[Outcome of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis post-streptococcal disease in children]

Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis (GN) encompasses several disorders that cause glomerular inflammation and injury through an interplay of immune-mediated mechanisms, host characteristics, and environmental triggers, such as infections. GN can manifest solely in the kidney or in the setting of a systemic illness, and presentation can range from chronic and relatively asymptomatic hematuria to fulminant renal failure. Classic acute GN is characterized by hematuria, edema, and hypertension, the latter 2 of which are the consequence of sodium and water retention in the setting of renal impairment. Although presenting signs and symptoms and a compatible clinical history can suggest GN, serologic and urinary testing can further refine the differential diagnosis, and renal biopsy can be used for definitive diagnosis. Treatment of GN can include supportive care, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade, immunomodulatory therapy, and renal transplant. Prognosis is largely dependent on the underlying cause of GN and can vary from a self-limited course to chronic kidney disease. This review focuses on lupus nephritis, IgA nephropathy, IgA vasculitis, and postinfectious GN.

A tale of tripartite: An experience from a tertiary care center of Eastern India

Background

Crescentic glomerulonephritis (Cr GN) is pattern of glomerular injury resulting from wide range of diseases sharing a common pathogenesis.

Objectives

The objective of our study was to analyze the clinicopathological spectrum and outcome of Cr GN with special reference to its immunopathological subtypes using a panel of immunofluorescence stains.

Materials and Methods

Native renal biopsies with crescentic pattern of injury were included. Detailed Clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed along with the treatment protocol and renal outcome, wherever available. Renal biopsy slides were evaluated for various glomerular and extraglomerular features. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed.

Results

A total of 57 cases of Cr GN were included; majority (47.36%) of cases were pauci-immune in nature. Among clinical features, ranges of proteinuria and creatinine level were significantly different between subgroups. The various light microscopic parameters, including proportion of cellular crescents and capillary wall necrosis were different. Presence of arteriolar changes also showed association with unfavorable outcome. Three unusual associations, including IgA nephropathy, membranous glomerulonephritis and Hepatitis B infection were detected. Adequate follow-up information was available in 35 of the patients. Of these, 14 were dialysis-dependent at the last follow-up.

Conclusions

Type III Cr GN (pauci-immune Cr GN) was the commonest cause of Cr GN in our population. Adult patients required renal replacement therapy more frequently than pediatric cases those are chiefly infection associated. Critical appraisal of clinical, histopathological and immunofluorescence finding help to identify individual subtypes as treatment and outcome varies accordingly.

Postinfectious Glomerulonephritis

Postinfectious glomerulonephritis continues to be the most common cause of acute glomerulonephritis in children. Although in the past it was considered to be mainly a complication of streptococcal infections, today it is well known that infection with many other pathogens may trigger an immune response that results in glomerular injury. Most children with postinfectious glomerulonephritis have an excellent prognosis with complete recovery of renal function and no recurrence. This article summarizes the history, presentation, evaluation, differential diagnosis, and management of children with postinfectious glomerulonephritis. [Pediatr Ann. 2020;49(6):e273-e277.].

Clinical course & management of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Germany: a large epidemiological ESPED study

Background

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most frequent occurring chronic kidney diseases in childhood, despite its rarely occurrence in the general population. Detailed information about clinical data of NS (e.g. average length of stay, complications) as well as of secondary nephrotic syndrome (SNS) is not well known.

Methods

A nationwide ESPED follow-up study presenting the clinical course and management of children with NS in Germany.

Results

In course of 2 years, 347 children developed the first onset of NS, hereof 326 patients (93.9%) had a primary NS, and 19 patients had a SNS (missing data in 2 cases), the majority due to a Henoch-Schönlein Purpura. Patients with steroid-resistant NS (SRNS) stayed significantly longer in hospital than children with steroid-sensitive NS (25.2 vs. 13.3 d, p <  0.001). Patients with bacterial/viral infections stayed longer in hospital (24.9 d/19.5d) than children without an infection (14.2 d/14.9 d; p <  0.001; p = 0.016). Additionally, children with urinary tract infections (UTI) (p < 0,001), arterial hypertension (AH) (p < 0.001) and acute renal failure (ARF) (p < 0,001) stayed significantly longer in hospital.

Patients with SRNS had frequent complications (p = 0.004), such as bacterial infections (p = 0.013), AH (p < 0.001), UTI (p < 0.001) and ARF (p = 0.007). Children with a focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) had significantly more complications (p = 0.04); specifically bacterial infections (p = 0.01), UTI (p = 0.003) and AH (p < 0,001). Steroid-resistance was more common in patients with UTI (p < 0.001) and in patients with ARF (p = 0.007). Furthermore, steroid-resistance (p < 0.001) and FSGS (p < 0.001) were more common in patients with AH.

Conclusions

This nationwide, largest German study presents results on the clinical course of children with NS considering a diverse range of complications that can occur with NS. The establishment of a region-wide and international pediatric NS register would be useful to conduct further diagnostic and therapy studies with the aim to reduce the complication rate and to improve the prognosis of NS, and to compare the data with international cohorts.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-019-1233-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.