Primary perireticulin amyloidosis in a 14-year-old girl

A primary perireticulin amyloidosis is reported in a 14-year-old girl, which showed the symptoms of a steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. The diagnosis was established by biopsies of kidney and rectum. Occurrence of amyloidosis in childhood and the clinical picture are discussed and references to clinical trials carried out are given.     

他克莫司治疗老年激素抵抗型肾病综合征的临床效果观察

目的：探讨他克莫司治疗老年激素抵抗型肾病综合征的临床效果。方法选取2010年1月-2013年6月收治的激素抵抗型肾病综合征患者60例，将所有患者将所有患者按照就诊先后顺序分为观察组和对照组，观察组在常规治疗的基础上给予他克莫司,首次剂量为0.1 mg/（kg＆#183;d），2次/d治疗，对照组在常规治疗的基础上给予环磷酰胺,剂量为0.2 g，行静脉注射，2 d,进行1次治疗，治疗前后对两组患者的总胆固醇、白蛋白、24 h尿蛋白指标进行测定比较。结果治疗后观察组的总胆固醇下降至（4.49±3.05）mmol/L、白蛋白上升至（46.08±3.26）g/L，24 h尿蛋白下降至（0.57±0.24）g，与对照组治疗后比较差异显著（P〈0.05），且观察组总有效率（86.7%）明显大于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论他克莫司在老年激素抵抗型肾病综合征的治疗中具有较好疗效，可显著改善患者临床症状。     

No evidence for genotype/phenotype correlation in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> NPHS1</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> NPHS2</Emphasis> mutations

Primary steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is characterized by childhood onset of proteinuria and progression to end-stage renal disease. In 26% of cases it is caused by recessive mutations in NPHS2 (podocin). Congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) is caused by mutations in NPHS1 (nephrin) or NPHS2. In three families mutations in NPHS1 and NPHS2 had been reported to occur together, and these tri-allelic mutations were implicated in genotype/phenotype correlations. To further test the hypothesis of tri-allelism, we examined a group of 62 unrelated patients for NPHS1 mutations, who were previously shown to have NPHS2 mutations; 15 of 62 patients had CNS. In addition, 12 CNS patients without NPHS2 mutation were examined for NPHS1 mutations. Mutational analysis yielded three different groups. (1) In 48 patients with two recessive NPHS2 mutations (11 with CNS), no NPHS1 mutation was detected, except for 1 patient, who had one NPHS1 mutation only. This patient was indistinguishable clinically and did not have CNS. (2) In 14 patients with one NPHS2 mutation only (4 with CNS), we detected two additional recessive NPHS1 mutations in the 4 patients with CNS. They all carried the R229Q variant of NPHS2. The CNS phenotype may be sufficiently explained by the presence of two NPHS1 mutations. (3) In 12 patients without NPHS2 mutation (all with CNS), we detected two recessive NPHS1 mutations in 11 patients, explaining their CNS phenotype. We report ten novel mutations in the nephrin gene. Our data do not suggest any genotype/phenotype correlation in the 5 patients with mutations in both the NPHS1 and the NPHS2 genes.Members of the Study Group of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Pädiatrische Nephrologie (APN) participating in this study: J. Thaarup (Aalborg, Denmark); P. Henning (Adelaide, Australia); I. Attrach (Aleppo, Syria); A. Bakkaloglu (Ankara, Turkey); C. Rudin (Basel, Switzerland); R. Bogdanovic (Belgrade, Yugoslavia); S. Briese, J. Gellermann, T. Lennert, U. Querfeld, Sacherer, M. Schürmann, and M. Zimmering (Berlin, Germany); C. Roth, C. Schröter, and B. Utsch (Bonn, Germany); Matthes (Bremen, Germany); A. Heilmann and G. Kalvoda (Dresden, Germany); F. Wegner (Düren, Germany); V. Schumacher (Düsseldorf, Germany); Bär, B. Bosch, M. Kamm, S.M. Karle, K. Nüsken, C. Plank, W. Rascher, and B. Zimmermann (Erlangen, Germany); K. E. Bonzel, M. Bald, P. Hoyer, and U. Vester (Essen, Germany); U. Neyer (Feldkirch, Austria); Rippel (Frankfurt, Germany); M. Brandis, A. Fuchshuber, K. Häffner, A. Kirchhoff, and M. Pohl (Freiburg, Germany); J. Steiss (Giessen, Germany); J.P. Haas (Greifswald, Germany); L. Patzer (Halle, Germany); M. Kemper, H. Altrogge, D.E. Müller-Wiefel, U. Peters, and K. Timmermann (Hamburg, Germany); J.H.H. Ehrich, H. Haller, and C. Strehlau (Hannover, Germany); M. Daschner, S. Hessing, Janssen, D. Kiepe, S. Köpf, O. Mehls, and B. Tönshoff (Heidelberg, Germany); F. Prüfer and L.B. Zimmerhackl (Innsbruck, Austria); U. John, J. Misselwitz, G. Rönnefarth, and J. Seidel (Jena, Germany); D. Blowey and J. Scheinman (Kansas City, Mo., USA); B. Beck, K. Frankenbusch, B. Hoppe, C. Licht, D. Michalk, T. Ronda, and L. Stapenhorst (Cologne, Germany); D. Drozdz and A. Pogan (Krakau, Poland); Froster, E. Vogel and S. Wygoda (Leipzig, Germany); R. Hettenger (Los Angeles, Calif., USA); H. Schriewer and H.-P. Weber (Lüdenscheid, Germany); R. Beetz (Mainz, Germany); M. Konrad (Marburg, Germany); H. Fehrenbach (Memmingen, Germany); M. Griebel and B. Klare (München, Germany); M. Bulla, S. Fründ, E. Kuwertz-Bröking, A. Schulze-Everding and Yelbuz (Münster, Germany); L. Monnens (Nijmegen, The Netherlands); J. Janda and T. Seemann (Prag, Czech Republic); G. Adomssent, G. Krüger, Lorenzen, J. Muscheites, H.-J. Stolpe and M. Wigger (Rostock, Germany); W. Sperl (Salzburg, Austria); R. Egger (Schaffhausen, Switzerland); V. Tasic (Skopje, Macedonia); M. Bald and H.-E. Leichter (Stuttgart); O. Amon (Tübingen, Germany); T. Arbeiter, C. Aufricht and K. Müller (Vienna, Austria); D. Bockenhauer and N. Siegel (New Haven, Conn., USA); and T. Neuhaus and A. Staub (Zürich, Switzerland)     

Interventions for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: a systematic review

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT), we aimed to evaluate the benefits and harms of all interventions for children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Nine RCTs involving 225 children were included. Cyclosporin when compared with placebo or no treatment significantly increased the number of children who achieved complete remission [3 trials, 49 children, relative risk (RR) for persistent nephrotic syndrome 0.64, 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.47–0.88]. There was no significant difference in the number of children who achieved complete remission between oral cyclophosphamide with prednisone and prednisone alone [2 trials, 91 children, RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.74–1.36], between intravenous cyclophosphamide and oral cyclophosphamide [1 study, 11 children, RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01–1.39], and between azathioprine with prednisone and prednisone alone [1 trial, 31 children, RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.77–1.32]. No RCTs were identified comparing combination regimens comprising high-dose steroids, alkylating agents or cyclosporin with single agents, placebo, or no treatment. Further adequately powered and well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm the efficacy of cyclosporin and to evaluate regimens of high-dose steroids with alkylating agents or cyclosporin for SRNS.     

Antithymocyte globulin for steroid resistant rejection in renal transplant recipients immunosuppressed with triple therapy

Steroid resistant rejection, confirmed histologically, occurred in 35 of 187 consecutive cadaveric renal transplants treated with triple therapy (cyclosporin, azathioprine and prednisolone) in the Oxford Transplant Unit. Twenty-seven of these were treated with a rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and 19 showed recovery of function. The level of serum creatinine, the renal biopsy appearance and the requirement for dialysis at the start of ATG treatment did not predict which patients would respond to the therapy. One year after transplantation there was no significant difference between the mean plasma creatinine levels of those patients with steroid resistant rejection who had been given ATG and responded (151.6 μmol/l) and those who had responded to steroids alone (165.0 μmol/l). Adverse effects of ATG treatment included a mean fall in white cell count of 62.2% and a mean fall in platelet count of 45.1%. Two of the 27 patients who received ATG died (7.4% mortality). ATG would appear to be an effective treatment of steroid resistant rejection in patients receiving triple therapy immunosuppression, and graft function may subsequently be excellent in those patients who respond to treatment.     

A transplant of real life

A case of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis leading to renal failure in a 4-year-old girl is described by her mother, with special emphasis on the problems resulting from recurrence of this disease, with graft loss in three successive kidney transplants. This report chronicles the gradual evolution from a family's initial heavy dependence upon medical solutions to their ultimate primary emphasis upon spiritual values, with medicine seen as the support toward achieving the child's psychological well-being and spiritual growth. The physician's role in balancing medical decision making, non-medical alternatives, and demands on limited and precious resources in such difficult cases is discussed.     

Long-term outcome of the use of OKT3 to treat steroid-resistant acute renal allograft rejection

OKT3 was used to treat steroid-resistant acute renal allograft refection in 30 of 496 adult patients transplanted over a 6-year period. Rejection was reversed (defined as a fall in serum creatinine by 50% or more within 30 days of treatment with OKT3) in 40% of cases. Successful reversal was significantly more likely when rejection occurred shortly after transplantation (t ratio-2.53; P=0.019). The long-term outcome was disappointing; the actuarial graft survival at 1 year from the start of treatment with OKT3 was 42%, and no grafts have thus far survived longer than 3 years. Graft survival was horter in older patients (coefficient/standard error 2.226; P<0.05), and no other predictor of long-term outcome was identified. Patient survival at 3 years was 88%. Serious infection occurred in 33% of patients, with two deaths. Our experience suggests that treatment with OKT3 is unlikely to reverse acute renal allograft rejection in more than half of patients where rejection is resistant to steroids. Although long-term graft survival occurred in a few cases, the overall long-term outcome was disappointing, particularly in older patients. Finally, our analysis indicates the difficulty of predicting which patients will derive long-term benefit when OKT3 is used to treat steroidresistant rejection.     

Follow-up of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: tubular proteinuria and enzymuria

The aim of this study was to examine the compromise of proximal tubule cells in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome patients with a histologic diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) through assessment of the urinary levels of β₂-microglobulin (β₂M) and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) during active disease and remission over a follow-up period of 3 years. We studied 34 children with nephrotic syndrome: 12 with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and massive proteinuria, 7 with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) and 15 with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). Of the SSNS patients, 8 children were in remission (RM) and 7 were in relapse (RL). Seven healthy children were included as controls. Urinary β₂M, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was significantly increased in the SRNS group as compared to the SDNS group (P<0.01), SSNS in remission (P<0.01), and controls (P<0.01). There were no differences between the SRNS group and SSNS in relapse. Analysis of urinary N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (U-NAG) by colorimetric assay showed significantly higher values in the SRNS group of patients than in SDNS, SSNS, and control groups. A positive correlation between U-NAG and proteinuria was demonstrated (r=0. 73, P<0.01). The SRNS group of patients (n=12, 11 with a histologic diagnosis of FSGS and one with diffuse mesangial proliferation) was treated with the same protocol of i.v. methylprednisone and oral cyclophosphamide. Long-term follow-up showed a progressive decrease in U-β₂M and U-NAG excretion to control values in the 3rd year, except in one patient who did not respond to the treatment. In the FSGS patients, evaluation of the contribution of structural interstitial histological abnormalities, including each of the histological parameters considered in interstitial scarring to the functional tubule abnormalities assessed by β₂M and NAG excretion, was performed by multiple regression analysis. The r ² values for β₂M and NAG were 53.99%, P=0.19, and 57.90%, P=0.14, respectively; neither was significant. We conclude that: (1) proximal tubule cell dysfunction, partially affected by massive albuminuria, may account for the higher values of β₂M and NAG excretion in the SRNS patients and (2) urine β₂M and NAG levels are not helpful in identifying histological evidence of structural tubulointerstitial damage in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Received: 28 December 1999 / Revised: 20 July 2000 / Accepted: 21 July 2000     

Steroid-resistant protein-losing gastroenteropathy complicated with Sjögren’s syndrome successfully treated with mizoribine

A 64-year-old woman with leg edema was diagnosed with protein-losing gastroenteropathy and Sjögren’s syndrome. Central venous nutrition led to infection of her catheter, ascites, and deep vein thrombosis. Following successful treatment of these conditions with antibiotics and anticoagulants, she was treated unsuccessfully with prednisolone and steroid pulse therapy. Mizoribine add-on markedly reduced edema and normalized serum albumin. This is the first report of a steroid-resistant protein-losing gastroenteropathy patient with Sjögren’s syndrome successfully treated with mizoribine.     

C1q nephropathy in two young sisters

C1q nephropathy (C1qNP) is a controversial and uncommon form of glomerulonephritis, characterized by mesangial immunoglobulin and complement deposits, predominantly C1q, with no evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinically, it may present as nephrotic syndrome and non-nephrotic proteinuria per se or associated with microhematuria, hypertension, or renal insufficiency. We describe two sisters with C1qNP, who presented with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Both sisters presented before the age of 2 years, and they showed a poor response to other immunosuppressive therapy. Both girls had normal serum complement levels, negative antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and negative hepatitis B antigen. Renal biopsy in both patients showed histological features of mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, with diffuse “full-house” positive immunofluorescence reaction in the mesangial area. The immunofluorescence reaction for C1q was most intense and co-dominant with IgG in both patients. Correspondingly, electron microscopy demonstrated dense deposits mainly in the mesangial areas too. We report on two young sisters with the characteristic features of C1qNP presented in early childhood. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C1qNP in siblings.