血浆置换联合激素或/和免疫抑制剂治疗ANCA相关性小血管炎严重肾损害临床疗效和预后的Meta分析

目的系统评价血浆置换联合激素或/和免疫抑制剂治疗对抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体(ANCA)相关性血管炎性肾损害的临床疗效及预后。 方法计算机检索MEDLINE via OvidSP、Embase、中国生物医学文献数据库、知网、万方及维普数据库，检索时限为建库至2019年4月，搜集血浆置换联合激素或/和免疫抑制剂治疗ANCA相关性血管炎肾损害的随机对照试验(RCT)及队列研究的相关文献。总共纳入939例患者，其中标准治疗组(单独的激素或/和免疫抑制剂治疗)共503例患者，联合治疗组(标准治疗联合血浆置换治疗)共436例患者，应用Review Manager 5.3软件行荟萃分析。 结果(1)肾功能改善方面：联合治疗组血肌酐降低更明显，其差异有统计学意义(SMD＝－0.51，95% CI：－0.92～－0.09，P＝0.02)，亚组分析结果显示联合治疗组短期疗效及长期疗效和标准治疗组相比好转，且差异有统计学意义；联合治疗组血尿素氮降低不明显，其差异无统计学意义(SMD＝－0.25；95% CI：－0.37～ 0.87，P＝0.43)。(2)原发病控制方面：联合治疗组伯明翰血管炎活动性评分(BVAS)下降更明显，其差异有统计学意义(MD＝－1.51，95% CI：－2.38～ －0.64，P<0.05)；联合治疗组ANCA水平降低更明显，其差异有统计学意义(MD＝－27.68，95% CI：－42.17～－13.19，P<0.05)。(3)长期随访结局方面：联合治疗组发生死亡或终末期肾病的风险小于标准治疗组，其差异有统计学意义(RR＝0.67，95% CI：0.53～ 0.84，P＝0.0004)；联合治疗组脱离透析频率高于标准治疗组，其差异有统计学意义(RR＝1.32，95% CI：1.08～ 1.61，P＝0.007)。联合治疗组不良反应发生率和标准治疗组相当，不良反应主要包括肺部感染、肺结核、带状疱疹、胃肠道症状及肝损害，其差异无统计学意义(RR＝0.64，95%CI：0.39～ 1.05，P＝0.08)。 结论血浆置换联合激素或/和免疫抑制剂治疗可有效降低血清肌酐值、血清ANCA水平、伯明翰血管炎活动评分；减少终末期肾病的复合终点和全因死亡，提高疾病控制率，但随访过程中两组不良反应发生率相似。     

青少年特发性膜性肾病的临床和病理特点及其转归影响因素

目的分析青少年特发性膜性肾病(IMN)的临床和病理特征、治疗及预后。 方法回顾性分析2011年1月1日至2018年4月30日在解放军总医院肾脏病科经肾活检确诊的164例13~24岁青少年IMN患者的基本资料、实验室检查、肾活检病理、治疗方案等资料。患者分为少年组(13~18岁)60例,青年组(19~24岁)104例,以肾活检时间为起点随访6~24个月,分析不同药物治疗的有效性及预后。 结果患者的男女比例约为1.6∶1;少年组的血尿发生率(P＝0.002)和eGFR(P＝0.002)高于青年组,而IgA(P＝0.017)和IgG(P＝0.050)水平则低于青年组。两组的临床表现均以肾病综合征为主,肾脏病理以膜性肾病Ⅱ期最多见。少年组和青年组的血清磷脂酶A2受体(PLA2R)抗体阳性率分别为44.4%和40%。平均随访时间8.5(6,24)月,两组使用他克莫司和(或)糖皮质激素治疗IMN的总缓解率均为75%。少年组和青年组的24个月总缓解率分别为85.7%和96%(χ²＝1.303,P＝0.254),而24个月完全缓解率则分别为61.5%和79.2%(χ²＝1.329,P＝0.254)。少年组及青年组均无患者进展至终末期肾病(ESRD)。单因素Cox回归分析显示,血尿和低IgG血症(<4.0 g/L)预示IMN患者较低的24个月总缓解率。多因素Cox回归分析发现,血尿(HR＝0.345,95%CI: 0.035~0.188,P＝0.005)和IgG<4.0 g/L(HR＝0.278,95%CI: 0.034~0.434,P＝0.023)均为24个月总缓解率的独立危险因素,而且IgG<4.0 g/L(HR＝3.538,95%CI: 1.193~10.499,P＝0.028)还是24个月完全缓解率的独立危险因素。接受者操作特征(ROC)曲线下面积(AUC)也证实,IgG<3.48 g/L(AUC＝0.765,特异性69.4%,灵敏度88.7%,P＝0.001)是预测24个月不缓解的最佳临界点。 结论少年组IMN患者的临床表现较青年组严重;随访24个月时青少年IMN患者的转归良好;血尿和低IgG血症是青少年IMN缓解率的独立危险因素。     

血脂与IgA肾病患者肾脏预后的相关性研究

目的了解原发性IgA肾病(IgAN)血脂异常患者的临床、病理特征，探讨血脂对IgAN肾脏预后的影响。 方法回顾性分析2000年1月1日至2018年12月31日在我院肾活检确诊的原发性IgAN患者的资料，随访截止2020年1月1日，随访的终点事件是终末期肾病(ESRD)或估算的肾小球滤过率(eGFR)下降≥50%，未达终点事件者随访最少1年。按肾活检时的基线血脂水平并根据血脂异常诊断标准，将IgAN患者分为血脂异常组(450例)及血脂正常组(331例)，血脂异常组包括高胆固醇组(高TC组)、高甘油三酯组(高TG组)、高低密度脂蛋白组(高LDL组)及低高密度脂蛋白组(低HDL组)4个单一指标亚组。参照IgAN牛津分型进行病理评分，Logistic回归和Cox回归模型分析影响IgAN患者预后的风险因素，采用Kaplan-Meier生存曲线比较血脂异常组和血脂正常组IgAN患者生存率的差异。 结果血脂异常组年龄、身体质量指数(BMI)、血压、血肌酐、血尿酸、尿蛋白定量高于血脂正常组，而血白蛋白、eGFR低于血脂正常组(P<0.05)。根据牛津分型评分，与其它组比较，低HDL组IgAN患者的肾小管间质病变程度更重(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析提示，年龄大(OR 1.044，95%CI：1.023～1.066，P<0.001)、高平均动脉压(OR 1.025，95%CI：1.008～1.043，P＝0.004)、低血红蛋白(OR 0.963，95%CI：0.950～0.976，P<0.001)、高TG(OR 1.008，95%CI：1.005～1.010，P<0.001)、低HDL(OR 0.546，95%CI：0.311～0.959，P＝0.035)、高24 h尿蛋白定量(OR 1.185，95%CI：1.039～1.352，P＝0.011)和高牛津分型T评分(OR 9.115，95%CI：5.297～15.685，P<0.001)是IgAN基线肾功能下降的风险因素。多因素Cox回归模型分析结果显示，低血红蛋白(OR 0.965，95%CI：0.949～0.980，P<0.001)、低基线eGFR(OR 0.984，95%CI：0.973～0.996，P＝0.008)、高24 h尿蛋白定量(OR 1.151，95%CI：1.043～1.271，P＝0.005)、高牛津分型T评分(OR 1.680，95%CI：1.033～2.732，P＝0.036)和高TG(OR 1.177，95%CI：1.038～1.334，P＝0.011)是IgAN肾脏不良预后的风险因素。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析显示，随访血脂异常组IgAN患者的肾脏中位生存时间显著短于血脂正常组(χ²＝8.316，P＝0.004)。 结论HDL与肾小管间质病变相关，高TG是IgAN肾脏预后不良的风险因素，临床上应加强对IgAN患者的血脂监测。     

心血管手术相关急性肾损伤患者行连续性肾脏替代治疗后的预后因素分析

目的探讨心血管手术相关急性肾损伤患者行连续性肾脏替代治疗后不同预后的相关因素。 方法本研究纳入2015年1月至2018年12月在南京医科大学第一附属医院住院行心血管手术治疗且接受连续性肾脏替代治疗的患者,按90 d是否死亡和90 d内RRT治疗天数(≤14 d,15～90 d,>90 d)将患者分为4组,分析90 d死亡、90 d透析依赖、90 d延迟摆脱透析的相关影响因素。 结果本研究共纳入210例患者,平均随访400 d。其中90 d死亡114例,90 d生存且14 d内摆脱透析37例,90 d生存15～90 d内摆脱透析46例,90 d生存且透析依赖13例。多因素Cox回归显示：90 d死亡的独立危险因素包括高龄(HR＝1.029,95%CI: 1.013～1.045,P<0.001)、术前血清肌酐低(HR＝0.993,95%CI: 0.987～0.998,P＝0.008)、CRRT前APACHE Ⅱ高评分(HR＝1.043, 95%CI: 1.004～1.084,P＝0.028)、CRRT前SOFA评分高(HR＝1.130, 95%CI: 1.052～1.213,P<0.001)、CRRT前脓毒症(HR＝2.327, 95%CI: 1.591～3.403,P<0.001)、CRRT前过低的舒张压(HR＝0.979,95%CI: 0.963～0.996,P＝0.013)。90 d存活患者透析依赖的独立危险因素包括术前较低的eGFR(HR＝0.962,95%CI: 0.940～0.984,P<0.001)。90 d存活患者中延迟摆脱透析的危险因素有血清白蛋白低(OR＝0.837,95%CI: 0.717～0.977,P＝0.024)、机械通气时间长(OR＝1.434,95%CI: 1.175～1.749,P<0.001)、CRRT前尿量少(OR＝0.739,95%CI: 0.623～0.876,P<0.001)。 结论心血管手术相关急性肾损伤并行连续性肾脏替代治疗患者中,90 d死亡与高龄、CRRT前疾病的严重程度、脓毒症和过低的舒张压有关;90 d存活患者透析依赖与患者术前较差的肾功能有关;90 d存活患者延迟摆脱透析与血清白蛋白低、机械通气时间长、CRRT前尿量少有关。     

老年IgA肾病的临床病理相关研究及预后影响因素分析

目的:研究老年Ig A肾病患者的临床病理相关性及影响预后的危险因素。方法:回顾性分析年龄≥60岁的原发性Ig A肾病患者的临床、病理资料及随访资料。结果:本研究共入选87例患者,平均年龄(64.9±3.9)岁。临床病理相关性分析显示,基线e GFR与牛津分型的M、T和C分别存在显著负相关关系,24 h尿蛋白定量与牛津分型的M、T和C呈正相关关系。多因素COX回归分析显示,基线e GFR(HR=0.246;95%CI 0.118~0.514)、肾小管萎缩/间质纤维化改变(HR=35.087;95%CI 1.850~665.329)、细胞性/细胞纤维性新月体形成(HR=8.061;95%CI 1.000~64.985)、细动脉透明样变性(HR=9.231;95%CI 1.900~44.836)、球性硬化比例(HR=1.033;95%CI 1.002~1.065)是老年Ig A肾病患者进展至ESRD的独立危险因素。结论:老年Ig A肾病患者的基线e GFR、与肾小管萎缩/间质纤维化、新月体形成、肾小球球性硬化、细动脉透明样变性是其进展至ESRD的危险因素。     

ANCA相关性血管炎肾损害临床特征及早期诊治探讨

目的 分析抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体(ANCA)相关性血管炎的临床表现和肾脏病理特征,探讨早期诊断和治疗对预后的影响.方法选取本院2000年1月至2009年8月明确诊断的ANCA相关性血管炎共21例,18例行肾活检.总结患者的临床病理资科.分析不同治疗时机对肾功能转归的影响.结果本组21例ANCA相关性血管炎平均年龄(52.5±11.5)岁,显微镜下多血管炎(MPA)16例,韦格纳肉芽肿(WG)3例,变应性肉芽肿性血管炎(CSS)2例.肾外表现主要为发烧17例(80.1%)、下呼吸道症状18例(85.7%)、肺影像学改变21例(100%)、贫血16例(76.2%)、眼耳鼻受累8例(38.1%);肾脏表现血尿21例(100%),蛋白尿19例(90.1%),血肌酐正常6例(28.5%),升高15例(71.4%),8例需透析替代.ANCA检测pANCA和MPO-ANCA阳性16例,cANCA和PR3-ANCA阳性3例.pANCA/MPO-ANCA和cANCA/PR3-ANCA均阳性1例,全阴性1例.肾活检可见节段性小血管壁纤维素样坏死,新月体多见.免疫荧光无或微量免疫复合物沉积.治疗采用糖皮质激素联合环磷酰胺,重症加用血浆置换.7例血肌酐异常但不需透析者5例治疗后血肌酐恢复正常;8例需透析者2例治疗后血肌酐恢复正常,2例脱离透析但血肌酐异常,4例未能脱离透析.结论ANCA相关性小血管炎临床表现多样,肺、肾是最常见的受累器官.ANCA检测和肾活检有助于早期诊断,尽早积极治疗有助于肾功能的恢复.     

抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体相关性小血管炎30例临床诊治分析

目的：探讨抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体（ANCA）相关性小血管炎的临床特点、诊断和治疗。方法：回顾性分析2002年6月~2009年6月检测并明确诊断的30例ANCA相关性小血管炎患者的临床病理资料。结果：30例患者中胞浆型ANCA（c-ANCA）阳性4例,3例识别蛋白酶3（PR3）,1例识别髓过氧化物酶（MPO）;核周型ANCA（p-ANCA）阳性26例,均识别MPO。临床表现呈多器官受累,以肾、肺受累为主。多数患者有贫血、血沉增快和C反应蛋白增高。糖皮质激素联合免疫抑制剂治疗,诱导缓解的缓解率为83.3%。结论：ANCA相关性小血管炎临床表现为多器官受累,缺乏特异性,其诊断要结合临床表现、ANCA检测和病理活检综合考虑,糖皮质激素联合免疫抑制剂治疗有较好疗效,吗替麦考酚酯和硫唑嘌呤等免疫抑制剂较环磷酰胺毒副作用更小。     

上尿路移行细胞癌术后膀胱复发的危险因素分析

目的:探讨上尿路移行细胞癌行根治性肾输尿管切除术后出现膀胱内复发的危险因素。方法:回顾性分析我院2005年1月~2012年12月收治的353例行根治性肾输尿管切除术的上尿路移行细胞癌患者病例资料,通过单因素和多因素分析术后出现膀胱复发的相关危险因素。结果:353例患者术后膀胱复发72例(20.4%),平均随访时间39个月,平均复发时间21个月。多因素COX回归分析显示,糖尿病(HR=1.724;95%CI:1.009~2.948;P=0.046)、肿瘤多发(HR=1.852;95%CI:1.043~3.288;P=0.035)和尿脱落细胞阳性(HR=2.075;95%CI:1.225-3.515;P=0.007)是术后膀胱内复发的独立危险因素。结论:糖尿病、肿瘤多发和尿脱落细胞学阳性是上尿路移行细胞癌行根治性肾输尿管切除术后膀胱内复发的独立危险因素,术后应密切随访、积极治疗。     

以神经系统损害为首发症状伴血IgG4升高的抗中性粒细胞胞质抗体相关性血管炎一例

临床上以神经系统损害为首发症状的抗中性粒细胞胞质抗体（ANCA）相关性血管炎较为少见。本文报道1例以神经系统损害为首发症状,随后出现急进型肾炎综合征的ANCA相关性血管炎,血髓过氧化物酶抗体阳性且血IgG4明显升高。肾活检证实为寡免疫复合物性新月体肾炎。予糖皮质激素联合环磷酰胺诱导治疗后,患者神经系统症状、肾功能损害等...     

抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体相关性血管炎患者血清C反应蛋白水平及临床意义

目的检测抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体（anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies,ANCA）相关性血管炎患者血清C反应蛋白（C-reactive protein,CRP）的浓度水平,初步探讨CRP在ANCA相关性血管炎中的临床意义。方法选择ANCA相关性血管炎患者45例及对照者45例,通过免疫透射比浊法检测血清CRP浓度,利用伯明翰血管炎活动性评分2003版对所有ANCA相关性血管炎患者进行评分。利用Spearman秩相关检验评估血清CRP水平与伯明翰血管炎活动性评分之间的关系。结果ANCA相关性血管炎患者血清CRP水平较对照组明显升高[（54．8±19．7）mg／L比（20．4±11．1）mg／L],差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。活动期ANCA相关性血管炎患者血清CRP水平较缓解组明显升高[（61．1±17．2）mg／L比（35．5±13。3）mg／L],差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。在ANCA相关性血管炎患者中,血清CRP浓度与伯明翰血管炎活动性评分呈正相关（r=0．727,P〈0．05）。结论ANCA相关性血管炎患者血清CRP水平明显升高,活动期血清CRP水平高于缓解期,并与其活动性密切相关,可作为ANCA相关性血管炎的潜在临床标记物。     

Recurrence of ANCA-associated vasculitis following renal transplantation in the modern era of immunosupression

Progressive glomerulonephritis and attendant end-stage renal disease (ESRD) result from antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. The optimum time of kidney transplantation in patients with ESRD due to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and the risk of renal or nonrenal recurrence of vasculitis after transplantation are unknown. To answer some of these questions, we followed 35 transplant recipients with diagnoses of microscopic polyangiitis (20 patients) and Wegener's granulomatosis (15 patients). The median time from diagnosis to transplantation was 25 months with all patients being in clinical remission. Fifteen patients were ANCA-positive at time of the transplant with 13 preemptive transplants. The most common immunosuppressive strategy included antibody induction, corticosteroid, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus with acute rejection occurring in eight cases. Overall and death-censored graft survivals were 94 and 100%, respectively, 5 years post-transplantation. Nonrenal relapse occurred in three patients with a satisfactory response to treatment. No clear risk factor to relapse emerged and no detrimental effect to renal function was found. We conclude that transplantation should be considered as the treatment of choice for ESRD due to AAV. Potent antirejection regimes are well tolerated in these patients, are associated with a low risk of recurrence and an absence of AAV-related graft dysfunction.     

Randomized trial of plasma exchange or high-dosage methylprednisolone as adjunctive therapy for severe renal vasculitis

Systemic vasculitis associated with autoantibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) is the most frequent cause of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Renal failure at presentation carries an increased risk for ESRD and death despite immunosuppressive therapy. This study investigated whether the addition of plasma exchange was more effective than intravenous methylprednisolone in the achievement of renal recovery in those who presented with a serum creatinine >500 micromol/L (5.8 mg/dl). A total of 137 patients with a new diagnosis of ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis confirmed by renal biopsy and serum creatinine >500 micromol/L (5.8 mg/dl) were randomly assigned to receive seven plasma exchanges (n = 70) or 3000 mg of intravenous methylprednisolone (n = 67). Both groups received oral cyclophosphamide and oral prednisolone. The primary end point was dialysis independence at 3 mo. Secondary end points included renal and patient survival at 1 yr and severe adverse event rates. At 3 mo, 33 (49%) of 67 after intravenous methylprednisolone compared with 48 (69%) or 70 after plasma exchange were alive and independent of dialysis (95% confidence interval for the difference 18 to 35%; P = 0.02). As compared with intravenous methylprednisolone, plasma exchange was associated with a reduction in risk for progression to ESRD of 24% (95% confidence interval 6.1 to 41%), from 43 to 19%, at 12 mo. Patient survival and severe adverse event rates at 1 yr were 51 (76%) of 67 and 32 of 67 (48%) in the intravenous methylprednisolone group and 51 (73%) of 70 and 35 of (50%) 70 in the plasma exchange group, respectively. Plasma exchange increased the rate of renal recovery in ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis that presented with renal failure when compared with intravenous methylprednisolone. Patient survival and severe adverse event rates were similar in both groups.     

Tolerance of mycophenolate mofetil in end-stage renal disease patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been used successfully in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis as maintenance therapy. Only transient and moderate side effects have been reported with a daily dose of 2 g. Since all the treated patients who have been reported so far had no or only moderate renal insufficiency when MMF was initiated, no data are available regarding side effects in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: Five ESRD patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and a relapsing course of their disease were treated. All patients had pretreatment with cyclophosphamide for at least 17 months. MMF was initiated as a remission maintenance therapy, and started with a dose of 1 g/d. The aim was to increase the MMF dose to 2 g/d. Blood counts, liver enzymes and gastrointestinal side effects were monitored. RESULTS: Four patients developed severe anemia, 2 requiring blood transfusion with permanent or temporary cessation of MMF treatment. One patient developed leukopenia. Gastrointestinal symptoms led to a dose reduction to 1 g/d (n = 2) or cessation of treatment (n = 1). Three patients remained on longer MMF treatment; however, their daily dose did not exceed 1 g. CONCLUSION: MMF, a promising drug regarding maintenance therapy in ANCA-associated vasculitis, seems to have more side effects in ESRD patients, leading to dose reduction or even cessation of treatment. Therefore, in this patient group a lower dose and closer monitoring for side effects seems to be required compared to patients with no or moderate renal insufficiency.     

ANCA-negative pauci-immune renal vasculitis: histology and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Pauci-immune renal vasculitis with focal glomerular necrosis and crescent formation is usually associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs). However, ANCA's are absent in up to 10% of cases, which constitutes a rarely studied variant of renal vasculitis. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre cohort study analyzed the presenting features, renal histology and outcome in 20 patients with pauci-immune crescentic necrotizing renal vasculitis in whom indirect immunofluorescence did not detect ANCA. RESULTS: Renal histology revealed a high percentage of active glomerular lesions (50%), mainly cellular crescents, 28% of them with glomerular necrosis. Chronic tissue damage with glomerulosclerosis (21%) and diffuse interstitial fibrosis (40%) was already present at diagnosis, more prominent than in historical PR3-positive patients. Infiltrates of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in glomerular capillary loops were observed in 40% of all biopsies, mainly in necrotic lesions. The subsets of interstitially infiltrating leukocytes similar to ANCA-associated disease. Microscopic polyangiitis was diagnosed in 17 patients, Wegener's granulomatosis in two and renal-limited vasculitis in one. The patients median disease extent index (DEI) of 5 (range 4-11) reflected a systemic vasculitis. ANCA-negative vasculitis was not associated with infection or malignancy. Renal outcome was correlated to DEI (P = 0.032) and serum creatinine at diagnosis (P = 0.04). The mortality rate was high (35%) and closely related to age above 65 years at diagnosis (P = 0.014). Conclusions. The histological findings and prognosis in ANCA-negative renal vasculitis are comparable with those of ANCA-positive disease. Our data underline the importance of the exact diagnosis in an active vasculitic disease process even in the absence of ANCAs.     

Predictors of renal and patient outcomes in atheroembolic renal disease: a prospective study

Atheroembolic renal disease (AERD) is part of a multisystemic disease accompanied by high cardiovascular comorbidity and mortality. Interrelationships between traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, vascular comorbidities, precipitating factors, and markers of clinical severity of the disease in determining outcome remain poorly understood. Patients with AERD presenting to a single center between 1996 and 2002 were followed-up with prospective collection of clinical and biochemical data. The major outcomes included end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death. Ninety-five patients were identified (81 male). AERD was iatrogenic in 87%. Mean age was 71.4 yr. Twenty-three patients (24%) developed ESRD; 36 patients (37.9%) died. Cox regression analysis showed that significant independent predictors of ESRD were long-standing hypertension (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.1; P < 0.001) and preexisting chronic renal impairment (HR = 2.12; P = 0.02); use of statins was independently associated with decreased risk of ESRD (HR = 0.02; P = 0.003). Age (HR = 1.09; P = 0.009), diabetes (HR = 2.55; P = 0.034), and ESRD (HR = 2.21; P = 0.029) were independent risk factors for patient mortality; male gender was independently associated with decreased risk of death (HR = 0.27; P = 0.007). Cardiovascular comorbidities, precipitating factors, and clinical severity of AERD had no prognostic impact on renal and patient survival. It is concluded that AERD has a strong clinical impact on patient and renal survival. The study clearly shows the importance of preexisting chronic renal impairment in determining both renal and patient outcome, this latter being mediated by the development of ESRD. The protective effect of statins on the development of ESRD should be evaluated in a prospective study.     

Clinical presentations and outcome analysis of renal transplant in elderly patients——A single center retrospective study

Objective To analyze the characteristics and prognosis of elderly renal transplant recipients. Methods The authors included 130 recipients older than or equal to 60 years at the time of operation in elderly group, and the paired 130 patients receiving contralateral renal transplants from the same donors and younger than 60 years in control group. All the patients received renal transplant in Kidney Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from Nov 1994 to Dec 2013. Results The average age of the patients of elderly group was (63±3) years old, whereas the patients in control group were (41±10) years old. There was no significant difference in sex, type of dialysis, number of mismatched HLA, level of panel reactive antibodies (PRA), percentage of receiving induction therapy or immunosuppressive regimen between elderly group and control group, except that the patients in old group had a longer duration of dialysis. The patients of elderly group had a lower level of serum creatinine than control at the follow up times from 6 months to 24 months after transplant. The doses of immunosuppressives were lower in elderly group compared with the control group whereas the concentration of tacrolimus or cyclosporine was same. The dose of prednisone in old group was lower compared with control after 6 months post - transplantation. The patients of elderly group had high percentages of pulmonary infection and new-onset diabetes mellitus compared with the control group. Until June 2014, the follow-up rate of all patients was 85.4%; the median follow-up time was 70.4 months in elderly group and 79.9 months in control group. There was no significant differencein mortality rate or graft loss rate between elderly group and control group. Pulmonary infection (HR=2.981, P=0.018), hepatitis C virus infection (HR=5.797, P=0.003) and malignancies (HR=5.228, P=0.005) were correlated with the survival rate of the elderly group. Conclusions Elderly renal transplant recipients have a similar prognosis compared with the younger ones. Pulmonary infection, hepatitis C virus infection and malignancy are related risk factors for the survival rate of elderly patients.     

Portulaca Oleracea-associated oxalate nephropathy complicated with an ANCA-positive acute renal injury: A case report

Oxalate nephropathy is a rare disease that can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). In clinical practice, as renal biopsy is required for diagnosis, physicians often do not have sufficient understanding of this disease. When AKI is associated with positive blood anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), a diagnosis of renal injury due to ANCA-associated vasculitis is likely to be made, leading to treatment with immunosuppressive therapy. A case of AKI after eating a large quantity of Portulaca oleracea is reported. While blood P-ANCA was positive, both urine proteinuria and urine occult blood were negative. Renal biopsy was performed and identified an acute tubulointerstitial injury: disc-shaped crystals were seen in the lumen of renal tubules that demonstrated birefringence under polarized light, and an oxalate nephropathy was therefore diagnosed. Typical histological changes of an ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal injury such as cellulose-like necrosis and crescent formation were not present. After the patient stopped eating P. oleracea, and following rehydration and hemodialysis, renal function returned to normal. In patients with AKI, the secondary causes of hyperoxalemia should be sought and attention paid to excluding an oxalate nephropathy. In patients with AKI who are ANCA-positive, it is prudent to complete the renal pathological diagnostic process before assuming that the renal injury is caused by an ANCA-associated vasculitis, and before starting hormone and immunosuppressive therapy.     

Outcomes of renal transplantation among patients with end-stage renal disease caused by lupus nephritis

BACKGROUND: Although the outcomes of renal transplantation among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) caused by lupus nephritis have generally been found to be comparable to those of patients with other causes of ESRD, some studies indicate that cadaveric graft failure is more common among these patients. However, most previous studies examined small numbers of patients and did not adjust for important confounding factors. METHODS: Graft failure and patient mortality after the first cadaveric renal transplantation were compared between 772 adults with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis and 32,644 adults with ESRD caused by other causes who received a transplant between 1987 and 1994 and were included in the United States Renal Data System. The median follow-up times were 4.9 and 5.0 years in the two groups, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to adjust the risks of graft failure and mortality for group differences in recipient and donor characteristics. Similar comparisons were performed between 390 adults with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis and 10,512 adults with ESRD caused by other causes after first living-related renal transplantation. RESULTS: In an unadjusted analysis, the risk of graft failure after first cadaveric transplant was slightly but significantly greater among patients with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis than among those with ESRD caused by other causes [hazard ratio (HR), 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1. 26, P = 0.04]. However, after adjustment for potential confounding factors, the risk of graft failure was not increased in patients with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.23, P = 0.28). Mortality after the first cadaveric transplantation did not differ between groups. The adjusted risks of graft failure (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.32, P = 0.62) and patient mortality (HR = 0. 69; 95% CI, 0.45 to 1.05, P = 0.09) after the first living-related renal transplant were also not significantly higher among patients with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis. CONCLUSIONS: Graft and patient survival after first cadaveric and first living-related renal transplants are similar in patients with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis and patients with ESRD from other causes.     

Relapse rate and outcome of ANCA-associated small vessel vasculitis after transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated systemic vasculitis (AASV) is a rare disease and frequently leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Potentially fatal disease activity can develop after the onset of ESRD or in transplanted patients despite the immunosuppressive effects of uraemia and rejection prophylaxis, respectively, leading to concern that such patients may have greater morbidity and mortality. METHODS: To assess the outcome of patients with AASV following kidney transplantation, a retrospective analysis was performed of nine patients with AASV at our unit who received renal transplants between 1987 and 2000. The renal survival of the patients was compared with a control population who received kidney transplants over the same period for causes other than AASV and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: Nine patients with the diagnosis of AASV (five patients with Wegener's granulomatosis and four with microscopic polyangiitis) received eight cadaveric grafts and one live-related graft after a mean of 44 months from the start of dialysis. These patients had a mean age of 49.2 years at time of transplantation and they were followed up for a mean of 62 months post-transplantation. Two patients with Wegener's granulomatosis suffered a vasculitic relapse affecting the upper respiratory tract at 40 and 50 months post-transplantation, corresponding to a relapse rate of 0.04 per patient per year. The renal transplant function of vasculitis patients compared with 18 non-diabetic control patients who were transplanted at the same time was better in the vasculitis patients at some time points (P=0.054 at 6 months). CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial relapse rate in the AASV population, especially affecting the upper respiratory tract and with increasing duration of follow-up. Nonetheless, renal transplantation is a good option for the treatment of vasculitis patients and their outcome compares favourably with that of other non-diabetic patients following transplantation.