scholarly journals Clinical Features and Outcomes of a Racially Diverse Population with Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Payan Schober ◽  
Meghan A. Jobson ◽  
Caroline J. Poulton ◽  
Harsharan K. Singh ◽  
Volker Nickeleit ◽  
...  

Background: Fibrillary glomerulonephritis is characterized by randomly arranged fibrils, approximately 20 nm in diameter by electron microscopy. Patients present with proteinuria, hematuria and kidney insufficiency, and about half of the reported patients progress to end-stage kidney disease within 4 years. The dependence of patient characteristics and outcomes on race has not been explored. In this study, we describe a cohort of patients with fibrillary glomerulonephritis and compare their clinical characteristics and outcomes with those of patients previously described. Methods: The University of North Carolina (UNC) Nephropathology Database was used to retrospectively identify patients diagnosed with fibrillary glomerulonephritis between 1985 and 2015. Of these patients, those treated at UNC were selected. Their demographic and clinical characteristics - including signs and symptoms, comorbidities, laboratory values, treatments and outcomes - were compared with those of patients described earlier. Results: Among the 287 patients identified, 42 were treated at the UNC Kidney Center. When compared to earlier cohorts, a higher frequency of black race, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and use of hemodialysis were noted in both black and HCV-positive patients. Autoimmune diseases, infections and malignancies were frequently observed, present in over half of all cases. Conclusion: According to this study, fibrillary glomerulonephritis represents a secondary glomerular disease process (associated with autoimmune disease, infection or malignancy) in many cases and hence screening is essential. As the screening for comorbidities increased over time, more underlying causes were identified. We noted a high frequency of HCV among black patients, suggesting a possible causative association. Treatment of underlying disease is essential for patients for the best outcome.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Brian Patrick Kelley ◽  

Objective: To report a case of a patient with recent mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who developed tumefactive acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Methods: Patient data were obtained from medical records from the University of Wisconsin – Madison Hospitals in Madison, WI, USA. Results: We report a 59-year-old man with past medical history notable for atrial fibrillation, biventricular pacemaker, end-stage renal disease secondary to idiopathic fibrillary glomerulonephritis, on hemodialysis awaiting transplantation, who presented with ongoing cognitive changes and pneumonia. He was repeatedly COVID-19 positive with minimal symptoms for 4 weeks prior to admission. He developed right sided hemiparesis and persistent, progressive encephalopathy manifesting primarily with disorientation, agitation, and aggression. CSF was notable for cell count of 7, protein of 48, and glucose of 65. Anti-MOG antibody and AQP-4 antibody were negative. A series of CT/CTA head imaging with and without contrast showed progressive multifocal supratentorial areas of white matter hypoattenuation and MRI head with and without contrast demonstrated progressive multi-focal large ovoid T2 FLAIR hyperintensities, partially ring enhancing on contrasted portion of study, consistent with tumefactive demyelinating disease. Significant improvement in mental status and right sided hemiparesis symptoms was observed with initiation of corticosteroids. Conclusion: This case study provides neuroimaging evidence and clinical correlation to support that SARS–CoV-2 and resultant COVID-19 infection can lead to tumefactive acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. This complication has not been previously documented associated with recent COVID-19 infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Kaushlendra Kumar Pandey ◽  
Wilma Delphine Silvia CR ◽  
Aparna Pandey ◽  
Asha Agarwal

Renal diseases of different origin and nature may produce essentially similar disturbances of renal functions and may have clinical similarities and hence there was a need to classify renal diseases more scientifically. The basic approach was to correlate clinical signs and symptoms with histological changes in the tissue, using both simple and special staining techniques so as to reach to a definitive diagnosis.The present study was conducted on renal biopsy referred to pathology department. Criteria for successful biopsy were as follows-Adequate biopsy sample size, correct processing of specimen, informed interpretation and issue of an accurate report. A total of 29 renal biopsies were examined. In minimal change disease, only in 4 patients the glomerulus was sclerosed. Membranous glomerulonephritis comprised of the maximum number of cases (9/30). Total of 3 cases of renal biopsies revealed amyloidosis. Focal amyloid deposits with deposits either near the hilum or perivascular areas were found in 33.3% of cases, while extensive amyloid deposits were found in 33.3% of the cases.It is necessary to determine both the type of renal disease and the cause of the primary disorder in order to make the diagnosis and various staining techniques play a very helpful role. The likelihood that the biopsy specimen accurately reflects the type and severity of the underlying disease is directly related to both the diffuseness of the disease process and the amount of tissue examined.


2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 804-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayed Mohammad Haji Mirsadeghi ◽  
Ali Tayebi Meybodi ◽  
Farideh Nejat ◽  
Hooshang Saberi

One of the prominent causes of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) syndrome is increased impedance of the venous outflow tracts of the brain. Theoretically, this is a justified mechanism for raised intracranial pressure; yet, there had been few cases of such a scenario reported in the literature, and to the authors' knowledge no case of PTC due to benign osteopetrosis has been reported to date. The present case occurred in a 19-year-old woman with a constellation of signs and symptoms compatible with PTC syndrome, whose radiological and laboratory studies confirmed the diagnosis of osteopetrosis. Magnetic resonance venography demonstrated bilateral jugular foraminal stenosis regarding the underlying disease process. The patient did well after she underwent a lumboperitoneal shunt insertion procedure.


Author(s):  
Amy Lustig ◽  
Cesar Ruiz

The purpose of this article is to present a general overview of the features of drug-induced movement disorders (DIMDs) comprised by Parkinsonism and extrapyramidal symptoms. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who work with patients presenting with these issues must have a broad understanding of the underlying disease process. This article will provide a brief introduction to the neuropathophysiology of DIMDs, a discussion of the associated symptomatology, the pharmacology implicated in causing DIMDs, and the medical management approaches currently in use.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 764
Author(s):  
Shih-Lung Cheng ◽  
Kuo-Chin Chiu ◽  
Hsin-Kuo Ko ◽  
Diahn-Warng Perng ◽  
Hao-Chien Wang ◽  
...  

Purpose: To understand the association between biomarkers and exacerbations of severe asthma in adult patients in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: Demographic, clinical characteristics and biomarkers were retrospectively collected from the medical charts of severe asthma patients in six hospitals in Taiwan. Exacerbations were defined as those requiring asthma-specific emergency department visits/hospitalizations, or systemic steroids. Enrolled patients were divided into: (1) those with no exacerbations (non-exacerbators) and (2) those with one or more exacerbations (exacerbators). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the optimal cut-off value for biomarkers. Generalized linear models evaluated the association between exacerbation and biomarkers. Results: 132 patients were enrolled in the study with 80 non-exacerbators and 52 exacerbators. There was no significant difference in demographic and clinical characteristics between the two groups. Exacerbators had significantly higher eosinophils (EOS) counts (367.8 ± 357.18 vs. 210.05 ± 175.24, p = 0.0043) compared to non-exacerbators. The optimal cut-off values were 292 for EOS counts and 19 for the Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) measure. Patients with an EOS count ≥ 300 (RR = 1.88; 95% CI, 1.26–2.81; p = 0.002) or FeNO measure ≥ 20 (RR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.05–4.18; p = 0.0356) had a significantly higher risk of exacerbation. Moreover, patients with both an EOS count ≥ 300 and FeNO measure ≥ 20 had a significantly higher risk of exacerbation than those with lower EOS count or lower FeNO measure (RR = 2.16; 95% CI, 1.47–3.18; p = < 0.0001). Conclusions: Higher EOS counts and FeNO measures were associated with increased risk of exacerbation. These biomarkers may help physicians identify patients at risk of exacerbations and personalize treatment for asthma patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S254-S254
Author(s):  
Victoria Bengualid ◽  
Maria Martinez ◽  
Zhenisa Hysenaj ◽  
Debra M Willner ◽  
Judith Berger

Abstract Background The first case of COVID-19 was admitted on March 15th 2020 to our community based hospital in the Bronx, NY. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of these first COVID-19 patients. Patient Characteristics and Outcome Methods IRB approved retrospective chart review study of all COVID-19 patients admitted during March 2020 focusing on patient characteristics, co-morbidities, clinical manifestations and outcome. Results A total of 177 patients were admitted during March 2020: 57% African American 23.1% Hispanic and 16.9% White. 44.9% female, average age 60 years, and 90% had at least one comorbidity. Outcome was available on all patients except for one who was transferred to another institution for ECMO. Overall mortality was 33%. Clinical presentation: 69.4% presented with cough or shortness of breath, 15.8% with diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain, and 14.6% with myalgia, dizziness or altered mental status. 6.2% presented only with fever. However 59.8% of patients presented with fever and respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. Mortality The table compares patients who died vs discharged (either home or to a short term facility). Those that were 65 years or older, hypertensive or presented to the ER with an oxygen saturation of 94% or lower, were more likely to die. Ventilated patients: 31.6% of patients were intubated with a mortality rate of 77%. 22% of these patients were intubated in the first 24 hours. Compared to non-intubated patients, there was no difference in BMI, diabetes, hypertension, COPD/Asthma, use of statins, aspirin or calcium channel blockers. Intubated patients older than 64 years had significantly higher mortality rates (p=0.0001). Conclusion This cohort of COVID-19 patients is unique as almost all received Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin. Only 9% received steroids and even fewer received an interleukin-6 inhibitor, convalescent plasma or Remdesivir. African Americans and Hispanics accounted for 80% of patients. Greater than 90% received Medicaid. Overall mortality was 33%. The most common presentation was respiratory followed by gastrointestinal symptoms. The overall mortality was 33% but increased to 77% in intubated patients. Age, hypertension, and ER oxygen saturation correlated with mortality. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samar M Said ◽  
Alejandro Best Rocha ◽  
Anthony M Valeri ◽  
Mohamad Sandid ◽  
Anhisekh Sinha Ray ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coexistence of fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) in the same kidney biopsy (FGN–IgAN) is rare, and the clinicopathologic characteristics and outcome of this dual glomerulopathy are unknown. Methods In this study, 20 patients with FGN–IgAN were studied and their characteristics were compared with 40 FGN and 40 IgAN control patients. Results Concurrent IgAN was present in 1.8% of 847 consecutive FGN cases and was the second most common concurrent glomerulopathy after diabetic nephropathy. FGN–IgAN patients were overwhelmingly White (94%) and contrary to FGN patients were predominantly (60%) males. Compared with IgAN patients, FGN–IgAN patients were older, had higher proteinuria, a higher incidence of renal insufficiency, and a lower incidence of microhematuria and gross hematuria at diagnosis. Six (30%) patients had malignancy, autoimmune disease or hepatitis C infection, but none had a secondary cause of IgAN or clinical features of Henoch–Schonlein purpura. Histologically, all cases exhibited smudgy glomerular staining for immunoglobulin G and DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 9 (DNAJB9) with corresponding fibrillary deposits and granular mesangial staining for IgA with corresponding mesangial granular electron-dense deposits. On follow-up (median 27 months), 10 of 18 (56%) FGN–IgAN patients progressed to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), including 5 who subsequently died. Serum creatinine at diagnosis was a poor predictor of renal survival. The proportion of patients reaching ESKD or died was higher in FGN–IgAN than in IgAN. The median Kaplan–Meier ESKD-free survival time was 44 months for FGN–IgAN, which was shorter than IgAN (unable to compute, P = 0.013) and FGN (107 months, P = 0.048). Conclusions FGN–IgAN is very rare, with clinical presentation and demographics closer to FGN than IgAN. Prognosis is guarded with a median renal survival of 3.6 years. The diagnosis of this dual glomerulopathy requires careful evaluation of immunofluorescence findings, and electron microscopy or DNAJB9 immunohistochemistry.


Lupus ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 096120332110286
Author(s):  
Kathleen M Vazzana ◽  
Ankana Daga ◽  
Beatrice Goilav ◽  
Ekemini A Ogbu ◽  
Daryl M Okamura ◽  
...  

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a life-threatening manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is more common in children than adults. The epidemiology and management of childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) have changed over time, prompting the need to reassess expected outcomes. The purpose of this study is to use the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) prospective registry to validate historical principles of LN in a contemporary, real-world cohort. After an extensive literature review, six principles of LN in cSLE were identified. The CARRA registry was queried to evaluate these principles in determining the rate of LN in cSLE, median time from cSLE diagnosis to LN, short-term renal outcomes, and frequency of rituximab as an induction therapy. Of the 677 cSLE patients in the CARRA registry, 32% had documented LN. Decline in kidney function was more common in Black cSLE patients than non-Black patients ( p = 0.04). Black race was associated with worse short-term renal outcomes. In short-term follow up, most children with LN had unchanged or improved kidney function, and end stage kidney disease (ESKD) was rare. Ongoing follow-up of cSLE patients in the CARRA registry will be necessary to evaluate long-term outcomes to inform risk, management, and prognosis of LN in cSLE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1434.1-1434
Author(s):  
K. Wójcik ◽  
A. Masiak ◽  
Z. Zdrojewski ◽  
R. Jeleniewicz ◽  
M. Majdan ◽  
...  

Background:ANCA associated vasculitides (AAV) are a heterogeneous group of rare diseases with unknown etiology and the broad clinical spectrum ranging from life-threatening systemic disease, through single organ involvement to minor isolated skin changes. Unfortunately the clinical classification, ANCA specificity or genetic characteristics alone is not able to categorize AAV patients in a satisfactory manner. As a consequence advanced statistical techniques were used to identify and stratify AAV subphenotypes [1, 2]. Here we have analyzed influence of the ANCA type on clinical manifestations and demographic characteristics in various types of AAV, based on data from the POLVAS registryObjectives:We decided to retrospectively analyze a large cohort of Polish AAV patients deriving from several referral centers – members of the Scientific Consortium of the Polish Vasculitis Registry (POLVAS) – and concentrate on demographic and clinical characteristics of anti-PR3 and anti-MPO positive patients regardless of their clinical diagnosis.Methods:We conducted a systematic multicenter retrospective study of adult patients diagnosed with AAV between Jan 1990 and Dec 2016. Patients were enrolled by 9 referral centers. We analyzed dichotomous variables: gender; ANCA status – anti-PR3+ or anti-MPO+, ANCA negative; organ involvement - skin, eye, ENT, respiratory, heart, GI, renal, urinary, CNS, peripheral nerves and polytomous variable (number of relapses), supported by quantitative covariates (e.g., age at diagnosis, CRP at diagnosis, maximal serum creatinine concentration ever)[3].Results:MPO-positive patients (both GPA and EGPA phenotype) were older at the time of diagnosis with a substantial percentage diagnosed > 65 years of age, and with high rate of renal involvement. Interestingly, while in the whole group of patients diagnosed with EGPA male to female ratio was 1:2, the MPO+ EGPA patients showed M:F ratio of 1:1.The analysis of ANCA negative AAV reveled significant differences in GPA, ANCA negative group is characterized with significantly lower frequency of renal involvement compared to rest GPA (11,5% vs 63,7%) p<0,05 what should be emphasized ANCA negative AAV never lead to ESRD (end stage renal disease) or even transient dialysis.Conclusion:ANCA specificity is indispensable as a separate variable in any clinically relevant analysis of AAV subcategories. MPO+ group is characterized by older age at time of diagnosis, male to female ration 1:1, kidney involvement, and shows more homogenous clinical phenotype than PR3+ AAV patients. In our group ANCA negative AAV never lead to ESRD (end stage renal disease) or even transient dialysis.References:[1]Mahr A, Specks U, Jayne D. Subclassifying ANCA-associated vasculitis: a unifying view of disease spectrum. Rheumatol Oxf Engl 2019;58:1707–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez148.[2]Wójcik K, Biedroń G, Wawrzycka-Adamczyk K, Bazan-Socha S, Ćmiel A, Zdrojewski Z et al. Subphenotypes of ANCA-associated vasculitis identified by latent class analysis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2020 Sep 1. Epub PMID: 32896241.[3]Wójcik K, Wawrzycka-Adamczyk K, Włudarczyk A, Sznajd J, Zdrojewski Z, Masiak A, et al. Clinical characteristics of Polish patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides—retrospective analysis of POLVAS registry. Clinical Rheumatology. 1 wrzesień 2019;38(9):2553–63.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (S1) ◽  
pp. 11-14
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Cummings

AbstractWe appear to be on the brink of a new epoch of treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Compelling evidence suggests that Aβ42 secretion is the triggering event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and that tau aggregation may be an important secondary event linked to neurodegeneration. Prophylactic administration of anti-amyloid agents designed to prevent Aβ accumulation in persons with subclinical disease is likely to be more effective than therapeutic interventions in established Alzheimer's disease. Drug development programs in Alzheimer's disease focus primarily on agents with anti-amyloid disease-modifying properties, and many different pharmacologic approaches to reducing amyloid pathology and tauopathy are being studied. Classes of therapeutic modalities currently in advanced-stage clinical trial testing include forms of immunotherapy (active β -amyloid immunoconjugate and human intravenous immunoglobulin), a γ-secretase inhibitor, the selective Aβ42-lowering agent R-flurbiprofen, and the anti-aggregation agent tramiprosate. Non-traditional dementia therapies such as the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), valproate, and lithium are now being assessed for clinical benefit as anti-amyloid disease-modifying treatments. Positive findings of efficacy and safety from clinical studies are necessary but not sufficient to demonstrate that a drug has disease-modifying properties. Definitive proof of disease-modification requires evidence from validated animal models of Alzheimer's disease; rigorously controlled clinical trials showing a significantly improved, stabilized, or slowed rate of decline in cognitive and global function compared to placebo; and prospectively obtained evidence from surrogate biomarkers that the treatment resulted in measurable biological changes associated with the underlying disease process.


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