scholarly journals Tocilizumab in the Treatment of Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection Post Kidney Transplantation: Clinical and Histological Monitoring

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Noble ◽  
Diane Giovannini ◽  
Reda Laamech ◽  
Farida Imerzoukene ◽  
Bénédicte Janbon ◽  
...  

Introduction: Chronic antibody-mediated rejection (cAMR) has very few effective therapeutic options. Interleukin-6 is an attractive target because it is involved in inflammation and humoral immunity. Therefore, the use of tocilizumab (anti-IL6 receptor, TCZ) is a potential valuable therapeutic option to treat cABMR in kidney-transplant (KT) recipients.Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study included all KT recipients that received monthly TCZ infusions in the setting of cABMR, between August 2018 and July 2021. We assessed 12-month renal function and KT histology during follow-up.Results: Forty patients were included. At 12-months, eGFR was not significantly different, 41.6 ± 17 vs. 43 ± 17 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.102) in patients with functional graft. Six patients (15%) lost their graft: their condition was clinically more severe at the time of first TCZ infusion. Histological follow-up showed no statistical difference in the scores of glomerulitis, peritubular capillaritis, and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA). Chronic glomerulopathy score however, increased significantly over time; conversely arteritis and inflammation in IFTA ares improved in follow-up biopsies.Conclusion: In our study, the addition of TCZ prevented clinical and histological worsening of cABMR in KT recipients, except for more severely ill patients. Randomized studies are needed to clarify the risk/benefit of TCZ in cABMR.

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imen Chemli ◽  
Meriem Ben salem ◽  
Ahmed Letaief ◽  
Mouna Hammouda ◽  
Sabra Aloui ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Renal involvement in sarcoidosis is rare. It is most often the consequence of calcium metabolism disorders, interstitial granulomatous damage or secondary glomerular damage. It can progress to kidney failure in around 3% of cases. In this study, we determined the clinical presentation of sarcoidosis with renal involvement and we described the histological lesions. We report our experience about the management and the follow-up. Method we analyzed all cases of renal failure caused by sarcoidosis in our department during the period of 13 years (2006-2019). There were five patients (one man and four women) at the time of diagnosis. The middle age was 53.8 years. Results The renal involvement was revealing in 60% of the cases. The extrarenal localizations were: pulmonary (100%), cutaneous (knotty erythema 20%), ocular (dry eye syndrome (60%) and anterior uveitis (20%)), the reticuloendothelial system (adenitis (20%) and medullary (20%)), exocrine glands (sialadenitis (40%), nasal (20%), nervous (optic neuritis 20%)). The middle renal clearance (eGFR) at the time of diagnosis of renal involvement was 33ml / min / 1.73 m. Moderate proteinuria was observed in four patients (median: 0.99 g / 24 hours), aseptic leukocyturia in one patient. No patient had microscopic hematuria. Hypercalcemia was noted in 60% of patients with hyper calciuria (median: 3 mmol / kg / 24 hours). Nephrolithiasis was noted in only one patient. No cases of nephrocalcinosis was noted. Renal biopsy showed tubulointerstitial nephropathy with granulomatous in 2 cases (40%), absence of granuloma in one case, extra-membranous glomerulonephritis in one patient and moderate interstitial fibrosis with tubular atrophy in two patients, fibrous andarteritis in a single case. A granuloma without caseous necrosis was objectified on the osteo-medullary biopsy in a single case. All patients received oral corticosteroids (Prednisone: 1 mg / kg / day for 4 patients; 0.5 mg / kg / day for one patient) associated with the treatment of hypercalcemia (hydration and diuretics). The follow-up varied from 2 to 156 months with an median of 56.4 months. 3 patients improved their renal function with a middle clearance : M0: 29 ml / min, M1: 42 ml / min, M3: 68 ml / min, M6: 67 ml / min, M12: 95 ml / min. A non-recovery of renal function was noted in only one patient. An end-stage renal disease was observed in two patients. A renal and extrarenal (lymph node) relapse was noted in a single patient with an interval of 7 years after the initial presentation. Conclusion Renal involvement in sarcoidosis is probably underestimated. Treatment is based on corticosteroid, which must be introduced early to prevent progression to renal failure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-210
Author(s):  
Marcos Vinicius de Sousa ◽  
Ricardo de Lima Zollner ◽  
Marilda Mazzali

Abstract Introduction: Renal fibrosis is the end point of a process that begins at transplant, with ischemia reperfusion and early inflammation, and progresses over time with immunological and non-immunological phenomena. Early identification of morphological markers and intervention could improve graft function and survival. Objective: to evaluate the correlation between intensity and specificity of pre-transplant anti-HLA antibodies and kidney allograft pathology in order to identify early risk factors or markers of allograft dysfunction. Methods: A retrospective cohort of kidney transplant recipients with pre-transplant anti-HLA antibodies who underwent graft biopsy within the first two years post-transplant was divided into two groups according to the specificity of anti-HLA antibodies: nonspecific (non-DSA, n = 29) and specific (DSA+, n = 16). Kidney graft pathology, renal function, and proteinuria were analyzed. Results: general characteristics were similar in both groups, except for the higher dose of thymoglobulin in DSA+ group (p < 0.05). The non-DSA group had higher scores for glomerulosclerosis, interstitial inflammation (i) and interstitial fibrosis (ci) (p < 0.05) and higher incidence of cell-mediated acute rejection. No statistical difference in incidence of antibody-mediated rejection, renal function, and proteinuria was observed during follow up. Discussion and conclusions: the difference in inflammation scores and interstitial fibrosis may be associated to the higher incidence of acute cell-mediated rejection and polyomavirus nephropathy in the Non-DSA group. We also should take into account the protective effect of higher doses of thymoglobulin, reducing ischemia reperfusion injury in the DSA+ group. The short follow-up might have been insufficient to detect long-term changes in allograft tissue, renal function, and proteinuria.


2021 ◽  
pp. 239936932110319
Author(s):  
Yihe Yang ◽  
Zachary Kozel ◽  
Purva Sharma ◽  
Oksana Yaskiv ◽  
Jose Torres ◽  
...  

Introduction: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is high among kidney neoplasm patients because of the overlapping risk factors. Our purpose is to identify kidney cancer survivors with higher CKD risk. Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of 361 kidney tumor patients with partial or radical nephrectomy. Linear mixed model was performed. Results: Of patients with follow-up >3 months, 84% were identified retrospectively to fulfill criteria for CKD diagnosis, although CKD was documented in only 15%. Urinalysis was performed in 205 (57%) patients at the time of nephrectomy. Multivariate analysis showed interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) >25% ( p = 0.005), severe arteriolar sclerosis ( p = 0.013), female gender ( p = 0.024), older age ( p = 0.012), BMI ⩾ 25 kg/m2 ( p < 0.001), documented CKD ( p < 0.001), baseline eGFR ⩽ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 ( p < 0.001), and radical nephrectomy ( p < 0.001) were independent risk factors of lower eGFR at baseline and during follow-up. Average eGFR decreased within 3 months post nephrectomy. However, patients with different risk levels showed different eGFR time trend pattern at longer follow-ups. Multivariate analysis of time × risk factor interaction showed BMI, radical nephrectomy and baseline eGFR had time-dependent impact. BMI ⩾ 25 kg/m2 and radical nephrectomy were associated with steeper eGFR decrease slope. In baseline eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 group, eGFR rebounded to pre-nephrectomy levels during extended follow-up. In partial nephrectomy patients with baseline eGFR ⩾ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 ( n = 61), proteinuria ( p < 0.001) and BMI ( p < 0.001) were independent risk factors of decreased eGFR during follow up. Conclusions: As have been suggested by others and confirmed by our study, proteinuria and CKD are greatly under-recognized. Although self-evident as a minimum workup for nephrectomy patients to include SCr, eGFR, urinalysis, and proteinuria, the need for uniform applications of this practice should be reinforced. Non-neoplastic histology evaluation is valuable and should include an estimate of global sclerosis% (GS) and IFTA%. Patients with any proteinuria and/or eGFR ⩽ 60 at the time of nephrectomy or in follow-up with urologists, and/or >25% GS or IFTA, should be referred for early nephrology consultation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kaleta ◽  
A. Stock ◽  
D. Panayotopoulos ◽  
O. Vonend ◽  
D. Niederacher ◽  
...  

Objective. The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the predictive value of single prepartum findings combined with serum biomarkers sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1) and PlGF (placental growth factor) indicating severity of preeclampsia (PE) for occurrence and extent of impaired postpartum kidney function.Study Design. In this prospective, single center study 44 PE patients were compared to 39 healthy controls (similar in age and gestational age with singleton pregnancy) evaluated at time of delivery and at 6 months and 12 months postpartum.pvalues below 0.05 are considered statistically significant.Results. The majority of the PE patients had persistence of proteinuria (>120 mg/L after delivery) 6 months (p=0.02) and 12 months postpartum (p<0.0001) compared to controls. Also reduced GFR (glomerular filtration rate) persisted up to 6 months postpartum in PE patients compared to controls (p<0.001). Prepartum sFlt-1 levels indeed correlated with impaired renal function parameters.Conclusion. A significant proportion of our PE patients had lower GFR levels and persistent proteinuria up to 12 months postpartum. Prepartum sFlt-1 is a trend-setting marker for impaired renal function postpartum, but it is not sufficient enough to predict renal impairment after PE. An evaluation of 24-month follow-up data is scheduled.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 205873921880268
Author(s):  
Qijun Wan ◽  
Yongcheng He ◽  
Hongtao Chen ◽  
Hongping Liu ◽  
Saodong Luan ◽  
...  

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is now widely recognized as the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide, especially in China. The immunosuppressive treatment option for IgAN is still controversial. Previously, we proved that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF; Shanghai Roche, China) combined with low-dose prednisone was an effective and safe option for biopsy-proven mild to moderate IgAN patients in a short term of follow-up. This article we first reported the safety and efficacy of this regimen in a 42-year-old male biopsy-proven advanced 10-year follow-up IgAN case (Lee’s Class V; the patient was biopsied 10 years ago, so the Oxford Mesangial hypercellularity Endocapillary hypercellularity Segmental glomerulosclerosis Tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (MEST) classification was not used). The mycophenolate and prednisone were only given for a limited time. The other main medications included calcium channel blockers and antiplatelet agents. Clinical and laboratory indexes were aperiodic assessed during the 10-year follow-up. The serum creatinine decreased from 356 to around 210 μmol/L and urine excretion protein reduced from 3.4 g/d to about 0.5 g/d after 6 months of the initiation of this regimen, respectively. These perfect treatment effects could maintain well during the whole follow-up period. No obvious complications were observed.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chayma Ladhari ◽  
Pierre Le Blay ◽  
Thierry Vincent ◽  
Ahmed Larbi ◽  
Emma Rubenstein ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Strategic drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with prolonged remission is not well defined. According to recent guidelines, tapering biological Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (bDMARDs) may be considered. We aimed to evaluate the long-term maintenance of tocilizumab (TCZ) treatment after the progressive tapering of infusions. Methods We conducted an exploratory, prospective, single-center, open label study, on RA patients with sustained remission for at least 3 months and treated with TCZ infusions every 4 weeks. The initial re-treatment interval was 6 weeks for the first 3 months. Thereafter, the spacing between infusions was determined by the clinician. Successful long-term maintenance following the tapering of TCZ infusions was defined by patients still treated after two years by TCZ with a minimum dosing interval of 5 weeks. Results Thirteen patients were enrolled in the study. Eight out of thirteen were still treated by TCZ after two years. Successful long-term maintenance was possible in six patients, with four patients maintaining a re-treatment interval of 8-weeks or more. We observed 5 patients with TCZ withdrawal: one for adverse drug reaction (neutropenia) and four with secondary failure. Patients achieving successful long-term maintenance with TCZ were significantly younger than those with secondary failure (p<0.05). In addition, RA patients with positive rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies, experienced a significantly greater number of flares during our 2-year follow-up (p<0.01). Conclusions A progressive tapering of TCZ infusions seems possible in most of the patients. However, larger studies, including more patients, are needed to confirm this therapeutic option.


2021 ◽  
pp. ASN.2020081181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aishwarya Ravindran ◽  
Marta Casal Moura ◽  
Fernando C. Fervenza ◽  
Samih H. Nasr ◽  
Mariam P. Alexander ◽  
...  

BackgroundIn patients with secondary (autoimmune) membranous nephropathy, two novel proteins, Exostosin 1 and Exostosin 2 (EXT1/EXT2), are potential disease antigens, biomarkers, or both. In this study, we validate the EXT1/EXT2 findings in a large cohort of membranous lupus nephritis.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with membranous lupus nephritis, and performed immunohistochemistry studies on the kidney biopsy specimens against EXT1 and EXT2. Clinicopathologic features and outcomes of EXT1/EXT2-positive versus EXT1/EXT2-negative patients were compared.ResultsOur study cohort included 374 biopsy-proven membranous lupus nephritis cases, of which 122 (32.6%) were EXT1/EXT2-positive and 252 (67.4%) were EXT1/EXT2-negative. EXT1/EXT2-positive patients were significantly younger (P=0.01), had significantly lower serum creatinine levels (P=0.02), were significantly more likely to present with proteinuria ≥3.5 g/24 h (P=0.009), and had significantly less chronicity features (glomerulosclerosis, P=0.001 or interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, P<0.001) on kidney biopsy. Clinical follow-up data were available for 160 patients, of which 64 (40%) biopsy results were EXT1/EXT2-positive and 96 (60%) were EXT1/EXT2-negative. The proportion of patients with class 3/4 lupus nephritis coexisting with membranous lupus nephritis was not different between the EXT1/EXT2-positive and EXT1/EXT2-negative groups (25.0% versus 32.3%; P=0.32). The patients who were EXT1/EXT2-negative evolved to ESKD faster and more frequently compared with EXT1/EXT2-positive patients (18.8% versus 3.1%; P=0.003).ConclusionsThe prevalence of EXT1/EXT2 positivity was 32.6% in our cohort of membranous lupus nephritis. Compared with EXT1/EXT2-negative membranous lupus nephritis, EXT1/EXT2-positive disease appears to represent a subgroup with favorable kidney biopsy findings with respect to chronicity indices. Cases of membranous lupus nephritis that are EXT1/EXT2-negative are more likely to progress to ESKD compared with those that are EXT1/EXT2-positive.


2013 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven P. Salvatore ◽  
Eugene K. Cha ◽  
James S. Rosoff ◽  
Surya V. Seshan

Context.—Evaluating nontumor portions of tumor nephrectomies is useful to diagnose nonneoplastic renal disease. Objective.—To determine the medical renal disease frequency and to assess the prognostic significance of the various renal pathologic variables with long-term follow-up in tumor nephrectomy patients. Design.—We reviewed nonneoplastic kidney sections of 456 consecutive cases from 1998 to 2008. Seventy-five cases were excluded (19 tumor compression, 25 no nonneoplastic tissue, 22 embolized kidneys, 9 end stage). Special staining, immunofluorescence, and/or electron microscopy was performed where appropriate. Vascular sclerosis was scored from mild to severe; interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy and global glomerulosclerosis (GS) were expressed as percentages. Follow-up, minimum 12 months, was evaluated in 156 cases. All renal pathologic variables were compared with regard to change in creatinine level from preoperative assessment to follow-up. Results.—Of 381 cases, 57 had additional medical renal disease (15%), most frequently diabetic nephropathy (28) and hypertensive nephropathy (11). Postoperative creatinine levels increased significantly in patients with severe arteriosclerosis or arteriolosclerosis, &gt;5% GS, and &gt;10% interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy. Seventy-four percent of cases with additional nonneoplastic diagnoses showed severe arteriolosclerosis. Higher corresponding GS was seen in the more affected vascular cases: mean, 5.56% GS for mild versus 23% GS for severe. Three patients progressed to renal failure 1 to 4 years after nephrectomy, 2 with hypertensive nephrosclerosis and 1 with diabetic nephropathy. Conclusions.—Medical renal disease was identified in 15% of tumor nephrectomy specimens. The degrees of vascular sclerosis, GS, and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy are predictive of elevated creatinine levels in postnephrectomy patients. Prognostic implications of the nontumor pathology are important in nephrectomized patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Rabasco ◽  
Ana Martínez ◽  
Rosa Ortega ◽  
Mario Espinosa

Abstract Background and Aims Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of biopsied nephrotic syndrome in adults. Recently, it has been reported that the pathogenesis of MN may be associated with an activation of the complement system. The pathway of activation is not clearly established. The intensity of C3 deposition could be a good marker of this activation in MN as has been shown in other diseases (IgA nephropathy, crescentic GN). The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical-pathological data in a cohort of patients with MN and the significance of glomerular C3 staining as a possible predictor of renal outcomes. Method We analysed patients with idiopathic MN biopsied in our department between January 2000 and December 2019, excluding those who had no material for IF (n = 115). The patients were divided into positive (87 cases) and negative (28 cases) based on glomerular C3 deposition. We assessed the clinical and histological characteristics and the percentage of spontaneous remission (SR) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Results A total of 115 patients with MN were followed with a median follow-up of 65 (25-161) months. We found no differences in baseline characteristics between both groups, with the exception that patients with C3 deposit had less albumin at the time of biopsy that negative patients [2.4 (2-2.9) vs 2.8 (2.3-3.1) g/dl, P=0.011)]. Patients with C3-negative had a higher percentage of SR than patients with C3-positive (75 vs 24%, P = 0.000) and less need for immunosuppressive treatment (18 vs 56%, P =0.001). At the most recent follow-up, C3-positive group had higher creatinine [1.42 (0.8-1.7) vs 0.97 (0.71-1) mg/dl, P=0.045] and proteinuria [1.64 (0.08-3.2) vs. 0.62 (0.05-0.79) g / 24h, P = 0.039]. Regarding histology, we found no differences in glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. The renal survival analysis showed no statistically significant differences between both groups (P = 0.091). We analysed a subgroup of patients (n = 23) with antibodies against the phospholipase receptor on blood at the time of the biopsy (13/23 were positive). 84% of this positive group presented C3-positive in the renal biopsy vs 25% of the C3-negative group (P =0.008). Conclusion Patients without C3 staining show a higher rate of SR and less need for immunosuppressive treatment than patients with C3-positive. These results would support the theory that complement activation in this entity can play an important role. It is possible that these patients with negative C3 deposit represent a MN with evolution to SR and in these patients and that these patients do not need immunosuppressive treatment.


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