Loss of graft by chronic rejection in a series of pediatric kidney transplantation: predictive value of biopsy.
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Publications and source records attributed to D Droz.
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Renal amyloidosis has been considered rare and late in the evolution of the transthyretin (TTR) familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) of the Portuguese type (type I). Renal biopsy has been performed systematically in 14 patients with FAP type I before liver transplantation. In all patients, TTR Met30 mutation was shown. Seven had proteinuria or abnormal microalbuminuria, whereas seven others had no urinary abnormalities. All had renal amyloid deposition predominantly in the medulla. Glomerular and vascular involvement was more prominent in patients with urinary abnormalities. Patients with the most extensive renal lesions represented a subgroup with a low score of polyneuropathy disability, a high prevalence of nephropathy in the proband generation, or a late onset for relatives with nephropathy. Immunohistochemistry studies showed that the amyloid substance corresponded to transthyretin. We have shown that renal TTR-derived amyloid deposition is common in patients with FAP type I, even in the absence of urinary abnormalities. The clinical presentation of nephropathy is not a late occurrence in the disease.
A French family with hereditary renal amyloidosis (HRA) was studied. The disease presented in 7 of the 8 affected individuals with proteinuria or the nephrotic syndrome. The age of onset was in the fifth decade of life. There is currently no sign of extrarenal involvement in any affected individual. However, the nephropathy in this family is progressive and led to terminal renal failure in 4 patients. Immunohistochemistry studies of glomerular amyloid deposits suggested that the amyloid protein was the fibrinogen A alpha chain. Direct DNA sequencing revealed a G 4993 T transversion and subsequently Arg 554 Leu mutation in the fibrinogen A alpha chain. This is the first description of this fibrinogen A alpha chain mutation in Europe. This family is of French descent and cannot be related to the previously reported Peruvian/Mexican and African-American kindreds.
A sixty-three year old French man presented with isolated late-onset amyloid cardiomyopathy proven by endomyocardial biopsy. There was no known family history of amyloidosis. Immunohistochemistry of cardiac deposits suggested that amyloi fibrils were derived from transthyretin. DNA sequencing revealed a point mutation in exon 2 of the transthyretin gene responsible for a novel amyloidogenic variant Asp42.
A French kindred with autosomal dominant hereditary renal amyloidosis was found to have a novel mutation in the fibrinogen Aalpha-chain gene. In this kindred, renal disease appeared early in life and led to terminal renal failure at an early age. Renal transplantation resulted in rapid destruction of the allograft by amyloid deposition within 2 years. Amyloid fibril protein isolated from a transplanted kidney was found to contain a novel, hybrid peptide of 49 residues whose N-terminal 23 amino acids were identical to residues 499 to 521 of normal fibrinogen Aalpha-chain. The remainder of the peptide (26 residues) represented a completely new sequence for mammalian proteins. DNA sequencing documented that the new sequence was the result of a single nucleotide deletion at position 4897 of the fibrinogen Aalpha-chain gene that gives a frame-shift at codon 522 and premature termination at codon 548. The contributions toward fibrillogenesis of the two portions of the amyloid fibril protein, ie, N-terminal fibrinogen sequence and C-terminal novel sequence, are presently unknown. However, the early onset and rapid reoccurrence of amyloid in renal transplants is unlike the clinical course with other amyloid proteins having single amino acid substitutions that give hereditary renal amyloidosis. Liver transplantation to stop synthesis of this abnormal hepatic derived protein should be considered early in the course of the disease.
The diagnosis of amyloidosis relies upon the demonstration of deposits exhibiting a characteristic yellow-green birefringence in Congo-red stained tissue section examined under polarization. Ultrastructural examination, demonstrating the specific fibrillar structure of amyloidosis is rarely necessary for diagnosis. The identification of the amyloid protein is made by immunohistochemistry on frozen tissue sections using specific antibodies directed against amyloid proteins: light chains of immunoglobulins, amyloid A protein, transthyretin.... In the absence of specific clinical symptoms, rectal submucosa biopsy and labial biopsy have a high sensitivity in the diagnosis of amyloidosis.
SP220K is a newly described serine proteinase which displays guanidinobenzoatase activity in its inactive form and gelatinolytic activity in its active form. SP220K expression was studied in 20 renal clear-cell carcinomas and in a series of renal oncocytomas, a rare benign tumor derived from the kidney tubule epithelium. We provide evidence that SP220K expression, as assessed by guanidinobenzoatase activity, gelatin zymography and Western blot immunodetection, was increased markedly in cancer basolateral membranes compared to kidney cortex controls, whereas no signal was detectable in basolateral membranes from the 5 renal oncocytomas studied. Cytoplasms of carcinoma cells were immunodetected consistently, whereas no expression was seen in oncocytic cells from any of the oncocytomas studied (12/12). Endothelial cells were immunodetected in all 3 tissue types. Our data favor a potential mechanistic relationship between expression of the matrix proteinase SP220K and invasive phenotype in kidney epithelium proliferative processes.
OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyse the risk factors for infective endocarditis. DESIGN: Retrospective survey over a 12-year period. SETTING: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Nancy, France. SUBJECTS: 43 children attending during 1970-1992 who were diagnosed with infective endocarditis in accordance with Von Reyn's classification. RESULTS: 45 episodes of infective endocarditis were recorded (2 children had 2 episodes). Congenital cardiac disease was the most frequent predisposing factor for infective endocarditis. The causes of bacteraemia found were frequently, but not exclusively, of dental origin (30.5%). Among the dental causes were: poor oral health, inappropriate treatments and lack of antibiotic prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: Children diagnosed with a cardiac disorder should be examined by a dentist. Modern principles of antibiotic therapy and accepted dental procedures must be performed as soon as possible and parents informed of the current preventive recommendations.
Two cases of systemic vasculitis associated with myelodysplastic syndromes are reported. Vasculitis may develop either before or after the diagnosis of a hematologic disorder, and it responds to treatment with high-dose corticosteroids.
We retrospectively studied the prevalence, histologic features, clinical correlations, and long-term outcome of the intrarenal vascular lesions of lupus nephritis (LN) in a series of 169 renal biopsies performed between 1980 and 1994 in 132 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The most common vascular lesions were nonspecific sclerotic changes, found in 37% of the biopsies (24% if only the cases with moderate to severe changes are considered). The other common vascular lesions were "immunoglobulin microvascular casts," found in 24% of the biopsies. Vasculitis and thrombotic microangiopathy were rare lesions and were seen in only 4 (2.4%) and 1 (0.6%) cases, respectively. Isolated sclerotic vascular changes were present in biopsies from older patients with a longer duration of LN, compared with the group with no vascular lesions, and were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension. Overall, however, the long-term renal and patient survival of this group did not differ significantly from that of the patients without vascular changes. Immunoglobulin microvascular casts (IMCs) ("lupus vasculopathy") were characterized by the presence of immunoglobulin deposition within the glomerular capillaries and small arterioles. In the present study we extensively investigated the morphologic and immunologic features of this lesion. The lesions were notable for the absence of endothelial or parietal vascular lesions and of fibrin, platelets, and leukocytes, which indicates that thrombosis is not involved in the vascular obstruction. According to our data immunoglobulin precipitation in the microvasculature seems to play a central role in the pathogenesis of this lesion, which is why we propose the term "immunoglobulin microvascular casts." In general, IMCs were associated with the most severe and active forms of diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (World Health Organization [WHO] class IV). However our data show that, in contrast to previous studies, the long-term outcome of patients with IMCs is not worse than that of other patients with class IV LN. It may even be somewhat better, suggesting that this type of lesion may reverse with immunosuppressive therapy. In addition, we did not find any association between the presence of IMCs and the lupus anticoagulant, IgG anticardiolipin antibodies, or extrarenal vascular manifestations. Concerning vasculitis and thrombotic microangiopathy, our results confirm that their occurrence is quite rare in-lupus nephritis. The outcome of our 4 patients with vasculitis was not particularly poor, which could be related to early and/or aggressive treatment. Taken as a whole, our data confirm that the presence of active and severe forms of diffuse proliferative LN (WHO class IV) carries a worse prognosis compared with the other forms of LN. In our study, and in agreement with previous reports (23), the long-term renal survival of patients with class IV LN was significantly worse than that of patients with other forms of LN, with a 10-year renal survival of 70% compared with 85%, respectively. However our data do not support the conclusions of some previous studies that the presence of intrarenal vascular lesions is a marker of poor renal prognosis in lupus nephritis. More precisely, our data show that the somewhat poorer renal outcome observed in patients with IMCs is related to the fact that in most cases these lesions are associated with class IV lupus nephritis, and not related to the presence of the vascular lesion per se.
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OBJECTIVE: To try to define when and what type of operation should be performed in von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) with renal involvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1985 and July 1996, 43 patients with renal involvement of VHL disease were followed in our department. We decided to operate on patients with one or several solid or complex tumours greater than 2.5 cm in diameter, by means of conservative surgery (tumour excision removing a layer of healthy parenchyma) when the kidney did not contain more than 5 or 6 tumours or radical nephrectomy in the other cases. Subsequent follow-up consisted of CT, chest x-ray and renal function tests every 6 months. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with a mean age of 33.6 years were operated. 21 patients (29 kidneys) were treated by conservative surgery: in situ in 20 cases and ex vivo in 9 cases; 3 cases were treated by bilateral radical nephrectomy, 4 by unilateral radical nephrectomy and 1 by resection of the prominent dome for urinary tract obstruction. Four cases of acute arterial thrombosis were observed following ex vivo surgery, requiring nephrectomy in every case. No serious complications were observed with in situ conservative surgery. A new lesion in the renal parenchyma remaining after conservative surgery was observed in 5 cases during follow-up (mean: 29 months). No local recurrence was observed after radical nephrectomy. Two nonoperated patients developed metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment is usually possible: either simple surveillance, in the absence of any solid or complex tumours larger than 2.5 cm in diameter, or conservative surgery for tumours larger than 2.5 cm in diameter, with no more than 6 tumours per kidney; this attitude requires six-monthly follow-up by CT of the renal parenchyma.
Nephronophtisis is a familial tubulo-interstitial nephropathy with an autosomic recessive mode of transmission. To our knowledge, it has not been yet reported in Black Africa. We report here the case of a 17-year old female from Senegal who presented with renal failure related to a chronic interstitial nephritis characterized by polyuria, hypocalcemia, natriuresis of 23 mmol/l and serum creatinine level of 1070 mumol/l. The parents of this patient were first-degree cousins. Among the 6 siblings, 2 other males were found to have a renal disease. Ultrasound examination of the kidneys showed medullary cysts in the 2 affected brothers and the renal biopsy in one case showed tubular atrophy, with thickening of the basal lamina and an interstitial fibrosis without glomerular involvement. Molecular genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of nephronophtisis, with a homozygous deletion of the NPH1 region. In order to recognize this disease early in life, one has to look for it in patients with tubulo-interstitial nephritis, polyuria, childhood enuresia especially when it is associated with growth retardation or tetany. This case raises the issue of consanguinity and endogamy which are frequently encountered in Africa. It also extends the geographic and ethnic distribution of nephronophtisis, being the first cases reported Black Africans.
To investigate cumulative genetic alterations during development and progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we examined DNAs that were isolated from 148 RCCs for allelic imbalance (AI) at four loci on chromosome arm 3p and at 26 loci on chromosome arm 14q by using polymorphic microsatellite markers and densitometric scanning. Because the analysis of solid tumor unbalanced rearrangements remains difficult due to the large proportion of cells that infiltrate from the stroma, we developed a method for the detection and quantification of AI between control and tumor samples by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of microsatellite markers. This technique allows detection down to 20% of contaminating cells with good accuracy. We detected AI on 3p and 14q in 57 and 28% of RCC, respectively. A comparison of genetic changes with clinicopathological data showed that, in marked contrast to AI on 3p, AI on 14q was correlated significantly with the stage and grade of the tumors, with 56 and 58% of RCC in Stage IV and Grade 4, respectively, showing AI. Our results suggest that tumor suppressor genes on 3p, including the von Hippel-Lindau gene, may be involved in early steps of carcinogenesis in clear cell carcinoma and that AI on 14q may play an important role in the progression of clear cell and papillary chromophilic cell carcinomas. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 14q may be a new prognostic factor in RCC. Despite the size of the series of tumors and the number of markers used, only rearrangements that involved the whole length of the long arm of chromosome 14 were observed in the present study. The localization of the putative tumor suppressor gene on 14q will require further investigation of RCC with structural rearrangements of 14q.
Renal involvement in von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease has emerged as the most prevalent cause of death in this hereditary disorder. In a group of 43 VHL patients (23 unrelated families) with renal lesions we examined whether severity of renal disease is affected by parental inheritance and VHL subtype (1, without pheochromocytoma; 2, with pheochromocytoma). We also tested whether and how nephron-sparing surgery could be applied. Renal involvement comprised multiple cysts and bilateral and multifocal carcinomas (RCC) which were detected by screening in 38 patients, at 30.5 (14 to 62) years of age. The severity of the renal disease was similar in VHL type 1 (79% of the pedigrees) and 2 (21%). It was not influenced by the sex of the carrier. Twenty-nine patients were operated on at a mean age of 33.6 years: 21 patients (28 kidneys or 61% of all operated kidneys) underwent nephron-sparing surgery, 4 had complete ablation of involved kidneys and thus required dialysis, 3 had uninephrectomy and 1 had cyst fenestration. Vascular thrombosis was the most severe early complication. It occurred in 4 of 9 kidneys treated by ex vivo surgery. During a median follow-up of 29 months, local recurrence occurred in 5 of 21 (24%) patients treated by nephron-sparing surgery, whereas 2 developed metastasis. Chronic renal failure (creatinine > 120 mumol/liter) affected 11 patients; in 9 of them, it was due to sequelae of surgery. In conclusion, screening of RCC and nephron-sparing surgery are of value in VHL patients. However, indications of ex vivo surgery should be drastically restricted and renal sequelae are not uncommon. Renal followup is required because of the risk of recurrence.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of adjuvant radiation therapy in invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract, we retrospectively reviewed a series of 26 patients who underwent radical surgery plus postoperative prophylactic irradiation for such a tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1980 and October 1993, 18 men and 8 women (mean age 65 +/- 9 years, standard deviation) were treated for an invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Tumor location was the renal pelvis in 15 patients (58%). The tumor was pathological stage B in 11 patients (42%) and stage C in 15 (58%). Tumor grade was 2 in 10 patients, 3 in 15 and unknown in 1. One patient had epidermoid metaplasia of urothelial cancer and 9 had node involvement. All patients underwent surgery followed by radiation therapy to a total dose of 45 Gy. to the tumor bed (23) and/or regional nodes (18). RESULTS: After a mean followup of 45 months 13 patients (50%) were alive and 11 were disease-free at analysis. Local tumor relapse, nodal recurrence and metastasis were noted in 1, 4 (15%) and 14 (54%) patients, respectively. All patients with nodal recurrence had metastasis. A secondary location was noted frequently (6 bladder, 1 contralateral renal pelvis and 1 urethral tumors). Overall 5-year survival rate and 5-year survival rate with no evidence of disease were 49% and 30%, respectively. Overall 5-year survival rates were 60% for stage B and 19% for stage C disease (p = 0.07), 49% for node-negative versus 15% for node-positive cancer (p = 0.04), and 90% for grade 2 and 0% for grade 3 tumors (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our trial using a radio-surgical approach, local control of disease and survival rates were similar to those reported previously in surgical series. Prophylactic postoperative radiation therapy is not recommended except in prospective randomized studies.
To evaluate the role of adjuvant radiation therapy in invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract, we retrospectively reviewed a series of 26 patients who underwent radical surgery plus post-operative prophylactic irradiation for such a tumor. Between 1980 and October 1993, 18 men and eight women (mean age: 65 +/- 9 years) were treated for an invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Tumor location was the renal pelvis in 15 patients (58%). The tumor was pathological stage B in 11 patients (42%) and stage C in 15 patients (58%). Tumor grade was 2 in ten patients, 3 in 15 and unknown in one. Nine patients had node involvement. All patients underwent surgery followed by radiation therapy to a total dose of 45 Gy to the tumor bed (23 patients) and/or regional nodes (18 patients). After a mean follow-up of 45 months, 13 patients (50%) were alive and 11 were disease-free. Local tumor relapse, nodal recurrence, metastasis and second urothelial location were noted in one, four (15%), 14 (54%) and eight patients (30%) respectively. Overall 5-year survival and 5-year disease-free survival were 49% and 30% respectively. Overall 5-year survival rates were 60% for stage B and 19% for stage C disease (P = 0.07), 43% for node-negative versus 15% for node-positive cancer (P = 0.04) and 90% for grade 2 and 0% for grade 3 tumors (P < 0.01). In this study using a radio-surgical approach, local control of disease and survival were similar to those reported previously in surgical series. Prophylactic post-operative radiation therapy is not recommended.
From May 1992 to December 1994, 14 children with end stage renal failure secondary to steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome received a cadaver kidney graft. Immediate recurrence of the nephrotic syndrome occurred in four patients. In the four patients, a complete remission was observed shortly after the start of intravenous cyclosporin; two children received in addition methylprednisolone pulses for secondary rejection. Two children were still protein-free 9 and 15 months after transplantation. In the third patient, proteinuria relapsed after 9 months of complete remission and persisted in spite of the reintroduction of intravenous cyclosporin. The fourth graft was lost at 3.5 month from irreversible rejection. The creatinine clearance of the 3 functioning grafts was respectively: 73, 76 and 92 ml/mn/1.73 m2 16, 10 and 15 months after transplantation. Intravenous cyclosporin started shortly after the recurrence, maintaining blood levels between 200 and 300 ng/ml, may induce a remission in recurrent nephrotic syndrome after renal transplantation in childhood.