Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis induced by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin: a rare case of acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (IVBCG) is considered the most optimal follow-up therapy for high-risk urothelial cancers. Although side effects such as cystitis, hematuria, and low-grade fever are common, they are generally mild. Severe reactions involving the kidneys are extremely rare. Here, we present the case of a 64-year-old male who developed acute renal failure due to acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) following the first IVBCG administration. We have also conducted a literature review concerning IVBCG-induced nephritis. CASE REPORT: A 64-year-old male presented to the Nephrology Department with acute kidney injury indicators and hematuria. The patient was suffering from high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed twice and followed by one IVBCG administration - two days before the symptoms occurred. The latest follow-up cystoscopy excluded the recurrence of the cancer. Laboratory tests displayed hyperkalemia, decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR = 4 ml/min/1.73 m2), elevated C-reactive protein, and acute metabolic acidosis. Urinalysis showed proteinuria (900 mg/24 h), leukocyturia, and erythrocyturia (20,402.7 per microliter). Renal ultrasound demonstrated slight bilateral renal enlargement. The patient was identified with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN). The treatment involved intravenous methylprednisolone (250 mg three times every two days and then 125 mg four times every two days), fol-lowed by oral methylprednisolone (24 mg and 12 mg daily alternately for a week). Piperacillin and tazobactam, probiotics, and proton pump inhibitors were also administered. Hemodialysis was conducted three times. Two weeks after the admission, a significant improvement was observed: creatinine decreased to 2.04 mg/dl, and GFR increased to 33 ml/min/1.73 m2. The patient was discharged with a recommendation to reduce the dose of glucocorticosteroids and continued in the outpatient clinic. CONCLUSIONS: IVBCG may lead to acute kidney injury due to ATIN. Symptoms may occur as early as after the first IVBCG, contrary to previous reports. Patients should be regularly assessed for potential complications, including creatine level measurement, after each IVBCG treatment.

Hypertensive emergency due to a delayed dialysis modality transition in a patient with familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: This case report presents a history of familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis (FHHNC). The patient was admitted to the hospital with hypertensive encephalopathy. FHHNC is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in CLDN16 or CLDN19, resulting in insufficient magnesium and calcium kidney reabsorption. FHHNC manifestation starts in childhood, and over the years, its development leads to nephrocalcinosis and, consequently, chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is not slowed by routine administration of magnesium and thiazide diuretics. Ultimately, all FHHNC patients need kidney replacement therapy (KRT). CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 28-year-old male diagnosed with FHHNC and admitted to the emergency room due to hypertensive encephalopathy. The current situation was the patient's second hospitalization related to a hypertensive emergency caused by under-dialysis. Despite the signs of insufficient functioning of peritoneal dialysis (PD) (the primary chosen form of KRT), the patient refused the proposed conversion to hemodialysis (HD). Symptoms observed upon admission included disorientation, anxiety, and severe hypertension, reaching 213/123 mmHg. Due to his clinical condition, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), where the introduction of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration and hypotensive therapy stabilized blood pressure. Within the next few days, his state improved, followed by discharge from ICU. Eventually, the patient agreed to transition from PD to in-center HD. At the time, he was qualified for kidney transplantation, waiting for a compatible donation. CKD and dialysis are factors that significantly affect a patient's quality of life, especially in young patients with congenital diseases like FHHNC. CONCLUSIONS: For the aforementioned reasons, appropriate education and psychological support should be ensured to avoid the harmful effects of therapy non-compliance. Graphical Abstract: https://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/Graphical-abstract-1.pdf.

A systematic review of the pharmacotherapy of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in grades 3-5 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

OBJECTIVE: The data on the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) provided in scientific publications are divergent and contradictory. Therefore, the aim of our systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of SHPT treatment in (chronic kidney disease) CKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Cochrane, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched independently by two authors. The search strategy included controlled vocabulary and keywords. The effectiveness and side effects of calcifediol, ergocaliferol, calcitriol, paricalcitol, and cinacalcet were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Extended-release (ER) calcifediol raised the total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level over the threshold of 30 ng/mL in 80% of the patients analyzed in the study. It is the level required for intact PTH (iPTH) suppression. ER calcifediol reduced the iPTH level by 30% in about 30% of the patients, whereas only 2.1% of them had hypercalcemia. Calcitriol significantly decreased the iPTH values. It was the cause of hypercalcemia in 1.7% of the patients. The reduction of the iPTH level by more than 30% was observed in 85.7% of the patients in the paracalcitol group after 48-week supplementation. Paricalcitol was the cause of hypercalcemia in 1.9% of the patients. The cinacalcet therapy resulted in the highest percentage of patients with the iPTH level within the limits recommended by the KDOQI (70-110 ng/L for stage 4 CKD and 150-300 ng/L for stage 5 CKD). 92% of the patients met the KDOQI guidelines and the mean decrease in the serum iPTH level was 68%. CONCLUSIONS: Calcifediol ER, paricalcitol, and cinacalcet significantly decreased the iPTH level in the patients under study. Paricalcitol increased the serum calcium concentration the most of all the drugs under analysis. It is noteworthy that only cinacalcet does not carry the risk of hypercalcemia.

[Post-transplant nephropathy and arterial hypertension]. / Nadcisnienie tetnicze a przewlekla nefropatia potransplantacyjna.

The introduction of new immunosuppressive regimens results in the significant improvement in the outcome of patients after kidney transplantation. However, about 5 percent of renal transplants are lost every year. Not only immunological (alloantigendependent) but also nonimmunological (alloantigen-independent) factors are involved in late graft loss. Among them, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, proteinuria, genetic predisposition, viral infection and nephrotoxicity of immunosuppressive drugs contribute to the development and to the progression of chronic post-transplant nephropathy. Hypertension can be both the cause and the consequence of chronic allograft failure. Hypertension is frequently observed before transplantation, persists after grafting and increases the risk of chronic allograft nephropathy. Hypercholesterolemia, obesity, atheromatosis, polycythemia, and excessive salt intake are factors contributing in post-transplant hypertension. However, in some cases, hypertension can be transferred with the grafted kidney, as observed in normotensive patients before renal transplantation. In 1 to 12 percent of cases, the cause of post transplant hypertension is the stenosis of the transplant artery. Sometimes the presence of hypertension in renal recipients may result from the recurrence of glomerulonephritis or from the development of glomerulonephritis de novo in the graft. Also immunosuppressive treatment with corticosteroids and cyclosporine A contributes to the increased prevalence of hypertension by 20-30 percent. The development of the graft nephroarteriolosclerosis as a consequence of hypertension accelerates the progression of the post-transplant nephropathy. Adequate control of the arterial pressure (< 140/90) should be achieved in all renal transplant recipients. Reduction in protein and salt intake is important to reduce hyper-filtration and slows the progression of transplant nephropathy. However, pharmacological treatment is usually needed. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II type I receptor antagonists exhibit beneficial hemodynamic effect leading to the reduction of glomerular hypertension and proteinuria. Calcium antagonists besides their systemic antihypertensive effect, can protect renal grafts from vascular and renal toxicity of CyA. Sometimes, combined therapy with these and other antihypertensive drugs and diuretics is necessary.

[A case of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in the course of Wegener's granulomatosis]. / Przypadek gwaltownie postepujacego klebuszkowego zapalenia nerek w przebiegu choroby Wegenera.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is characterized by granulomatous vasculitis of the respiratory tract and glomerulonephritis (GN). Prognosis of this disease is poor and about 20% of untreated patients die after one year from the onset. WG was recognized in 45-year-old patient on the basis of: 1) clinical symptoms (joint pain and swollen, purpura on the skin which appeared one week after respiratory tract infection, ulceration of the tonsils and lingula), 2) results of additional testing (X-chest-ray-infiltrates of both lungs), positive results of the cANCA (titre 1:640) and rapidly progressive renal failure [the increase of serum creatinine level (Pcr) from 123.7 to 707 mumol/l (1.4 to 8.0 mg/dl) during one week]. Renal biopsy revealed extracapillary GN (cellular crescents in 7 out of 8 glomeruli and scattered foci of fibrinoid necrosis of capillary walls in all). At the beginning of the treatment Pcr raised to 884 mumol/l (10 mg/dl) and the patient required hemodialysis. He was treated with methylprednisolone (M) at flash doses of 1000 mg/24 h by three days followed by 125 mg/24 h i.v.--because of peptic ulcer, with cyclophosphamide (C-150 mg/24 h p.p.), with trimetoprim/sulphametoxazole, with pentoxifylline and omeprazol. After six weeks of the treatment in the control kidney biopsy sclerotic changes in 10 out of 13 glomeruli and diffuse interstitial fibrosis were found. However, during the same time, we observed clinical remission of the disease and the decrease of Pcr to 176.8 mumol/l (2 mg/dl). The M dosis was reduced by 5 mg every weeks and the C dosis--to 50 mg (because of the increase of aminotransferase levels) After six months of the treatment Pcr was 132.6 mumol/l (1.5 mg/dl) and CANCA titer was 1:16. In this case of RPGN, despite off the progression of the morphological changes in the kidney, we obtained the clinical remission of the disease and significant decrease of Pcr level. These results suggest that aggressive treatment of WG is justified even in patients with advanced renal failure requiring dialysis and in such patients clinical remission is possible to occur.

[Comparative study of two immunosuppressive treatment methods in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis]. / Porównanie dwóch metod leczenia immunosupresyjnego u chorych na ogniskowa segmentalna sklerotyzacje klebuszków nerkowych.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a glomerular disease of varying severity. Most patients, however, develop end-stage renal failure within 10 years from clinical onset. In this retrospective study, the outcome of immunosuppressive treatment in 22 adult patients with biopsy-proven primary FSGS was evaluated. Eleven patients were treated with prednisone, azathioprine and chlorambucil (group A) and 11 with prednisone and pulse cyclophosphamide (group B). The nephrotic syndrome (NS) was found in 4 patients from the group A and in 3 patients from the group B, arterial hypertension in 8 and 9 patients, respectively. During the follow-up lasting about 50 months as the mean, 70% of the patients did not respond to the treatment and complete remission was obtained only in 3 patients from the group B. On the other hand, 7 patients progressed into CFR. Among them, 5 out of 7 patients with NS (4 from the group A) needed dialysis treatment or doubled their Pcr after a mean of 38 months. This study confirms poor outcome of immunosuppressive treatment in patients with FSGS. However, of the two forms of treatment used in the study, the response appeared to be better and more lasting with cyclophosphamide than with azathioprine and chlorambucil. Corticosteroids associated with pulse cyclophosphamide therapy seems to improve the chances of remission and to protect from renal dysfunction.

[Prolongation of allogenic rat renal graft survival after perfusion the organ with anti-MHC class II antibody]. / Przedluzenie przezycia allogenicznego przeszczepu nerki szczura pod wplywem perfuzji narzadu przeciwcialem monoklonalnym skierowanym przeciwko antygenom zgodnosci tkankowej klasy II.

One of the main factor inducing rejection of the allogenic graft are the donor MHC-class II antigens. The cytotoxic damage or the elimination of these cells from the organ may influence his function after grafting. In this study, the influence of the continuous perfusion of the rat kidney with monoclonal antibody against rat MHC-class II antigens (MoAb 25D5) on graft survivals was investigated. For the perfusion, the HTK solution containing MoAb 25D5, rat complement (C) and Pentoxifilline (Ptx) was used. After one-hour perfusion at 21 degrees C kidney were transplanted to the syngenic (LEW-LEW) or allogenic (Da-LEW) recipients, kidney perfused with the solution containing MoAb 25D5 and C survived statistically longer (14.0 +/- 2.4 days) than in the control group without perfusion (7.7 +/- 0.5 days) or after perfusion with the solution containing only Ptx (7.8 +/- 0.8 days). It seems likely that the continuous perfusion of the rat kidney with HTK protective solution containing MoAb against MHC-class II antigens and C can reduce the immunogenicity of the graft.

[The role of tubulointerstitial changes in progression of kidney function failure in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (GN)]. / Rola zmian cewkowo-sródmiazszowych w postepujacym uposledzeniu funkcji nerek u chorych na przewlekle klebuszkowe zapalenie nerek (KZN).

In most cases of glomerulonephritis (GN) long-term course lead to chronic renal failure. The cause of inevitably gradually progress of GN to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is unclear. The histological abnormalities seen in patients with progressive renal failure consist of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial nephritis. At present it is considered that tubulointerstitial changes attends almost all forms of progressive glomerular and vascular injury. It was known that chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis is characterized morphologically by tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis and interstitial inflammation of variable severity. The pathomechanism of this changes is complicated. Tubular ischaemia results from obliteration of peritubular capillaries, adaptation of tubular function with increased oxygen consumption and increased glomerular capillary permeability to macromolecules are reasons of chronic tubular damage. Injured tubules release growth factors and cytokines, which induce interstitial fibroblast proliferation, chemo-attraction and proliferation of infiltrating cells, and disruption of the balance between synthesis and degradation of cellular constituents. The consequences of these processes are tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Because of many studies concurred that tubulointerstitial changes determinant the progression of GN, tubular injury markers were searched for. Although over 50 enzymes were detected in human urine, only a few have been used for diagnosis in renal disease. The most widely used are lysosomal enzyme N acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and brush border enzymes alanine-aminopeptidase (AAP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). tubular damage in hypertension, diabetes and in diagnostics of renal disease. AAP and GGT, brush border enzymes seem to be sensitive markers of renal injury too. Pathological value of GGT was observed even in the early stage of disease. Measurement of urinary excretion of low molecular weight proteins was valuable supplement in estimation of tubulointerstitial system malfunction. These proteins are readily filtered by normal glomeruli and virtually completely reabsorbed by normal proximal tubules. Favour are alpha-1-microglobulin (alpha-1-m) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) because they are less affected than beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2-m) by low urine pH. Above presented review confirm that further research in correlation between activity of disease, histological picture, deterioration in renal function and changes in urinary excretion of markers proteins (for example alpha-1-m, AAP, NAG, GGT) is advisable, and can contribute to use in clinic diagnostics of GN.