BACKGROUND: IgA-dominant acute postinfectious glomerulonephritis (APIGN) is a recently recognized morphologic variant of APIGN, but its clinicopathologic features were not clearly characterized. We will present demographic, clinical and renal biopsy findings from seven patients with IgA-dominant APIGN with a literature review. METHODS: All renal biopsy specimens (n=1,119) processed by the Department of Pathology in Hanyang University Hospital from 2005 to 2009 were reviewed. Seven patients with IgA-dominant APIGN were identified, and their clinical data analyzed. RESULTS: All patients had renal failure, hematuria and proteinuria. One was diabetic, and none of the patients had previous renal diseases. Three had clinical infections at the time of presentation: 2 with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and one with rickettsial infection. Light microscopically diffuse endocapillary proliferative and exudative glomerulonephritis was found in all cases. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed granular IgA deposits along peripheral capillary walls and in mesangium. Ultrastructurally, subepithelial 'humps' with mesangial deposits were noted. End-stage renal disease developed in two patients, chronic renal failure was stationary in two, and azotemia improved in three. CONCLUSIONS: Various infections including rickettsiosis preceded IgA-dominant APIGN in both diabetics and nondiabetics. Because the prognosis of IgA-dominant APIGN is poor, early diagnosis based on renal biopsy is required.
Azotemia ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Early Diagnosis ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Light ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency

ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation (ABOi KT) was introduced to expand the donor pool and minimize shortage of kidneys for transplantation. Because improved outcomes of ABOi KT were reported in Japan in the early 2000s, the number of ABOi KTs has been increasing worldwide. In addition, a better understanding of immune pathogenesis and subsequent aggressive immunosuppression has helped to make effective desensitization protocols. Current strategies of ABOi KT consist of pretransplant antibody removal using plasmapheresis or immunoadsorption to prevent hyperacute rejection and potent maintenance immunosuppression, such as tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil, to inhibit antibody-mediated rejection. Recent outcomes of ABOi KT are comparable with ABO-compatible KT. However, there are still many problems to be resolved. Very high anti-ABO antibody producers are difficult to desensitize. In addition, ABOi KT is associated with an increased risk of infection and possibly malignancy due to aggressive immunosuppression. Optimization of desensitization and patient-tailored immunosuppression protocols are needed to achieve better outcomes of ABOi KT. This review provides an overview of the history, immune mechanism, immunosuppressive protocol, outcomes, current obstacles, and future perspectives in ABOi KT.
Blood Group Incompatibility ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Japan ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Plasmapheresis ; Tacrolimus ; Tissue Donors

A 71-year-old woman with minimal change disease visited our clinic complaining of pleuritic chest pain. Cefepime was given under the impression that she had pneumonia. Three days after cefepime administration, she became unconscious. A brain MRI scan was non-revealing and an EEG showed triphasic waves. As there was no evidence of septic, uremic or hepatic encephalopathy, we suspected cefepime-induced neurotoxicity. Cefepime was stopped and she underwent hemodialysis to decrease the blood levels of the drug. Following hemodialysis, she regained consciousness.
Aged ; Brain ; Cephalosporins ; Chest Pain ; Consciousness ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; Pneumonia ; Renal Dialysis ; Unconscious (Psychology)

Malaria is caused by four species of the genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium vivax malaria is the most common malarial infection in Korea and usually has benign clinical course. However, serious complications such as severe anemia, pulmonary edema, acute renal failure are reported in Plasmodium vivax malaria. We report a case of Plasmodium vivax malaria complicated with acute renal failure, jaundice and thrombocytopenia. A 56-year-old male was transferred to our hospital with acute renal failure, jaundice and thrombocytopenia. 10 days before admission, he had intermittent fever, chill, myalgia, and was treated with some medications under the impression of URI. Laboratory findings showed that hemoglobin was 11.5 g/dL, platelet 44,000/mm3, blood urea nitrogen 73 mg/dL, creatinine 4.0 mg/dL, total bilirubin 5.2 mg/dL, direct bilirubin 4.0 mg/dL. Serologic tests for leptospirosis, rickettsia, EB virus and CMV were negative. Ring form trophozoites were found in red blood cells, suggesting Plasmodium vivax malaria. Following anti-malarial therapy, acute renal failure, jaundice and thrombocytopenia were recovered to normal. From this case, malarial infection should be included as a differential diagnosis in a febrile patient with acute renal failure, jaundice and thrombocytopenia.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anemia ; Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erythrocytes ; Fever ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Korea ; Leptospirosis ; Malaria ; Malaria, Vivax ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmodium ; Plasmodium vivax ; Pulmonary Edema ; Rickettsia ; Serologic Tests ; Thrombocytopenia ; Trophozoites ; Viruses

We report a case of lupus cystitis as the manifestation of lupus flare, and pure red cell aplasia resulting from the use of azathioprine in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A 30-year-old female with a nine-year history of SLE was admitted to our hospital with complaint of anemia and azotemia. Eighteen and three months before, she had two episodes of lupus enteritis treated with high dose steroid. She had serologic evidence of an SLE flare at admission. Abdominal computed tomography revealed bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter with marked diffuse thickening of the urinary bladder wall, suggesting lupus cystitis. Treatment with corticosteroid led to prompt normalization of her renal function. Use of azathioprine may lead to severe anemia. The bone marrow examination revealed a decrease of erythropoiesis, suggesting pure red cell aplasia. Serologic tests for hepatitis B and parvovirus B19 were negative. There was immediate hemoglobin recovery after complete azathioprine discontinuation.
Adult ; Anemia ; Azathioprine ; Azotemia ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Cystitis ; Enteritis ; Erythropoiesis ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Parvovirus ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure ; Serologic Tests ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: We evaluated the complications and failures after total ankle arthroplasty during at least 2 years short term follow up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 45 cases of 42 patients of HINTEGRA(R) (Newdeal SA, Lyon, France) model from November 2004 to August 2006. Follow up averaged at least 2 year. We evaluated the complications and analyzed the cause of the failures. RESULTS: There were totally 15 cases of complication, 5 cases of medial impingement syndrome, 3 cases of varus malposition, 2 cases of delayed healing of wounds, and each one case of deep peroneal nerve problem, medial malleolus fracture, post-operative deep infection, gouty arthritis pain, and Achilles tendinitis. CONCLUSION: Total ankle arthroplasty had higher complication rate than any other joint arthroplasty, so we need a more meticulous preoperative and peri-operative care.
Animals ; Ankle ; Arthritis, Gouty ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Ankle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Peroneal Nerve

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The value of hydration with sodium bicarbonate and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in the prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy is questionable. This study investigated whether sodium bicarbonate hydration with or without NAC has a more protective role in the prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy than saline hydration with or without NAC. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients with significant proteinuria (> or = 500 mg/d), azotemia (serum creatinine > or = 1.5 mg/dL), or diabetes mellitus who were undergoing coronary angiography using iodixanol, a nonionic iso-osmolar contrast agent. Patients were assigned randomly to receive saline infusion (S, n = 24), saline infusion plus NAC (S + NAC, n = 20), sodium bicarbonate infusion (B, n = 25), and sodium bicarbonate plus NAC (B + NAC, n = 31). Contrast-induced nephropathy was defined as an increase of 25% or more in the serum creatinine within 48 hours of contrast exposure. RESULTS: There were no significant group differences in age, sex, and basal serum creatinine. Contrast-induced nephropathy occurred in 20 patients (20%) and its incidence was not significantly different among the groups; four from group S, five from group S + NAC, five from group B, and six from group B + NAC. The incidences were not significantly different when compared between S and B, irrespective of the use of NAC (21 vs. 20%), and when compared according to the presence of pre-existing azotemia (19 vs. 20%). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of sodium bicarbonate hydration in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy seems comparable to that of saline hydration, and it was not improved by the addition of NAC.
Acetylcysteine ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Azotemia ; Contrast Media ; Coronary Angiography ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; Sodium ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; Sodium Chloride ; Triiodobenzoic Acids

Cyclophosphamide is frequently used for the treatment of severe lupus nephritis, but is very rarely associated with dilutional hyponatremia. Recently we experienced a case of water intoxication following low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide. Five hours after one dose of intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide 750 mg, the patient developed nausea, vomiting, and general weakness. Serum sodium concentration revealed 114 mEq/L and her hyponatremia was initially treated with hypertonic saline infusion. Then her serum sodium concentration rapidly recovered to normal with water restriction alone. During the course of intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide therapy, one must be aware of the possibility of significant water retention.
Cyclophosphamide* ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Lupus Nephritis ; Nausea ; Sodium ; Vomiting ; Water Intoxication*

BACKGROUND: Steroid pulse therapy has been used for patients with acute rejection after kidney transplantation. The ABCB1 gene codes for P-glycoprotein, a transporter that is involved in the metabolism of steroids. However, the role of ABCB1 polymorphisms has not been investigated in patients with acute rejection after kidney transplantation. METHODS: Among 763 patients that received kidney or simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation at Seoul National University Hospital between May 1996 and July 2009, 684 patients agreed to genetic sampling for polymorphisms. Acute rejection was defined as biopsy-proven, acute cellular rejection with increased serum creatinine, or in the context of delayed or slow graft function. Steroid-resistance was defined as no improvement in serum creatinine, need for additional OKT3 or ATG treatment, or repeated acute rejection within 30 days. Three polymorphisms of ABCB1 gene (C1236T, C3435T, G2677T/A) were assessed. RESULTS: C allele frequency of C3435T was 59.3% and of C1236T 40.1%. Patients who were steroid-resistant (n=37) had higher serum creatinine at kidney biopsy compared to those who were steroid-sensitive (n=49, P<0.001). The frequency of ABCB1 gene polymorphisms (C1236T and C3435T) did not differ significantly between patients who were steroid-sensitive and those who were resistant. An association with G2677T/A could not be analyzed due to a high failure rate of genotyping. CONCLUSIONS: ABCB1 gene polymorphisms (C1236T and C3435T) were not associated with steroid resistance in patients with acute cellular rejection after kidney transplantation.
Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Muromonab-CD3 ; P-Glycoprotein ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Steroids ; Transplants

Mature T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has more frequent extranodal involvement and is less sensitive to chemotherapy than B-cell lymphoma. Peripheral T-cell lymphoma unspecified (PTCL-U) is rarely combined with pulmonary or CNS involvement. We report a case of PTCL-U with lung and CNS involvement that was treated with high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). A 62-year-old man was admitted with right-side weakness and paresthesias, and was diagnosed with PTCL-U after alung biopsy. Successful complete remission was achieved after threecycles of IMEP (ifosfamide, methotrexate, etoposide, and prednisone) chemotherapywith concurrent intrathecal chemotherapy and subsequent high-dose chemotherapy with ASCT to treat potential advanced stage PTCL-U. The non-anthracycline-containing IMEP regimen can be effective for PTCL-U, especially in cases with CNS involvement.
Biopsy ; Central Nervous System ; Etoposide ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Methotrexate ; Middle Aged ; Paresthesia ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; T-Lymphocytes