Morphometric studies of cystic and tubulointerstitial kidney diseases with hepatic fibrosis in children

Portal tract fibrosis with biliary ductular enlargement or proliferation occurs in a number of genetic diseases that have cystic or tubulointerstitial renal lesions. These include some with renal cystic disease such as autosomal recessive diseases (e.g., infantile polycystic disease, juvenile polycystic disease, and Meckel's syndrome), autosomal dominant diseases (e.g., adult polycystic disease) and, rarely, tuberose sclerosis and dominant glomerulocystic disease. Portal tract fibrosis with biliary enlargement and proliferation occurs also with tubulointerstitial kidney diseases. These probably include at least three disorders in the category nephronophthisis-congenital hepatic fibrosis (one autosomal recessive disease and two either autosomal or X-linked recessive diseases) plus Jeune's syndrome (the tubulointerstitial diseases Fanconi's familial nephronophthisis and anti-tubular membrane antibody disease do not regularly cause hepatic fibrosis). Morphometric data on ratios of bile ductules to connective tissue in hepatic portal tracts show high values for infantile polycystic disease (mean, 0.616) compared to lower values for juvenile polycystic disease (mean, 0.286). That the cystic renal lesions of the first two diseases differ in type and time course is known. Similar data on ratios of glomeruli plus tubules to connective tissue in renal cortices and of tubules to connective tissue in outer medullary zones of kidneys, respectively, are as follows: for Fanconi's nephronophthisis, 0.445 and 0.197; for anti-tubular basement membrane antibody disease, 0.585 and 0.164; and for the three types of nephronophthisis-congenital hepatic fibrosis studied, 0.668 and 0.446, 1.39 and 0.921, and 1.18 and 0.12. These data support clinical impressions that the category nephrophthisis-congenital hepatic fibrosis includes more than one disease entity.     

The Renal Lesion of Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis: Pathologic and Morphometry Analysis, with Comparison to the Renal Lesion of Infantile Polycystic Disease

The renal lesion of congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF = Blyth and Ockenden's juvenile polycystic disease of liver and kidneys) was analyzed from 6 specimens from patients aged 3 3/12 to 19 3/12 years and compared with that of 5 patients with infantile polycystic disease (IPCD) aged 6 months to 14 4/12 years. Pathologic, microdissection, injection, and morphometric studies show that the predominantly medullary cystic lesion of CHF shows different distribution in medullary, cortico-medullary, and cortical zones of kidney from the lesion of IPCD, and shows a different time course, from early life to renal insufficiency, from that of IPCD. The renal cysts in CHF affect deep or central collecting tubules, in contrast to the involvement of more peripheral orders of collecting tubules in IPCD. Papillary pore counts, performed for 1 patient, gave significantly low values, in contrast to normal values reported for IPCD. The findings support the previously published conclusion, based on differences in the hepatic lesions of the two conditions, that CHF and IPCD are difference diseases, rather than different permissible manifestations of a single disease.     

Choroby wątroby i nerek w przebiegu ciliopatii

Ciliopathies constitute a group of disorders characterized by cilia abnormalities and an extremely heterogeneous clinical presentation. The liver and kidneys are the most commonly affected organs and the term hepatorenal fibrocystic disorders is used to describe ciliopathies with combined liver and kidney involvement. Liver disorders in ciliopathies can be grouped into three categories: congenital hepatic fibrosis, Caroli's disease and polycystic liver disease. Kidney disorders related to primary cilia abnormalities include autosomal dominant and recessive polycystic kidney diseases and nephronophthisis.     

Predominant extrahepatic biliary disease in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease: a new association

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is characterized by dilation of ectatic renal collecting ducts, intrahepatic biliary dysgenesis, and portal fibrosis. Portal hypertension and recurrent bacterial cholangitis can dominate the clinical picture in long-term survivors. Predominant extrahepatic bile duct disease was revealed in four patients who underwent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. All four patients had portal hypertension, although liver biochemistries did not suggest biliary disease. In two of the patients, cholangitis was clinically ascribed to the bile duct disease. Western blot analysis of plasma membranes from normal rat extrahepatic bile duct and kidney revealed the presence of polyductin as a single approximately 440 kDa protein. Although the exact function of polyductin in the extrahepatic duct is unknown, it may have a role in the development and control of lumenal size. Clinical management of patients with ARPKD should include consideration of potential problems related to extrahepatic bile duct disease.     

Tubulointerstitial Renal Diseases of Children: Pathologic Features and Pathogenetic Mechanisms in Fanconi's Familial Nephronophthisis, Antitubular Basement Membrane Antibody Disease, and Medullary Cyst Disease

The renal lesions of 15 children with tubulointerstitial diseases (TID), originally diagnosed as Fanconi's familial nephronophthisis (FFN), medullary cyst disease (MCD), or antitubular basement membrane (TBM) antibody disease were studied by light, electron, and immunoflauorescence microscopy and by peroxidase-anti-peroxidase stain for IgG. Kidneys originally considered in all three categories showed similar pathologic findings, with periglomerular fibrosis, interstitial fibrosis and infiltration, TBM thickening, and glomerulopathy. The data suggest that MCD and FFN are not synonyms, but that FFN can lead to medullary cystic disease, as can other tubulointerstitial diseases. Anti-TBM disease appears to be a more frequent cause of TID than is usually recognized. Glomerular involvement in TID may be due to deposition of anti-TBM antibody/TBM antigen complexes.     

Meckel syndrome with Caroli disease and choledochal cysts

Meckel syndrome is a lethal autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the triad of cystic renal dysplasia, occipital encephalocele, or other anomaly of the central nervous system and post-axial polydactyly. Malformation of the ductal plate is an integral component of Meckel syndrome. Ductal plate malformations include congenital hepatic fibrosis, biliary hamartoma, autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease, Caroli disease, and choledochal cyst. The occurrence of cystic hepatic disease, Caroli disease, and choledochal cyst have not been highlighted. This is a report of a 26-week fetus with features of Meckel syndrome, Caroli disease, and choledochal cyst.     

Liver disease in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

Hepatic complications occur in a significant proportion of children with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). PKHD1/fibrocystin, the defective gene in ARPKD, is expressed in the cilia of bile duct epithelium and leads to abnormalities in the rubric of the ductal plate malformation. Portal hypertension and biliary disease are the major liver problems seen in ARPKD. Complete blood counting, physical examination, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiography are indicated as screening procedures for hepatic disease in ARPKD. Medical and surgical interventions are potentially indicated for children with portal hypertension and/or biliary disease. A high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of cholangitis needs to be maintained in children with biliary disease. The implications of hepatic disease need to be considered in the decision-making regarding renal transplantation in ARPKD.     

The renal lesion of congenital hepatic fibrosis: pathologic and morphometric analysis, with comparison to the renal lesion of infantile polycystic disease

The renal lesion of congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF = Blyth and Ockenden's juvenile polycystic disease of liver and kidneys) was analyzed from 6 specimens from patients aged 3 3/12 to 19 3/12 years and compared with that of 5 patients with infantile polycystic disease (IPCD) aged 6 months to 14 4/12 years. Pathologic, microdissection, injection, and morphometric studies show that the predominantly medullary cystic lesion of CHF shows different distribution in medullary, cortico-medullary, and cortical zones of kidney from the lesion of IPCD, and shows a different time course, from early life to renal insufficiency, from that of IPCD. The renal cysts in CHF affect deep or central collecting tubules, in contrast to the involvement of more peripheral orders of collecting tubules in IPCD. Papillary pore counts, performed for 1 patient, gave significantly low values, in contrast to normal values reported for IPCD. The findings support the previously published conclusion, based on differences in the hepatic lesions of the two conditions, that CHF and IPCD are difference diseases, rather than different permissible manifestations of a single disease.     

小儿囊肿性肾病47例

目的探讨小儿囊肿性肾病的常见病因及其临床特点。方法本院1995年1月～2006年12月共收治47例囊肿性肾病患儿。男31例,女16例;诊断时年龄1h～14岁;回顾分析其病因和临床特点。结果遗传性21例（44.68%）。包括常染色体隐性遗传多囊肾病（ARPKD）16例（34.04%）,肾单位肾痨（NPH）5例（10.64%）;发育异常24例（51.07%）。包括髓质海绵肾（MSK）13例（27.66%）,囊肿性肾发育不良（CRD）10例（21.28%）及孤立多房性肾囊肿（SMC）1例（2.13%）;获得性2例（4.25%）,均为单纯性肾囊肿（SRC）。16例ARPKD囊肿分布于皮质和髓质,肾衰竭12例（75%）,肾脏外损害9例（56.25%）。5例NPH囊肿分布于皮髓质交界处,肾衰竭5例（100%）,缺血性视网膜炎致盲1例（20%）。13例MSK囊肿局限于肾锥体,各有3例（23.08%）表现为继发性肾结石、泌尿系感染（UTI）和远端肾小管酸中毒,另2例（15.38%）表现为继发性肾积水,肾衰竭2例（15.38%）与病程长、结石并反复感染有关。10例CRD均为单肾囊性变,表现为腹部包块7例（70%）,宫内诊断5例（50%）。SRC2例和SMC1例均为局灶性肾囊肿,仅表现为腹部包块,手术切除后痊愈。结论小儿囊肿性肾病以遗传性及发育异常性疾病为主,常见病因有ARPKD、NPH、MSK和CRD;ARPKD和NPH为进行性肾衰竭或肾外病变,预后差;MSK和CRD属肾脏发育异常,尽早诊断和治疗,预后好。     

儿童肾囊性疾病的诊治

Potter分型将儿童肾囊性疾病分为4型:常染色体隐性遗传性多囊性肾病、多囊性肾发育不良、常染色体显性遗传性多囊性肾病、梗阻性囊性发育不良肾.此外,单纯性肾囊肿、发生在肾肿瘤及其他伴囊性肾病的综合征也可引起肾脏呈囊性改变.这类病由于其发病机制和病理基础不同,临床诊断及治疗方案选择亦不同,要正确诊断这类疾病,需要仔细分类并查明病因.该文就儿童常见的肾囊性疾病进行综述.     

Radiologic features of “adult type” polycystic kidney disease in the neonate

Two cases are reported of adult type polycystic renal disease (autosomal dominant) presenting in the newborn as a unilateral abdominal mass. The radiographic findings in the involved kidney simulated the ectatic tubules of infantile polycystic disease, yet histologic examination was consistent with the adult variety and both infants had other family members with adult type polycystic kidneys. These cases emphasize some of the ambiguities that exist in the definition and classification of polycystic renal disease.     

Juvenile nephronophthisis associated with new skeletal abnormalities, tapetoretinal degeneration and liver fibrosis

This report concerns a boy presenting renal disease with tubulointerstitial nephropathy which suggests familial juvenile nephronophthisis, hepatosplenomegaly due to congenital hepatic fibrosis, tapetoretinal degeneration, probable endocrine involvement and congenital skeletal abnormalities. The associations presented in this paper have not previously been reported.     

Polycystic kidney disease in children

Polycystic renal diseases in children include 2 pathologically and genetically distinct diseases: autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), incorrectly called the "infantile form", characterized by a constant hepato-renal involvement, and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, often termed the "adult form", which is more and more frequently detected in children as a result of advances in renal imaging techniques. The differential diagnosis is not based on age at discovery, clinical symptoms or renal imaging, which may all be similar in the 2 diseases, but on the presence, detected by either pathology or ultrasonography, of the biliary dysgenesis specific to ARPKD, and mainly on the mode of inheritance, confirmed by the results of ultrasonography in parents and grandparents.     

Impact of liver transplantation on renal function of patients with congenital hepatic fibrosis associated with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

Congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is an uncommon autosomal recessive malformation. It may be associated with extrahepatic manifestations such as polycystic kidney disease. The main consequence is portal hypertension and bleeding from varices. Despite liver transplantation as a therapeutic option for this patient, long-term impact of liver transplantation on renal functions of patients with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease with associated liver disease is not well known. In this study, we aimed to analyze the patient's renal function after liver transplantation by creatinine clearance, glomerular filtration rate, and renal resistive indexes. Between March 1997 and September 2002, three of 50 orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) were performed because of CHF associated with ARPKD at Ege University Organ Transplantation and Research Center. Baseline immunosuppression consisted of prednisone and cyclosporine A (CSA). The mean follow-up of the patients was 2.1 yr. Blood urea and creatinine levels were decreased after operation in all patients and remained within the normal range at the sixth and 12th month, whereas the level of the third patient were increased at the 18th month. RRI values of patients were not found different at the sixth month whereas, RRI values of patients were decreased at the 12th month and remained unchanged at the 18th month of follow-up. During the study period hypertension developed in one patient at the 16th month and resolved with antihypertensive treatment and decreasing dosage of CSA. Kidney function has remained satisfactory in all of the patients despite the use of cyclosporine. OLT can provide good survival in patients with CHF associated with ARPKD.     

Polycystic kidney disease and other genetic kidney disorders

Cystic kidney diseases encompass a range of genetic disorders in which the primary cilia of the cells are affected and thereby cysts form as a result. There are an increasing range of cystic renal diseases recognized due to the advances in genomics. The most common genetic kidney condition is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). ADPKD leads to renal failure in adulthood. In children, hypertension is common and if treated, may slow down renal decline. The most common cystic kidney disease causing renal failure in children is autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). ARPKD also affects the liver. These conditions often have extra-renal features which also need to be addressed. Until recently, treatments were mainly supportive but now it is possible to slow down development of cyst formation and renal decline in ADPKD. This raises hope for treatment for other cystic renal conditions as more genes are identified and underlying mechanisms defined.     

NPHP3基因突变致婴幼儿期进展为终末期肾病的肾单位肾痨2例并文献复习

摘要目的：总结2例在婴幼儿期进展为终末期肾病（ESRD）的NPHP3基因突变致肾单位肾痨（NPHP）患儿的临床特征及基因突变的特点。方法：收集患儿的一般情况、肾活检、影像学、实验室检查和基因测序结果,并行文献复习。结果：①2例均为男性,发病年龄3和17个月,均以黄疸、肝功能异常为首发症状,2例进展至ESRD的年龄分别为11和35个月。例1肾活检病理肾小管间质炎,肾小球轻度病变,未见囊肿;肝脏活检肝细胞弥漫性变性,间质纤维组织增生。未发现家族中有类似疾病。②行高通量测序结果显示,例1存在NPHP3基因 C.2369A>G (p.L790P)、c.1358A>G (p.L453P)杂合错义突变,例2存在c.1174C>T(p.R392X)无义突变和IVS26 3A>G剪切突变。2例均为复合杂合突变,均分别来自患儿父母。p.L453P和p.L790P错义突变及IVS26 3A>G剪切突变经软件预测为有害突变。除IVS26 3A>G外均为新发现的突变。③共检索到18篇文献1 504例NPHP患者行NPHP3测序,79例检测到NPHP3纯合突变或复合杂合突变。其中19例在新生儿期进展为ESRD,需要肾脏替代治疗,常伴有肺发育不良和胰腺囊肿,在胎儿期表现为羊水少,超声提示双肾增大,伴有囊性改变,常被诊断为常染色体隐性遗传多囊肾;余20例（含文2例）在5岁前进展为ESRD,以肝功能异常和贫血为主要表现,常伴肝脏纤维化和胆管发育异常;42例在5岁后进展为ESRD,以贫血、肾功能异常和高血压等肾脏表型为主。 结论：NPHP3基因突变所致NPHP并非传统意义上的青年型NPHP,约半数在5岁前进展为ESRD,故婴幼儿期不明原因的黄疸和肝功能异常应警惕NPHP3基因突变可能。本研究发现的c.1358A>G、C.2369A>G和c.1174C>T突变为新发现的NPHP3基因突变类型。     

Sonographically detectable cysts in polycystic kidney disease in newborn and young infants

Autosomal dominant (adult type) and autosomal recessive (infantile type) polycystic kidney disease are 2 distinct forms of hereditary cystic renal disease with differing pathologic and clinical features. Glomerulocystic kidney disease is probably a separate entity, whose pathologic features may closely resemble those of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, especially in small infants. An example of each of these conditions in a small infant is presented, all of which had sonographically detectable cysts. Pathologic correlation was available in each case. While there are typical sonographic features of autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease in newborn and young infants, there is no specific appearance of either condition, and glomerulocystic kidney disease can apparently resemble either one. Other investigations, particularly family studies and pathologic verification, are important in order to establish the correct diagnosis.     

Renal cystic disease: new insights for the clinician

This article cannot comprehensively cover the enormous strides made in defining the molecular and cellular basis of renal cystic diseases over the last decade. Therefore, it provides a brief overview and categorization of inherited, developmental, and acquired renal cystic diseases, providing a relevant, up-to-date bibliography as well as a useful list of informative Internet Web sites. Its major focus is the translational biology of polycystic kidney disease. It demonstrates how emerging molecular and cellular knowledge of the pathophysiology of particular diseases such as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) can translate into innovative therapeutic insights.     

Body growth in children with polycystic kidney disease

We analysed the body growth of 121 prepubertal children with polycystic kidney disease participating in a longitudinal multicentre study. The patients were followed from an age of 1 to 9 years in girls and 1 to 10 years in boys over a mean period of 3.6 years. Children with end-stage renal disease were excluded. Fifty-four patients had the autosomal dominant form of the disease and 67 the autosomal recessive form. At last observation, 2% of patients with the dominant form and 28% of those with the recessive form had an estimated glomerular filtration rate of < 60 ml/(min 1.73 m²). At first observation, the mean height SD score (SDS) in patients with the dominant form was almost the same as in controls, whilst in those with the recessive form it was significantly decreased (girls –0.82 SDS, boys -0.68 SDS, p < 0.001). During the follow-up the height SDS decreased slightly in both groups (NS). In patients with autosomal recessive kidney disease the degree of growth retardation appeared to be related to renal function: at last observation the height of girls with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of < 60ml/(min 1.73 m²) was more retarded than that of boys (mean -2.1 SDS versus -1.5 SDS, NS). The height SDS and renal function at last observation correlated in girls ( r = 0.83, p < 0.001) but not in boys ( r = 0.55) with the recessive form. No correlation was found between the height SDS and hypertension. The weight-for-height SDS at onset was significantly reduced in patients with the recessive form with decreased renal function. Our data suggest that the autosomal recessive, but not the dominant, form of polycystic kidney disease is associated with early growth retardation, which seems to be more severe in girls, probably due to the more rapid deterioration of renal function.     

Association of congenital hepatic fibrosis with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

The association of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) with congential hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is well known; a rare occurrence is that of congenital hepatic fibrosis with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We report a family with ADPKD in which congenital hepatic fibrosis with severe portal hypertension (PHT) presented in a 4-year-old girl; the kidneys were initially normal. Typical changes of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease developed in the next decade and were also found in the mother and sister (neither of whom had any evidence of portal hypertension). Severe variceal bleeding was treated by sclerotherapy and beta receptor blocade.