Excretion of epidermal growth factor-like material in acute Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis

In Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN), glomeruli may develop cellular crescents composed of infiltrating monocytes and proliferating renal epithelia. In this study, we demonstrate that peripheral human monocytes can release an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like substance detectable by a radioreceptor assay, which recognizes both EGF and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), but not with a radioimmunoassay, which recognizes only EGF. Furthermore, we report that urine from pediatric patients during the acute phase of HSPN contains a similar EGF-like species in addition to the endogenous EGF which is normally present. The EGF-like material was not present in urine from nine healthy children or from six children with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. The extent of crescent formation in our patients is uncertain, since renal biopsy was performed in only one case. However, we speculate that the urinary material resembling TGF-alpha which appears during the acute phase of HSPN may derive from monocytes infiltrating the kidney.     

The clinical and pathological characteristics of Chinese patients with pauci-immune crescent golmerulonephritis

Objective　To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of pauci-immune crescent glomerulo～nephritis (PICGN) in Chinese patients. Methods　During 13 years (1985-1998), 6400 patients underwent non-transplanting renal biopsy. Twenty-four patients were diagnosed as PICGN. All clinical and laboratory data of these patients were collected from the patients’ records and used for detailed analysis. The diagnosis is based on clinico-pathologic findings. Results　Of the 24 patients, 16 were females and 8 were males, with median age of 33 years (ranged 10-76 years). Microscopic polyarteritis (MPA) (33.3%) and systemic vasculitis (8.3%) were the secondary diseases. The incidence of PICGN was 0.38% in renal biopsies and 22.9% in crescentic glomerulonephritis. Clinically, most patients (75.0%) showed rapidly progressive nephritis with enlarged kidneys. At onset, gross hematuria was noted in 58.3% of patients, hypertension in 45.8%, nephrotic syndrome in 41.7%, and oliguria in 25.0%. However, systemic symptoms were rare except for anemia. Pathologically, necrosis of glomerular capillaries (62.5%), infiltration of monocytes and neutrophil cells in glomeruli (66.7%), and vasculitis in the interstitium (53.3%) were observed. In addition, glomerulosclerosis was noted in 45.8%, severe tubular atrophy in 83.3% and interstitial fibrosis in 75.0%. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) were positive in 52.2%. All patients except two received intensively immunosuppressive therapy. Sixteen patients were available for long-term follow up (median 29.8 months, range 8-92 months). Twelve of them had life-sustaining renal function, four had normal serum creatinine (<124?μmol/L) and only 4 patients were dialysis-dependent. Conclusion　PICGN is not rare in China. Early diagnosis and administration of immunosuppressive therapy, particularly in patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), are important for good prognosis.     

系膜增生性肾炎中单核细胞趋化蛋白-1的表达和单核巨噬细胞的浸润

目的观察在系膜增生性肾炎(MsPGN)中,单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(MCP-1)的表达和单核/巨噬细胞(MФ)的浸润情况.方法采用免疫组织化学和原位杂交技术观察17例MsPGN患者肾活检组织.结果①轻度MsPGN中,肾小球和肾小管间质中有少量Mφ浸润、MCP-1无明显表达(P＞0.05);②中度MsPGN中,肾小球、肾小管-间质中的Mφ浸润数、MCP-1表达量显著增高(P＜0.01).肾小球MCP-1+细胞数与肾小球内MФ数呈正相关(r=0.90,P＜0.01);MCP-1+小管数与小管间质内MФ数亦呈正相关(r=0.86,P＜0.01).结论①MФ参与中度MsPGN中肾小球和肾间质小管的炎症病变;②肾小球和肾小管间质中浸润的MФ可能受MCP-1趋化作用的影响.     

肝素对大鼠thy-1肾炎肾小球细胞增生和u-PA／PAI?1表达的影响

目的研究u-PA及其抑制物PAI-1在大鼠thy-1肾炎中的表达及意义,并探讨肝素治疗对其表达的影响。方法应用ABC免疫酶标法及图像分析技术,观察对照组、肾炎组和肝素组动物模型肾小球u-PA和PAI-1的表达情况,并与光镜下肾小球细胞计数作相关性分析。结果肝素组动物在其治疗后7、14、21d时,肾小球细胞数明显减少,与肾炎组比较P值分别小于0.05或0.01肾炎组、肝素组肾小球u-PA和PAI-1的表达均高于对照组;于实验3、7、14和21d时,肾炎组动物的肾小球细胞数增多与u-PA和PAI-1的表达呈正相关(P<0.05或0.01);肝素组于实验3、7d时,肾小球细胞数的减少与PAI-1表达降低有关(P<0.05)。结论大鼠thy-1肾炎的肾小球细胞数增多与其u-PA和PAI-1表达程度呈正相关;肝素治疗可减轻大鼠thy-1肾炎肾小球细胞增生,其作用机制可能与病程早期对肾小球PAI-1表达的抑制有关     

慢性肾炎各肾功能与脂质变化的关系及临床意义

通过对６１名不同肾功能的慢性肾炎患者胆固醇（ＴＣ）、甘油三酯（ＴＧ）、载脂蛋白Ａ（ＡｐｏＡ Ⅰ）及载脂蛋白（ＡｐｏＢ）和高密度脂蛋白（ＨＤＬ－ｃｈ）、低密度脂蛋白（ＬＤＬ－ｃｈ）的测定,并与正常对照组４０例比较。发现慢性肾炎各期患者血清ＴＧ、ＬＤＬ－ｃｈ明显升高,ＨＤＬ－ｃｈ、ＡｐｏＡⅠ下降,这些改变以慢性肾功能不全组明显,ＡｐｏＢ在慢性肾功能衰竭组下降,其余各级升高。笔者在此就慢性肾炎发生继发血     

Low-dose prednisolone/chlorambucil therapy in patients with severe membranous glomerulonephritis

Because of the high rate of spontaneous remission, treatment of membranous nephropathy with prednisolone and chlorambucil is still controversial. The aim of this study was to give this therapy only to those patients at risk of developing renal insufficiency and to test the efficacy of a low-dose therapeutic regimen. Seventeen patients with more than 10 g protein excretion per day (mean 16.9) and/or a deterioration in renal function (mean serum creatinine, 162 mol/l) were included. Serum total protein, serum lipids, proteinuria, serum creatinine, and blood pressure were measured, along with the diuretic and antihypertensive medication. The observation time before the start of treatment was 27 ± 27 months. Steroids were given during months 1, 3, and 5 (methylprednisolone 3 × 500 mg intravenously) prednisolone 0.5 mg/kgBW daily per os for 1 week, then tapered by 0.1 mg/kg BW/week for 1 month. Chlorambucil was given during months 2, 4, and 6 at a dose of 0.12 mg/kgBW daily. At the end of treatment proteinuria had significantly decreased (mean of all patients, 7.8 ± 1.4 g/d) in all patients. Six months after the end of treatment proteinuria was significantly lower than at baseline in 14 of 17 patients. Hypoproteinemia and hyperlipidemia had improved; diuretic and antihypertensive medication were reduced. Elevated serum creatinine decreased in 7 of 9 patients (pretreatment, 227 ± 39 mol/1; 6 months, 176 ± 28 mol/l). Nonresponders with respect to serum creatinine responded with respect to proteinuria. Regarding adverse effects, two patients complained of dyspepsia while taking steroids; during chlorambucil treatment two patients experienced nausea and lack of appetite, and one developed leukopenia (1600/l). Chlorambucil was stopped and cell counts normalized 2 weeks later. We conclude that low-dose prednisolone/chlorambucil is both safe and efficient in the majority of patients with severe membranous nephropathy.Abbreviations MGN membranous glomerulonephritis Correspondence to: R. Brunkhorst     

Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated nephritis in children

 Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is a rare cause of acute nephritis. Six children (2 girls) aged 5–10 years, admitted for nephritis, had serological tests showing recent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was based on the presence of serum IgM, detected either by immunofluorescence (IF) (n=1) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (n=5). Four children had a renal biospy, with analysis of parenchymal Mycoplasma pneumoniae components by indirect IF and polymerase chain reaction. Extrarenal symptoms were: respiratory (n=3), ear, nose, and throat (n=2), gastrointestinal (n=3), hepatic (n=1), neurological (n=1), articular (n=1), and hematological (n=3). The patients presented with acute nephritis (1 had a nephrotic syndrome) or with acute renal failure and proteinuria. Pathological findings included type 1 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN, n=1), proliferative endocapillary glomerulonephritis (n=2), and minimal change disease (n=1). The patient with type 1 MPGN progressed rapidly towards end-stage renal failure because of a congenital solitary kidney. Among the patients with endocapillary glomerulonephritis, 1 relapsed 6 months later and remained proteinuric, while the other recovered, as did the child with minimal change disease. The search for Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigens and nucleic acids in renal tissue was negative. However, the absence of the microorganism in the kidney is a common feature of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. We conclude that Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a rare yet potential cause of acute glomerulonephritis. Received: 13 September 1996 / Revised: 16 June 1998 / Accepted: 18 June 1998     

Treatment of mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis with alternate-day prednisone —a report of The International Study of Kidney Disease in Children

It has been claimed that long-term prednisone treatment ameliorates the course of children with mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN). The International Study of Kidney Disease in Children conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 80 children with idiopathic MCGN, including 42 patients with type I disease, 14 with type II disease, 17 with type III disease, and 7 with nontypable disease. Criteria for admission included heavy proteinuria and a glomerular filtration rate of greater than or equal to 70 ml/min per 1.73 m². Prednisone or lactose, 40 mg/m², was given every other day as a single morning dose. The mean duration of treatment was 41 months, renal failure being the most common reason for termination of therapy. Treatment failure was defined as an increase from baseline of 30% or more in serum creatinine, or more than 35 mol/l. Overall, treatment failure occurred in 55% of patients treated with lactose, compared with 40% in the prednisone group. Life-table analysis showed a renal survival rate (i.e., stable renal function) at 130 months of 61% among patients receiving prednisone and 12% among patients receiving lactose (P=0.07). Of patients with type I or III MCGN, 33% treated with prednisone were treatment failures, compared with 58% in the lactose group. Long-term treatment with prednisone appears to improve the outcome of children with MCGN.     

活血软坚方对家兔膜性肾病肾组织病理学及细胞因子的影响

目的：观察活血软坚方对家兔膜性肾病肾组织形态及血浆细胞因子的影响。方法：选择健康、雄性大耳白种家兔４０只，随机分为空白组、模型组、雷公藤组、活血软坚组４组。模型复制参考Border方法，从正式免疫第１d起，活血软坚组与雷公藤组分别予活血软坚汤剂及雷公藤、空白组与模型组灌服同体积生理盐水。结果：活血软坚方能减少家兔膜性肾病原位免疫复合物的形成，减轻基底膜的增厚，阻止新月体和肾小球毛细血管内微血栓的形成，能够抑制膜性肾病家兔血浆中肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）活性，减低血浆中白细胞介素（－１(IL-1)、白细胞介素－６（IL-6)、血小板活化因子（PAF)的含量。结论：活血软坚方能减轻家兔膜性肾炎肾小球 病理损害，从而达到延缓肾小球硬化发生发展的作用。     

消红散对实验性肾小球肾炎小鼠红细胞免疫功能作用机制的研究

目的 研究具有益气健脾摄血功效的消红散对肾小球肾炎(GN)小鼠红细胞免疫功能的影响。方法复制免疫性GN小鼠模型，检测小鼠血中C3b受体花环率及免疫复合物(CIC)、红细胞免疫黏附促进因子(RFER)、红细胞免疫黏附抑制因子(RFIR)的变化。结果消红散能增加GN小鼠的红细胞免疫功能，使C3b受体的数目增加，促使红细胞清除免疫复合物，减少CIC在肾小球基底膜沉积，缓解炎症或CIC介导的病理过程，且能使RFER活性升高，RFIR活性下降。结论 消红散对红细胞免疫功能具有双向调节作用。