Assessment of renal microcirculation in biopsy-proven tubulointerstitial nephritis in patients with and without glomerular disease: the role of resistive index.

BACKGROUND: Renal resistive index (RRI) measured by Doppler sonography is a marker of microvascular status and it is associated with changes in renal function. Aim of the study was to assess RRI in biopsy-proven tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) in patients with and without glomerular disease. METHODS: 132 consecutive patients underwent to native renal biopsy with diagnosis of isolated TIN or in association with glomerulonephritis. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 24-hour urinary protein excretion and renal ecocolorDoppler ultrasonography with RRI assessment were performed at time of enrollment. RESULTS: Patients with isolated-TIN had significantly higher RRI than both patients with non-immunoglobulin A glomerulonephritis (non-IgA-TIN) [0.73 (0.68-0.77) vs 0.64 (0.60-0.67), p < 0.001] and patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) [0.73 (0.68-0.77) vs 0.66 (0.60-0.71), p < 0.01]. Patients with isolated-TIN had mainly RRI ≥ 0.70 (n = 15, 65.2%) with the respect to patients with non-IgA-TIN (n = 7, 12.3%) and patients with IgAN (n = 17, 32.7%). A negative linear correlation was found between RRI and hemoglobin (r = 0.233, p < 0.01) and between RRI and eGFR (r = 0.537, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tubulointerstitial damage is the most accurate histological lesion that correlates with eGFR and renal impairment. RRI can be a useful parameter to detect tubulointerstitial lesions.

A 12-Week Maintenance Therapy with a New Prepared Viscous Budesonide in Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: A new prepared oral viscous budesonide (PVB) has been effective in inducing clinical and histological remission in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week maintenance therapy on clinical, endoscopic, and histological remission using half of the dose used in the induction therapy. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled pediatric patients with active EoE. After 12 weeks of induction therapy with PVB (< 150 cm: 2 mg/day; ≥ 150 cm: 4 mg/day) patients received a maintenance dose of half of the dose used in the induction therapy (1 mg or 2 mg) for another 12 weeks. A 12-week follow-up was then performed in all patients after the end of therapy. Endoscopy was performed at weeks 0, 12, 24, and 36. Symptoms, endoscopy, and histology scores were also calculated. Serum cortisol was evaluated during the treatment period. RESULTS: We enrolled 20 children (15 males; median age 10 years; range 4-17). After the 12-week induction therapy 18 patients (90%) were in remission, with a significant decrease in the median peak of eosinophil count/HPF as well as a marked reduction in clinical, endoscopic, and histological scores (p < 0.01). At the end of the maintenance therapy (week 24), 17 patients (85%) were still in remission, while there were only 9 at week 36 (45%). No significant changes in cortisol levels were observed during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The 12-week maintenance treatment with the half the dose of PVB was effective in sustaining remission at week 24; however, no reduction in the rate of relapse after suspension of treatment occurred.