Efficacy of granulocytapheresis and leukocytapheresis for the treatment of microscopic polyangiitis.

We evaluated the efficacy of granulocytaperesis and leukocytapheresis for the treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) and lung hemorrhage caused by microscopic polyangiitis. Three patients with RPGN were treated by granulocytapheresis (GCAP) and five patients with RPGN were treated by leukocytapheresis (LCAP). The prednisolone dose was 0.4 +/- 0.2 g/kg/day (mean +/- SD; range 0.2-0.8 g/kg/day). Pre-treatment serum creatinine was 3.2 +/- 1.4 mg/dL (1.4-5.1 mg/dL). The patients were followed for a mean period of 15 +/- 6 months (6-23 months). Renal function improved in five of the eight RPGN patients. Three lung hemorrhage episodes in two different patients were treated with GCAP and one lung hemorrhage episode was treated with LCAP combined with various doses of corticosteroids. All four lung hemorrhage episodes were ameliorated. We concluded that combined therapy of GCAP or LCAP and corticosteroids is effective for the treatment of RPGN and lung hemorrhage due to microscopic polyangiitis.

Focal segmental sclerotic lesions of the glomerulus in transplanted kidneys assessed using computerized image analysis.

Mechanisms responsible for the development of focal segmental sclerotic lesions of the glomerulus (FSGS lesions) in transplanted kidneys were investigated by morphometric analysis. The mean glomerular area and the interstitial area were measured using computerized image analysis to compare implantation biopsies (so-called 1-h biopsies; 1Bx) with later biopsies (episode Bx; EBx) that had been taken for diagnostic purposes to identify the cause of deteriorating renal function. Groups of patients with (group A, n = 15) or without (group B, n = 10) FSGS lesions were compared. Twelve of 15 in group A and all in group B had lost graft function due to chronic allograft nephropathy. It was found that neither the mean glomerular area nor the interstitial area differed significantly between the two groups in either 1Bx or EBx. The interstitial area was significantly increased (P = 0.007) and the mean glomerular area tended to be increased (P = 0.085) in EBx compared with 1Bx in group A but not in group B. The serum creatinine level at the time of EBx in group A correlated with the interstitial area (P = 0.031) but not the mean glomerular area. However, there was no similar correlation in group B. In conclusion, factors for the development of FSGS lesions in transplanted kidneys may be the increase in interstitial area and possible glomerular hypertrophy following transplantation, rather than pre-existing reduced renal mass of the donor kidneys.

Cytapheresis for the treatment of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: report of five cases.

To minimize the adverse effects of high-dose administration of steroids and cyclophosphamide in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO) antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), granulocytapheresis (GCAP) or leukocytapheresis (LCAP) was performed to reduce inflammation. Four patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) and one patient with pulmonary hemorrhage due to MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis were treated by cytapheresis. The prednisolone (PSL) dose was 0.28 +/- 0.15 mg/kg/day (mean +/- SD) (range 0.18-0.50 g/kg/day). In the 4 RPGN patients, the peak serum creatinine level was 3.7 +/- 1.9 mg/dl (range 1.7 to 5.6 mg/dl). GCAP was performed in 3 RPGN patients and in 1 pulmonary hemorrhage patient. LCAP was performed in 1 RPGN patient. In the 4 RPGN patients, renal function improved after combined therapy with cytapheresis and corticosteroids. In the pulmonary hemorrhage patient, evidence of pulmonary hemorrhage on chest computed tomography scanning diminished after combined therapy with cytapheresis and corticosteroids. Cytapheresis, when combined with a low-dose or intermediate-dose PSL regimen, is effective in the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis.

[Evaluation of reticulocyte hemoglobin content, percentage of hypochromic red blood cells, and ratio of serum transferrin receptor level/serum iron level as markers of iron-deficiency erythropoiesis in patients undergoing hemodialysis].

UNLABELLED: Reticulocyte hemoglobin content(CHr), percentage of hypochromic red blood cells(%HRC, level of serum transferrin receptor(sTfR), and sTfR/serum iron ratio(sTfR/Fe) were measured in 132 hemodialysis patients. On univariate analysis, CHr was positively correlated with serum amyloid A(SAA) and negatively correlated with Kt/V. %HRC showed a positive correlation with the recombinant human erythropoietin(rHuEPO) dosage. The dependency of each iron-status index on 5 variables, SAA, sFt, TS, KtN, and dose of rHuEPO administered, was determined by stepwise multiple regression analysis. CHr was influenced only by TS, while %HRC, sTfR and sTfR/Fe were influenced by both logrHuEPO dosage and TS. Patients whose hemoglobin concentration increased by more than 1 g/dl following iron supplementation were defined as Iron-Responders, and the remaining patients were defined as Iron-Nonresponders. Fifteen out of 20 patients responded to 10 consecutive intravenous administrations of 80 mg of saccharated ferric oxide at each dialysis session, while five did not. The baseline CHr was significantly lower in Iron-Responders than Iron-Nonresponders. The baseline %HRC, sTfR, and sTfR/Fe were significantly higher in Iron-Responders than Iron-Nonresponders. The baseline CHr, %HRC, and sTfR/Fe were correlated with the degree of change in Hb concentration at 4 weeks of iron supplementation. The absolute change in CHr at 2 weeks of iron supplementation was positively correlated with the absolute change in Hb concentration over the first 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: (1) In assessing the iron metabolic status of dialysis patients, CHr, %HRC, and sTfR/Fe were unique indices compared with the ordinary indices, particularly in diagnosing the functional iron deficiency state. (2) CHr was a valuable marker of iron deficiency anemia and could predict the degree of increase in Hb level following iron supplementation. (3) The %HRC and sTfR/Fe seemed to reflect both erythropoiesis induced by rHuEPO and the iron supply to erythropoietic cells.