Randomized Controlled Trial of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade in Children with Chronic Kidney Allograft Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We showed that mineralocorticoid receptor blockade (MRB) prevented acute and chronic cyclosporine nephropathy (CsA-Nx) in the rat. The aim of this translational study was to investigate the effect of long-term eplerenone administration on renal allograft function in children with biopsy-proven chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Renal transplant children <18 years, biopsy-proven CAN, and a GFR>40 ml/min per 1.73 m2 were included. Patients with BK virus active nephritis, recurrence of renal disease, GFR decline in previous 3 months, or treated with calcium antagonists or antifungal drugs were excluded. They were randomized to receive placebo (n=10) or eplerenone 25 mg/d for 24 months (n=13). Visits were scheduled at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. At each period, a complete clinical examination was performed and blood and urine samples were taken. Urine creatinine, 8-hydroxylated-guanosine, heat shock protein 72 (HSP72), and kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) levels were also assessed. In kidney biopsy samples, the tubulo-interstitial area affected by fibrosis (TIF) and glomerulosclerosis were measured at baseline and after 24 months. RESULTS: The baseline eGFR was 80±6 in the placebo and 86±6 ml/min per 1.73 m2 in the eplerenone group; at 24 months it was 66±8 and 81±7 ml/min per 1.73 m2, respectively (P=0.33; 95% confidence intervals, -18 to 33 at baseline, and -11 to 40 after 24 months). The albumin-to-creatinine ratio was 110±74 in the placebo, and 265±140 mg/g in the eplerenone group; and after 24 months it was 276±140 and 228±88 mg/g, respectively (P=0.15; 95% confidence intervals, -283 to 593, and -485 to 391, respectively). In addition, the placebo exhibited a greater TIF, glomerulosclerosis, and urinary HSP72 compared with the eplerenone group. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study was underpowered to provide definitive evidence that long-term eplerenone administration attenuates the progression of CAN in pediatric transplant patients, it encourages testing the potential benefit of MRB in this pediatric population.

Urinary MCP-1/creatinine in Henoch-Schönlein purpura and its relationship with nephritis.

BACKGROUND: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) plays a direct role in the infiltration of macrophages and monocytes during the early stages of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) nephritis. The aim of this study was to compare the urinary MCP-1/creatinine levels in children with and without HSP nephritis and determine if they are associated with the severity of renal lesions. METHODS: We included 77 patients with HSP and 25 healthy control children. Levels of serum creatinine, urinalysis, and 12-h proteinuria assessments were performed. Urinary MCP-1 levels were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients had nephritis (74 %). Urinary MCP-1/creatinine levels were significantly higher in patients with HSP nephritis (median, 653 pg/mg) compared to those with HSP without nephritis (median, 269 pg/mg) or healthy children (191 pg/mg). In addition, higher MCP-1/creatinine levels were observed in HSP patients who had renal biopsy (median, 1,412 pg/mg) in comparison to HSP patients without renal biopsy (median, 302 pg/mg). The urinary MCP-1 cut-off value of 530 pg/mg could be used to distinguish patients who undergo renal biopsy with a sensitivity of 81 % and specificity of 77 %. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary MCP-1/creatinine levels are elevated in the early stages of severe HSP nephritis and can be used as a biomarker for HSP nephritis.

Síndrome de Alport / Alport syndrome

El síndrome de Alport (SA) es una enfermedad hereditaria de las membranas basales, debida a mutaciones en la colágena tipo IV. Clínicamente se caracteriza por nefropatía hereditaria progresiva, comúnmente asociada a sordera sensorial y/o lesiones oculares y, en ocasiones, leiomiomatosis. Constituye de 1-2% de las causas de enfermedad renal terminal en Europa y aproximadamente 3% en la población pediátrica americana. Existen tres formas genéticas de SA: 1. Ligado al cromosoma X, debido a mutaciones en el gen COL4A5. Esta forma se presenta en aproximadamente 80-85% de los pacientes. 2. Autosómico recesivo, debido a mutaciones en ambos alelos (homocigotos) de los genes COL4A3 ó COL4A4, ubicado en el cromosoma 2q35-37. Se presenta aproximadamente en 15% de las familias. 3. Autosómico dominante, debido a una mutación heterocigota de los genes COL4A3 ó COL4A4. Se presenta aproximadamente en 5% de las familias. La evolución depende del género y de factores genéticos. Se expone la fisiopatología de la enfermedad desde el punto de vista genético y bioquímico, así como las manifestaciones clínicas e histopatológicas, estrategias de diagnóstico y las opciones terapéuticas.

Alport syndrome (AS) is a hereditary disease of basal membranes due to a mutation in type IV collagen. It is characterized by hereditary progressive nephropathy often associated with sensorineural hearing loss, ocular defects and less commonly leiomyomatosis. It accounts for 1-2% of end stage renal disease patients in Europe and approximately 3% of end stage renal disease children in America. There are 3 genetic forms of AS: 1. X-linked, due to mutation in COL4A5 gene, present in 80-85% of patients. 2. Autosomal recessive, due to mutations in both alleles of COL4A3 or COL4A4 located in the 2q35-37 chromosome, present in 15% of families with Alport syndrome. 3. Autosomal dominant, due to a heterozygous mutation in COL4A3 or COL4A6 genes, it is present in 5% of the patients. The disease genetics, biochemistry, clinical presentation, histopathology, diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic options are reviewed.