T cell subsets in glomerulonephritis

Abnormal lymphocyte function has been postulated to have a pathogenetic role in nephrotic syndrome. In an attempt to investigate the pathogenetic role of lymphocyte subsets in human glomerular disease, we studied 110 children suffering from nephritis during the acute nephrotic phase or nephritis without steroid treatment, 4 weeks later after steroid treatment, in remission and relapse. These patients included minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) 15 cases, focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FGS) 6 cases, mesangial cell proliferative nephropathy (MesPGN) 42 cases, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) 2 cases, hepatitis B surface antigenemia associated with membranous nephropathy (HBVMN) 10 cases, IgA mesangial nephropathy (IgAN) without nephrotic syndrome 7 cases, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) 24 cases and chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) 4 cases. There was no significant difference in the total lymphocyte count of each different pathological group of nephritis except that lymphopenia was noted in the CGN patients. When the lymphocyte phenotypic profile was examined, OKT8 cells were significantly increased in the MesPGN patients and both OKT4 and OKT8 cells were significantly increased in HBVMN. Comparison of MCNS and MesPGN during the acute nephrotic phase showed the OKT4/OKT8 ratio decreased significantly in MesPGN. Four weeks after steroid treatment, OKT4 cells decreased both in MCNS and MesPGN being pronounced in MCNS. In the remission stage with steroid treatment the OKT4/OKT8 ratio decreased in MCNS and was mildly elevated in MesPGN. In relapse, the OKT4/OKT8 ratio was the same as it was during the onset of nephrotic phase. MCNS cases were steroid responsive whereas in MesPGN there were frequent relapses or partial steroid response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinicopathological features of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Saudi Arabia.

The clinicopathological features are described in 119 Arab children in Saudi Arabia with the nephrotic syndrome. The clinical and laboratory data are similar to those described in other parts of the world. However, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) was found in 21 of 66 biopsies (31.8%), giving a frequency of 17.6% of all children with the nephrotic syndrome. Minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) was diagnosed in 17 biopsies (25.8%) and in 58 patients (48.7%). Onset of the nephrotic syndrome was at less than 1 year of age in 17 patients (14.3%). Seven children had 11 episodes of peritonitis. Seven children had positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in their serum: renal biopsy carried out on four of them showed membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in three, and four of the seven patients developed end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There were nine deaths, all in patients with end-stage renal disease: six of the deaths occurred in infants. The pattern of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Saudi Arabia is different from the pattern in tropical countries.     

Primary nephrotic syndrome during childhood in Turkey

BACKGROUND: Minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is the most common cause of primary nephrotic syndrome (NS) during childhood. However, recent studies from different countries have reported an increasing incidence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in children. METHODS: This is a retrospective study in which 392 Turkish children who were diagnosed with NS during the last 10 years and were followed for at least 2 years, were evaluated. Mean age of the study group was 4.6 +/- 3.4 years (range 0.9-16 years) and 232 were male and 160 were female. RESULTS: In total, 280 patients were diagnosed as MCNS with their initial presentations, laboratory features, and clinical course. Kidney biopsy was performed in the remaining 112 children according to current recommendations. The results showed that membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) was the most common histopathologic diagnosis, 38 (34%) of the 112 patients were found to have MPGN. The number diagnosed as FSGS was 26 (23%). A significant difference was found between the age groups for both MPGN and FSGS, the former being more common in children >6 years of age and the latter more frequent in children 相似文献   

IgM肾病临床与病理特点

目的探讨小儿ＩｇＭ肾病（ＩｇＭＮ）临床与病特点及疗效观察。方法对原发性肾小球疾病（ＰＧＤ）肾活检符合ＩｇＭＮ诊断７２５例进行临床、病理及肾上腺皮质激素疗效分析,并与微小病变肾病（ＭＣＮＳ）比较。结果ＩｇＭＮ６１例,表现肾病综合征（ＮＳ）４９例,血尿伴蛋白尿４例及单纯性血尿８例。肾组织免疫荧光（ＩＦ）均以ＩｇＭ单独或ＩｇＭ为主在系膜区弥漫沉积。随访５７例,ＮＳ４５例,７７．８％激素敏感,低于ＭＣＮＳ     

Nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome

Aims:  Nitric oxide (NO) attenuates many functions within the kidney, and all NO synthase (NOS) isoforms are constitutively expressed in the kidney. But the exact role of NO in renal diseases is still debatable. The aim of the present study was to investigate endothelial ( eNOS ), and neuronal ( nNOS ) NOS gene polymorphisms in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS).
Materials and methods:  Eighty-six Turkish children with clinical MCNS, ranging in age from 2 to 10 years, were compared with 114 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. The glu 298 Asp (G/T) polymorphism of the eNOS, and C276T (C/T) polymorphism of nNOS genes were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction.
Results:  The distribution of GG, TG, and TT genotypes for eNOS was 52%, 33% and 15% in MCNS compared with 61%, 26% and 13% in the controls ( P  > 0.05). The distribution of CC, TC, and TT genotypes for nNOS was 16%, 66% and 18% in MCNS compared with 10%, 43% and 47% in the controls. TT genotype distribution of nNOS was found to be lower in patients ( P  = 0.003). The eNOS and nNOS gene polymorphisms were not associated with gender, positive family history, frequency of relapses, or response to steroid.
Conclusions:  The present study is the first to investigate eNOS and nNOS gene polymorphisms in children with MCNS. The nNOS gene polymorphism may be associated with MCNS in children, but further studies in a larger population with different glomerular diseases are needed to confirm the results.     

Glomerulopathy with mesangial IgM deposits: Long-term follow up of 64 children

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent IgM nephropathy in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and diffuse mesangial hypercellularity (DMH) evolves to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). METHODS: Tissues from renal biopsies were examined by light microscopy (LM), immunofluorescence (IF) and, in four cases, by electron microscopy (EM). From a total of 352 nephrotic children, 121 had renal biopsy results as steroid dependent or resistant. A diagnostic renal biopsy was also performed in 331 children with non-nephrotic proteinuria and/or hematuria. A second renal biopsy was performed in 16 children whose renal function was impaired during the follow up. The clinical course of IgM-positive children was compared with that of IgM-negative children. RESULTS: Of the 121 nephrotic children with renal biopsy, 85 were MCNS. Twenty were IF positive mainly for IgM, six of whom (30%) presented evolution to FSGS, while of the remaining 65 IF-negative children, only three (4.6%) presented evolution to FSGS. Of the total 331 children with non-nephrotic proteinuria and/or hematuria, 139 were diagnosed as IgA--IgG nephropathy, 44 had positive IF for IgM and 148 were IF negative. Of the 44 children IF positive for IgM, seven (15.9%) presented evolution to FSGS, while none of the 148 IF-negative children presented evolution to FSGS. The follow-up time for all children ranged from 1 to 14 years. CONCLUSIONS: Of IgM nephropathy patients with MCNS and DMH, a significant percentage develop impaired renal function, due to the evolution of FSGS, as revealed by repeat biopsy during long-term follow up.     

Pulmonary capillaritis in children: a review of eight cases with comparison to other alveolar hemorrhage syndromes

OBJECTIVE: To review clinical, laboratory, and outcome characteristics of children diagnosed with pulmonary capillaritis (PC), a small-vessel vasculitis, presenting as diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), and to compare these findings with those for children with other alveolar hemorrhage syndromes. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent a lung biopsy because of a clinical suggestion of pulmonary hemorrhage. RESULTS: PC was identified in 8 of 23 patients. In these patients, cough, crackles, and hypoxia were common. Alveolar infiltrates on radiography and anemia were present in 7 of 8 cases. Serologic evidence of a systemic vasculitis was present in 50% of patients. High-dose corticosteroids proved effective in controlling alveolar hemorrhage in all cases. There were no presenting signs or symptoms that could differentiate patients with PC from those with non-immune-mediated alveolar hemorrhage. In general, patients with PC had a lower hematocrit and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). CONCLUSION: Children presenting with lower respiratory tract symptoms, chest x-ray abnormalities, and anemia should undergo evaluation for PC, as early initiation of immunosuppression can be lifesaving and organ sparing. No clinical signs to differentiate immune and non-immune-mediated alveolar hemorrhage were evident in this study.     

Enhanced suppressor T cell activity resulting in increased IgM and decreased IgG productions in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome

In order to clarify the cellular basis accounting for the decreased serum IgG and increased serum IgM in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), peripheral blood mononulcear cells (MNC) were obtained from 15 children with biopsy-proved MCNS and 15 age- and sex-matched normals. MNC were then separated into helper (OKT4) T cells, suppressor (OKT8) T cells, B cells and monocytes. Different cell populations from patients and normals were then recombined and pokeweed mitogen-stimulated in vitro immunoglobulin biosynthesis was studied. The results strongly suggest the presence of isotype-specific suppressor T cells which may affect the switch of IgM B cells to IgG B cells in patients with MCNS and may be used to explain partly the clinical findings of lowered serum IgG and increased IgM in those individuals.     

Hepatitis B-associated nephrotic syndrome in Jamaican children

Between December 1984 and November 1996, 171 children under 12 years old presented to the University Hospital of the West Indies with nephrotic syndrome. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in ten (6%) of these children, eight of whom had membranous nephropathy (MN), and one each had mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesN) and minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). Only those children with MesN and MCNS were steroid-sensitive. The HBsAg-positive status was identified incidentally on screening. At a mean follow-up of 34 months, seven of ten children had experienced complete or partial remission and three had persistent nephrotic syndrome, although none was in renal failure. Six of the ten had biochemical hepatitis. All the children were still HBsAg-positive. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a factor contributory to nephrotic syndrome in Jamaican children. As diagnostic clinical markers for HBV-associated nephropathy are usually absent, all children presenting with nephrotic syndrome should be screened for HBsAg. A policy should be implemented in Jamaica for screening pregnant women and at-risk groups for HBsAg, as well as for immunising susceptible neonates, in order to reduce the incidence of HBV-associated pathology.     

儿童微小病变型肾病综合征致病相关基因筛查

目的比较微小病变型肾病综合征(MCNS)患儿与正常健康儿童外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)的基因表达谱变化,筛查MCNS相关致病基因,为揭示MCNS的发病分子机制和临床治疗提供线索。方法原发性MCNS患儿7例,正常同年龄对照组7例,Trizol法抽提PBMC总RNA;采用人类基因组表达谱芯片检测MCNS及正常健康儿童PBMC基因mRNA水平;采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和荧光定量PCR检测部分基因转录水平,鉴定芯片相关检测结果。结果在33 000个基因转录本中,有969个转录本在MCNS患儿PBMC中存在表达差异,其中表达上调552个,表达下调417个。RT-PCR和荧光定量PCR检测结果与基因芯片较为一致。结论采用人类基因组表达谱芯片可快速有效地检测MCNS患儿PBMC中基因表达谱的变化,进而证实MCNS的发生、发展是涉及多基因改变的复杂过程。     

Clinicl Significance of Mesangial IgM Deposits in Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome

The clinicopathologic features and the response to corticosteroid therapy were compared in 9 patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and diffuse mesangial IgM deposits (Group I) and in 32 of those without IgM deposits (Group II). However, serum IgM levels in Group I in both relapse and remission were significantly higher than those of Group II and controls (p<0.001). In Group I mesangial IgM deposits were diffuse in 9 (100%), mesangial C_1q was present in 4, IgA and fibrinogen were each observed in 1, respectively. Electron dense deposits in the mesangium were also present in 2 to 5 patients in Group I. No significant differences were found between the two groups in age of onset, sex ratio, laboratory data except for serum IgM level, duration before biopsy, follow-up periods, outcome, and response to steroid therapy. Our data suggest that a more severe degree of either impairment of mesangial clearance of IgM or overproduction of IgM may be involved in patients with MCNS and mesangial IgM deposits but that these patients could not be considered a distinct group of patients.     

微小病变型肾病患儿外周血淋巴细胞糖皮质激素膜受体与激素对其凋亡、增殖的作用

目的探讨微小病变型肾病(MCNS)外周血淋巴细胞(PBLs)糖皮质激素膜受体(mGR)表达及其与糖皮质激素(GC)对PBLs调亡、增殖作用的关系,并观察GC对mGR表达影响。方法分别以间接免疫荧光、碘化丙啶染色及3H-胸腺嘧啶核苷(3H-TdR)掺入法分析MCNS和NMCNS患儿mGR表达、PBLs凋亡及增殖情况。结果1.MCNS患儿mGR表达高于非微小病变组(NMCNS)及正常组,临床GC治疗后降低;2.mGR表达与10-7mol/L地塞米松(DEX)诱导PBLs凋亡率及抑制其3H-TdR掺入率呈正相关。结论MCNS患儿mGR表达增高。mGR可能参与GC诱导PBLs凋亡和(或)抑制其增殖作用。GC对mGR表达有下调作用。     

环孢素A治疗儿童不同病理类型肾病综合征83例的疗效观察

目的　研究环孢素A(CyA)治疗儿童不同病理类型肾病综合征的临床疗效及意义。方法　 83例肾病综合征患儿入院后逐渐减用激素 ,给予口服CyA ,剂量 5mg/ (kg·d) ,疗程 3～ 6个月 ,并监测血浓度调整CyA的剂量。结果　 83例患儿经治疗后 ,尿蛋白转阴者 4 5例 (完全缓解率 5 4 % ) ,尿蛋白减少者 2 3例 (部分缓解率 2 8% ) ,未缓解 15例 (18% ) ;总有效率达 82 %。不同病理类型治疗反应 :微小病变型肾病有效率为 86 % ,系膜增殖性肾小球肾炎为 84 % ,膜增殖性肾小球肾炎为 3/ 5 ,局灶节段性肾小球硬化为 2 / 4。显效时间为 7～ 4 5d ,其效应多出现于用药 1个月内。服药后分别于 1周和 2周末 ,测定CyA的血药浓度 ,有效血浓度维持在 10 0～ 2 0 0 μg/L ,可使大部分患儿病情顺利缓解 ,疗程一般在 3～ 6个月。 83例患儿都进行了随访 ,其中 6 8例经CyA治疗缓解后的 17例在减量或停药后出现复发 ,复发率为 2 5 % ,复发的患儿重新服用CyA仍然有效。治疗过程中 5例患儿出现一过性尿肌酐的增加 ,8例尿N 乙酰 β D 氨基葡萄糖苷酶轻微增加 ,一般减量或停药后可逆转。 结论　CyA是替代皮质激素治疗难治性肾病的较好方法之一 ,能有效而快速达到治疗难治性肾病的目的 ,其治疗效果与有效的血药浓度和病理类型有关     

Case-control study of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in Peruvian children hospitalized for diarrhea: possible association with malnutrition and nosocomial infection

A retrospective, hospital-based case-control study was used to investigate whether there were any clinical characteristics that could distinguish Cryptosporidium parvum-infected children with diarrhea from other non-C. parvum-infected children with diarrhea. Ten percent (24 of 248) of children admitted to a rehydration ward at Cayetano Heredia University Hospital, Lima, Peru, were infected with C. parvum. The 24 patients infected with C. parvum (cases) were matched to an equal number of noninfected patients (controls). C. parvum-infected patients were more likely to be malnourished than were children without this infection (P less than 0.05). Also nosocomial infection caused by C. parvum occurred in three severely malnourished patients, two of whom died. No other clinical or laboratory characteristics were found that would distinguish children with diarrhea caused by C. parvum from other children with diarrhea. In children hospitalized for diarrhea C. parvum infection occurs most frequently in malnourished children.     

Obesity, insulin resistance, and other clinicopathological correlates of pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children, including insulin resistance, and to test for correlation with liver pathology. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of children with biopsy-proven NAFLD at Children's Hospital San Diego from 1999 to 2002. Liver biopsy specimens were independently reviewed by two pathologists. RESULTS: Children with NAFLD (n=43) were mostly male (70%), Hispanic American (53%) and obese (88%). The criteria for insulin resistance were met by 95% of subjects. Steatosis was predicted by the combination of quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, age, and ethnicity (P<.0001). Portal inflammation was predicted by the combination of ALT and fasting insulin (P=.0009). Perisinusoidal fibrosis was predicted by the combination of AST, fasting insulin, and BMI Z score (P<.0001). Portal fibrosis was predicted by the combination of right upper quadrant pain and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P=.0028). CONCLUSIONS: We identified significant predictors of liver pathology in children with NAFLD. Children being evaluated for NAFLD should be screened for insulin resistance, which is nearly universal and correlates with liver histology.     

Reliability and validity of the mother-child neglect scale

The current study offers a new way to ascertain information about child neglect by evaluating a self-report measure of neglectful behaviors, the Mother-Child Neglect Scale (MCNS). The scale was modified from an existing self-report measure, the Neglect Scale (NS), which was originally designed to measure personal histories of neglect. One hundred adolescent mothers were administered the MCNS and NS in two occasions via phone interviews. In addition, maternal abuse potential and the quality of mother-child interactions were assessed when children were age 3 and 5 years. The MCNS had high internal consistency and moderate test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was found between the MCNS and maternal histories of neglect as well as observed parenting behaviors and child abuse potential; those relationships remained after social desirability was controlled. This research tool may prove useful, in conjunction with existing assessment instruments, in determining the type and severity of past neglectful behaviors.     

Familial IPEX syndrome: Different glomerulopathy in two siblings

Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X‐linked (IPEX) syndrome (OMIM 304790) is a rare hereditary disorder of the immune regulatory system caused by FOXP3 mutations. The clinical features of this syndrome include a wide spectrum of severe autoimmune diseases and renal involvement, mostly due to tubulointerstitial diseases, in some patients. Glomerulopathy of membranous nephropathy (MN) and minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), however, have also been reported. We encountered two children with IPEX syndrome from the same family. Interestingly, they had different glomerular lesions: one had MN and the other had MCNS. Herein we describe the cases of these siblings and review the possible mechanisms for the development of two different renal lesions.     

Long-term prognosis and prognostic factors of Japanese children with mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis without IgA deposition

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis without IgA deposition (non-IgA MesPGN) is commonly detected in biopsy specimens, but the clinicopathological correlation with the long-term prognosis still remains obscure. The aim of our study is to elucidate the long-term prognosis and the clinicopathological prognostic factors in patients with non-IgA MesPGN. We mailed questionnaires to 122 patients with primary glomerulonephritis who were biopsied between 1963 and 1975. Information was obtained from 109 of these 122 patients and 55 were histologically rediagnosed as having non-IgA MesPGN. The histological alterations of glomeruli and tubulointerstitium were classified into five grades. The mean period between the biopsy and the questionnaires was 20.5 years. Six of the 55 patients with non-IgA MesPGN developed end-stage renal failure and histopathological alterations of renal biopsies from these six patients were classified into grade IV or V. The presence of hypertension, heavy proteinuria of over 2 + or renal insufficiency at the biopsy was related to the severe histological changes, a grade of IV or V and to a poor prognosis. The renal survival rate of all the 55 patients was 88.3% at 20 years after the biopsy, while that of the 12 patients with severe histological changes was 48.6%. Although non-IgA MesPGN is considered to be a heterogeneous disease, we cannot ignore the incidence of this disease and thus consider it to be one of the important primary glomerulonephritides that occur in childhood.     

Sialic acid in childhood renal diseases: Correlation with clinical and laboratory indices

There are many kinds of glycoproteins that have sialic acid residues and it has been reported that these are elevated in some renal diseases and their significance in the pathogenesis of several renal diseases has been investigated. In the present study the serum and urine levels of sialic acid were measured in healthy controls and in children with either poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) or minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) to test if there is any correlation with clinical and laboratory indices. In PSAGN and MCNS patients the serum and urine sialic acid concentrations at onset and relapse were significantly different from healthy controls (Mann-Whitney U-test P < 0.005). There was not a significant correlation between the clinical severity, serum creatinine and complement C₃ levels and serum sialic acid concentrations in PSAGN patients. Also there was not a significant correlation between edema, serum albumin, IgG, transferrin, α-1-antitrypsin and serum sialic acid concentrations in MCNS patients. Although high serum and urine sialic acid levels were found in both PSAGN and MCNS patients, it does not have any clinical significance nor is it important as a diagnostic or prognostic marker.