Kidney Research and Clinical Practice  2014;33(3):165-167

doi:10.1016/j.krcp.2014.07.007

Improvement of Erdheim-Chester disease-related renal failure after treatment with anakinra.

Manuel Alfredo PODESTA 1 ; Giorgio GRAZIANI ; Francesco REGGIANI ; Michele BUEMI ; Salvatore BADALAMENTI ; Claudio PONTICELLI

Affiliations

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Keywords

Anakinra; Erdheim-Chester disease; Renal failure

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by infiltrates of lipid-laden CD68+/CD1- histiocytes, affecting heart, lungs, central nervous system, and bones. Kidney and adjacent structures can also be affected, leading to renal failure in about 30% of cases. The diagnosis is challenging, and treatment is generally based on administration of interferon-alpha (IFNalpha), but preliminary results also showed the therapeutic efficacy of anakinra, an antagonist of the receptor of interleukin-1 (IL-1). We report the case of an elderly patient with ECD and severe involvement of the heart and kidneys who was successfully treated with anakinra.