Low- Versus High-dose Cyclophosphamide in Class III/IV Lupus Nephritis: A Retrospective Study from South Asia.

Introduction: The comparative efficacy of low-dose cyclophosphamide (LD-CYC) and high-dose cyclophosphamide (HD-CYC) for treatment of lupus in South Asians is not well established. We aimed to compare treatment outcomes in South Asian patients with class III and IV lupus nephritis treated with either regimen. Method: This was a single-center, retrospective study conducted in Sri Lanka. Patients with biopsy-proven class III or IV lupus nephritis were recruited. The HD-CYC group was defined as having received ≥6 doses of 0.5-1 g/m2 cyclophosphamide (CYC) followed by quarterly doses. The LD-CYC group was defined as having received six doses of 500 mg CYC at two-weekly intervals. The primary outcome was treatment failure defined as persistent nephrotic range proteinuria or renal impairment at 6 months. Results: Sixty-seven patients were recruited (HD-CYC 34, LD-CYC 33), all South Asian ethnicity. The HD-CYC group had received treatment between 2000 and 2013, and the LD-CYC group from 2013 onward. The HD-CYC and LD-CYC groups had 30/33 (90.9%) and 31/34 (91.2%) females, respectively. Nephrotic syndrome and nephrotic range proteinuria on presentation were seen in 22/33 (67%) and 20/32 (62%) in the HD-CYC and LD-CYC groups, respectively, and renal impairment was seen in 5/33 (15%) of the HD-CYC group and 7/32 (22%) of the LD-CYC group (P > 0.05). Treatment failure and complete or partial remission occurred in 7/34 (21%) and 28/34 (82%), respectively, of HD-CYC and 10/33 (30%) and 24/33 (73%), respectively, of LD-CYC (P > 0.05). Adverse events rates were similar. Conclusion: This study suggests that LD-CYC and HD-CYC induction is comparable in South Asian patients with class III and IV lupus nephritis.

Embolizing pulmonary aspergillosis, mycobacterial & aspergillous splenic abscess and cytomegalovirus co-infection following steroid induced immunosuppression: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Aspergillosis is a serious infection particularly affecting the immunodeficient host. Its co-infection with tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus has not been reported before. Embolic events are well recognized with aspergillous endocarditis and aortitis. Splenic abscess is a rare serious complication of disseminated aspergillosis and is difficult to treat. We report the first case of multiple embolic events and splenic abscess in a patient with pulmonary aspergillosis and cytomegaloviral and tuberculous co-infection, without endocarditis or aortitis. CASE PRESENTATION: Thirty-year-old male presented with fever and non-productive cough while on glucocorticoids for glomerulonephritis. He was found to have pulmonary aspergillosis and subsequently developed bilateral lower limb and cerebral fungal emboli and fungal abscess in the spleen. He had IgM and B cell deficiency and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and tuberculous co-infections. He recovered after prolonged course of antimicrobials, splenectomy and cessation of glucocorticoid therapy which also lead to the resolution of immune deficiencies. CONCLUSION: This report illustrates rare combination of B and T cell suppressive effects of glucocorticoids leading to co-infections with CMV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Aspergillus and systemic fungal embolization from pulmonary aspergillosis.

Descriptive analysis of glomerulonephritis by histological type and their progression among adults in a tertiary care center in Sri Lanka.

Prevalence of different glomerulonephritides and their clinical course vary geographically. Our objectives are to assess the prevalence of different histological types of glomerulonephritis (GN) based on the light microscopic histology and to assess their progression according to histological type. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out among adult patients (>18 years) with a histological diagnosis of GN at the University Professorial Unit over a period of six months. Information including demographic data, renal biopsy findings, and progression of the disease through serum creatinine (SCr) level were collected through existing clinic records of consenting patients. Data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. There were 109 patients (females = 90) with a mean age of 40.32 ± 15.24 years. The most common histological type was focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 27 (24.8%) followed by minimal change disease in 25 (22.9%), mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) in 18 (16.5%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in six (5.5%), membranous glomerulonephritis in three patients (2.8%), and crescentic GN in one patient (0.9%). There was a statistically significant rise in SCr level at seven years from the initial presentation in the histological types; FSGS [P = 0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.06-1.0] and MesPGN (P = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.3-0.9). Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the most common histology type in the population studied. There was a statistically significant progression of FSGS and MesPGN.

Cardiovascular risk in lupus nephritis: Do renal disease-related and other traditional risk factors play a role?

This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of thickened carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in a Sri Lankan cohort of lupus nephritis (LN) patients and to identify associations between traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) and LN-related risk factors with increased CIMT. Consecutive patients with biopsy-proven LN were evaluated for conventional CVD risk factors, renal parameters and extent of organ involvement in this cross-sectional study. Current disease activity and damage were assessed by the British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) score and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) damage index, respectively. CIMT was assessed by B Mode grey scale ultrasonography. Increased CIMT was defined as CIMT more than the 75th percentile based on cutoffs from the "Carotid Atherosclerosis Progression Study." Forty patients (98% female), with a mean age of 38 years (age range of 20-50) and of South Asian descent, were evaluated. The mean duration of disease of 6.15 years (SD = 4.66). The overall prevalence of cardiovascular events was low and included previous acute coronary syndromes in 7.5%, stable angina in 5%, cerebrovascular accidents in 7.5% and transient ischemic attacks in 2.5% of the patients; 72.5% had hypertension (HTN) [mean blood pressure (BP) 140/80 mm Hg]; 32.5% had dyslipidemias (mean serum cholesterol 5.9; SD = 5.6) and 25% had diabetes (mean blood sugar 103.7; SD = 15.6). Forty percent were obese and 20% were overweight (Asian cutoffs). Increased CIMT (57.5%) and atherosclerotic plaques (15.36%) indicated a high CVD risk in this cohort. Diabetes (P = 0.016), HTN (P = 0.002), dyslipidemia (P = 0.002) and obesity (P = 0.048) were associated with thickened CIMT. The only LN-related risk factor associated with thickened CIMT (P <0.05) was the SLICC/ACR damage index. The independent predictors of thickened CIMT determined by logistic regression analysis were HTN and dyslipidemia.

Kidney disease in the elderly: a Sri Lankan perspective.

Renal disease in the elderly in Sri Lanka is a largely neglected area in the literature with hardly any publications. We carried out a hospital-based survey of elderly patients (elderly is defined in this article as patients aged 65 years or above) with renal disease. This prospective study included all patients aged 65 years or above admitted to the University Medical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, over a period of 1 year with a primary renal-related illness as the reason for hospitalization. This hospital-based survey is the first of its kind to look into the nephrological disease profile of elderly patients in Sri Lanka. Based on our findings, we have made several pertinent recommendations regarding the care of the elderly with renal disease in Sri Lanka that may be relevant to other developing nations as well.

A two-year retrospective analysis of renal transplant patients in Sri Lanka.

This retrospective analytical study aimed at making a database of patients who underwent renal transplant from 31 December 2004 to 31 December 2006 under the Faculty of Medicine renal transplant program. The objective was to build a profile of renal transplant patients with focus on post KT infections and complications of renal transplants. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used. A total of 72 patients were studied; 18 (25%) had died by February 2007. Forty-three patients (58.3%) were interviewed in person, 17 were interviewed over the phone and 12 patients could not be contacted. Of those who were interviewed, 28 (38.9%) were on azathioprine, prednisolone and cyclosporine, while 15 (20.8%) were on prednisolone, cyclosporin and mycophenolate mofetil. Four patients had symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection and five had tuberculosis post transplant. Of all infections, the most commonly reported was urinary tract infection (11 cases). Thirty-three (45.8 %) had received induction therapy with either basiliximab (n = 8) or daclizumab (n = 25). Acute rejection was the most commonly encountered complication, with nine cases (12.5%) being reported over the study period. Of late complications, most were due to immunosuppression. Overall, the 2-year survival was 75%. There was no significant difference between the centers of transplant.

A kidney transplant patient on cyclosporine therapy presenting with dural venous sinus thrombosis: a case report.

Dural vein thrombosis is an important but rare cause of headache. Therapy with cyclosporine has been reported to result in thrombotic events. We report an unusual case of superior sagittal and transverse sinus thrombosis associated with cyclosporine therapy in a kidney transplant patient.