scholarly journals Advances in Membranous Nephropathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 607
Author(s):  
Pierre Ronco ◽  
Emmanuelle Plaisier ◽  
Hanna Debiec
Keyword(s):  
Membranous Nephropathy ◽  
Calcineurin Inhibitor ◽  
Sequential Therapy ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Therapeutic Algorithms ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Substantial Progress ◽  
Thrombotic Complications ◽  
Mixed Classes ◽  
End Stage

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a rare auto-immune disease where the glomerulus is targeted by circulating auto-antibodies mostly against podocyte antigens, which results in the formation of electron-dense immune complexes, activation of complement and massive proteinuria. MN is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults leading to severe thrombotic complications and kidney failure. This review is focused on the recent therapeutic and pathophysiological advances that occurred in the last two years. For a long time, we were lacking a head-to-head comparison between cyclophosphamide considered as the gold standard therapy and other medications, notably rituximab. Substantial progress has been achieved owing to three randomized controlled trials. MENTOR (Membranous Nephropathy Trial of Rituximab) and STARMEN (Sequential Therapy with Tacrolimus and Rituximab in Primary Membranous Nephropathy) conclusively established that calcineurin inhibitor-based regimens are slower to result in an immunologic response than rituximab or cyclophosphamide, achieve fewer complete clinical remissions, and are less likely to maintainremission. Rituximab Versus Steroids and Cyclophosphamide in the Treatment of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy (RI-CYCLO) suggested that competition between cyclophosphamide and rituximab remains open. Given the technological leap combining laser microdissection of glomeruli and mass spectrometry of solubilized digested proteins, four “new antigens” were discovered including NELL-1 and Semaphorin 3B in so-called primary MN, and exostosins 1 and 2 and NCAM 1 in lupus MN. NELL-1 is associated with about 8% of primary MN and is characterized by segmental immune deposits and frequent association with cancer (30%). Semaphorin 3B-associated MN usually occurs in children, often below the age of two years, where it is the main antigen, representing about 16% of non-lupus MN in childhood. Exostosins 1/2 and NCAM 1 are associated with 30% and 6% of lupus MN, respectively. Exostosins 1/2 (EXT1/2) staining is associated with a low rate of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) even in mixed classes III/IV+V. These findings already lead to revisiting the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms toward more personalized medicine.

scholarly journals Incidence of thrombotic complications in COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Jenner ◽  
Diana A. Gorog
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Thrombotic Risk ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Thrombotic Complications ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals

AbstractA high incidence of thrombosis in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 was identified early during the pandemic. Accurately quantifying thrombotic risk may assist prognosis and guide appropriate thromboprophylaxis. Observational studies have estimated the rate of thrombosis in both hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients with COVID-19, and how this corresponds to the severity of illness. In this review, we provide an overview of the incidence and prevalence of arterial and venous thrombotic events in patients with COVID-19 and highlight the limitations in the studies to date. Asymptomatic individuals with COVID-19 and those with mild symptoms are at very low risk of thrombotic complications. However, rates of thrombosis are substantially increased in hospitalised patients, and are strikingly high in those patients who are critically-ill requiring treatment on the intensive care unit and especially those requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Clinicians managing such patients need to be aware of these risks and take appropriate steps with respect to thromboprophylaxis and heightened clinical vigilance. Large prospective observational studies will more accurately quantify thrombotic rate, and randomized controlled trials are currently investigating optimal thromboprophylactic strategies.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of Primary Membranous Nephropathy

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 513
Author(s):  
Yan Gu ◽  
Hui Xu ◽  
Damu Tang
Keyword(s):  
Membranous Nephropathy ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
The Past ◽  
Phospholipase A2 Receptor ◽  
Kidney Glomerulus ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
One Step ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage ◽  
Antibody Levels

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease of the kidney glomerulus and one of the leading causes of nephrotic syndrome. The disease exhibits heterogenous outcomes with approximately 30% of cases progressing to end-stage renal disease. The clinical management of MN has steadily advanced owing to the identification of autoantibodies to the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in 2009 and thrombospondin domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) in 2014 on the podocyte surface. Approximately 50–80% and 3–5% of primary MN (PMN) cases are associated with either anti-PLA2R or anti-THSD7A antibodies, respectively. The presence of these autoantibodies is used for MN diagnosis; antibody levels correlate with disease severity and possess significant biomarker values in monitoring disease progression and treatment response. Importantly, both autoantibodies are causative to MN. Additionally, evidence is emerging that NELL-1 is associated with 5–10% of PMN cases that are PLA2R- and THSD7A-negative, which moves us one step closer to mapping out the full spectrum of PMN antigens. Recent developments suggest exostosin 1 (EXT1), EXT2, NELL-1, and contactin 1 (CNTN1) are associated with MN. Genetic factors and other mechanisms are in place to regulate these factors and may contribute to MN pathogenesis. This review will discuss recent developments over the past 5 years.

scholarly journals Head-to-head comparison of biological drugs for inflammatory bowel disease: from randomized controlled trials to real-world experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628482110106
Author(s):  
Fabio Salvatore Macaluso ◽  
Marcello Maida ◽  
Mauro Grova ◽  
Federica Crispino ◽  
Giulia Teresi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Real World ◽  
Bowel Disease ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Therapeutic Algorithms ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel

During past years, the increasing knowledge of molecular mechanisms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have led to the development of several targeted biological therapies. This great expansion of available medical options has prompted the need for comparative data between drugs. For years, given that most randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were performed only versus placebo, this demand has clashed with the absence of head-to-head trials comparing two or more treatments. The quality of evidence coming from real-world experience was low overall, so it was extremely difficult to clarify the correct positioning of the biologicals inside the therapeutic algorithms for IBD. Fortunately, times are changing: head-to-head comparative RCTs have been conducted or are ongoing, and the methodological quality of real-world studies is gradually increasing, mainly thanks to a higher rate of application of statistical methods capable of reducing the selection bias, such as the propensity score. In this evolving scenario, the increasing number of comparative RCTs is providing high-quality data for a correct drug positioning in IBD. In parallel, real-world observational studies are supporting the data coming from RCTs, and covering those comparisons not performed in the RCT setting. We believe that there is moderate evidence already available to support clinicians in the correct choice between different biologicals, and data will certainly be more robust in the near future.

scholarly journals Renoprotective Effects of the Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Sitagliptin: A Review in Type 2 Diabetes

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Mega ◽  
Edite Teixeira-de-Lemos ◽  
Rosa Fernandes ◽  
Flávio Reis
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 ◽  
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitor ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is now the single commonest cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide and one of the main causes of death in diabetic patients. It is also acknowledged as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since sitagliptin was approved, many studies have been carried out revealing its ability to not only improve metabolic control but also ameliorate dysfunction in various diabetes-targeted organs, especially the kidney, due to putative underlying cytoprotective properties, namely, its antiapoptotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties. Despite overall recommendations, many patients spend a long time well outside the recommended glycaemic range and, therefore, have an increased risk for developing micro- and macrovascular complications. Currently, it is becoming clearer that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management must envision not only the improvement in glycaemic control but also, and particularly, the prevention of pancreatic deterioration and the evolution of complications, such as DN. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge in the field of renoprotective actions of sitagliptin, namely, improvement in diabetic dysmetabolism, hemodynamic factors, renal function, diabetic kidney lesions, and cytoprotective properties.

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