Acute kidney injury in a mouse model of meningococcal disease.

INTRODUCTION: Meningococcal disease is associated with high mortality. When acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in patients with severe meningococcal disease, it is typically attributable to sepsis, although meningococcal disease and lipopolysaccharide release are rarely investigated. Therefore, we evaluated renal tissue in a mouse model of meningococcal disease. METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were induced to AKI by meningococcal challenge. Markers of renal function were evaluated in infected and control mice. RESULTS: In the infected mice, serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, interleukins (IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor were elevated, as was renal interstitial infiltration with lymphocytes and neutrophils (p < 0.01 for the latter). Histological analysis showed meningococcal microcolonies in the renal interstitium, without acute tubular necrosis. Infected mice also showed elevated renal expression of toll-like receptor 2, toll-like receptor 4, and Tamm-Horsfall protein. The expression of factors in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis was equal to or lower than that observed in the control mice. Urinary sodium and potassium were also lower in infected mice, probably due to a tubular defect. CONCLUSION: Our findings corroborate those of other studies of AKI in sepsis. To our knowledge, this is the first time that meningococci have been identified in renal interstitium and that the resulting apoptosis and inflammation have been evaluated. However, additional studies are needed in order to elucidate the mechanisms involved.

Meningococcal meningitis: clinical and laboratorial characteristics, fatality rate and variables associated with in-hospital mortality.

Meningococcal meningitis is a public health problem. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with meningococcal meningitis, and to identify associated factors with mortality. This was a retrospective study, between 2006 and 2011, at a referral center in São Paulo, Brazil. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with mortality. We included 316 patients. The median age was 16 years (IQR: 7-27) and 60% were male. The clinical triad: fever, headache and neck stiffness was observed in 89% of the patients. The cerebrospinal triad: pleocytosis, elevated protein levels and low glucose levels was present in 79% of patients. Factors associated with mortality in the multivariate model were age above 50 years, seizures, tachycardia, hypotension and neck stiffness. The classic clinical and laboratory triads of meningococcal meningitis were variable. The fatality rate was low. Age, seizures and shock signs were independently associated with mortality.

Meningococcal meningitis: clinical and laboratorial characteristics, fatality rate and variables associated with in-hospital mortality / Meningite meningocócica: características clínicas e laboratoriais, taxa de letalidade e variáveis associadas com mortalidade intra-hospitalar

ABSTRACT Meningococcal meningitis is a public health problem. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with meningococcal meningitis, and to identify associated factors with mortality. This was a retrospective study, between 2006 and 2011, at a referral center in São Paulo, Brazil. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with mortality. We included 316 patients. The median age was 16 years (IQR: 7–27) and 60% were male. The clinical triad: fever, headache and neck stiffness was observed in 89% of the patients. The cerebrospinal triad: pleocytosis, elevated protein levels and low glucose levels was present in 79% of patients. Factors associated with mortality in the multivariate model were age above 50 years, seizures, tachycardia, hypotension and neck stiffness. The classic clinical and laboratory triads of meningococcal meningitis were variable. The fatality rate was low. Age, seizures and shock signs were independently associated with mortality.

RESUMO Meningite meningocócica (MM) é um problema de saúde pública. Os objetivos deste estudo foram descrever características clinicas de pacientes com MM, e identificar fatores associados à mortalidade intra-hospitalar. Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo, entre 2006 e 2011, em um centro de referência, São Paulo, Brasil. Análise de regressão logística multivariada foi usada para identificar fatores associados na admissão com mortalidade intra-hospitalar. Foram incluídos 316 casos. A média de idade foi 16 anos (IQR: 7–27) e 189 (60%) eram do sexo masculino. A tríade clínica: febre, cefaléia e rigidez de nuca foi observada em 89% dos casos. A tríade do exame de líquor: pleocitose, proteinorraquia elevada e hipoglicorraquia ocorreu em 79% dos casos. Fatores associados à mortalidade no modelo multivariado foram: idade acima de 50 anos, convulsões, taquicardia, hipotensão e rigidez de nuca. Tríades clínicas e laboratoriais clássicas de MM foram variáveis. Na admissão, idade, convulsões, taquicardia e hipotensão associaram-se independentemente com o desfecho.