Characteristics and Outcomes of NELL1 Membranous Nephropathy in Lipoic Acid Users and Nonusers.

Introduction: Neural epidermal growth factor like 1 membranous nephropathy (NELL1 MN) is associated with various secondary etiologies. However, previous studies on the frequency of these associations and their impact on outcomes are limited. We report a large multiinstitutional series of patients with NELL1 MN with a focus on secondary associations, pathology findings, and their impact on outcome. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinicopathologic features of NELL1 MN from 3 institutions and analyzed clinical and histologic associations with outcome. Results: Of 70 patients, 53% were male with a median age of 66 years; median proteinuria was 5.9 g/d. NELL1 MN was associated with lipoic acid (36%), heavy nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use (27%), autoimmune disease (23%), malignancy (10% recent, 23% any), mercury exposure (1%), and 11% had no known secondary association. At median follow-up of 11 months, 72% achieved complete or partial remission. Remission rate was 91% in patients with lipoic acid-associated NELL1 MN and ≥6 months of follow-up. On multivariable analyses, patients with primary NELL1 MN (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 19.7, P = 0.01) and increasing degree of tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis (IFTA) (adjusted OR 1.1, P = 0.01) were less likely to achieve any remission, whereas complete remission (CR) was associated with lipoic acid use (adjusted OR: 10.9, P = 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-100) and lesser degrees of IFTA (adjusted OR: 0.79, P = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.66-0.96). Conclusion: Our findings strengthen the association between lipoic acid and NELL1 MN. Furthermore, our findings suggest that discontinuation of lipoic acid without immunosuppression should be considered as the first-line treatment.

Diagnostic Challenges and Emerging Pathogeneses of Selected Glomerulopathies.

Recent progress in glomerular immune complex and complement-mediated diseases have refined diagnostic categories and informed mechanistic understanding of disease development in pediatric patients. Herein, we discuss selected advances in 3 categories. First, membranous nephropathy antigens are increasingly utilized to characterize disease in pediatric patients and include phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R), Semaphorin 3B (Sema3B), neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 (NELL1), and protocadherin FAT1, as well as the lupus membranous-associated antigens exostosin 1/2 (EXT1/2), neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1), and transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 (TGFBR3). Second, we examine advances in techniques for paraffin and light chain immunofluorescence (IF), including the former's function as a salvage technique and their necessity for diagnosis in adolescent cases of membranous-like glomerulopathy with masked IgG kappa deposits (MGMID) and proliferative glomerulonephritis with monotypic Ig deposits (PGNMID), respectively. Finally, progress in understanding the roles of complement in pediatric glomerular disease is reviewed, with specific attention to overlapping clinical, histologic, and genetic or functional alternative complement pathway (AP) abnormalities among C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), infection-related and post-infectious GN, "atypical" post-infectious GN, immune complex mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN), and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS).

NELL1 membranous nephropathy: clinical associations provide mechanistic clues.

Neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 (NELL1) membranous nephropathy (MN) is notable for its segmental deposit distribution, IgG1 dominant deposits, and comparatively high rate of spontaneous remission. It has been associated with a variety of exposures and secondary conditions, specifically use of thiol-containing medications - including lipoic acid, bucillamine, and tiopronin - as well as traditional indigenous medications (TIM) particularly those with high mercury content, and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Malignancies, graft vs. host disease (GVHD), infection, and autoimmune conditions have also been associated with NELL1 MN. Herein, we provide a detailed summary of the clinicopathologic features of NELL1 and associations with underlying conditions, with a focus on treatment and outcomes. Rare cases of dual NELL1 and phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) positive MN are reviewed. Genome-wide association study of NELL1, role of NELL1 in other physiologic and pathologic processes, and connection between NELL1 MN and malignancy with relevance of NELL1 tumor staining are examined. Finally, relationships and potential disease mechanisms of thiol- and mercury- associated NELL1 MN are discussed.

Parental recovered acute kidney injury causes prenatal renal dysfunction and fetal growth restriction with sexually dimorphic implications for adult offspring.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is rapidly increasing in global incidence and a healthcare burden. Prior maternal AKI diagnosis correlates with later pregnancy complications. As pregnancy influences developmental programming, we hypothesized that recovered parental AKI results in poor pregnancy outcomes, impaired fetal growth, and adult offspring disease. Methods: Using a well-characterized model of rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury (RIAKI), a form of AKI commonly observed in young people, we confirmed functional renal recovery by assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 2 weeks following RIAKI. We bred sham and recovered RIAKI sires and dams in timed, matched matings for gestational day (GD) 16.5 and offspring (birth-12 weeks, 6 months) study. Results: Despite a normal GFR pre-pregnancy, recovered RIAKI dams at GD16.5 had impaired renal function, resulting in reduced fetoplacental ratios and offspring survival. Pregnant RIAKI dams also had albuminuria and less renal megalin in the proximal tubule brush border than shams, with renal subcapsular fibrosis and higher diastolic blood pressure. Growth-restricted offspring had a reduced GFR as older adults, with evidence of metabolic inefficiency in male offspring; this correlated with reduced renal AngII levels in female offspring from recovered RIAKI pairings. However, the blood pressures of 6-month-old offspring were unaffected by parental RIAKI. Conclusions: Our mouse model demonstrated a causal relationship among RIAKI, gestational risk, and developmental programming of the adult-onset offspring GFR and metabolic dysregulation despite parental recovery.

AA amyloidosis With Ig-Dominant Staining and Diagnostically Unusual Features.

Introduction: Although serum amyloid A (AA) amyloid may occasionally show nonspecific staining by immunofluorescence (IF), the correct diagnosis can usually be determined by integrating pathologic features and clinical scenario, and using AA amyloid immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or mass spectrometry. A recent mass spectrometry-based study described false-positive Ig IF staining in a subset of AA amyloid cases. Methods: We sought to delineate clinicopathologic features of AA amyloid with Ig-dominant staining by using a retrospective review. Results: AA amyloid with Ig-dominant staining was identified in 10 patients from 5 institutions, representing 1.2% to 4% of AA amyloid kidney biopsies. Evidence of a monoclonal protein was documented in 0% to 2.7% of patients with AA amyloid screened for inclusion, but 30% of those with Ig-dominant staining. The patient population had equal sex distribution and presented at median age of 68.5 years with nephrotic proteinuria and kidney impairment. Etiologies of AA amyloid included injection drug use (30%), autoimmune disease (20%), and chronic infection (10%); 40% had no identified clinical association. On biopsy, heavy chain (co)dominant staining by IF (in 80%), discordant distribution in Ig staining (in 20%), tubulointerstitial nephritis (in 30%), and/or crescents (in 10%) were present. Two of 3 patients with paraproteinemia had concordant heavy and/or light chain dominant staining within the AA amyloid. Two cases were initially misdiagnosed as Ig-associated amyloidosis. Conclusion: We describe the morphologic spectrum of AA amyloidosis with Ig-dominant staining which may have clinical, laboratory, and pathologic overlap with amyloid light chain (AL), amyloid heavy chain, and heavy and light chain (AHL) amyloidosis.

Clinicopathologic Features of Antibrush Border Antibody Disease.

Introduction: Antibrush border antibody disease (ABBA) is an autoimmune tubulointerstitial kidney disease that primarily affects older individuals and results in progressive kidney failure. It is rare with only 20 reported cases. Here, we describe a case series to further define the clinicopathologic spectrum and natural history, and to inform management. Methods: We identified 67 patients with ABBA who underwent kidney biopsy, including 65 native and 2 transplants. Demographics, clinical findings, and laboratory data were obtained. Histopathologic data included light microscopy, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy and immunostaining for LRP2, CUBN, and AMN. Follow-up data, including treatment(s), laboratory values, and outcomes, were available from 51 patients. Results: Patients with ABBA were predominantly male with a median age of 72 years. Median serum creatinine was 2.7 mg/dl, proteinuria was 2.8 g/day, and hematuria was present in two-thirds of the patients. Tubular injury with LRP2-positive tubular basement membrane (TBM) deposits were seen in 94.2% of patients. Thirty-eight patients (56.7%) had a second kidney disease, commonly glomerular diseases with high-grade proteinuria. These diseases included podocytopathies, membranous nephropathy (MN), IgA nephropathy, diabetic glomerulopathy, lupus nephritis (LN), crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN), tubulointerstitial nephritis, and involvement by lymphoma. The majority of patients were treated with immunosuppression. Of those patients with follow-up, 29.4% achieved remission, 70.6% had no response, and 52.8% required dialysis or were deceased. Untreated patients were at the highest risk. Conclusion: ABBA is a rare autoimmune kidney disease that often occurs with other kidney diseases. Although the overall prognosis of ABBA is poor, there is potential benefit from immunosuppression.

ANCA-associated kidney disease preceded by orbital pseudotumor.

INTRODUCTION: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) are distinct immune disorders with overlapping clinical and laboratory features. While ANCA positivity excludes IgG4-RD in the 2019 ACR/EULAR classification, this criterion is not uniformly applied, and AAV can form inflammatory masses in various organs and show increase in IgG4 + plasma cells, similar to IgG4-RD. CASE DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT: A 5-year-old female with history of orbital mass diagnosed as IgG4-RD presents with acute kidney injury. She has a myeloperoxidase ANCA, and kidney biopsy shows pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis and acute tubulointerstitial nephritis with increased IgG4 + plasma cells and tubular basement membrane (TBM) deposits. CONCLUSION: In isolation, TBM deposits and increased IgG4 + plasma cells are suggestive of IgG4-RD. In the context of a positive ANCA and pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis, however, increased IgG4 + plasma cells due to AAV are favored. In cases with features of IgG4-RD, ANCA positivity suggests an alternate diagnosis of AAV to be more likely.

Cure Glomerulonephropathy Pathology Classification and Core Scoring Criteria, Reproducibility, and Clinicopathologic Correlations.

Introduction: Cure Glomerulonephropathy (CureGN) is an observational cohort study of patients with minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy (MN), or IgA nephropathy. We developed a conventional, consensus-based scoring system to document pathologic features for application across multiple pathologists and herein describe the protocol, reproducibility, and correlation with clinical parameters at biopsy. Methods: Definitions were established for glomerular, tubular, interstitial, and vascular lesions evaluated semiquantitatively using digitized light microscopy slides and electron micrographs, and reported immunofluorescence. Cases with curated pathology materials as of April 2019 were scored by a randomly assigned pathologist, with at least 10% of cases scored by a second pathologist. Scoring reproducibility was assessed using Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC)1 statistic and correlations with clinical variables were performed. Results: Of 800 scored biopsies (134 MCD, 194 FSGS, 206 MN, 266 IgA), 94 were scored twice (11.8%). Of 60 pathology features, 46 (76.7%) demonstrated excellent (AC1>0.8), and 12 (20.0%) had good (AC1 0.6-0.8) reproducibility. Mesangial hypercellularity scored as absent, focal, or diffuse had moderate reproducibility (AC1 = 0.58), but good reproducibility (AC1 = 0.71) when scored as absent or focal versus diffuse. The percent glomeruli scored as no lesions had fair reproducibility (AC1 = 0.34). Strongest correlations between pathologic features and clinical characteristics at biopsy included interstitial inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy with estimated glomerular filtration rate, foot process effacement with urine protein/creatinine ratio, and active crescents with hematuria. Conclusions: Most scored pathology features showed excellent reproducibility, demonstrating consistency for these features across multiple pathologists. Correlations between certain pathologic features and expected clinical characteristics show the value of this approach for future studies on clinicopathologic correlations and biomarker discovery.

Legal Performance-enhancing Drugs Alter Course and Treatment of Rhabdomyolysis-induced Acute Kidney Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury (RIAKI) can interrupt physical training and increase mortality in injured warfighters. The legal performance-enhancing drugs caffeine and ibuprofen, which can cause renal injury, are widely used by service members. Whether caffeine or ibuprofen affects RIAKI is unknown. Cilastatin treatment was recently identified as an experimental treatment to prevent RIAKI at injury. To determine potential interacting factors in RIAKI treatment, we test the hypothesis that caffeine and ibuprofen worsen RIAKI and interfere with treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In mice, RIAKI was induced by glycerol intramuscular injection. Simultaneously, mice received caffeine (3 mg/kg), ibuprofen (10 mg/kg), or vehicle. A second cohort received volume resuscitation (PlasmaLyte, 20 mL/kg) in addition to caffeine or ibuprofen. In a third cohort, cilastatin (200 mg/kg) was administered concurrently with drug and glycerol administration. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine output (UOP), renal pathology, and renal immunofluorescence for kidney injury molecule 1 were quantified after 24 hours. RESULTS: Caffeine did not worsen RIAKI; although BUN was modestly increased by caffeine administration, 24-hour GFR, UOP, and renal histopathology were similar between vehicle-treated, caffeine-treated, and caffeine + PlasmaLyte-treated mice. Ibuprofen administration greatly worsened RIAKI (GFR 14.3 ± 19.5 vs. 577.4 ± 454.6 µL/min/100 g in control, UOP 0.5 ± 0.4 in ibuprofen-treated mice vs. 2.7 ± 1.7 mL/24 h in control, and BUN 264 ± 201 in ibuprofen-treated mice vs. 66 ± 21 mg/dL in control, P < .05 for all); PlasmaLyte treatment did not reverse this effect. Cilastatin with or without PlasmaLyte did not reverse the deleterious effect of ibuprofen in RIAKI. CONCLUSIONS: Caffeine does not worsen RIAKI. The widely used performance-enhancing drug ibuprofen greatly worsens RIAKI in mice. Standard or experimental treatment of RIAKI including the addition of cilastatin to standard resuscitation is ineffective in mice with RIAKI exacerbated by ibuprofen. These findings may have clinical implications for the current therapy of RIAKI and for translational studies of novel treatment.

Sustained Response to Eculizumab in a Patient With COVID-19-Associated Acute Thrombotic Microangiopathy of the Allograft Kidney: A Case Report.

Acute thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) developing in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection is a rare but recognized phenomenon in native kidneys. In the allograft kidney, a diagnosis of TMA has a broad etiologic differential, including antibody-mediated rejection and recurrent and de novo causes of TMA that affect the native kidney. Prior case reports have described plasma exchange or eculizumab use in patients with COVID-19-associated TMA. Herein, we describe the course of a kidney transplant patient with COVID-19-associated TMA with response to eculizumab that was sustained after medication withdrawal and review the literature on COVID-19-associated TMA of the allograft kidney.

The role of HLA antigens in recurrent primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), typically characterized by diffuse podocyte foot process effacement and nephrotic syndrome (diffuse podocytopathy), is generally attributed to a circulating permeability factor. Primary FSGS can recur after transplantation where it manifests as diffuse foot process effacement in the early stages, with subsequent evolution of segmental sclerotic lesions. Previous published literature has been limited by the lack of stringent selection criteria to define primary FSGS. Although immunogenetic factors play an important role in many glomerular diseases, their role in recurrent primary FSGS post-transplantation has not been systematically investigated. To address this, we retrospectively studied a multicenter cohort of 74 kidney allograft recipients with end stage kidney disease due to primary FSGS, confirmed by clinical and histologic parameters. After adjusting for race/ethnicity, there was a numeric higher frequency of HLA-A30 antigen in primary FSGS (19%) compared to each of 22,490 healthy controls (7%, adjusted OR=2.0, P=0.04) and 296 deceased kidney donors (10%, OR=2.1, P=0.03). Within the group of transplant patients with end stage kidney disease due to primary FSGS, donor HLA-A30 was associated with recurrent disease (OR=9.1, P=0.02). Multivariable time-to-event analyses revealed that recipients who self-identified as Black people had lower risk of recurrent disease, probably reflecting enrichment of these recipients with APOL1 high-risk genotypes. These findings suggest a role for recipient and donor immunogenetic makeup in recurrent primary FSGS post-transplantation. Further larger studies in well-defined cohorts of primary FSGS that include high-resolution HLA typing and genome-wide association are necessary to refine these hereditary signals.

The pathologic spectrum of adenovirus nephritis in the kidney allograft.

Adenovirus nephritis (ADVN) is a rare and understudied complication of kidney transplantation. Unlike BK virus nephropathy (BKVN), our knowledge of clinicopathologic manifestations of ADVN remains rudimentary and essentially limited to case reports. To expand on this, we retrospectively studied 11 kidney transplant recipients with ADVN and compared their allograft biopsies to 33 kidney transplant recipients with BKVN using conventional microscopy and the 770 gene Nanostring Banff Human Organ Transplant Profiling Panel. Patients with ADVN had a median age of 44 years, were predominantly male, and developed ADVN at a median of 31 months post-transplantation. Eight patients presented with fever and ten had hematuria. The most common histologic manifestations included granulomas (82%), tubulocentric inflammation (73%), and tubular degenerative changes consistent with acute tubular necrosis (73%). During a median follow-up of 55 months after biopsy, three patients developed allograft failure from subsequent acute rejection. All seven patients with available follow-up PCR showed resolution of viremia at a median of 30 days after diagnosis. Compared to BKVN, ADVN demonstrated more granulomas and less tubulointerstitial scarring. On follow-up, patients with ADVN had more rapid clearance of viral DNA from plasma. Transcriptomic analyses showed that ADVN had increased expression of several pro-inflammatory transcriptomes, mainly related to innate immunity, was associated with increased expression of transcripts with inhibitory effects on inflammatory response and showed higher enrichment with neutrophils, which can cause aggressive but short-lasting damage. Thus, we demonstrate that, despite its association with aggressive neutrophil-rich inflammation, ADVN does not often lead to allograft failure. Hence, preventing subsequent acute rejection following resolution of ADVN may improve allograft survival.

Increased Rates of Supplement-Associated Oxalate Nephropathy During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: Causes of secondary oxalate nephropathy include enteric dysfunction and excessive intake of oxalate or oxalate precursors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a dramatic rise in sales of supplements and vitamin C, during which time we observed an apparent increase in the proportion of ingestion-associated oxalate nephropathy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed secondary oxalate nephropathy and compared pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-early 2022) time periods. Results: We identified 35 patients with kidney biopsy proven (30 native, 5 allograft) oxalate nephropathy at a single academic institution. Supplement-associated oxalate nephropathy comprised a significantly higher proportion of cases during COVID-19 pandemic compared with the preceding 2 years (44% vs. 0%, P = 0.002), and was associated with use of vitamin C, dietary changes, and supplements. Oxalate nephropathy in the kidney allograft, in contrast, remained associated with enteric hyperoxaluria, antibiotic use, and dehydration. Many patients had diabetes mellitus (57%), hypertension (40%) and/or pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD, 49%). Of 9 patients in which the potentially causative ingestion was identified and removed, 8 experienced improvement in kidney function. Conclusion: There was a shift toward supplements rather than enteric hyperoxaluria as a leading cause of secondary oxalate nephropathy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kidney outcomes are better than those observed for enteric hyperoxaluria, if the offending agent is identified and removed.

The characteristics of seronegative and seropositive non-hepatitis-associated cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis.

The clinicopathologic characteristics and long-term outcome of non-hepatitis-associated cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis (CryoGN) are not well-defined and cases with undetectable serum cryoglobulin (seronegative CryoGN) have not been investigated. To resolve this, we retrospectively identified 81 patients with biopsy-proven non-hepatitis CryoGN, including 22 with seronegative CryoGN. The median age was 61 years and 76% presented with nephritic syndrome. A hematologic condition was found in 89% of patients, including monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (65%) and symptomatic lymphoproliferative disorder (35%). In the seropositive group, 56% had type II, 29% type I, and 8% type III cryoglobulin. Extrarenal manifestations, mostly of skin, were present in 64% and were significantly less common in seronegative CryoGN. Glomerular deposits by immunofluorescence were IgM dominant (84%) and polytypic (70%) in the seropositive group, whereas 52% of seronegative cases had monotypic deposits (i.e., type I cryoglobulin). Ultrastructurally, the deposits were organized in 77% of cases. Substructure appearance significantly differed according to the type of CryoGN, forming most commonly short cylindrical structures in type II and other organized substructures in type I CryoGN. Most patients were treated with clone-directed therapy. On follow up (median 33 months), 77% had partial or complete remission, 10% reached kidney failure and 14% died. Predictors of kidney failure on univariate analysis were AKIN stage 3, positive rheumatoid factor and biclonal gammopathy at diagnosis. We conclude that most CryoGN cases (types I and II) are due to a hematologic condition and are associated with favorable outcome after clone-directed therapy. Seronegative CryoGN accounts for about a quarter of cases and is mostly a kidney-limited disease. Thus, further investigations are needed to unravel the pathophysiology of seronegative CryoGN.

Clinical Predictors and Prognosis of Recurrent IgA Nephropathy in the Kidney Allograft.

Introduction: Although IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common recurrent glomerulonephritis encountered in the kidney allograft, the clinical and immunogenetic characteristics remain poorly understood. We sought to study determinants and prognosis of recurrent IgAN with special focus on HLA antigens. Materials and Methods: Between 2005 and 2019, we identified 282 transplanted patients with failure secondary to IgAN from two North American and one European Medical Centers, including 80 with recurrent IgAN and 202 without recurrence. Prevalence of HLA antigens was compared to external healthy controls of European ancestry (n=15,740). Graft survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test. Cox proportional hazards were used for multivariable analyses. Results: Compared to external controls of European ancestry, kidney transplant recipients of European ancestry with kidney failure secondary to IgAN had higher frequency of HLA-DQ5 (42% vs. 30%, OR=1.68, P=0.002) and lower frequency of HLA-DR15 (15% vs. 28%, OR=0.46, P<0.001) and HLA-DQ6 (32% vs. 45%, OR=0.59, P=0.003); however, the frequency of these HLA antigens were similar in recurrent versus non-recurring IgAN. Younger recipient age at transplantation was an independent predictor of recurrence. HLA-matching was an independent predictor for recurrent IgAN only in recipients of living-related but not deceased or living unrelated transplants. Recurrent IgAN was an independent predictor of allograft failure, along with acute rejection. In patients with recurrent IgAN, serum creatinine at biopsy, degree of proteinuria, and concurrent acute rejection were associated with inferior allograft survival. Discussion/ Conclusion: Recurrent IgAN negatively affects allograft survival. Younger recipient age at transplantation is an independent predictor of recurrent IgAN, while the presence of HLA antigens associated with IgAN in the native kidney and HLA-matching in recipients of deceased or living unrelated transplants are not.

A Diverse Spectrum of Immune Complex- and Complement-Mediated Kidney Diseases Is Associated With Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Introduction: There are limited reports on kidney biopsy findings in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Methods: We initiated a multi-institutional, retrospective review of kidney biopsy findings in patients with active and treated MCL. Results: A total of 30 patients with MCL and kidney biopsies were identified, with a median age of 67 (range 48-87) years, 73% of whom were men. A total of 20 patients had active MCL at the time of biopsy, of whom 14 (70%) presented with acute kidney injury (AKI), proteinuria and/or hematuria, and biopsy findings potentially attributable to lymphoma. Of the 14, 11 had immune complex (IC) or complement-mediated (C3) disease including proliferative glomerulonephritis (GN) with monotypic Ig deposits (PGNMID [2]), C3GN, (2), secondary membranous nephropathy (MN [3]), tubular basement membrane (TBM) deposits (2), and modest lupus-like GN (2). Lymphomatous infiltration was present in 8 of the 20 patients, 5 with coincident IC or C3 lesions. A total of 6 patients with available follow-up were treated for MCL, all with clinical remission of GN (2 PGNMID, 2 C3GN, and 2 MN). Conclusion: MCL is associated with diverse monoclonal and polyclonal glomerular and extra-glomerular IC and C3 disease. For patients with active MCL and kidney dysfunction requiring biopsy, 70% had findings due or potentially due to lymphoma, including 55% with IC or C3 disease and 40% had lymphomatous kidney infiltration. IC and C3GN in the setting of active MCL was responsive to lymphoma-directed therapy.

Pathology findings in pediatric patients with COVID-19 and kidney dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is seen in one-fifth of pediatric patients with COVID-19 requiring hospital admission, and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and residual kidney impairment. The majority of kidney pathology data in patients with COVID-19 is derived from adult case series and there is an overall lack of histologic data for most pediatric patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We assembled a multi-institutional cohort of five unvaccinated pediatric patients with COVID-19 and associated kidney dysfunction with available histology. RESULTS: Three complex patients with current or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection had multifactorial thrombotic microangiopathy with clinical features of hemolytic uremic syndrome (in two) or disseminated intravascular coagulation (in one); one died and another developed chronic kidney disease stage 5. Two with recently preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection presented with nephrotic syndrome; one had IgA vasculitis and one had minimal change disease. Within a short follow-up time, none has returned to baseline kidney function. CONCLUSION: Although uncommon, COVID-19-associated kidney injury can have significant morbidity in the unvaccinated pediatric and adolescent population. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Long-standing donor diabetes and pathologic findings are associated with shorter allograft survival in recipients of kidney transplants from diabetic donors.

Approximately 6% of deceased kidney donors (DKDs) are diabetic; their kidneys may be associated with worse allograft survival, but published studies suggest that recipient diabetes status has a greater impact on mortality and survival. Since biopsy findings are the most common reason for organ discard, we sought to understand histologic and clinical factors that influence graft survival in patients who receive a kidney from a diabetic DKD. We retrospectively reviewed our institutional experience from 2005 to 2019, and re-evaluated pre-implantation and earliest post-transplant biopsies. Histologic findings were compared against a control cohort of non-diabetic DKD. Of 829 adult DKD transplants, 37 (4.5%) came from diabetic donors. There was no significant difference in diabetic vs. non-diabetic DKD graft survival for all-comers; however, when stratified by duration of donor diabetes, donor diabetes ≥6 years was associated with graft failure. In 25 patients with post-transplant biopsies available, diabetic DKD allografts had significantly greater non-glomerular chronic injury than non-diabetic DKD allografts. Moderate arteriolar hyalinosis (in 24%), moderate tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis (IFTA, in 36%), and diabetic glomerulopathy (in 24%) on early post-transplant biopsy were associated with allograft failure. Pre-implantation frozen section discrepancies were more common in long-standing donor diabetes, and arteriolar hyalinosis and IFTA scores on frozen accurately prognosticated graft loss. There was no morphologic improvement in lesions of diabetic nephropathy on short-term follow-up. In conclusion, donor diabetes ≥6 years, and histologic findings on frozen section and early post-transplant biopsy are associated with diabetic DKD allograft loss.

One Hundred Years of the Pathology Medical Student Fellowship.

CONTEXT.­: The Pathology Medical Student Fellowship (PSF) is a unique, year-long immersive educational experience. Review of institutional archives describes a medical student "Fellowship in Pathology" founded in 1919. OBJECTIVE.­: To characterize the impacts of this 100-year-old program. DESIGN.­: We determined the subsequent medical specialty of each PSF graduate in our department and surveyed those with available contact information. RESULTS.­: Of 145 pathology student fellows graduating between 1924 and 2020, a total of 50 (34.4%) matched into pathology; medical, surgical, and radiology subspecialties were also well-represented career choices. Between 2001 and 2020, of 36 students who matched into pathology from our institution, 19 (52.8%) had completed the fellowship. Survey respondents (n = 42) indicated that before the PSF, 11 of 42 students (26.2 %) were undecided in their specialty, with only 6 (14.3%) identifying pathology as their primary field of interest. Of survey respondents who had completed training, 26 (61.9%) practice in academic settings. Nonpathology physicians reported frequent utilization of skills gained during the PSF year, with 5 of 23 (21.7%) responding "daily," and 9 (39.1%) responding "weekly." The most useful skills included knowledge of pathophysiology of disease and anatomy, improved communication with multidisciplinary teams, and/or interpretation of pathology results (each selected by 17 to 20 students, 73.9%-87.0%). Free-text responses on impacts of the PSF described enhanced knowledge of disease pathobiology and diagnostic complexity and increased confidence and autonomy. CONCLUSIONS.­: We describe the program structure, educational benefits, graduate specialty choices, and career impacts of 100 years of the PSF at our institution. Although undecided before pathology exposure, many PSF graduates subsequently enter pathology careers. Regardless of specialty choice, PSF graduates have a high rate of subsequently pursuing academic medical careers.