A Rare Complication of Ascariasis: A Case of Acute Interstitial Nephritis.

Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) due to helminths is a rare cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Helminthiases often progresses insidiously, making diagnosis difficult. This was the case of a 72-year-old man, who presented with renal failure, itching and diarrhoea. Urinalysis revealed leukocyturia, microhaematuria and mild proteinuria. A full blood count revealed leucocytosis with eosinophilia. A stool parasitological examination revealed fertilised eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides. Tubulointerstitial nephropathy secondary to A. lumbricoides infection was suspected. A percutaneous renal biopsy was not performed since the patient refused the anti-platelet therapy discontinuation. Mebendazole, albendazole and prednisone therapy was administered. After worm eradiation and discharge, recovery from the parasitosis, absence of pruritus and eosinophilia, and progressive improvement of renal function were observed, strongly suggesting a causal relationship between Ascaris infection and AIN. Parasite infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained renal failure because early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid irreversible complications.

Orbital myositis and scleritis after anti-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines: A report of three cases.

PURPOSE: To report three cases of ocular myositis and scleritis, bilateral scleritis and unilateral single muscle myositis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. METHODS: Case series of three patients who presented to the Orbit Outpatient Service of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli with a history of unilateral proptosis, diplopia and pain, bilateral red eye and pain during eye movements and unilateral proptosis and inconstant diplopia respectively with onset 5-10 days after m-RNA COVID-19 vaccine. A thorough hematologic work up and orbital contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with proptosis was performed. RESULTS: Patients were females, 64, 58 and 45 years old respectively. MRI showed enlargement of all right rectus muscles, with both muscle belly and insertion involvement in the first case associated to right scleritis. A bilateral scleritis was diagnosed in the second patient and a single muscle myositis in the third patient. Serological tests excluded thyroid diseases. The first and second patient were treated respectively with oral and topical glucorticoids with a complete clinical response. Two 2 cycles of oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were administered to the third patient with a partial response. CONCLUSION: As far as we know these are the first report of orbital myositis and scleritis presenting after mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech) and mRNA-1273-(Moderna) vaccine, an uncommon effect of a likely autoimmune reaction triggered by the virus antigen.

Nephrosclerosis impacts time trajectory of renal function and outcomes in elderly individuals with chronic kidney disease.

Despite hypertension ranks among the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD), the impact of chronic hypertensive nephropathy, the so-called 'nephrosclerosis' (NS), on CKD progression is often unpredictable, particularly in elderly population. We have conducted a prospective, observational study to define renal function patterns and outcomes in elderly CKD individuals with or without NS. Three hundred four individuals with an already established CKD were categorized according to the etiology of CKD. NS was defined as the presence of CKD associated with long-term essential hypertension, hypertensive retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy and minimal proteinuria. Time trajectories in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (CKD-Epi) were computed over a 4-year follow-up. In addition, we analyzed the occurrence of a composite outcome of doubling of serum creatinine levels, eGFR reduction ≥25% and/or the need of chronic renal replacement therapy. CKD was secondary to nephrosclerosis (CKD-NS) in 220 (72.3%). In the whole cohort, the average estimated annual GFR slope was 1.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 eGFR decline was slower in CKD-NS as compared with others (1.4 vs 3.4 mL/min/1.73 m2; p<0.001). The composite renal outcome during follow-up occurred less frequently among elderly with CKD-NS (16/204 vs 14/70; p=0.01, crude HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.85) and was associated at logistic analyses with the etiology of CKD, background cardiovascular disease, total and low density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol, and glycemia levels (p value was ranging from 0.01 to 0.05). Despite being highly prevalent in the elderly, NS is associated with a more favorable renal disease course as compared with other conditions.

Renal resistive index in chronic kidney disease patients: Possible determinants and risk profile.

BACKGROUND: High ultrasound renal resistive index (RI) predicts poor cardiorenal outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has recently emerged as a marker of nephroprotective drugs response. Thus, having a risk profile of CKD patients with abnormal RI may be relevant for the clinicians. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred to our non-dialysis CKD clinic from 01/01/2016 to 01/12/2016, were evaluated by clinical and ultrasound analysis. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years and presence of CKD defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<60 mL/min/1.73m2 and/or proteinuria>0.150g/24h. Renal artery stenosis, solitary kidney, acute kidney injury were the main exclusion criteria. RI value was the mean of three measures in segmental arteries in each kidney. Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate associations between continuous RI and clinical variables. Multivariate linear regression analysis, based on stepwise method with an elimination criterion of p<0.10, was used to assess the independent correlates of RI as continuous variable. RESULTS: We studied 73 patients (69.9% men). Mean RI was 0.67±0.09. Frequencies of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were 19.2% and 20.6% and median eGFR 54.1 [30.0-84.6] mL/min/1.73m2. From low (<0.65) to intermediate (0.65-0.70) to high (>0.70) RI categories, eGFR and haemoglobin levels were decreased while diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), phosphate and smokers were higher. At univariate analysis, RI was significantly associated with age, presence of diabetes, CVD, serum phosphorus, eGFR, Urea and haemoglobin. Multi-adjusted stepwise regression analysis showed that lower eGFR levels (p<0.001), diabetes (p = 0.042), CVD (p = 0.009), smoking habit (p = 0.021) and higher serum phosphorus levels (p = 0.001) were associated with higher continuous RI. Serum phosphorus showed Area Under the Curves (AUC) values of 0.714 and 0.664 for discriminating RI cut-offs of 0.70 and 0.65. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that RI is higher in CKD patients with CVD, diabetes, smoking habit and higher serum phosphorus, regardless of eGFR. Further studies are needed to verify whether higher RI indicates more complex pathway of intrarenal damage, besides and beyond kidney function.

Successful Use of Aliskiren in a Case of IgA- Mesangial Glomerulonephritis Unresponsive to Conventional Therapies.

INTRODUCTION: The early suspension of Altitude trial in recent years has induced most nephrologists and cardiologists to abandon Aliskiren use. Consequently, the potential usefulness of the direct renin inhibition in IgA glomerulonephritis remained an under-investigated therapeutic option. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 53 years old IgA GMN patient unresponsive to all conventional anti-angiotensin-2 agents, steroids and immunosuppressants, in which the administration of Aliskiren permitted to achieve and maintain a complete proteinuria remission in the absence of any adverse event. CONCLUSION: Aliskiren might represent a valid and safe therapeutic option in IgA GMN, although further investigations would be needed to confirm this conclusion.

Can renal sonography be a reliable diagnostic tool in the assessment of chronic kidney disease?

OBJECTIVES: Kidney size has been found to be correlated with anthropometric features and kidney function. Therefore, we postulate that if the conventionally measured renal sonographic parameters (pole-to-pole length, width, and parenchymal thickness) are taken according to standardized rules and corrected for body height, their association with kidney function could be strengthened, thus helping validate renal sonographic information for a better assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) status. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 72 stable adult patients with stage 1 to 4 CKD. Sonographic parameters were obtained from both kidneys and averaged, and the measurements obtained were further corrected for patients' body height. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. RESULTS: Parenchymal thickness and renal length showed the highest correlation level with the GFR. This significant correlation, however, was greatly ameliorated by the correction for patients' body height (r = 0.537; P < .001; r = 0.510; P < .001, respectively). Of note, the product of these two parameters corrected for body height showed the best degree of correlation with the GFR (r = 0.560; P < .001), as confirmed by analysis of variance after subdivision of the population into CKD stage groups according to the GFR. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for discrimination of a GFR of less than 60 mL/min indentified the combined parameter as the one with the highest area under the curve (0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.89), followed renal length corrected for height (area under the curve, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Correction of renal sonographic parameters for body height strengthens the degree of the correlation of renal sonography with the GFR. The improved correlation with the GFR makes renal sonography a reliable tool for a more complete assessment of patients with CKD.

Coupled plasma filtration adsorption for the treatment of a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury: a case report.

Coupled plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA) is an extracorporeal blood purification therapy based on non-specific pro- and anti-inflammatory mediator adsorption on a special resin cartridge coupled with continuous veno-venous haemofiltration or continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration and is one of the emerging treatments for septic patients. However, in the literature, there are limited data about its efficacy in treating patients with acute diseases but without the traditional criteria for sepsis. We describe the case of a 43-year-old male who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to pneumonia and acute kidney injury, whose clinical conditions rapidly improved after early CPFA therapy.

A randomized trial of pulsatile perfusion using an intra-aortic balloon pump versus nonpulsatile perfusion on short-term changes in kidney function during cardiopulmonary bypass during myocardial reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Nonpulsatile perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass can induce renal damage. We evaluated whether pulsatile perfusion using an intra-aortic balloon pump preserves renal function in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial, nonmasked parallel-group design. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 100 patients undergoing preoperative perfusion using an intra-aortic balloon pump; 64 with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) or greater (>or=1 mL/s/1.73 m(2); stage 1 or 2) and 36 with eGFR of 30 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (0.5 to 0.98 mL/s/1.73 m(2); stage 3). INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to nonpulsatile perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (group A) or automatic intra-aortic balloon pump-induced pulsatile perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (group B). OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS: Renal function, daily diuresis, complications, serum lactate levels, and other biochemical indices at 24 and 48 hours. RESULTS: GFR, adjusted for baseline eGFR, was 16 mL/min/1.73 m(2) [0.27 mL/s/1.73 m(2)] less in group A (58.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2); 95% confidence interval [CI], 56.1 to 60.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2) [0.97 mL/s/1.73 m(2); 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.0 mL/s/1.73 m(2)]) than in group B (74.0 mL/min/1.73 m(2); 95% CI, 72.0 to 76.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2) [1.23 mL/s/1.73 m(2); 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.27 mL/s/1.73 m(2)]; P < 0.001). Plasma lactate levels were +3.9 mg/dL (+0.43 mmol/L) higher in group A (19.5 mg/dL; 95% CI, 18.4 to 20.5 mg/dL [2.16 mmol/L; 95% CI, 2.04 to 2.28 mmol/L]) than in group B (16.7 mg/dL; 95% CI, 14.4 to 16.7 mg/dL [1.73 mmol/L; 95% CI, 1.60 to 1.85 mmol/L]; P < 0.001). No significant difference between the 2 groups was observed for 24-hour diuresis. Patients with eGFR stage 3 had a greater decrease in GFR and daily diuresis and greater increase in lactate levels than those with eGFR stages 1 to 2. LIMITATIONS: Short-term change in kidney function as a surrogate outcome for "hard" clinical outcomes of mortality, morbidity, and length of hospitalization. Other limitations are short-term follow-up and absence of measurement of hemodynamic parameters or inflammatory mediators. CONCLUSIONS: Use of automatic pulsatile intra-aortic balloon pumps during cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with better renal function during myocardial reperfusion. More studies are needed to verify the effects of pulsatile intra-aortic balloon pumps.