Inflammation and kidney involvement in human viral diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2, HIV, HCV and HBV

Inflammation is closely related to renal diseases. This is particularly true for renal diseases caused by infections as in viral diseases. In this review, we highlight the inflammatory mechanisms that underlie kidney dysfunction in SARS-CoV-2, human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis C (HCV), and hepatitis B (HBV) infections. The pathophysiology of renal involvement in COVID-19 is complex, but kidney damage is frequent, and the prognosis is worse when it happens. Virus-like particles were demonstrated mostly in renal tubular epithelial cells and podocytes, which suggest that SARS-CoV-2 directly affects the kidneys. SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which is found in endothelial cells, to infect the human host cells. Critical patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) show an increase in inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α), known as cytokine storm that favors renal dysfunction by causing intrarenal inflammation, increased vascular permeability, volume depletion, thromboembolic events in microvasculature and persistent local inflammation. Besides AKI, SARS-CoV-2 can also cause glomerular disease, as other viral infections such as in HIV, HBV and HCV. HIV-infected patients present chronic inflammation that can lead to a number of renal diseases. Proinflammatory cytokines and TNF-induced apoptosis are some of the underlying mechanisms that may explain the virus-induced renal diseases that are here reviewed.(AU)

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type with extensive cardiopulmonary involvement

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL-NT) is a rare type of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which usually presents with extranodal involvement and affects the nasal/upper aerodigestive tract in the classical presentation. Herein, we report the case of a 31-year-old, previously healthy, male patient diagnosed with ENKTL-NT with the involvement of the lung parenchyma and heart. Unfortunately, due to the rapid disease progression, the diagnosis was performed only at the autopsy. The authors highlight the rare clinical presentation of this type of lymphoma, as well as the challenging anatomopathological diagnosis in necrotic samples.

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity

SUMMARY Acute kidney injury is a very common diagnosis, present in up to 60% of critical patients, and its third main cause is drug toxicity. Nephrotoxicity can be defined as any renal injury caused directly or indirectly by medications, with acute renal failure, tubulopathies, and glomerulopathies as common clinical presentations. Some examples of drugs commonly associated with the acute reduction of glomerular filtration rate are anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, such as vancomycin and aminoglycosides, and chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin and methotrexate. Cases of tubulopathy are very common with amphotericin B, polymyxins, and tenofovir, and cases of glomerulopathies are common with VEGF inhibitors, bisphosphonates, and immunotherapy, and it is also common to have more than one clinical presentation related to a single agent. Early diagnosis is essential for the good evolution of the patient, with a reduction of renal exposure to the toxic agent, which requires knowing the risk factors and biomarkers. General measures such as correcting hydroelectrolytic disorders and hypovolemia, monitoring the serum level, avoiding combinations with the synergy of renal injury, and looking for similar options that are less toxic are the foundations for the treatment of complications that are still common and often preventable.

RESUMO A lesão renal aguda é um diagnóstico muito comum, presente em até 60% dos pacientes críticos, e sua terceira maior causa é a toxicidade de medicamentos. A nefrotoxicidade pode ser definida como qualquer lesão renal causada por medicamentos, direta ou indiretamente, tendo a insuficiência renal aguda, tubulopatias e glomerulopatias como apresentações clínicas comuns. Alguns exemplos de drogas comumente associadas à redução aguda da taxa de filtração glomerular são anti-inflamatórios, antibióticos, como a vancomicina e aminoglicosídeos, e agentes quimioterápicos, tais como cisplatina e metotrexato. Casos de tubulopatia são muito comuns com anfotericina B, polimixinas e tenofovir, já casos de glomerulopatias são comuns com inibidores de VEGF, bisfosfonatos e imunoterapia; também é comum ocorrer mais de uma apresentação clínica relacionada a um único agente. O diagnóstico precoce é essencial para a boa evolução do paciente, com a redução da exposição ao agente tóxico, o que requer conhecimento dos fatores de risco e biomarcadores. Medidas gerais, tais como a correção de distúrbios hidreletrolíticos e da hipovolemia, o monitoramento do nível sérico, evitar combinações com sinergia de lesão renal e procurar opções semelhantes e menos tóxicas são os alicerces do tratamento de complicações que são comuns e, muitas vezes, evitáveis.