Cristiane Bitencourt Dias

Serum Ferritin Level Remains a Reliable Marker of Bone Marrow Iron Stores Evaluated by Histomorphometry in Hemodialysis Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES As well as being a marker of body iron stores, serum ferritin (sFerritin) has also been shown to be a marker of inflammation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to analyze whether sFerritin is a reliable marker of the iron stores present in bone marrow of HD patients. DESIGN Histomorphometric analysis of stored transiliac bone biopsies was used to assess iron stores by determining the number of iron-stained cells per square millimeter of bone marrow. RESULTS In 96 patients, the laboratory parameters were hemoglobin = 11.3 +/- 1.6 g/dl, hematocrit = 34.3 +/- 5%, sFerritin = 609 +/- 305 ng/ml, transferrin saturation = 32.7 +/- 22.5%, and C-reactive protein (CRP) = 0.9 +/- 1.4 mg/dl. sFerritin correlated significantly with CRP, bone marrow iron, and time on HD treatment (P = 0.006, 0.001, and 0.048, respectively). The independent determinants of sFerritin were CRP (beta-coef = 0.26; 95% CI = 24.6 to 132.3) and bone marrow iron (beta-coef = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.54 to 2.09). Bone marrow iron was higher in patients with sFerritin >500 ng/ml than in those with sFerritin < or =500 ng/ml. In the group of patients with sFerritin < or =500 ng/ml, the independent determinant of sFerritin was bone marrow iron (beta-coef = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.48 to 1.78), but in the group of patients with sFerritin >500 ng/ml, no independent determinant of sFerritin was found. CONCLUSIONS sFerritin adequately reflects iron stores in bone marrow of HD patients.

The relationship of angiogenic factors to maternal and neonatal manifestations of early‐onset and late‐onset preeclampsia

An imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors has been implicated in the pathogenesis and severity of preeclampsia. In this study, we evaluated serum levels of an angiogenic factor and an antiangiogenic factor – placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt‐1), respectively – in pregnant women with preeclampsia, as well as evaluating the impact of those factors on maternal and fetal outcomes.

Bone Disease in Newly Diagnosed Lupus Nephritis Patients

Introduction Bone loss in Lupus Nephritis (LN) patients is common and multifactorial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone status of newly diagnosed LN patients and their correlation with inflammatory factors involved in LN physiopathology. Methods We studied 15 pre-menopausal patients with ≤2 months of diagnosed SLE and LN. Patients with prior kidney or bone disease were excluded. In addition to biochemical evaluation (including 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein (MCP1) dosage), we performed bone biopsies followed by osteoblast culture, histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis. Results LN patients presented a mean age of 29.5±10 years, a proteinuria of 4.7±2.9 g/day and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 37(31–87) ml/min/1,73 m2. They were on glucocorticoid therapy for 34±12 days. All patients presented vitamin D insufficiency (9.9±4.4 ng/ml, range 4–20). Urinary MCP1 correlated negatively with 25(OH)D (r = −0.53, p = 0.003) and positively with serum deoxypyridinoline (r = 0.53, p = 0.004). Osteoblasts isolated from LN bone biopsies presented a significantly higher expression of MCP-1 when compared to controls (32.0.±9.1 vs. 22.9±5.3 mean fluorescence intensities, p = 0.01). LN patients presented a significantly reduced osteoid volume, osteoid thickness, osteoid surface, mineralization surface and bone formation rate, associated with an increased eroded surface and osteoclast surface. Patient’s bone specimens demonstrated a reduced immunostaining for osteoprotegerin (0.61±0.82 vs. 1.08±0.50%, p = 0.003), and an increased expression of Receptor Activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) (1.76±0.92 vs. 0.41±0.28%, p<0.001) when compared to controls. Discussion Newly diagnosed LN patients presented a significant disturbance in bone metabolism, characterized by an impaired bone formation and mineralization, associated with an increase in resorption parameters. Glucocorticoid use, vitamin D insufficiency and inflammation might be involved in the physiopathology of bone metabolism disturbance.

Proteinuria predicts relapse in adolescent and adult minimal change disease

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to outline the clinical and laboratory characteristics of minimal change disease in adolescents and adults and establish the clinical and laboratory characteristics of relapsing and non-relapsing patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients with confirmed diagnoses of minimal change disease by renal biopsy from 1979 to 2009; the patients were aged >13 years and had minimum 1-year follow-ups. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with a median age (at diagnosis) of 34 (23-49) years were studied, including 23 males and 40 females. At diagnosis, eight (12.7%) patients presented with microscopic hematuria, 17 (27%) with hypertension and 17 (27%) with acute kidney injury. After the initial treatment, 55 (87.3%) patients showed complete remission, six (9.5%) showed partial remission and two (3.1%) were nonresponders. Disease relapse was observed in 34 (54%) patients who were initial responders (n = 61). In a comparison between the relapsing patients (n = 34) and the non-relapsing patients (n = 27), only proteinuria at diagnosis showed any significant difference (8.8 (7.1-12.0) vs. 6.0 (3.6-7.3) g/day, respectively, p = 0.001). Proteinuria greater than 7 g/day at the initial screening was associated with relapsing disease. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, minimal change disease in adults may sometimes present concurrently with hematuria, hypertension, and acute kidney injury. The relapsing pattern in our patients was associated with basal proteinuria over 7 g/day.

Glomeruloesclerose segmentar e focal (GESF) colapsante associada ao parvovírus B19: relato de caso

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical and laboratory profile of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) of the collapsing subtype in association with infection by parvovirus B19 (PVB19). CASE REPORT Female patient, 37 years old, mulatto, developed pharyngalgia and fever with partial improvement after penicillin. After one week we observed reduced urinary output and lower limb edema. Smoker, family and personal history negative for hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease. Patient presented with olyguria, hypertension and edema, also hypochromic microcytic hypoproliferative anemia, nephritic range proteinuria, microscopic hematuria and renal dysfunction. All rheumatologic investigation, HIV and hepatitis serology were negative. Unremarkable renal ultrasound. PCR positive for PVB19 in bone marrow aspirate and blood and renal biopsy conclusive of collapsing FSGS subtype. Spontaneous remission occurred within two weeks of the profile. The blood PVB19 PCR was repeated within a month and resulted negative. This finding demonstrated PVB19 acute infection or viral reactivation in association with collapsing FSGS. CONCLUSION There is demonstrated the temporal association of PVB19 viremia and collapsing FSGS, due primary infection or viral reactivation. The association of collapsing FSGS and PVB19 is described in the literature, demonstrating virus presence in kidney tissue, but the real relationship of virus in the pathogenesis of this glomerulopathy remains unclear.

Clinicopathological Study of Non-Lupus Full-House Nephropathy

Background: Non-lupus full-house nephropathy is defined as “full-house” immunofluorescence pattern in patients without systemic lupus erythematosus. We compiled our adult case series with non-lupus full-house nephropathy evaluating etiology, clinical presentation and outcomes and in addition comparing them with lupus nephritis patients from our base records.Methods: We included patients with full-house immunofluorescence pattern in renal biopsies collected between January 2000 and January 2017, excluding lupus nephritis. Patients with Non-lupus full-house nephropathy that did not show any underlying disease (the idiopathic group) were compared with a group of lupus nephritis patients extracted from our database (n=20).Results: Non-lupus full-house nephropathy was identified in 20 patients (14 males) with mean age, 40.05 ± 12.37 years; mean serum creatinine, 1.63 ± 1.41 mg/dl and mean proteinuria, 6.35 ± 4.48 g/day. The most common light microscopy pattern was membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in 9 cases (45%). During follow-up 4 patients met the criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus; 5 with others systemic diseases and 11 with idiopathic form. On last follow-up visit serum creatinine was higher in idiopathic non-lupus full-house nephropathy group compared to fullhouse lupus nephritis.Conclusion: Non-lupus full-house nephropathy is a rare condition, affecting mainly males, with the predominance of the idiopathic form and this form showing higher final creatinine levels compared to full-house lupus nephritis.

Clinical and histological features of patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis classified by immunofluorescence findings

BACKGROUND New classification for membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis has been proposed in the literature. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, biochemical, etiology and renal biopsy findings of these patients grouped by immunofluorescence as proposed by the new classification. METHODS Patients with renal biopsy-proven membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis unrelated to systemic lupus erythematosus, diagnosed between 1999 and 2014. The patients were divided according to immunofluorescence: Immunoglobulin positive group, C3 positive only and negative immunofluorescence group. RESULTS We evaluated 92 patients, the majority of which were in the immunoglobulin positive group. Infectious diseases, hepatitis C virus and schistosomiasis, were the most frequent etiology. A negative immunofluorescence group had more vascular involvement in renal biopsy compare with others groups. CONCLUSIONS The only difference between the groups was higher vascular involvement in renal biopsy in negative immunofluorescence group. These new classification was satisfactory for the finding of etiology in one part of the cases.

Microalbuminuria in non diabetic population as an marker of nephropathy

INTRODUCTION Years before the progression to diabetes mellitus type II patients can get by with a pre-diabetes called period. The pathogenesis involved pre-diabetes is insulin resistance Objective: This paper discusses the frequency of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic population, but with increased metabolic risk, and attempts to assess whether there is any correlation of microalbuminuria with data from glucose metabolism. METHODS A total of 132 nondiabetic patients who presented one or more risk factors for changes in glucose metabolism were included in the study: arterial hypertension; obesity; first-degree relatives with diabetes; individuals of Hispanic-American, Asian and African-American ethnicities; mothers of newborns who are large for gestational age (LGA) or who had gestational diabetes; serum measurements in fasting HDL cholesterol 250 mg/dL. RESULTS The results showed a frequency of abnormal microalbuminuria for the method in 16% of this population, and the presence of lower levels of HDL-cholesterol and creatinine clearance in this population. There was a positive correlation between microalbuminury and serum creatinine and uric acid. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that microalbuminuria be evaluated as a marker of incipient nephropathy in non-diabetic population with increased metabolic risk.