondialdehyde (MDA), and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) were quantified. RESULTS: Intracellular ROS production was increased in the first cycle by APS-11SA and was decreased throughout the experiment by VPS-11SA. Intracellular ROS production in the VPS-11SA device was lower, and MDA levels were decreased. MDA levels were lower during VPS-11SA processing than during APS-11SA processing. Cu/Zn-SOD levels remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight anti-oxidative-stress effects of a vitamin E-coated dialyzer.

Diminished capacity of opsonization and immune complex solubilization, and detection of anti-C1q antibodies in sera from patients with hereditary angioedema.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor. Symptoms of HAE include edema, which can potentially cause suffocation. Some patients with HAE exhibit immunological abnormalities, which could prevent an accurate diagnosis. Low levels of complement components are characteristic of HAE and in other settings are thought to reduce elimination of apoptotic cells and immune complex (IC). Thus, we aimed to experimentally clarify the mechanism of immunological abnormalities using sera from HAE patients. METHODS: Serum samples from 18 patients with HAE were collected when free from angioedema attack and compared with normal human pooled sera (NHPS) from 20 healthy volunteers. Opsonization was measured as the rate of phagocytosis of apoptotic Jurkat cells by macrophages differentiated from THP-1 cells incubated with serum. IC solubilization in serum was analyzed by quantifying peroxidase released from a synthetic IC composed of peroxidase and anti-peroxidase antibodies. Anti-C1q antibody levels were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Serological immunological abnormalities were detected in 12 patients. Opsonization in serum samples from each patient with HAE was lower than that in NHPS (∼20% versus 70%, respectively). The rate of IC solubilization was lower in serum from HAE patients than NHPS. Some patients had high serum anti-C1q antibody levels with increased serum IC levels. CONCLUSIONS: Sera from patients with HAE exhibit anti-C1q antibodies, with a lower capacity for opsonization and IC solubilization. This may be associated with immunological abnormalities and should be investigated further to facilitate accurate diagnosis of HAE.

Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of hereditary angioedema: survey data from 94 physicians in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that results from mutations in the C1 inhibitor (C1-INH). Awareness of HAE among physicians in Japan is increasing, but real-world data are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, quality of life (QOL), and treatment of Japanese patients with HAE. METHODS: A 14-point survey was developed and sent to 387 physicians in Japan (March to May 2014) to gather clinical data on their HAE patients' family history, severity and frequency of attacks, QOL, and therapy use. RESULTS: Data on 171 HAE patients were collected from 94 physicians (24.3% response rate). Of the patients, 76.6% had a family history of angioedema (AE), and 11.7% had experienced a death in the family due to an AE attack. HAE type I occurred in 99 patients (57.9%), HAE type II occurred in 9 patients (5.3%), HAE with normal C1-INH occurred in 3 patients (1.8%), and an additional 60 patients were unclassified. Mean time from initial symptoms to diagnosis was 13.8 years. Attacks that required airway management and abdominal surgery with uncertain diagnosis were observed in 9.5% and 2.9% of patients, respectively. In the past year, 21.0% of patients presented with more than 10 attacks, 21.1% were admitted to the hospital for more than 1 day, and 28.7% were absent from work or school. On-demand C1-INH concentrate and prophylactic tranexamic acid were used in approximately half of the patients (47.4% and 39.2%, respectively). CONCLUSION: HAE is a severe condition characterized by recurrent AE attacks. In Japan, delayed patient diagnosis and limited use of HAE-specific therapies exacerbate the burden on HAE patients.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Progression of IgA Nephropathy Among Japanese Patients.

BACKGROUND: The impact of being overweight remains unclear in Asian populations that tend to be lean. The objective of this study is to clarify the impact of body mass index (BMI) and metabolic factors on the prognosis of Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). METHODS: A total of 193 patients with IgAN were divided into three groups equally according to BMI: Group L (lean group, BMI: 15.6-20.1 kg/m(2) ), Group M (middle group, BMI: 20.2-23.0 kg/m(2) ), and Group O (obesity group, BMI: 23.1-31.9 kg/m(2) ). Clinical data at the time of renal biopsy and the progression of the patients after renal biopsy were analyzed. RESULTS: At the time of renal biopsy, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, and hypercomplementemia in Group O were more significant compared with those in Group L and/or Group M. Uric acid, triglyceride, C3, C4, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum creatinine, systolic blood pressure (BP), and diastolic BP were significantly correlated with BMI. In Group O, the remission of urinary protein over 5 years was significantly delayed using a log-rank test. At the final observation, the BMI of each group was as similar as that at renal biopsy. The patients with aggressive therapy, such as steroid therapy and/or tonsillectomy in Group O did not have major side effects, except for a slight elevation of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSION: Even slightly high BMI seems to be a risk factor for progress in Japanese patients with IgAN.

Properdin has an ascendancy over factor H regulation in complement-mediated renal tubular damage.

BACKGROUND: Urinary (U)-complement components have been detected in patients with proteinuric renal diseases, and complement activation via the alternative pathway (AP) is believed to play a role in renal tubular damage. The present study aimed to examine the regulation of complement AP activation in patients with renal tubular damage by focusing on the balance between properdin (P) and factor H (fH). METHODS: In the in vivo studies, U concentrations of P, fH and membrane attack complex (MAC) were measured in patients with renal diseases using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and their relationships with the clinical data were evaluated. In the in vitro studies, human proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) were incubated with normal human serum (NHS), P-depleted serum (PDS), purified P and/or fH. Changes in cell morphology and phenotype were assessed by microscopy, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunostaining and a cell viability assay. RESULTS: The U-P, fH and MAC concentrations were significantly higher in patients with renal disease than in normal controls and correlated with the U-protein and tubular damage markers. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed a relationship between P levels and tubular damage markers. There were no significant changes in morphology and mRNA expression in the AP components (P, fH, fB, C3, C5 and C9) after the addition of up to 25% NHS. Dose-dependent depositions of P or fH were observed after the addition of P or fH on PTECs. Depositions of P were not inhibited by fH in a mixture of a fixed concentration of P and a variable concentration of fH, and vice versa. Preincubation with the fixed concentration of P before the addition of NHS or PDS increased the depositions of P, C3 and MAC compared with incubation with intact NHS or intact PDS only; the depositions of C3 and MAC showed a serum-dependent trend. Preincubation with P before NHS addition significantly suppressed cell viability without causing morphological changes. CONCLUSIONS: In the pathogenesis of renal tubular damage, P can directly bind to PTECs and may accelerate AP activation by surpassing fH regulation.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics that differentiate hereditary angioedema in 72 patients with angioedema.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare but life-threatening condition that results from mutations in C1-inhibitor (C1-INH). Since distinguishing HAE from other causes of angioedema (AE) is a critical problem in emergencies, the objective of the present study was to clarify the differences between HAE and other forms of AE. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with AE were enrolled in this study. The medical history and laboratory data of patients with HAE at the first visit were compared to those with other types of AE. RESULTS: Subjects included 23 patients with HAE, 33 with mast cell-mediated AE, 5 with drug-induced AE and 11 with idiopathic AE. The average age of HAE onset (19.5 ± 8.0 years old) was significantly lower than in other groups. A family history of AE was noted in 82.6% of HAE patients, which was significantly higher than other groups. Swelling affecting the extremities and gastrointestinal (GI) tract was observed in the majority (60 to 80%) of HAE patients. Life threatening laryngeal edema was observed in 30.4% of HAE patients. In 95.6% of HAE patients serum levels of C4 were less than the lower limit of the normal range. In our subjects, the sensitivity and specificity of low C4 for HAE were 95.6% and 93.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early onset of AE, positive family history, recurrent AE in the extremities and GI tract, and suffocation are distinctive characteristics of HAE. A low serum level of C4 is a useful marker for making a differential diagnosis of HAE.

Berotralstat for long-term prophylaxis of hereditary angioedema in Japan: Parts 2 and 3 of the randomized APeX-J Phase III trial.

Background: Berotralstat is a once-daily oral inhibitor of plasma kallikrein for the prophylaxis of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in patients ≥12 years. APeX-J aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of berotralstat in Japan. Methods: APeX-J was a Phase III trial comprising 3 parts (NCT03873116). Part 1 was a randomized, placebo-controlled evaluation of berotralstat 150 or 110 mg over 24 weeks. Part 2 was a 28-week dose-blinded phase in which berotralstat-treated patients continued the same dose and placebo patients were re-randomized to berotralstat 150 or 110 mg. In Part 3, all patients remaining on study received berotralstat 150 mg in an open-label manner for up to an additional 52 weeks. The primary endpoint of Parts 2 and 3 was long-term safety and tolerability, and secondary endpoints examined effectiveness. Results: Seventeen patients entered Part 2, and 11 continued into Part 3. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by 14/17 patients (82.4%) in Parts 2 or 3; the most common were nasopharyngitis, abdominal pain, cystitis, influenza, and vertigo. One patient (5.9%) experienced a drug-related TEAE (Grade 4 increased hepatic enzyme). No drug-related serious TEAEs were reported. For patients who completed 26 months of treatment with berotralstat 150 mg (n = 5), mean (standard error of the mean) monthly HAE attack rates and on-demand medication use decreased from baseline by 1.15 (0.09) attacks/month and 2.8 (0.64) doses/month, respectively. Sustained improvements were also observed in patient quality of life and treatment satisfaction. Conclusions: Long-term prophylaxis with berotralstat raised no new safety signals and was effective at reducing attacks and improving patient-reported outcomes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03873116. Registered March 13, 2019. Retrospectively registered.