Objective To investigate the value of repeat renal biopsy in the treatment and prognosis of nephrotic syndrome(NS)and acute kidney injury(AKI)following immunosuppressive therapy in patients with lupus nephritis(LN). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted for the clinicopathological data and follow-up records of LN patients undergoing repeat renal biopsy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1,2009 to December 31,2021. Results A total of 76 patients(55 females,72.4%)were included in this study,with the mean age at the first biopsy being(29.0±10.4)years,the median inter-biopsy interval of 4.0(2.0,7.0) years,and the median total follow-up duration of 7.5(5.0,13.8)years.Pathological transformation occurred in 46(60.5%)patients,and 2 patients had comorbid diabetic nephropathy.At repeat renal biopsy,50(65.8%) patients presented NS.These patients demonstrated lower estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)(P<0.001),higher chronicity index(CI)(P=0.029),and higher complement C3(P<0.001)and C4(P<0.001)levels than those with NS at the first renal biopsy(n=50).Among the 28(36.8%) patients with AKI at repeat renal biopsy,8(28.6%)experienced acute exacerbation of chronic renal insufficiency.These patients exhibited higher serum creatinine level(P=0.002),C4 level(P=0.033),CI(P=0.042),and prevalence of thrombotic microangiopathy(P=0.046)than the patients showing AKI at the first renal biopsy(n=16),while the activity index(AI)showed no significant difference(P=0.051).Over 50% of NS and AKI patients underwent treatment modifications post-repeat renal biopsy,with clinical remission rates comparable to those after the first renal biopsy(both P>0.05).Elevated CI(≥5,P=0.001)and serum creatinine(≥140 μmol/L,P<0.001)at repeat renal biopsy were identified as independent risk factors for poor prognosis.The patients with AKI at repeat renal biopsy had higher incidence of endpoint events than the non-AKI patients(P=0.015).Neither AKI at the first renal biopsy nor NS at both biopsies had significant associations with prognosis. Conclusions Repeat renal biopsy reveals not only sustained high disease activity but also accelerates chronic progression in LN patients,which underscore its critical role in guiding the therapy for severe LN post-immunosuppression.AKI,CI≥5,and serum creatinine ≥140 μmol/L at repeat renal biopsy are strongly associated with poor prognosis.
Humans ; Lupus Nephritis/drug therapy* ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Male ; Prognosis ; Biopsy ; Kidney/pathology* ; Acute Kidney Injury/pathology* ; Nephrotic Syndrome/pathology* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Young Adult ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Middle Aged

Objective: To summary the clinical presentation and prognosis of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) in teenagers. Methods: The clinical data, renal pathological types and prognosis of 118 children over 10-year-old with PNS treated in the Department of Nephrology of the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2010 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, with 408 children ≤10-year-old as control group synchronously. Chi-square test was used to compare the difference of clinical types, pathologic types, response to steroids and tubulointerstitial changes between the groups. The teenagers with steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) were divided into initial non-responder group and late non-responder group. Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the difference of persistent proteinuria, and Fisher's exact test for the histological types. Results: There were 118 children >10-year-old, including 74 males and 44 females, with the onset age of 12.1 (10.8, 13.4) years; and 408 children ≤10-year-old with the onset age of 4.5 (3.2, 6.8) years. The proportion of SRNS was significantly higher in patients >10-year-old than those ≤10-year-old (24.6% (29/118) vs. 15.9% (65/408), χ²=4.66, P=0.031). There was no statistical difference in the pathological types between >10-year-old and ≤10-year-old (P>0.05), with minimal change disease the most common type (56.0% (14/25) vs. 60.5% (26/43)). The percentage of cases with renal tubulointerstitial lesions was significantly higher in children >10-year-old compared to those ≤10-year-old (60.0% (15/25) vs. 23.3% (10/43), χ²=9.18, P=0.002). There were 29 cases presented with SRNS in PNS over 10-year-old, including 19 initial non-responders and 10 late non-responders. Analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve, it was shown that the percentage of persistent proteinuria after 6 months of immunosuppressive treatments was significantly higher in initial non-responders than those of the late non-responders ((22±10)% vs. 0, χ²=14.68, P<0.001); the percentage of minimal change disease was significantly higher in patients of late non-responders than those of the initial non-responders (5/6 vs. 3/13, P=0.041). Of the 63 >10-year-old with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome followed up more than one year, 38 cases (60.3%) had relapse, and 14 cases (22.2%) were frequent relapse nephrotic syndrome and steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome. Among the 45 patients followed up over 18-year-old, 22 cases (48.9%) had recurrent proteinuria continued to adulthood, 3 cases of SRNS progressed to kidney insufficiency, and one of them developed into end stage kidney disease and was administrated with hemodialysis. Conclusions: Cases over 10-year-old with PNS tend to present with SRNS and renal tubulointerstitial lesions. They have a favorable prognosis, but are liable to relapse in adulthood.
Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Nephrotic Syndrome/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Nephrosis, Lipoid/drug therapy* ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria/etiology* ; Recurrence

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common glomerular disorder in childhood, and a vast majority of cases are idiopathic. The precise cause of this common childhood disease is not fully elucidated despite significant advancements in our understanding of podocyte biology. Idiopathic NS has been considered “a disorder of T-cell function” mediated by a circulating factor that alters podocyte function resulting in massive proteinuria since the last four decades. Several circulatory factors released from T-cells are considered to be involved in pathophysiology of NS; however, a single presumptive factor has not been defined yet. Extended evidence obtained by advances in the pathobiology of podocytes has implicated podocytes as critical regulator of glomerular protein filtration and podocytopathy. The candidate molecules as pathological mediators of steroid-dependent NS are CD80 (also known as B7-1), hemopexin, and angiopoietin-like 4. The “two-hit” hypothesis proposes that the expression of CD80 on podocytes and ineffective inhibition of podocyte CD80 due to regulatory T-cell dysfunction or impaired autoregulation by podocytes results in NS. Recent studies suggest that not only T cells but also other immune cells and podocytes are involved in the pathogenesis of MCNS.
Biology ; Filtration ; Hemopexin ; Homeostasis ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Pathology ; Podocytes ; Proteinuria ; T-Lymphocytes

Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. We report the case of a 34-year-old male, newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who had advanced-stage nephropathy with glomerular crescents. A moderately-to-severely decreased glomerular filtration rate with nephrotic syndrome was seen at the time of diagnosis of diabetes. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy was detected, but there was no positive finding in serology tests for glomerulonephritis. Non-necrotizing cellular crescents and nodular glomerulosclerosis were observed in a kidney biopsy, and renal function declined rapidly to the end stage. We review data on diabetic glomerulosclerosis with cellular crescents and the rapid progression of nephropathy.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies* ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Diagnosis ; Disease Progression ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Pathology

Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; pathology

REVERSIBLE posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a rare neurological syndrome characterized by headache, altered mental status, seizures, and visual disturbance, associated with reversible white matter changes.1 It has been commonly reported in patients with severe hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Here we report a case with nephrotic syndrome complicated by RPLS.
Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; congenital ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of clinicopathology and prognosis of 3 pediatric cases diagnosed as C3 glomerulopathy, and to improve the understanding of C3 glomerulopathy in children.

METHODThe medical record, plasma complement C3, Factor H (FH) and its autoantibody, and therapeutic response of the 3 cases were analyzed, and their prognosis were followed up.

RESULTOf the 3 cases, 2 were male and 1 was female, the age of onset was 9 years, 12 years, 5 years 4 months, the duration from onset to renal biopsy was 3 months, 7 months and 20 days, and the follow-up period were 2.6 years, 8 months and 1.5 years respectively.

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONSAll the 3 cases showed microscopic hematuria, with or without gross hematuria and proteinuria. Two showed persistently decreased plasma complement C3, in the other one C3 was in normal lower limit, all presented with decreased FH concertration, in 1 case anti-FH antibody was positive. Their clinical diagnosis was post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome (NS) nephritis type, and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis respectively.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGSAll showed evident deposition of C3 on glomerular basement membrance (GBM) and mesangial region by immunofluorescence (IF) and electron dense deposit in GBM, mesangial region or para-mesangial region by Electron microscopic (EM) examination Treatment and prognosis: The case with NS showed no response to steroid, so steroid was gradually stopped after renal biopsy and replaced by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor antagonist (ARB). The other two cases were treated with ACEI and renal protective treatment. Of the 3 cases, one gradually showed elevated serum creatinine (Scr) and decreased creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), the other two were normal, but slightly increased indications for early kidney injury.

CONCLUSIONC3 glomerulopathy is characterized by evident C3 deposition under IF. Its clinical and pathological manifestations vary a lot. The decreased plasma C3 and FH suggest that the abnormal regulation of complement system play an importment role in its pathogenesis.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Complement Factor H ; deficiency ; metabolism ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Glomerulonephritis ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hematuria ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; etiology ; pathology ; Proteinuria ; etiology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical and pathological features of Denys-Drash syndrome (DDS).

METHODThree DDS cases who were treated in our department from December 2009 to June 2011 were subjected to this study by reviewing of literature.

RESULTBoth case 1 and case 2 were female, with karyotype 46, XX. Case 3 was male with bilateral cryptorchidism. The ages of nephropathy onset of the three cases were 1 year and 9 months, 2 years and 8 moths, and 3 months respectively. Proteinuria in case 2 and case 3 were evidenced to be resistant to steroid. Case 1 was partially responsive to tacrolimus, plasma albumin and cholesterol were improved, although proteinuria was persistent after Tacrolimus was administered. Remission was achieved in case 2 after administration of cyclosporine A and later tacrolimus, and her renal function remains normal till present (4 years and 9 months). Residue renal histology revealed diffused mesangial sclerosis (DMS) in all three patients. All of the three patients had developed right unilateral Wilms tumor. A novel WT1 missense mutation exon 9 c.1213C > G was detected in case 1. WT1 exon 9 c.1168C > T nonsense mutation and exon 8 c.1130A > T missense mutation were detected in case 2 and case 3, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical manifestation of nephropathy in DDS is variable. The majority present with early onset nephropathy and reach renal failure before the age of 4 years. But in a few patients, nephropathy can also be present much later and progress slowly. Proteinuria in DDS is resistant to steroid but is responsive to calcineurin inhibitors, including Cyclosporine A. The effectiveness of tacrolimus was also observed in this study. DDS is evidently caused by WT1 mutation. DMS is the characteristic renal pathological change in DDS.

Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Denys-Drash Syndrome ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Genes, Wilms Tumor ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Proteinuria ; drug therapy ; Sclerosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Tacrolimus ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; WT1 Proteins ; genetics ; Wilms Tumor ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical significance of urinary podocyte marker protein podocalyxin (PCX) in the diagnosis of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) in children and the evaluation of disease severity.

METHODSPCX levels in the first morning urine were measured by turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) in 175 children, including 53 children with acute PNS [36 cases of simple nephrotic syndrome (NS) and 17 cases of nephritic NS], 56 children with PNS in the remission stage (relapsed: 42 cases) and 66 healthy children (control group). Twenty-four hour urinary protein was measured in the 53 children with acute PNS. The optimal operating points for the diagnosis of acute PNS and nephritic NS were determined using the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC curve).

RESULTSSignificant increasd levels of urinary PCX were found in children with acute PNS compared with those in the remission stage and the control group (P<0.01). A positive correlation was found between urinary PCX and 24 hour urinary protein in children with acute PNS (r=0.39, P<0.01). In children with acute PNS, urinary PCX levels were significantly higher in the nephritic NS group than in the simple NS group (P<0.05). In children in the remission stage, a significant increase in levels of urinary PCX was found in children who had relapsed compared with those who had not (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve for the diagnosis of acute PNS and nephritic NS was 0.915 and 0.784 respectively. The optimal operating point for the diagnosis of acute PNS and nephritic NS was 7.97 and 10.28 ng/mL respectively, with a sensitivity and specificity of 81.1% and 93.4% respectively for acute PNS and of 94.1% and 52.8% respectively for nephritic NS.

CONCLUSIONSThe quantitative detection of urinary PCX is useful in the evaluation of podocyte dynamic changes. It is helpful in the diagnosis of acute PNS and in the differentiation of nephritic NS and simple NS.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; pathology ; urine ; Podocytes ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Sialoglycoproteins ; urine