Octogenarians with chronic kidney disease in the nephrology clinic: Progressors vs. non-progressors.

Background: The current definition of chronic kidney disease applied to patients over the age of 80 has increased the number of referrals to Nephrology. However not all of these patients may benefit from its assessment. This study aims to analyze the evolution of ≥80 years old patients referred to Nephrology. Methods: Single-center study including patients ≥80 years old with eGFR <60 mL/min/1,73m2 who were referred to Nephrology consultation for the first time. Clinical and analytical parameters were collected retrospectively 12 months before the visit, and prospectively at baseline, and 12 and 24 months after the initial visit. We divided patients into two groups based on annual eGFR loss: progressors (>5 mL/min/1.73m2) and non-progressors (≤5 mL/min/1,73m2). Results: A total of 318 patients were included, mean age was 84,9 ± 4 (80-97) years. Baseline serum creatinine was 1,65 ± 0,62 mg/dL, eGRF 35 (28-42) mL/min/1,73, and albumin/creatinine ratio 36 (7-229) mg/g. 55,7% of the patients met the definition of progressor at baseline (initial-progressors), 26,3% were progressors after a 12-month follow-up and 13,4% after 24 months. 21,2% and 11,4% of initial-progressors met this definition at 12 and 24 month follow up. The main risk factor for progression was albuminuria. No relationship was found between the nephrologist intervention and the evolution of renal function among initial non-progressors. Conclusion: Elderly patients who have stable renal function at the time of referral will continue to have stable renal function over the subsequent 24 months and thus may not need to be referred to a nephrologist.

Siltuximab Monotherapy in Tafro Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

TAFRO syndrome is characterized by the presence of thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, reticular myelofibrosis, organomegaly, and is frequently associated with kidney damage in the form of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) or thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Treatment is based on corticosteroids. A 59-year-old man who suffered from heart disease, pancytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly of unknown etiology developed nephrotic syndrome and progressive renal insufficiency, with a kidney biopsy suggestive of MPGN with a "full-house" immunofluorescence pattern. Positron emission tomography (PET) revealed multiple lymphadenopathies which histologically were compatible with multicentric Castleman's disease. The patient was diagnosed with TAFRO syndrome and treatment with siltuximab was started, with evident improvement at 3 months. TAFRO syndrome is a rare entity which may present with severe kidney involvement and histological findings of MPGN or TMA, with or without immune complex deposits. Our case suggests that a corticosteroid-free regimen with siltuximab could be an attractive therapeutic option.

Rational use of eculizumab in secondary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Background: Secondary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (secondary aHUS) is a heterogeneous group of thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) associated with various underlying conditions. Unlike primary aHUS, there is still no hard evidence on the efficacy of complement blockade in secondary aHUS, since the two main series that investigated this subject showed discrepant results. Our work aims to reassess the efficacy of eculizumab in treating secondary aHUS. Methods: Observational, retrospective, single-center study, in which we analyzed the hematological and renal evolution of 23 patients diagnosed with secondary aHUS who received treatment with eculizumab and compared them with a control cohort of 14 patients. Complete renal response was defined as the recovery of renal function before the event, partial renal response as a recovery of 50% of lost glomerular filtration rate, and hematological response as normalization of hemoglobin and platelets. Results: We found no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics or disease severity between both groups. After a median of 5 doses of eculizumab, the group of patients who received complement blockade presented a significant difference in renal response (complete in 52.3% of patients and partial in 23.8%) compared to the control cohort (complete response 14.3% and partial of 14.3%). Rates of hematological remission were similar in both groups (90.9% in the eculizumab cohort and 85.7% in the control cohort). Conclusion: Early and short-term use of eculizumab in patients with secondary aHUS could be an effective and safe therapeutic option, assuring better renal recovery compared to patients who do not receive complement blockade.