Glomerulonephritis in disadvantaged populations.

Glomerulonephritis (GN) still enjoys a high rank as a cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. Its burden is particularly manifest in disadvantaged populations, with a proportional contribution up to 6-folds compared to that in the USA. There are several overlapping risk factors that render a particular population "disadvantaged" in this respect. It is envisaged that these may be categorized into a triad of genetic, climatic and socioeconomic factors. An attempt is made to dissect the impact of each of these factors, which combine in different proportions in different populations thereby explaining regional disparity in the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and outcomes of CKD. The genetic impact is manifest in racial variations in the incidence of GN as a whole, the predominance of FSGS mainly in blacks and IgA nephropathy in Asians, the increased susceptibility to SLE and decreased incidence of IgAN and vasculitis in blacks, with similar trends in other "subraces" as Indians, Afro-Caribbean's, Martinique and other indigenous populations. The climatic impact is mainly displayed in the tropics, where the "rich bioecological environment" increases the incidence of infection-associated GN, usually proliferative with a few exceptions. The socioeconomic impact, reflecting low national economy in the developing world, modifies the two other arms of the triad according to the level of primary care, efficiency of the referral system and adequate management of primary infections as well as associated glomerular injury.

Health-related quality of life in emotionally related kidney transplantation: deductions from a comparative study.

The health related quality of life (HRQOL) has not been compared between live related and un-related donations. We set out to assess the HRQOL in 52 recipients and compare them to 68 HD patients using the Karnofsky performance status scale. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. The duration of end-stage renal disease was 7.14 + 3.8 years and 5.30 + 4.15 years for transplant and HD patients respectively. The HRQOL was similar in both living and emotionally related recipients but both were significantly better than that of HD patients (P < 0.0001). There was significant negative correlation between HRQOL and age (r = -0.363, P < 0.0001), serum creatinine (r = -0.502, P = 0.0001), serum urea (r = -0.493, P < 0.0001), serum phosphate (r = -0.363, P = 0.003) and calcium-phosphate product (r = -0.305, P < 0.0001). There was significant positive correlation between HRQOL and haemoglobin (r = +0.495, P < 0.0001) and serum calcium (r = +0.247, P = 0.017). Age of the patients appears to be the most important determinant of HRQOL in the studied population. HRQOL was similar in the related and unrelated donors and was better than in hemodialysis patients.

Spectrum of glomerulonephritis in egypt.

Identification of the profile of glomerular disease in a particular geographical region is of fundamental academic, clinical and epidemiological importance. It helps in the recognition of specific risk factors and subsequent planning for adequate prevention. In the present study, 1234 consecutive renal biopsies referred to the nephropathology team of Cairo University over two years were retrospectively analyzed. The main indications for biopsy included nephrotic syndrome, persistent sub-nephrotic proteinuria, recurrent hematuria, suspected secondary hypertension, lupus nephritis and acute and chronic renal failure of undetermined etiology. Proliferative forms of glomerulonephritis [GN] (32.1%) and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis [FSGS] were the most prevalent lesions among patients with the nephrotic syndrome (22.6%). In subjects with sub-nephrotic proteinuria, FSGS was the principal lesion followed by proliferative lesions. Although all forms of GN were encountered in those presenting with recurrent hematuria, mesangioproliferative GN and FSGS were significantly more frequent. IgA glomerular deposits were detected in 9.8% of all GNs and 15% of those presenting with hematuria. One half of the biopsies obtained for the assessment of suspected secondary hypertension showed only changes compatible with the effect of hypertension per se, i.e. nephroangiosclerosis. On the other hand, a parenchymal renal lesion was found in 52.9% of biopsies. The common glomerular pathologies in patients with lupus nephritis were Classes III and IV. Among patients with chronic renal failure, the predominant lesion was chronic interstitial nephritis (32.6%). An acute interstitial inflammatory element was also detected in 8.4% of cases. About one third of the biopsies obtained for acute renal failure showed acute tubular (11%) or cortical (13.2%) necrosis. Another third showed vasculitis (17.6%) or acute interstitial nephritis (14.3%), and the remaining showed chronic lesions in which the rapid deterioration was probably functional.

Use of the low-dose desferrioxamine test to diagnose and differentiate between patients with aluminium-related bone disease, increased risk for aluminium toxicity, or aluminium overload.

BACKGROUND: Aiming at a safe method in the diagnosis of aluminium-related bone disease (ARBD)/aluminium overload the low-dose desferrioxamine (DFO) test was developed. In a multicentre study histological and histochemical data and aluminium bulk analysis of bone biopsies of 77 dialysis patients were correlated with the results of both the 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg DFO tests. METHODS: ARBD was considered to be present when > 15% of the bone surface was positively stained for aluminium and the bone formation rate was below 220 microns 2/mm2/day. Patients in which the Aluminon staining was positive (> 0%) were considered at an increased risk for aluminium toxicity independent of the type of renal osteodystrophy. Patients were considered aluminium overloaded when the bone aluminium content was > 15 micrograms/g wet weight and/or the Aluminon staining was positive (> 0%). RESULTS: Using the proposed criteria 15 patients were found to have ARBD; 13 of them presenting with a serum iPTH below 150 ng/l. In conjunction with an iPTH measurement the DFO test had a more than acceptable sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of ARBD. The test was considered positive when a post-DFO serum aluminium increment (delta sA1) above 50 micrograms/l (5 mg/kg) or 70 micrograms/l (10 mg/kg) together with a serum iPTH below 150 ng/l was found. Using these cut-off levels the 5 and 10 mg/kg tests in the diagnosis of ARBD had a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 95% and 92% respectively whereas the predictive value for a positive test for the population under study was 80% (5 mg/kg). Not a single patient with a serum iPTH > 650 ng/l had a positive staining (> 0%) even when the bone aluminium level was elevated (> 15 micrograms/g wet weight). In the detection of patients at risk for aluminium toxicity delta sA1 thresholds of 50 micrograms/l (5 mg/kg) and 70 micrograms/l (10 mg/kg) in combination with a serum iPTH < 650 ng/l had a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 86% and 84% respectively. In the clinical setting of aluminium overload, threshold delta sA1 levels of 50 micrograms/l (5 mg/kg) and 70 micrograms/l (10 mg/kg) had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 95% and 90% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The low-dose DFO test is a reliable test for the detection of aluminium overload; however, it is not specific enough to differentiate between ARBD, increased risk of aluminium toxicity, and aluminium overload unless it is used in combination with a serum iPTH measurement. In conjunction with a serum iPTH measurement it is an important tool in the differential diagnosis and may avoid the necessity of a bone biopsy in the majority of patients. Data obtained in the present study have allowed us to update the strategies for monitoring, diagnosis and patient follow-up proposed at the Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Aluminium Overload in End-Stage Renal Failure; Paris, 1992.

Renal transplantation in a developing country: the Egyptian 17 year experience

This article addresses some of the major epidemiological; clinical; financial and social issues related to the practice of renal transplantation in Egypt. It highlights the limited availability facing the tremendous need for this line of treatment. It provides an overview of the transplant activity in the country; with a brief description of the medical and surgical protocols generally adopted by most groups. As a representative sample; the results of treatment of the Cairo Kidney Centre are given; emphasising the importance of local ecological factors in modifying the outcome; expressed as short and long term patient and graft survival. The effects of the high prevalence of 6 infective agents are described; including cytomegalovirus (CMV); Hepatitis B and C viruses; salmonellosis; tuberculosis and schistosomiasis. [abstract terminated]

Hepatic macrophage function in schistosomal glomerulopathy.

Hepatic fibrosis in the pathogenesis of schistosomal glomerulopathy cannot be explained by any positive influence of hepatocellular injury. In order to examine the potential role of impairment of hepatic macrophage function, the t1/2 plasma clearance of 99mTc-sulphur colloid was studied in 30 patients with schistosomal glomerulopathy, ten normal volunteers, ten cases of uncomplicated intestinal schistosomiasis, ten non-schistosomal cirrhotic patients and ten non-schistosomal nephrotic patients. Liver and renal biopsies were obtained from appropriate groups and examined by light microscopy and glomerular immunofluorescence. There was a significant correlation between t1/2 of sulphur colloid clearance and proteinuria, mesangial hypercellularity, and predominance of IgA glomerular deposits. These data indicate that hepatic macrophage dysfunction is an important factor in the pathogenesis of schistosomal glomerulopathy, and that IgA plays a major role in advanced glomerular lesions. The degree of impairment of hepatic macrophage function may influence the pattern and severity of glomerular lesions depending upon the affection of IgA clearance mechanisms.

Schistosomal glomerulopathy: selection factors.

Of several hundreds of millions of people infested with schistosomiasis, only a few hundreds have, so far, been documented to have one or other of the three schistosoma-associated immune-mediated glomerulopathies, namely proliferative glomerulonephritis, focal and segmental sclerosis, and amyloidosis. Regardless of undoubted under-reporting, some factors must be involved in the selection of those who develop such glomerulopathies. On the basis of experimental and clinical evidence, this review highlights the importance of parasitic species, associated salmonellosis, genetic predisposition and impaired hepatic macrophage activity. It also discusses the potential pathogenic role of the prevailing parasite 'strains', intensity of infestation, associated infections with hepatitis B, and common urinary pathogens and impairment of hepatocellular function. Selection ultimately seems to be multifactorial, but there is evidence that inefficiency of the hepatic macrophage system plays a key role by allowing both schistosomal antigens and IgA polymers to escape hepatic clearance and/or modulation.

Successful renal transplantation in a presensitized recipient after multiple blood transfusions.

A presensitized uremic patient, initially considered unfit for transplantation, lost his cytotoxic antibodies during prospective multiple transfusion therapy. He subsequently received a graft from his brother, despite a previously positive crossmatch. Hyperacute rejection did not take place. A mild acute rejection episode on the fourth day readily responded to pulse doses of prednisolone. Graft function is excellent at one month. The possible value of intraoperative blood transfusion is discussed.

Acute renal failure in the 1973 Middle East war--experience of a specialized base hospital: effect of the site of injury.

All battle casualties admitted to a specialized base hospital were surveyed for early signs of acute renal failure (ARF), and diuresis was induced in high-risk subjects. Sixty of 1.147 cases developed ARF. Statistical analysis showed that ARF was more frequently observed with multiple injuries, as well as with single injuries of the abdomen, proximal lower limb, and the head and cervical spine. These were therefore considered as critical sites of injury. The relation of urine output, incidence of septic complications, and mortality rate to the site(s) and multiplicity of trauma is discussed, along with the probable mechanism(s) of ARF following each of the critical injuries.

Renal amyloidosis and schistosomiasis.

A retrospective study of 60 renal biopsies obtained from nephrotic subjects with schistosomiasis showed amyloid deposits in 10 cases. Distribution was usually segmental, mainly mesangial and overlapped with the conventional mesangio-proliferative lesions of schistosomiasis. The invariable clinical presentation was proteinuria with generalized oedema of insidious onset and a slowly progressive or intermittent course. Differences from conventional schistosomal nephropathy are described. Response to anti-schistosomal treatment was very poor. Repeat renal biopsies showed no regression of the lesions. The possible links between schistosomiasis and amyloidosis are discussed and causes of amyloid deposition suggested.