scholarly journals Acute Kidney Injury Secondary to Necrotizing Sarcoid Granulomatosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Varun Mamidi ◽  
Manikantan Shekar ◽  
Jaiju James Chakola ◽  
Vamsi Krishna Makkena ◽  
Jayakumar Matcha

Background. Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease characterized by noncaseating lesions involving any organ and tissue in the body. Hypercalcemia and acute kidney injury is a common renal presentation of sarcoidosis. Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) is a granulomatous disease entity which presents with nodular masses of sarcoid like granuloma which primarily effects the lungs. It is a rare necrotizing variant of sarcoidosis. Extra pulmonary presentation of NSG is very rare. Case presentation. We present a 36-year-old female with hypercalcemia and acute kidney injury refractory to treatment. Whole body Flourine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) showed increased metabolic uptake with ill-defined lesions in the liver, spleen, and pelvic lymph nodes. Biopsy of the ill-defined lesions in the liver showed necrotizing granulomatous lesions without angiitis. All the markers of tuberculosis were negative and angiotensin converting enzyme levels were elevated. Patient improved with 1 mg/kg/day oral steroid therapy and is on regular follow-up with minimal dose of steroids. Conclusion. Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) is a rare systemic granulomatous disease. Due to its rarity and diagnostic difficulty, treatment is challenging for clinicians, pathologists and radiologists. Treatment of choice for symptomatic patients is steroid therapy. Prognosis is good with complete recovery.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1175
Author(s):  
Emaad M. Abdel-Rahman ◽  
Faruk Turgut ◽  
Jitendra K. Gautam ◽  
Samir C. Gautam

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical syndrome characterized by rapid impairment of kidney function. The incidence of AKI and its severe form AKI requiring dialysis (AKI-D) has been increasing over the years. AKI etiology may be multifactorial and is substantially associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The outcome of AKI-D can vary from partial or complete recovery to transitioning to chronic kidney disease, end stage kidney disease, or even death. Predicting outcomes of patients with AKI is crucial as it may allow clinicians to guide policy regarding adequate management of this problem and offer the best long-term options to their patients in advance. In this manuscript, we will review the current evidence regarding the determinants of AKI outcomes, focusing on AKI-D.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Julien Sarkis ◽  
Fady Haddad ◽  
Sarah Nasr ◽  
Elie Hanna ◽  
Ahmad Mroueh ◽  
...  

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cells histiocytosis characterized by multiorgan involvement, with renal-ECD documented in over one-third of patients. Renal disease is generally asymptomatic, rarely causing hydronephrosis and kidney impairment. In addition, the diverse clinical picture of Erdheim-Chester disease arises slowly with sequential manifestations. We present a rare case of a 75-year-old woman on long-term treatment for panhypopituitarism and steroid therapy for vasculitis, presenting to the emergency department with bilateral renal colic and acute kidney injury. Abdominopelvic CT scan revealed renal infiltration with signs of retroperitoneal fibrosis and hydronephrosis. Kidney CT-guided biopsy and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography whole body scan as well as the history of hypopituitarism and vasculitis confirmed the diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease. Proper therapy with interferon-α was started. This case describes the multifaced manifestation of this disease and the difficulty to establish the diagnosis, as well as the pivotal role that a urologist can play in its management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1151-1160
Author(s):  
A.S. Lukashevich ◽  

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to evaluate the diagnostic significance of positron emission tomography / computed tomography with 18F -fluorodeoxyglucose (18F -FDG PET/CT) for the diagnosis of prosthetic endocarditis. Methods of research. The study included 82 patients with suspected prosthetic endocarditis in accordance with the criteria proposed by Duke University [1-5]. The patients received hospital treatment at the State Institution RSPC "Cardiology" from January 2016 to March 2021. The study was of a prospective, non-randomized, single-center cohort design. The duration of the monitor period was 12 months from the moment of patients’ inclusion in the study. Whole-body positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) examinations were performed in 82 patients. 27 patients were selected for surgical treatment. Conservative treatment group included 16 patients. 27 patients were selected into the observation group, they were suspected to have prosthetic heart valve infection in the primary referral and underwent PET/CT scanning, according to which the diagnosis of prosthetic endocarditis was excluded. The event under the study did not develop in this group during the year of observation. Results and conclusion. The history of infective endocarditis was not statistically significant and did not increase the risk of developing prosthetic endocarditis in the sample presented. The Duke criteria are less reliable in establishing the diagnosis of prosthetic endocarditis. The median number of days from the date of the first prosthesis implantation to the onset of prosthetic endocarditis was about 4 years. This study revealed that the development of the infectious process in the area of the prosthesis was noted in a more distant postoperative period compared to literature data. Histological confirmation of infection was noted in 100% (27 patients) of cases in reoperated patients. The presence of a more formidable complication such as valve ring abscess located mainly in the projection of the aortic valve ring was quite common in both groups. Presepsin and Interleukin-6 have a statistically significant (U = 394,50 p = 0,01 and U = 94,50 p = 0.004) value in the prognosis of prosthetic endocarditis. Considering the data obtained from ROC analysis, it can be said that the cut-off point at which it is possible to diagnose prosthetic endocarditis based on PETCT is 2.85. The presented methods for the interpretation of whole-body FDG-PET/CT images of patients with suspected infectious complications after cardiac surgery, as well as with the presence of prosthetic endocarditis, show high sensitivity and specificity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
ROSSANA FRANZIN ◽  
Fabio Sallustio ◽  
Claudia Curci ◽  
Simona Simone ◽  
Angela Picerno ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Cisplatin, is a nonspecific cytotoxic agent that primarily interferes with cellular DNA replication and the cell cycle, nevertheless it lacks tumor selectivity and acts also in normal cells. The most serious adverse reaction of cisplatin is Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), limiting its use and efficacy in chemotherapy. Cisplatin nephrotoxicity is observed in more than 30% of older patients, however the mechanism of nephrotoxicity remains unclear and specific preventive measures are not available. Today, there is an urgent need for specific nephroprotective strategies to be used during cisplatin chemotherapy. Recently, we found that tubular stem/progenitor cells (tARPC) are able to protect the tubular epithelial (RPTEC) from cisplatin induced injury, preserving their proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in tARPC-mediated resistance to cisplatin. Method Co-cultures of RPTEC cells and tARPCs were exposed to cisplatin (2.5 µM) for 6 h and then kept in culture for 96 h. Gene expression profile was obtained from tARPCs and RPTECs by Agilent SurePrint G3 Human Gene Expression Microarrays. Genespring and R software were used for the analysis. Gene expression data were validated by Real-time PCR. Extracellular vesicles were isolated from cell culture supernatant by miRCURY Exosome Cell/Urine/CSF Kit (Qiagen) and RNA contained in extracellular vesicles was purified, analyzed in quality by Bioanalyzer (RNA nano) and evaluated by qPCR. The BrdU assay and caspase 3 were used to measure proliferation and apoptosis levels. Immunohistochemical expression of activated caspase-3 was used as a marker of apoptosis in RPTECs. Results By a whole-genome gene expression analysis, we found 107 genes specifically modulated by RPTECs in response to cisplatin and, among these, 30 genes induced by ARPCs following the cisplatin damage. In particular, we found a strong upregulation of the CYP1B1 gene (false discovery rate corrected p value <0.05; fold change=4,1). The qPCR confirmed the increase in CYP1B1 levels in the co-cultures with respect to the respective basal conditions (p <0.05). Interestingly, the CYP1B1 mRNA was also enveloped in Extracellular Vesicles released in the cell co-culture media by tARPC and RPTEC after cisplatin exposition. The CYP1B1 gene encodes a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes and the produced enzyme metabolizes procarcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. CYP1B1 has been shown to be active within tumors and is also capable of metabolizing a structurally diverse range of anticancer drugs. It is responsible for the resistance to docetaxel, cisplatin, tamoxifen and nucleoside analogues. CYP1B1 is involved in the detoxification of the body by various exogenous toxic agents, including cisplatin. We found that CYP1B1 gene was expressed at low levels in RPTECs and in cisplatin-damaged RPTECs. Moreover, 96 h days after 2.5 μM exposure to cisplatin, RPTECs reduced the proliferation and underwent in apoptosis, as showed by caspase 3. However, in co-culture with ARPCs, ARPC cellular and extracellular vesicles CYP1B1 gene expression significantly increased, the apoptotic process was stopped and RPTECs increased their proliferation rate. These data support the hypothesis that ARPCs are sensor of cisplatin damaged-RPTEC and confers cisplatin resistance by transferring CYP1B1 gene in extracellular vesicles. Conclusion This is the first evidence of a cisplatin-induced overexpression of CYP1b1 in renal epithelial cells as a defense mechanism against cisplatin toxicity. This is consistent with our previous data showing that renal progenitors are resistant to cisplatin. The findings may have biological and clinical significance in terms of their implications in cellular communications and potential use of CYP1B1 as biomarkers for AKI induced by cisplatin or as protective agent.


Author(s):  
Almalki Yassir

Abstract Background Leydig cell tumors (LCTs) represent the most common form of stromal tumors. We reported the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) findings of a patient with testicular LCT. Case presentation A 50-year-old man with a history of end-stage renal disease and renal transplantation 19 years ago. One year earlier, he started to have a chronic rejection. During the investigation to determine the cause of chronic rejection, a suspicious lesion in the graft with a collection around it was seen on ultrasound (US) images, raising the possibility of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). The patient was referred for further evaluation by whole body 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. The image finding revealed an incidental hypermetabolic focal lesion in the right testicle—no other specific findings in the remaining parts of the body nor definitive FDG avid lymphadenopathy to suggest PTLD. Testicular US was requested and showed a well-defined right-sided heterogeneous hypoechoic intratesticular focal mass at the upper pole of the right testis with significant internal vascularity on the color Doppler imaging. The patient underwent a right radical orchidectomy, and the tumor was pathologically confirmed as an LCT. Conclusion In our case, 18F-FDG-PET/CT has been helpful in incidentally detecting this rare testicular tumor in a patient with suspected PTLD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercedes Cao ◽  
Bruna N. Leite ◽  
Tamara Ferreiro ◽  
María Calvo ◽  
Constantino Fernández ◽  
...  

Background: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease associated with congenital or acquired genetic abnormalities that result in uncontrolled complement activation, leading to thrombotic microangiopathy and kidney failure. Until recently, the only treatment was plasma exchange or plasma infusion (PE/PI), but 60% of patients died or had permanent kidney damage despite treatment. Eculizumab, a complement inhibitor, has shown promising results in aHUS. However, data are mainly extracted from case reports or studies of heterogeneous cohorts, and no direct comparison with PE/PI is available. Methods: An observational retrospective study of adult, dialysis-dependent aHUS patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who were treated with either PE/PI alone or with second-line eculizumab in our center. We compared the effect of PE/PI and eculizumab on kidney function, hypertension, proteinuria, hematologic values, relapse, and death. Results: Thirty-one patients were included (females, 18; sporadic aHUS, 29; mean age, 46 ± 20 years). Twenty-six patients were treated with PE/PI alone, and 5 were deemed to be plasma-resistant and received eculizumab after stopping PE/PI. Among patients receiving eculizumab, 80% attained complete recovery of kidney function, 100% stopped dialysis, 20% had decreased proteinuria, and no patient relapsed (vs. 38.5, 50, 15.4, and 11.5%, respectively, of patients receiving only PE/PI). At 1-year of follow-up, no deaths had occurred in either group. Conclusion: Eculizumab shows greater efficacy than PE/PI alone for the treatment of adult aHUS patients with AKI. Prospective studies and meta-analyses are warranted to confirm our findings and set guidelines for treatment, monitoring, and maintenance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott J. Adams ◽  
Rajan Rakheja ◽  
Rhonda Bryce ◽  
Paul S. Babyn

Purpose The study sought to determine the incidence of incidental findings on whole-body positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging and the average costs of investigations to follow-up or further characterize incidental findings. Methods Imaging reports of 215 patients who underwent whole-body PET/CT imaging were retrospectively reviewed. Our provincial picture archiving and communication system was queried and patient charts were reviewed to identify all investigations performed to follow-up incidental findings within 1 year of the initial PET/CT study. Costs of follow-up imaging studies (professional and technical components) and other diagnostic tests and procedures were determined in Canadian dollars (CAD) and U.S. dollars (USD) using the 2015 Ontario Health Insurance Plan Schedule of Benefits and Fees and 2016 U.S. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, respectively. Results At least 1 incidental finding was reported in 161 reports (74.9%). The mean number of incidental findings ranged from 0.64 in patients <45 years of age to 2.2 in patients 75 years of age and older. Seventy-five recommendations for additional investigations were made for 64 (30%) patients undergoing PET/CT imaging, and 14 of those were carried out specifically to follow-up incidental findings. Averaged across all 215 patients, the total cost of investigations recommended to follow-up incidental findings was CAD$105.51 (USD$127.56) per PET/CT study if all recommendations were acted on, and CAD$22.77 (USD$29.14) based on investigations actually performed. Conclusions As the incidence of incidental findings increases with age and a larger proportion of elderly patients is expected as population demographics change, it will be increasingly important to consider incidental findings on PET/CT imaging with standardized approaches to follow-up.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1581
Author(s):  
Corinna Altini ◽  
Valentina Lavelli ◽  
Artor Niccoli-Asabella ◽  
Angela Sardaro ◽  
Alessia Branca ◽  
...  

Spondylodiscitis is a spine infection for which a diagnosis by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the most appropriate imaging technique. The aim of this study was to compare the role of an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and an MRI in this field. For 56 patients with suspected spondylodiscitis for whom MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT were performed, we retrospectively analyzed the results. Cohen’s κ was applied to evaluate the agreement between the two techniques in all patients and in subgroups with a different number of spinal districts analyzed by the MRI. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were also evaluated. The agreements of the 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI in the evaluation of the entire population, whole-spine MRI, and two-districts MRI were moderate (κ = 0.456, κ = 0.432, and κ = 0.429, respectively). In patients for whom one-district MRI was performed, 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI were both positive and completely concordant (κ = 1). We also separately evaluated patients with suspected spondylodiscitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis for whom the MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT were always concordant excepting in 2 of the 18 (11%) patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT were 100%, 60%, 97%, and 92%, 100%, and 94%, respectively. Our results confirmed the 18F-FDG PET/CT diagnostic value in the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis is comparable to that of MRI for the entire spine evaluation. This could be considered a complementary technique or a valid alternative to MRI.


2018 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Inoue ◽  
Kazunori Nagahara ◽  
Hiroko Kudo ◽  
Hiroyasu Itoh

Abstract We performed phantom experiments to investigate radiation dose in the computed tomography component of oncology positron emission tomography/computed tomography in relation to the scan range. Computed tomography images of an anthropomorphic whole-body phantom were obtained from the head top to the feet, from the head top to the proximal thigh or from the skull base to the proximal thigh. Automatic exposure control using the posteroanterior and lateral scout images offered reasonable tube current modulation corresponding to the body thickness. However, when the posteroanterior scout alone was used, unexpectedly high current was applied in the head and upper chest. When effective dose was calculated on a region-by-region basis, it did not differ greatly irrespective of the scan range. In contrary, when effective dose was estimated simply by multiplying the scanner-derived dose-length product by a single conversion factor, estimates increased definitely with the scan range, indicating severe overestimation in whole-body imaging.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soile P. Salomäki ◽  
Jukka Kemppainen ◽  
Ulla Hohenthal ◽  
Pauliina Luoto ◽  
Olli Eskola ◽  
...  

Purpose. This study evaluated the potential of68Ga-citrate positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the detection of infectious foci in patients withStaphylococcus aureusbacteraemia by comparing it with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT.Methods.Four patients admitted to hospital due toS. aureusbacteraemia underwent both18F-FDG and68Ga-citrate whole-body PET/CT scans to detect infectious foci.Results.The time from hospital admission and the initiation of antibiotic treatment to the first PET/CT was 4–10 days. The time interval between18F-FDG and68Ga-citrate PET/CT was 1–4 days. Three patients had vertebral osteomyelitis (spondylodiscitis) and one had osteomyelitis in the toe; these were detected by both18F-FDG (maximum standardised uptake value [SUVmax]6.0±1.0) and68Ga-citrate (SUVmax  6.8±3.5,P=0.61). Three patients had soft tissue infectious foci, with more intense18F-FDG uptake (SUVmax  6.5±2.5) than68Ga-citrate uptake (SUVmax  3.9±1.2,P=0.0033).Conclusions.Our small cohort of patients withS. aureusbacteraemia revealed that68Ga-citrate PET/CT is comparable to18F-FDG PET/CT for detection of osteomyelitis, whereas18F-FDG resulted in a higher signal for the detection of soft tissue infectious foci.


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