[Case of microscopic polyangiitis accompanied by central nervous system symptoms and brain vasculitis observed histopathologically].

A 65-year-old-man complained of coughing and fever. The urine showed microscopic hematuria. The level of myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) was 167 EU. Two months later, he was admitted to our hospital with pulmonary hemorrhage and progressive renal dysfunction. He was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisolone with plasma exchanges, and his first pulmonary hemorrhage was relieved. Three weeks later, he suffered from a second diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage with central nervous system symptoms. He was treated again with intravenous methylprednisolone, plasma exchanges, and also intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide (IVCY), but he died of respiratory failure. Autopsy findings revealed microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)in the brain as well as in the lung, kidney and gastrointestinal system. The histopathological findings suggested that cerebral nervous system symptoms could have been caused by brain vasculitis in this case.

Influence of proteinuria on renal Doppler sonographic measurements in chronic kidney disease and in diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of proteinuria on renal Doppler sonographic (US) measurements in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with or without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Renal resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and maximum kidney length were measured by US in 113 patients suffering from CKD without DM (non-DM CKD patients) and in 120 patients with diabetic nephropathy (DM patients). Other data collected were sex, age, body mass index, blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary protein level, and medical history. The effect of proteinuria on RI and PI was evaluated using single regression analyses, multiple regression analyses, and comparison of regression lines. RESULTS: Single and multiple regression analyses revealed that RI and PI in the two subgroups and in the entire group of patients were correlated with urinary protein level (p < 0.05). Comparison of regression lines of each subgroup showed statistically significant differences in two regression intercepts concerning these indices in relation to urinary protein level (p < 0.001, RI: 0.71 in non-DM CKD patients versus 0.76 in DM patients, PI: 1.39 in non-DM CKD patients versus 1.60 in DM patients) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Renal RI and PI can reflect damages related to proteinuria and DM.