Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and Hyalinosis in a Patient with Spondyloarthritis: A Rare Renal Involvement Case Report.

Background: During its course, spondyloarthritis (SpA) may be associated with extra-articular manifestations affecting several organs. Renal involvement is one of the most common extra-articular manifestations and is dominated by secondary amyloidosis (AA), immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, and urolithiasis. Other nephropathies such as Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and hyalinosis (FSGS) are less common and are limited to few case reports. Case: We report the case of a patient followed for axial SpA, who consulted, after being lost to follow-up for 3 years, for elevated blood pressure and edema of both lower limbs associated with an hydrocele and bilateral pleural effusion. Biological examinations showed hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and proteinuria. In this context of nephrotic syndrome, the diagnosis of FSGS was confirmed by renal biopsy. Furthermore, the etiological investigation ruled out the causes of secondary FSGS. Conclusion: Renal involvement is a sign of severity in SpA. Its detection and management should be part of the overall management of SpA.

Management of patients with cardiovascular diseases during Ramadan.

During the month of Ramadan, over one billion Muslims observe a water and food fast from sunrise to sunset. The practice of this religious duty causes marked changes in eating and sleeping habits. With the increasing incidence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, the number of patients with CV pathologies who wish to fast is increasing worldwide, and in Tunisia, which is ranked as a high CV risk country. If fasting has been shown to be beneficial for the improvement of some metabolic parameters, its practice in patients with CV pathology remains debated. The Tunisian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery (STCCCV) in consultation with the National Instance of Evaluation and Accreditation in Health (INEAS) has established this document in the form of a consensus after having analysed the literature with the aim of addressing these questions: -What is the impact of fasting in patients with CV pathologies? -How to stratify the risk of fasting according to CV pathology and comorbidities? -How to plan fasting in patients with CV diseases? -What are the hygienic and dietary measures to be recommended during fasting in patients with CV pathologies? -How to manage medication during the month of Ramadan in patients with CV diseases?

Design and Rationale of the National Observational Multicentric Tunisian Registry of Hypertension: Protocol for Evaluating Hypertensive Patient Care in Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the care of hypertensive patients in daily clinical practice in public and private centers in all Tunisian regions. OBJECTIVE: This study will provide us an overview of hypertension (HTN) management in Tunisia and the degree of adherence of practitioners to international recommendations. METHODS: This is a national observational cross-sectional multicenter study that will include patients older than 18 years with HTN for a duration of 4 weeks, managed in the public sector from primary and secondary care centers as well as patients managed in the private sector. Every participating patient signed a consent form. The study will exclude patients undergoing dialysis. The parameters that will be evaluated are demographic and anthropometric data, lifestyle habits, blood pressure levels, lipid profiles, treatment, and adherence to treatment. The data are collected via the web interface in the Dacima Clinical Suite. RESULTS: The study began on April 15, 2019 and ended on May 15, 2019. During this period, we included 25,890 patients with HTN. Data collection involved 321 investigators from 24 Tunisian districts. The investigators were doctors working in the private and public sectors. CONCLUSIONS: Observational studies are extremely useful in improving the management of HTN in developing countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04013503; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04013503. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/21878.

Endovascular Management of a Subclavian Arterial Injury During Central Venous Catheter Placement for Hemodialysis.

Subclavian artery injuries after central venous catheter placement constitute a rare but potentially fatal complication. The surgical repair of a subclavian artery trauma is a real challenge, associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The role of endovascular treatment for vascular trauma, including injury to the subclavian artery, continues to evolve. In this manuscript, we report the case of an urgent endovascular repair by a covered stent graft of a subclavian artery perforation following the placement of a central venous catheter for dialysis in a 52-year-old patient, having a chronic kidney failure stage 5, with multiple comorbidities. The present case suggests that attention needs to be paid to preventing iatrogenic arterial cannulation during central vein catheterization to avoid potentially devastating complications. Endovascular treatment using a covered stent should be attempted as a first-line therapeutic option.

Management of urolithiasis in living kidney donors.

BACKGROUND: Kidney donors with asymptomatic stones were  previously excluded from the kidney donation list because of a potential increased morbidity risk for both the recipient and the donor. Currently, recent studies tend to consider these risks as overestimated. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze our experience in the management of urolithiasis in potential donors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis during the period (2008-2015). We included donors with urilithiasis or a family history of urolithiasis whom had urinary biochemical analysis of urolithiasis. We identified the exact location, size, and anatomy of the kidney bearing the stone were identified. RESULTS: Among 252 potentially proposed living kidney donors (LKD) in two renal transplantation centers, we noted urinary lithiasis in 8 patients (3.17%). The mean age was 40,12±20 years old with a sex-ratio M/F at 0,3. We noted urinary lithiasis on radiographs in one case, on echographs in one case and on computerized tomography kidney angiography in 5 cases. All are not obese and without any medical history. In one case, there was no lithiasis detected but chemical urinary analysis was performed because of family renal stone history. We performed a 24-hours urine test, and examined PH, calcium and oxalate. The urine analysis, showed acidic pH and hypercalciuria in all cases associated to weddelite in 3 cases, hyperoxaluria in all cases. In one case, we noted vitamin D deficiency related hyperparathyroidism. Renal transplantation has been achieved in two cases. After a mean follow up of 11,25 months [range :27-84], no urological complications were noted. CONCLUSION: Urinary lithiasis may occur in proposed living kidney donors and may not contraindicate this donation.

Primary glomerulonephritis with predominant mesangial Immunoglobulin G deposits.

BACKGROUND: Glomerular deposits are a major pathologic feature of a wide range of human glomerulonephritis and may be located in the mesangial, subepithelial, and subendothelial regions. Rare cases of primary glomerulonephritis definied by exclusive or predominant mesangial IgG deposits were reported. We reviewed the pathologic findings for the 848 renal biopsies examined in our department between 2007 and 2016, one case of primary mesangial IgG glomerulonephritis (MIG) in the absence of any evidence of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), of other systemic diseases or of Infections. REPOTED CASE: Male patient aged 55 years consults for nephrotic syndrome (proteinuria=7g/1.73m2/day; Albuminemia=14g/L) with hematuria.. The serum creatinine concentration was 88 µmol/l, and the creatinine clearance was on MDRD at 82 ml/min/1.73m2. He had a renal biopsy showing the absence of proliferative lesions and the presence of exclusive mesangial IgG deposit. CH50, C3 and C4 levels were normal and antinuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody assays remained negative during the follow-up period. A full dose corticosteroid was initiated (1mg/Kg/day). The interval from onset of steroid therapy to remission was 2 months. During follow-up; the patient had developed 2 relapsing nephrotic syndrome episods. Then he was switched to Mycophenolate mofetil with remission after 2 months. CONCLUSION: MIG is a very rare but distinct type of primary glomerulonephritis that is characterized by exclusive or predominant mesangial IgG deposits. Its renal prognosis may be less favorable than previously reported because of the possibility of steroids resistance of the nephrotic syndrome and the recurrence after renal transplantation.

Primary aldosteronism diagnosed in a patient with severe renal disease.

Although initially considered a rarity, primary aldosteronism now is one of the more common causes of secondary hypertension. Based on older data, it was originally estimated that primary aldosteronism accounted for less than 1% of all patients with hypertension. Subsequent data, however, indicated that it may actually occur in as many as 5-15% of patients with hypertension. Here we present a 66-year-old patient with a history of hypertension who was diagnosed with primary hyperaldosteronism at the time he had developed a severe renal failure secondary to a vascular nephropathy. This case report illustrates the difficulties in diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism, and highlights the effects of the delay of diagnosis on renal survival and on patient quality of life.

Acute renal cortical necrosis in pregnancy: Clinical course and changing prognosis.

Obstetric cortical renal necrosis is a serious complication that can lead to chronic renal failure and the need for chronic dialysis. The aim of renal cortical necrosis therapy is to restore hemodynamic stability, institute early dialytic therapy, and treat the underlying cause of the disease. Most cases of renal cortical necrosis do not recover a normal renal function despite intensive care. We describe the course of a patient who was diagnosed with acute renal cortical necrosis in pregnancy treated with hemodialysis for three years but then she recovered her renal function.

Acute tubular necrosis following transurethral resection of the Prostate using Glycine as irrigating fluid.

Transurethral resection of the prostate is currently the gold standard for the surgical treatment of the benign prostatic hyperplasia. This surgery may lead transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) syndrome and in some cases, acute tubular necrosis can develop. We report a patient who developed hyponatremia, hemolysis and oliguric acute renal failure as a major complication following TURP using glycine as irrigating fluid.A 64-year-old man was admitted for a prostate resection procedure. Physical examination revealed a healthy elderly man. Preoperative laboratory data showed serum sodium 140 mEq/L, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 0.6 g/L, creatinine 0.7 mg/dL and hemoglobin 12.9 g/dL. Few hours after, the patient becomes incoherent and developed oliguria, nausea and vomiting. The laboratory data revealed rapidly elevating BUN and creatinine levels (BUN 2.4 g/L; creatinine 6.1 mg/dL), the serum sodium concentration decreased by 14 meq/L. A decreased hemoglobin level (7.4 g/dL) with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase level (665 U/L) was observed. Renal ultrasonography was normal. The diagnosis of acute tubular necrosis complicating TURP syndrome was retained. The hyponatremia was slowly corrected to 132 mmol/L by diuresis and fluid restriction. The renal function recovered after four hemodialysis sessions. Using glycine as an irrigant for TURP may cause hyponatremia, hemolysis and also acute renal failure, especially in patients with longer resection time. It is necessary to carry out every effort to shorten resection time and avoid extravasation during surgery.

Malignant hypertension-associated thrombotic microangiopathy following cocaine use.

Cocaine is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs with distribution and consumption throughout the world. Acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis, direct vasoconstriction and hemodynamic alteration is well described in patients with cocaine intoxication. Cocaine use is associated with high blood pressure and may rarely induce malignant hypertension associated with thrombotic microangiopathy. We report the case of a patient who developed malignant hypertension associated with thrombotic microangiopathy after chronic consumption of cocaine. A kidney biopsy revealed thrombotic microangiopathy with fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles and glomerular tufts. He required dialysis sessions. Cocaine-mediated endothelial injury and platelet activation may play important pathogenetic roles in cocaine abusers who develop malignant hypertension associated with thrombotic microangiopathy. Clinicians need to be aware of this rare feature of cocaine intoxication.

The tunneled catheter for haemodialysis: about 52 cases.

BACKGROUND: Vascular access is a basic and essential tool required for performing renal replacement therapy in end stage renal disease. AIM: To study the indications of tunneled catheter (KTT) in hemodialysis (HD), identify complications related to the use of KTT and contributing factors, assess the survival and performance of the technique. INTRODUCTION: The making of a vascular access is an angular piece for adequate HD and in good conditions. In this context the KTT may be an alternative. METHODS: A retrospective study of 52 KTT placed in 49 patients collected in the department of Nephrology Dialysis and Renal Transplantation in RABTA Tunis between 2008 and 2011. RESULTS: The average age of our patients was 55.58 years ± 13.5 years, their Sex ratio was 0.79. The Thirty of our patients were diabetic, 46.2% had hypertension and 21.2% had underlying cardiac disease. The mean duration of HD was 1111.35 days or 37 months. The most common indication of KTT was the absence of arteriovenous fistula in 65.4% of cases, other indications were: short survival (30.7%), the exhaustion of venous capital (34.6%), mediacalcosis (34.6%) and immunosuppression (36.5%). The right internal jugular vein was the choice of insertion site with 78.8%. The overall incidence of immediate complications was 19.2%. Among our patients, 31.4% had a dysfunction. The period of HD represent the risk factor for dysfunction KTT (p = 0.006).An infectious complication was observed in 29% of cases. The median time to onset of infection was 190.83 days. Staphylococcus was isolated in 40% of cases. The average duration of use of KTT was 238 days. The only single factor determining the survival of KTT was the number of KTT put in the same patient. CONCLUSION: More than a quarter of the population are dialyzed through a catheter. Despite concerted efforts, much remains to be done for the confection at time of a permanent vascular access.

[A rare cause of pruritus in an hemodialysed patient]. / Une Cause Rare de Prurit chez une Hémodialysée Chronique.

BACKGROUND: Uremic pruritus is frequent in patients undergoing hemodialysis. It's multifactorial secondary in most cases to metabolic complications related to uremia. AIM: We report a rare cause of pruritus in an haemodialysed patient. OBSERVATION: It's a 48-year-old woman in periodic haemodialysis during 17 years. She suffered from generalized pruritus associated with psychiatric disturbance without neurologic deficits. CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed extensive, diffuse and bilateral involvement of the white matter. The diagnosis of large low grade B cell lymphoma was confirmed by the histologic examination of stereotactic biopsy which leads to early intracranial hemorrhage and death. CONCLUSION: Before attributing pruritus to renal failure, one should exclude other causes such as the NHL even rarely reported especially when it associated with psychiatric disturbances. CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging contribute to diagnosis.

[Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in patients with cryoglobulinemia complicating hepatitis C virus: report of 11 cases]. / Glomérulonéphrite membranoproliférative secondaire à une cryoglobulinémie mixte compliquant une hépatite virale C: a propos de 11 cas.

BACKGROUND: Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in patients with cryoglobulinemia complicating hepatitis C virus have yet been reported. Although, it remains controversial, antiviral treatment seems to be able to improve the outcome of glomerulonephritis. AIM: The objectives of the study were to analyze characteristics of this association and to report literature data and newness treatment. METHODS: It's a retrospective study including 11 patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, hepatitis C virus and mixed cryoglobulinemia. Hepatitis C virus antibodies was identified by ELISA technique. Hepatitis C virus genotype was identified in one patient. Cryoglobulins were isolated from sera of all patients at 37 degrees Celsius. RESULTS: Patients were 3 men and 8 women with a mean age of 51.9 +/- 15.5 years. Between the 11 patients, 7 had hypertension, 9 had nephrotic syndrome and 10 had chronic renal failure. Renal biopsy showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis lesions in all cases with fibrinoid thrombi in 8 cases. Six patients had chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy was performed in 4 patients, showing histological feature compatible with chronic active hepatitis in 2 cases. No patient had antiviral therapy. Renal failure was stable in 5 cases and progressed in 6 cases with end stage renal failure in 3 of them. One patient died, 4 months after diagnosis, because of severe pulmonary involvement in cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. In literature, treatment is dominated by antiviral therapy composed first by Interferon Alpha alone. Combination therapy associating Interferon and Ribavirin was recently used in renal involvement; it is clearly more effective than interferon alpha alone. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C virus detection should be performed when membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is associated with cryoglobulinemia. Antiviral treatment should be more widely used in Tunisia to evaluate his effect on renal involvement

[Pseudo tumoral bronchial tuberculosis]. / Tuberculose bronchique pseudo tumorale: a propos de 4 cas.

Bronchial lesion is a rare site for tuberculosis. It can mimic lung cancer especially when sputum- smear is negative, and this be a cause of a delay in diagnosis, that can be made later on by a culture of Koch bacillus or after a bronchial biopsy. Through these 4 cases reports, the authors recall the ethiopathogenic hypotheses of this lesion and review the radiologic, clinical and prognostic features of these unusual forms of TB.

[Bronchectasis in Horton's disease: fortuitous association?]. / Bronchectasies au cours de la maladie de Horton: association fortuite?

Respiratory manifestations in Horton's disease are uncommon. We report the case of 63 year-old man with Horton disease diagnosed 2 months before, who was hospitalised for fever, deterioration in general health, cough and hemoptysis. Chest X-ray showed an infiltrate in the right upper lobe and bilateral cystic opacities predominant on basal suggesting bronchectasis who was confirmed secondary in CT-scan. Even though cortico sensible clinical manifestations and radiologic infiltrate were previously described in Horton's disease, association with bronchectasis was never been reported in literature and her etio pathogenic mechanism must be clarified.