Autopsy case of miliary tuberculosis with cerebral involvement in renal failure

We encountered an autopsy case of renal failure complicated by cerebral tuberculosis. The patient was hospitalized due to disturbance of consciousness, and dialysis therapy was performed because of end-stage renal failure. Approximately 1 week later, abnormal shadows were observed on chest X-ray, and various examinations were performed until the diagnosis was finally determined as miliary tuberculosis. Disturbance of consciousness was exacerbated, despite the administration of antituberculosis drugs and other treatments, and the patient died on the 105th hospital day. Pathological examinations demonstrated miliary tuberculosis associated with intracranial involvement, in addition to contracted kidneys. In patients with end-stage renal failure, the risk of developing tuberculosis, miliary tuberculosis in particular, is reported to be much higher than in normal subjects. However, the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis is difficult to establish, because of nonspecific symptoms and the low rate of detection of acid-fast bacteria from the sputum. Comprehensive understanding of the results of frequent culture examinations of sputum and blood, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of cerebrospinal fluid, as well as albumin concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid, are considered useful in diagnosing intracranial tuberculosis. Although cerebral tuberculoma is rare, prolonged disturbance of consciousness may be related to cerebral tuberculosis. Therefore, particular attention should be paid to patients with end-stage renal failure complicated by disturbance of consciousness. Received: October 9, 1998 / Accepted: February 23, 1999     

Reversible renal vasoconstriction in a patient with acute renal failure after exercise

Acute renal failure (ARF) with severe loin pain induced by anaerobic exercise is a rare condition that is accompanied by wedge-shaped contrast enhancement seen on computerized tomographic (CT) scan without evidence of rhabdomyolysis. An 18-year-old Korean male was transferred to our hospital for evaluation of mild azotemia, that developed after anaerobic exercise. The laboratory tests revealed that the serum creatinine was 2.1 mg/dl and the serum uric acid level was 1.6 mg/dl without any elevation of the serum myoglobin or creatine phosphokinase. Under the impression of exercise-induced ARF, we tried to determine the relationship between the occurrence of clinical symptoms, renal dysfunction and the characteristic CT findings by observing those changes prospectively before and after anaerobic exercise. After obtaining a written consent, the patient underwent a strenuous period of anaerobic exercise to induce the clinical symptoms. Before exercise, he was completely asymptomatic; his serum creatinine level was 0.9 mg/dl and CT scan of the kidneys showed no abnormalities. Loin pain developed 2 hours after exercise, and the serum creatinine level increased to 1.2 mg/dl 18 hours after the exercise. CT scan 18 hours after exercise showed multiple perfusion defects, and a 24-hour delayed CT scan showed multiple areas of wedge-shaped enhancement on both kidneys. These changes were completely resolved on the follow-up CT scan obtained 13 days after exercise with the return of a normal serum creatinine level. We conclude that reversible renal vasoconstriction is probably the main pathophysiologic mechanism of acute renal failure induced by anaerobic exercise.     

A case of renal cell carcinoma associated with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a treatment for his right renal tumor. The abdominal CT scanning revealed a mass in the right kidney, and a right selective renal arteriography demonstrated a hypervascular tumor. On admission, urinalysis revealed proteinuria (3-4 g/day) and microscopic hematuria, and serum electrolytes were normal. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were 1.6 mg/dl and 30 mg/dl, respectively. A percutaneous right renal biopsy specimens showed crescentic glomerulonephritis. Direct immunofluorescence studies showed strong linear staining for IgG and IgA along the glomerular capillary walls. Electron microscopy showed increased mesangial matrix and swollen epithelial cells, but no dense deposits in the para-mesangial area and in the glomerular basement membrane. The patient underwent right radical nephrectomy. Histologic examination of the resected specimen revealed renal cell carcinoma. Postoperatively, he developed rapidly progressive renal failure and the renal function could not be recovered. Using the indirect immunofluorescence technique, we could not confirm the presence of a serum anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody, although the examination could not be carried out until the initiation of hemodialysis therapy. Some cases of glomerulopathies associated with renal cell carcinoma were previously reported, but the case of crescentic glomerulonephritis was very rare.     

Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody-mediated glomerulonephritis remarkably improved by pulse therapy with methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis and continuous heparin infusion

The patient, a 28 year-old-man, was admitted to a hospital because of general fatigue and fever. He was pointed out renal dysfunction and was transferred to Nagasaki University Hospital. The laboratory data on admission showed moderate azotemia (BUN 43 mg/dl, Cr 5.4 mg/dl). A percutaneous renal biopsy on admission revealed a diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis. A direct immunofluorescence of renal biopsy showed a linear pattern for IgG along the glomerular basement membrane. Radioimmunoassay of his serum for circulating anti-GBM antibody was strongly positive. Aggressive treatment with pulse therapy (methylprednisolone), plasmapheresis, and continuous heparin infusion was performed. He had markedly recovered from renal failure and escaped hemodialysis. The patient is making satisfactory process after 3 years.     

Recovery from hemodialysis therapy in a patient with renal cholesterol crystal embolism

The prognosis of renal cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) is poor, and many patients progressively develop to the end-stage of chronic renal failure. We herein experienced a 66-year-old male patient who recovered from hemodialysis (HD) shortly after an amputation of inflammatory toes. The patient complained of painful digital cyanosis at bilateral toes and livedo reticularis at right lower leg 4 weeks following aortic angiography. Laboratory examinations revealed eosinophilia and overt proteinuria (3.0 g/day). His serum creatinine level increased from 2.18 to 8.57 mg/dl over 6 weeks, and HD treatment was started. Treatment with simvastatin (5 mg/day) did not reverse renal failure and hypereosinophilia, but the amputation of right gangrene toes promptly increased urine output and eosinophilia completely disappeared concomitantly with a decline of C-reactive protein from 9.7 to 0.7 mg/dl. Serum creatinine level was also reduced to 3.46 mg/dl, and he eventually stopped HD totally after 32 sessions. This case suggested that the surgical amputation promptly recovered renal function. Reversal of inflammation may be more effective than lipid-lowering therapy for renal failure in our patient.     

Bladder metastasis of renal cell carcinoma : report of a case

A 65-year-old man presented with gross hematuria in 2004. Computed tomography (CT) showed a left renal mass, and he underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Pathological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma (pT2N0M0, G2＞G3). Four years later, a right adrenal tumor was disclosed by follow-up CT. Then laparoscopic adrenectomy was performed. Histology showed metastasis of the renal clear cell carcinoma. In 2009, he noticed gross hematuria, and cystoscopy revealed a 2cm solitary, non-papillary tumor at the anterior wall of the bladder. At the same time, small solitary liver metastasis (6 mm) was observed on abdominal CT. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor and resection of liver tumor was performed, and pathological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma both in vesical and hepatic masses. Nine months after the last surgery, he is living with no obvious tumor recurrence. To our knowledge this case is the 34th case of bladder metastasis from renal cell carcinoma in the Japanese literature. We reviewed literature and discuss the clinical features of bladder metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.     

A case of Goodpasture's syndrome with massive pulmonary hemorrhage ameliorated by cyclophosphamide pulse therapy]

A 22-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of fever, renal dysfunction, and a 3-month-history of macrohematuria. Laboratory evaluation revealed proteinuria (1.8 g/day), hypoproteinemia, microcytic microchromic anemia, renal failure (blood urea nitrogen 30.3 mg/dl, serum creatinine 4.0 mg/dl), and positive serum antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody. Renal biopsy revealed cellular crescents in all 8 glomeruli and partial rupture of the GBM. The interstitium showed severe inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunofluorescent examination revealed linear deposits of IgG and C3 along the GBM. Pulmonary biopsy revealed linear deposits of IgG along the alveolar basement membrane in the immunofluorescent examination. A diagnosis of Goodpasture's syndrome was made because all of the diagnostic criteria were fulfilled. After admission, the patient's renal function deteriorated rapidly. Hemodialysis was started, and the patient was treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy and oral prednisolone with double filtration plasma pheresis (DFPP). However, her renal function did not improve. On the 30th hospital day, she showed hemoptysis, and a chest X-ray and CT revealed massive bilateral pulmonary hemorrhage. Despite treatment with pulsed methylprednisolone, oral prednisolone (80 mg/day), and DFPP, the pulmonary hemorrhage improved only transiently, worsening again 5 days later. Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was administered. After this treatment, the patient's pulmonary manifestations and pulmonary hemorrhage improved. At the present time she is on maintenance dialysis therapy without pulmonary manifestations. These findings suggest that cyclophosphamide pulse therapy is effective against Goodpasture's syndrome with massive pulmonary hemorrhage showing resistance to other conventional therapy.     

Acute renal failure after exercise in a child with renal hypouricaemia

We describe a 12-year-old boy with renal hypouricaemia who presented with acute renal failure after a 6-h sports training session. Back and loin pain were noted at presentation. Although serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were elevated, the serum uric acid concentration was normal (2.6 mg/dl). This decreased to 0.3 mg/dl after recovery. The pyrazinamide and probenecid tests revealed that the cause of renal hypouricaemia in this patient was totally defective uric acid reabsorption. Acute renal failure after exercise is a rare but serious complication in paediatric patients with renal hypouricaemia.     

Frequency of urogenital tuberculosis in an unselected autopsy series from 1928 to 1949 and 1976 to 1989.

The evaluation of a total of 12,211 autopsy protocols prior to the introduction of chemotherapy (1928-1949) and in the recent years (1976-1989) had the following results: the frequency of renal tuberculosis has dropped from 2.0 to 0.6% of all autopsies in men and from 1.7 to 0.9% in women. While the frequency of miliary tuberculosis infections in general has decreased to about one fourth (from 2.7 to 0.6% of all autopsies), renal involvement in patients with miliary tuberculosis has rather increased (from 35.4 to 52.2 for men and from 37.5 to 68.0% for women). The frequency of miliary tuberculosis of the kidneys was two times higher in girls than in boys (3.8% of girls and 1.8% of boys). Tuberculosis of the renal pelvis, ureter or urinary bladder secondary to a renal tuberculous infection has decreased from 65 to 4.3% of all tuberculous infections with renal involvement in males and from 25 to 0% in females. In the second period, the frequency of genital tuberculosis has in all dropped to about one tenth.     

Exercise-induced acute renal failure with renal hypouricemia: a case report and a review of the literature

A previously healthy 16-year-old boy developed acute renal failure following a track race at a local athletic meeting. Several hours after the run, he expressed pain in the loins with nausea and vomiting. After 3 sessions of hemodialysis, he was referred to our hospital. On admission, serum creatinine was elevated to 2.3 mg/dl without an increase in serum uric acid level. After recovery from acute renal failure (ARF), hypouricemia (0.7 mg/dl) became evident in the patient. One year later, he suffered from ARF after a track race with the highest creatinine levels of 1.1 mg/dl. In order to clarify the cause and prognosis of ARF with renal hypouricemia, we summarized the clinical features in 18 patients previously described and our patient. Serum uric acid levels after recovery from ARF were below 1.0 mg/dl in all patients. Renal biopsy in 9 patients showed acute tubular necrosis in 8 patients and uric acid nephropathy in 1. The short-term prognosis of these patients seemed good, although 5 patients needed to undergo hemodialysis in their ARF courses. However, the recurrence of ARF episodes occurred in 6 patients (31.6%) including our patient, indicating that prevention of ARF might be necessary in these patients. More information is required to establish guidance for prevention of ARF.     

Progression of membranous nephropathy to acute crescentic rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and response to pulse methylprednisolone

There have been only sporadic reports of membranous nephropathy (MN) evolving into acute crescentic rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (AC-RPGN). A patient with MN developed acute oliguric renal failure with a serum creatinine (SCr) of 8.4 mg/dl after 5 years of normal renal function. Biopsy now revealed epithelial crescent formation superimposed on MN. Pulse methylprednisolone resulted in significant improvement in renal function, with a SCr of 2.2 mg/dl at 6 months. No other favorable outcomes occurred in the 4 previous case reports of MN evolving into RPGN. AC-RPGN should be considered a treatable etiology of acute renal failure in the setting of MN.     

Tuberous sclerosis, associated with renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma, in a patient who developed endstage renal failure after nephrectomy

We report a case of tuberous sclerosis (TSC) associated with renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma in a patient, who developed endstage renal failure that required hemodialysis after nephrectomy. A 37-year-old woman with TSC was admitted for further investigation of bilateral renal masses detected by computed tomography (CT). Angiography revealed a tumor stain (4 cm in diameter) in the medial portion of the right kidney. Because renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was strongly suspected, right nephrectomy was performed. Her serum creatinine level was already increased, moderately, at 2.4 mg/dl, before the right nephrectomy. Her renal function deteriorated quickly (in 1&frac; years) after the right nephrectomy, and hemodialysis was introduced the next year. The histological findings of the resected right kidney revealed marked intimal thickening of the intralobular arteries. These findings suggested that the renal function loss was not only caused by the nephron mass reduction due to the nephrectomy but was also caused by nephrosclerosis. Though most patients with TSC die before developing endstage renal failure, this patient is currently receiving maintenance hemodialysis and has been followed for 3 years with no recurrence of RCC in the left kidney.     

Risk factors in idiopathic renal vasculitis and glomerulonephritis

In this retrospective study, we analyzed clinical laboratory, and pathologic variables to determine their value in predicting survival and survival free of renal failure for 170 consecutive patients with idiopathic renal vasculitis and glomerulonephritis evaluated during a 15 year period. Of the 170 patients, 108 had focal segmental necrotizing glomerulonephritis alone (FSNGN), 33 had FSNGN and small-artery vasculitis, and 29 had FSNGN and medium-sized artery vasculitis. Considerable overlap of clinical, laboratory, and pathologic findings existed among the three groups. Overall patient survival was 81% at one year, 61% at five years, and 44% at ten years, significantly less than expected survival. Overall survival free of renal failure, by definition, was lower than patient survival. There were no differences among these three groups in patient survival or survival free of renal failure. Multivariate analysis identified leukocytosis and serum creatinine level as independent predictors of patient survival and survival free of renal failure. In addition, univariate analysis identified age and hypertension as significant risk factors but did not add independent predictive value for these two end points. In patients with serum creatinine levels less than 4 mg/dl, the effect of increasing levels of leukocyte count was significantly associated with poorer outcomes for both patient survival (P = 0.006) and survival free of renal failure (P = 0.024). Outcomes for these two end points were worse for patients with lower serum creatinine levels (less than 4.0 mg/dl) and high leukocyte counts (greater than 16,000/mm3) than for those with serum creatinine levels greater than or equal to 4.0 mg/dl.     

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and a rare bleeding disorder: factor X deficiency

Factor X (FX) deficiency is a rare hereditary coagulation disorder. This is the first case report on the association of FX deficiency and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type I. The patient, a 17-year-old male, presented with edema, hypertension, and microscopic hematuria, followed by a mild upper respiratory tract infection. Laboratory tests revealed: serum creatinine 1.6 mg/dl, serum albumin 2.80 g/dl, C3 16 mg/dl and proteinuria (1,800 mg/day). The renal biopsy showed MPGN type I. The coagulation profile prior to percutaneous renal biopsy revealed prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time values. The patient was given fresh frozen plasma and vitamin K before the biopsy. Further evaluation showed the functional activity of FX was 7% of the norm. This case emphasizes the need for routine coagulation screening before percutaneous renal biopsy.     

Long-term outcome of adding mycophenolate mofetil to tacrolimus for nephrotoxicity following liver transplantation

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has no known nephrotoxicity. This report examines the outcome in patients who received MMF for renal impairment on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. From 1995 to 1996, twelve liver transplantation (LTx) patients (mean age 54.6 years) with serum creatinine >1.8 mg/dl were included in the study. MMF was introduced and tacrolimus dose was reduced by 30-50%. Each patient was followed for 6 years. Renal function showed improvement in seven patients, deterioration in four, and no change in one patient. Overall mean serum creatinine decreased from 2.5 to 1.9 mg/dl at 6 months but increased to 2.2 mg/dl at 18 to 24 months. After that, renal function remained stable for 72 months. Iothalamate clearance showed 18.5% improvement at 1 year. Three patients developed renal failure. Six patients died in the follow-up period. Addition of MMF with reduced tacrolimus dose resulted in sustained improvement in renal function in 58% of patients.     

Reflex anuria from unilateral ureteral obstruction

Renal function is usually normal or only marginally affected in patients with unilateral ureteral obstruction due to the vicarious function of the contralateral kidney. Few reports exist in which unilateral renal obstruction is associated with anuria (reflex anuria, RA) and acute renal failure. We report the clinical case of a female patient who was referred to the emergency department due to anuria of 72 h duration and acute renal failure (serum creatinine 9 mg/dl) associated with several episodes of violent right flank pain with hematuria following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). A few weeks before ESWL, urography showed a 2-cm stone located in the right pelvis whilst the left kidney was functionally normal. On admission, renal ultrasound documented a normal left kidney, whilst the right pelvis was hydronephrotic and there were two indwelling stones at the right pyeloureteral junction. After the patient passed a urinary stone, diuresis restarted and acute renal failure was resolved. Thereafter, urography confirmed that the left kidney, the left ureter and bladder were functionally and morphologically normal. RA with acute renal failure has been so scarcely documented that it is considered to be legend by many clinicians. Major textbooks do not discuss RA with acute renal failure. Vascular or ureteral spasm related in part to a peculiar hyperexcitability of the autonomic nervous system may explain RA. We suggest that nephrologists should always consider RA when evaluating acute renal failure. On the other hand, RA might be relatively common and we cannot rule out that only the most severe and/or better-documented cases have been reported in the medical literature.     

Renal recovery from acute tubular necrosis requiring renal replacement therapy: a prospective study in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Data on the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) resulting from irreversible acute tubular necrosis (ATN) are controversial. This prospective cohort study was designed to assess the need for short- and long-term dialysis in critically ill patients with severe ATN and to define risk factors for lack of renal recovery. METHODS: 433 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed severe ATN necessitating renal replacement therapy were enrolled. Eight patients were excluded because renal biopsy revealed another cause of acute renal failure. None of the remaining 425 patients had pre-existing chronic renal insufficiency. Primary outcome criteria were recovery of renal function at discharge and ESRD status at 1 year follow-up. RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality of the cohort was 47%. At discharge, 57% of the 226 surviving patients had normal renal function, 33% had mild to moderate renal failure (serum creatinine: 1.3-3 mg/dl) and 10% had severe renal failure (serum creatinine: 3-6 mg/dl). Multivariate analysis showed that neither patient characteristics (age, gender, comorbid conditions), severity of illness (APACHE III, number of failed organs) nor mode and duration of renal replacement therapy were related to recovery of renal function. After 1 year, 76 of the surviving patients had died and in one patient chronic renal failure had progressed to ESRD. CONCLUSIONS: If critically ill patients with normal renal function prior to the renal insults survive the precipitating cause of ATN, the overwhelming majority will recover sufficient renal function.     

Hypertension and nephrotoxicity in the rate of decline in kidney function in diabetic nephropathy

Serum creatinine levels were determined prospectively every 2 to 3 months in 40 patients with diabetic nephropathy for a global observation period of 864 months. The monthly creatinine increasing rate was significantly lower in normotensive periods, mean arterial pressure (MAP) less than 115 mmHg, when compared with hypertensive periods, MAP greater than 125 mmHg. No significant difference was shown in periods with borderline hypertension (MAP between 115-124 mmHg). The mean creatinine increases were of 0.036 mg/dl/month, 0.3 mg/dl/month and 0.046 mg/dl/month respectively. Normotension was associated with a slowing down of the rate of decline in renal function in this group of moderate kidney failure with an initial mean serum creatinine of 2.26 mg/dl. The exposure of patients to nephrotoxics (aminoglycosides, and possibly anesthesia) significantly accelerated the decline in renal function: 0.39 mg/dl/month and 0.17 mg/dl/month respectively according to the concomitance or not of toxics and hypertension. The reported protective effect of diabetes against aminoglycosides nephrotoxicity in experimental conditions was not reflected in our clinical results. On the contrary, we suggest a possible enhanced sensibility of the diabetic patient with diabetic nephropathy to aminoglycosides leading to an acceleration of the progression of renal failure.     

A case of acute renal failure due to left contracted kidney, complicated by right renal infarction]

A 46-year-old woman, who had been treated with anti-arrhythmic drugs and digitalis for mitral stenosis and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, suddenly developed severe abdominal pain and nausea. There was tenderness around right CVA. BUN and serum-creatinine were elevated, 57 mg/dl and 4.5 mg/dl respectively. She was in acute renal failure (ARF). WBC, GOT, GPT, LDH were also elevated. Abdominal ultrasonography showed normal-size right kidney (12 cm) and atrophic left kidney (8.5 cm). Selective right renal angiography revealed right renal arterial embolism, suggesting that ARF developed from right renal infarction complicated by left atrophic kidney. Renal scintigram using 99mTc-DTPA indicated non-function type left kidney. Because of the high risk of surgery, she received anticoagulant therapy. Fifteen days later, BUN and serum-creatinine returned to 14mg/dl, 2.2mg/dl, respectively.     

Renal tuberculosis in an isthmus of a horseshoe kidney after bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for bladder cancer

A 63-year-old man with a horse shoe kidney was evaluated after an episode of asymptomatic gross hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed bladder tumor near the right ureteral orifice, and transurethral resection demonstrated high grade pT1 urothelial carcinoma. The patient was started on intravesical BCG instillation therapy at a dose of 81 mg weekly for 8 weeks without fever. 6 months later after the final BCG treatment, CT examination demonstrated a renal hypovascular tumor in an isthmus of a horseshoe kidney. We couldn't deny malignant tumor and tumorectomy was performed. Histological examination revealed epithelioid cell granulomas and no organisms were identified by Ziehl-Neelsen or Grocott-Gomori stains for acid-fast bacilli and fungi. We reported a rare case of renal tuberculosis in an isthmus of a horseshoe kidney after BCG therapy for bladder cancer that was considered due to vesicoureteral reflux.