ABSTRACT
Anti-brush border antibody (ABBA) disease, also called anti-low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (anti-LRP2) nephropathy, occurs due to the formation of antibodies against brush border antigens of the renal proximal convoluted tubule. We report a case of ABBA disease in a male farmer in his 30s who presented with 2 years of polyuria, dysuria, nocturia, and urinary urgency. He described a history of long-term occupational exposure to pesticides and silica, evolving into possible pneumoconiosis, and prior pulmonary tuberculosis. At presentation, he had reduced kidney function (serum creatinine 3.6 mg/dL) with hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, a normal anion gap, metabolic acidosis, and respiratory acidosis, and 2.2 g/day of urine proteinuria. The kidney biopsy was consistent with ABBA, showing amorphous immune-deposits in the tubular basement membrane and strong positivity on indirect immunofluorescence in the brush border of the proximal tubules. The trigger for production of ABBA is still unknown, but it may be associated with chronic conditions such as pulmonary tuberculosis and occupational exposures such as silica and pesticides, as seen in the patient in this report. Most cases do not respond to immunosuppression, and the prognosis is poor.
ABSTRACT
In the last decades there has been an increase in cases of visceral leishmaniasis complicating the post-transplant phase, mainly following kidney transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reactivity of haemodialysed patients using IFAT. Blood samples of 310 individuals from Natal, RN, Brazil, were collected and analysed. Data regarding blood transfusion, cause of end-stage renal disease and duration of haemodialysis were also analysed. In total, 69 patients (22.3%) were positive by IFAT. This study suggests that antibody detection should be performed in this group of patients since they are possible candidates for kidney transplantation.