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Objective:To summarize and analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with DNAJ heat shock protein family member B9 (DNAJB9)-positive fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN).Methods:The clinical and pathological data of 5 patients with DNAJB9-positive FGN diagnosed in Peking University First Hospital from January 2011 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Results:Among the 5 patients, the female to male ratio was 4∶1, and the median age was 29 years old (24-71 years old). The clinical manifestations included 2 cases with nephrotic syndrome and 3 cases with proteinuria. One patient had gross hematuria, and 4 cases had mild microscopic hematuria. None of the 5 patients had evidence of monoclonal gammopathy. The renal pathological pattern of FGN showed mesangial-proliferative glomerulonephritis, mesangial nodular sclerosis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and atypical membranous nephropathy. Crescents formation could be accompanied. Immunofluorescence staining showed smudgy and granular IgG and C3 deposition in the mesangial region and capillary wall, and the subtypes of IgG were mainly IgG1 and IgG4. Under electron microscopy, fibrillary deposits with a diameter of 8-30 nm were observed in the mesangial and subendothelial area, accompanied by deposition in basement membrane and occasionally subepithelial area. The renal prognosis of FGN patients was poor. One patient entered end-stage renal disease within one week, and another patient entered end-stage renal disease within one year despite immunosuppressant therapy in 2 cases with nephrotic syndrome at onset. One patient had worsening proteinuria despite renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blocker treatment. Two patients achieved complete renal remission and stable renal function after RAS blocker treatment.Conclusions:Most FGN patients in China are young people. The main clinical manifestations are proteinuria or mild microscopic hematuria. The diagnosis depends on the discovery of fibrillary deposits in the mesangial area and subendothelial area with a diameter of about 10-30 nm under the electron microscope. DNAJB9 protein immunohistochemical staining can be used as an important marker for the diagnosis of FGN. The prognosis of FGN kidney is poor, and there is no effective targeted treatment option now.
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Highly active anti retroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically improved life expectancy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients, converting HIV infection into a chronic illness with associated changes in its attendant renal complications. The past two decades have witnessed a decrease in the prevalence of HIV associated nephropathy (HIVAN), traditionally considered to be the hall mark of renal involvement in HIV infection. Simultaneously a host of other glomerular and tubulo-interstitial diseases have emerged, expanding the spectrum of HIV associated renal diseases, predominant among which is HIV associated immune complex mediated kidney diseases (HIVICK). Of the diverse glomerular diseases constituting HIVICK, fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) remains a rarity, with only two existing reports to date, confined to patients co-infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The pathogenetic role of HIV in these patients remains under a cloud because of previously well established association of HCV infection and FGN. We report a case of FGN in a HIV seropositive, HCV negative Indian patient, highlighting the diagnostic electron microscopy (EM) findings of FGN and strengthening the causal association of HIV with FGN. In view of increasing heterogeneity of renal complications in HIV infection, the diagnostic utility of a comprehensive renal biopsy evaluation inclusive of EM is emphasized for appropriate selection of treatment modalities.
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Objective To explore the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN). Methods The clinical data of a child with FGN in April 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Results A 12-year-old boy, who presented significant proteinuria (mainly albumin), hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia, and persistent microscopic hematuria in May 2010, met the criteria of nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy in May 2010 showed mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis combined with glomerulosclerosis. It was not effective by treatment with intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone and prednisolone, and there were no responses by the combination with mycophenolate mofetil and traditional Chinese medicine. After admission, the second renal biopsy was performed. Under the light microscope, the moderate mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis combined with membranoproliferative changes was observed. Under the electron microscope, the FGN was confirmed. Conclusion The first case of childhood FNG was diagnosed in China.
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A 58-yr-old man presented with leg edema and subacute weakness of his bilateral lower extremities. Urinary and serum immunoelectrophoresis revealed the presence of lambda-type Bence Jones proteins. He was ultimately diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). A renal biopsy specimen showed fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN), which was randomly arranged as 12-20 m nonbranching fibrils in the basement membranes. Immunofluorescence studies were negative for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, IgA, C3, and kappa light chains in the capillary walls and mesangial areas. A Congo red stain for amyloid was negative. Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity examinations results were compatible with the presence of demyelinating polyneuropathy. This case showed a rare combination of FGN, without Ig deposition, and MGUS combined with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).
Subject(s)
Amyloid , Basement Membrane , Bence Jones Protein , Biopsy , Capillaries , Congo Red , Edema , Electromyography , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Glomerulonephritis , Immunoelectrophoresis , Immunoglobulin A , Immunoglobulin M , Immunoglobulins , Leg , Lower Extremity , Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance , Neural Conduction , Paraproteinemias , PolyneuropathiesABSTRACT
Se describe el caso de una mujer de 67 años de edad que consultó por debilidad y astenia, constatándose proteinuria de rango nefrótico y dislipemia. Se realizó punción para biopsia renal, la que se analizó por microscopia óptica, inmunofluorescencia y microscopia electrónica de transmisión. El análisis ultra-estructural reveló la existencia de depósitos fibrilares organizados, rectos, no ramificados, cuyo espesor osciló entre 15 y 20 nm. Dichas fibrillas ópticamente se veían como una expansión mesangial discretamente nodular, ligeramente PAS positiva, rojo Congo negativa y débilmente positiva para IgG. El diagnóstico fue glomerulonefritis fibrilar. Las enfermedades glomerulares por depósitos organizados pueden exhibir superposición sindrómica e histopatológica. Por tal motivo, resulta de importancia una primera separación entre aquellas rojo Congo positivas o negativas, siendo en este último caso la microscopia electrónica de transmisión la que diferencia dos entidades: la glomerulonefritis fibrilar y la glomerulonefritis inmunotactoide. Esta diferencia se apoya no sólo en las características ultraestructurales, sino en sus características clínicas. La glomerulonefritis inmunotactoide muestra una fuerte asociación con procesos linfoproliferativos, a diferencia de lo que ocurre con la glomerulonefritis fibrilar.
We describe the case of a 67 year-old female who presented weakness and fatigue. Laboratory data showed nephrotic level of proteinuria and dyslipidemia. A renal biopsy was performed, and studied by light microscopy, immuno-fluorescence and electron microscopy. Ultra-structural analysis revealed the existence of organized fibrillary deposits, straight and without ramifications, the thickness of which ranged from 15 to 20 nm. These fibres were identified, by light microscopy, as slightly nodular mesangial expansions PAS positive, Congo red negative and weakly positive for IgG. Given the above findings, the diagnosis was fibrillary glomerulonephritis. Glomerular lesions with organized deposits may exhibit syndromic and pathological overlap. For this reason it is important to initially discriminate between positive and negative Congo red deposits, using, in the latter case, transmission electron microscopy to distinguish between immuno-tactoid and fibrillary glomerulonephritis. This differentiation relies not only on ultrastructural features, but on different clinical characteristics. Unlike what happens with fibrillary glomerulonephritis, the immuno-tactoid shows a strong association with lymphoproliferative processes.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Glomerulonephritis/pathology , Kidney Glomerulus/pathology , Rare Diseases/pathology , Biopsy , Diagnosis, Differential , Glomerulonephritis/classification , Kidney Glomerulus/ultrastructure , Microscopy, ElectronABSTRACT
A 17-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital due to mild generalized edema. Laboratory tests revealed a serum creatinine was 0.7mg/dL, protein/albumin 6.7/3.5g/dL, cholesterol 190mg/dL, hemoglobin 10.0g/dL, and 24 hour urinary protein 4,40mg/day. Chest X-ray and renal ultrasound were normal. There were no clinical or serologic evidences of paraproteinemia, cryoglobulinemia, light chain disease or systemic lupus erythematosus. Renal biopsy showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis-like pattern with lobular accentuation, hypercellularity and diffuse GBM thickening by light microscope. Congo red staining was negative. Granular IgG and C3 deposits were found along the glomerular capillary wall and mesangium by immunofluorescence microscope. Ultrastructurally, abundant subendothelial and mesangial fibrillary deposits were found associated with thickening and wrinkling of GBM. These fibrils, measured about 20-30nm in diameter, were nonbranching and randomly arranged without either periodicity or an organized structure. These findings were compatible with those of fibrillary glomerulonephritis. Thus we report a case of idiopathic fibrillary glomerulonephritis, which is a rare cause of nephrotic syndrome.