Chronic glomerular microangiopathy complicating metastatic carcinoma

Collapsing glomerulopathy associated with hemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with NK/T cell lymphoma

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a rare condition caused by dysregulated activation of the immune system leading to infiltration of bone marrow and organs by nonmalignant macrophages that phagocytose blood cells. Primary HPS is caused by inherited immune dysregulation whereas secondary HPS is triggered by neoplastic, infectious or autoimmune diseases. Clinically, the syndrome presents with continuous high-grade fever in association with multi-organ involvement. Few data are available regarding renal manifestations of HPS. We report a 60-year-old patient with NK/T cell nasopharyngeal extranodal lymphoma who presented with acute kidney injury and nephrotic range proteinuria in association with fever and pancytopenia. A kidney biopsy was consistent with collapsing glomerulopathy. A final diagnosis of HPS was made on the basis of clinical, laboratory, and bone marrow biopsy findings in accordance with established diagnostic criteria. Steroid therapy was initiated. However, the patient failed to recover his renal function and remained hemodialysis-dependent. Key diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and strategies used to overcome those challenges are discussed.

Vascular Toxicity of Antineoplastic Agents

Among the various deleterious effects of cancer chemotherapy, vascular toxicity is the least well recognized. This lack of recognition may be because the vasculotoxic phenomena are not unique to antineoplastic agents, can occur in patients without exposure to these agents, and the fact cancer itself may produce a hypercoagulable state. As a result, many vascular events either go unnoticed, are ignored, and/or are attributed to the underlying malignancy. Many antineoplastic therapies are associated with various vascular phenomena that range from simple phelibitis to lethal microangiopathy. Recognition of these events is important to minimize the morbidity and even prevent unnecessary deaths. Herein we review the vascular syndromes that have been reported in association with antineoplastic agents.

A review of hemolytic uremic syndrome in patients treated with gemcitabine therapy

BACKGROUND

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare condition that occasionally is reported in cancer patients. Recently it has been observed that gemcitabine rarely may be associated with this condition.

METHODS

The manufacturer's safety database and literature were reviewed for any report regarding gemcitabine associated with renal and hematologic abnormalities. Descriptive analysis was used to examine each case for an association between gemcitabine therapy and HUS and to identify its incidence and risk factors.

RESULTS

Through December 31, 1997, 12 cases were identified that fit either the clinical (uremia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia) or pathologic (renal biopsy) criteria for HUS. There were 7 males (58%) and 5 females (42%) with a median age of 55.5 years (range, 37-73 years). The median duration of gemcitabine therapy was 5.8 months (range, 3.8-13.1 months). Six patients died, five improved, and one patient's outcome was unknown. Among the six deaths, three patients died of cancer progression, one patient died of an unrelated myocardial infarction, and two patients died of HUS or HUS-related complications. For the five patients who improved, treatment was comprised of dialysis, plasmapheresis, splenectomy, or a combination. Attempts to correlate patient demographics, primary malignancy, and cumulative gemcitabine dose failed to identify consistent risk factors in predisposing patients to HUS. Confounding factors were common, including mitomycin-C and/or 5-fluorouracil exposure, advanced stage tumors, or preexisting renal dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on a patient exposure of 78,800, a crude overall incidence rate of 0.015% (range, 0.008-0.078%) was determined, showing that HUS associated with gemcitabine treatment appears to be rare. Nonetheless, as with other cancer treatments, clinicians should weigh the appropriate risk/benefit ratio in using gemcitabine to treat their patients.

A review of hemolytic uremic syndrome in patients treated with gemcitabine therapy

BACKGROUND

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare condition that occasionally is reported in cancer patients. Recently it has been observed that gemcitabine rarely may be associated with this condition.

METHODS

The manufacturer's safety database and literature were reviewed for any report regarding gemcitabine associated with renal and hematologic abnormalities. Descriptive analysis was used to examine each case for an association between gemcitabine therapy and HUS and to identify its incidence and risk factors.

RESULTS

Through December 31, 1997, 12 cases were identified that fit either the clinical (uremia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia) or pathologic (renal biopsy) criteria for HUS. There were 7 males (58%) and 5 females (42%) with a median age of 55.5 years (range, 37-73 years). The median duration of gemcitabine therapy was 5.8 months (range, 3.8-13.1 months). Six patients died, five improved, and one patient's outcome was unknown. Among the six deaths, three patients died of cancer progression, one patient died of an unrelated myocardial infarction, and two patients died of HUS or HUS-related complications. For the five patients who improved, treatment was comprised of dialysis, plasmapheresis, splenectomy, or a combination. Attempts to correlate patient demographics, primary malignancy, and cumulative gemcitabine dose failed to identify consistent risk factors in predisposing patients to HUS. Confounding factors were common, including mitomycin-C and/or 5-fluorouracil exposure, advanced stage tumors, or preexisting renal dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on a patient exposure of 78,800, a crude overall incidence rate of 0.015% (range, 0.008-0.078%) was determined, showing that HUS associated with gemcitabine treatment appears to be rare. Nonetheless, as with other cancer treatments, clinicians should weigh the appropriate risk/benefit ratio in using gemcitabine to treat their patients.

Long-term follow-up of a paediatric case of lipoprotein glomerulopathy

A paediatric case of lipoprotein glomerulopathy, a new kidney disease characterized by glomerular lipoprotein thrombi, is reported. The patient had massive proteinuria from the age of 8 years, when the nephrotic syndrome was first detected. This was resistant to conventional treatment for more than 10 years. During the course of the disease, the hyperlipidaemia characteristic of hyper-pre-beta-lipoproteinaemia and elevation of apoprotein E persisted, and renal function gradually deteriorated. The renal histopathological findings from four biopsies were essentially the same, with storage of beta-lipoprotein in dilated, balloon-like glomerular capillary lumina. However, the number of glomeruli showing global sclerosis increased and tubulo-interstitial changes progressed in parallel with the gradual clinical deterioration. As in other cases reported in Japan some familial involvement has been noted.

Thrombotic microangiopathy associated with chemotherapy: case report and review of the literature

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a serious toxicity associated with a small number of antineoplastic agents. A case report of a patient with probable cisplatin and bleomycin-induced TMA is presented. The basic triad of symptoms that occurs in the TMA syndrome include microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal impairment. Cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurologic complications also occur frequently. The pathogenesis of chemotherapy-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (C-TMA) has not been established. Proposed mechanisms include von Willebrand Factor abnormalities, decreased prostacyclin production, and immune complex formation. Treatment modalities have been unsuccessful and the majority of patients reported have died. Immunoperfusion with staphylococcal protein A is the most effective treatment available and this new technique appears promising. This article reviews the results of all cases of C-TMA reported to date in the English literature and discusses the theories of pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment, and treatment-related complications of the syndrome.

Delayed renal failure with extensive mesangiolysis following bone marrow transplantation

Within two years we have had the opportunity of observing seven leukemic children who were referred to our Pediatric Nephrology Unit for delayed renal failure following bone marrow transplantation (BMT). These children (3 to 12 years old), six with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and one with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), underwent BMT (4 autologous BMT, 3 allogeneic BMT) after the first remission in two, and after the second remission in five. Preparative regimen for BMT included cyclosphosphamide in three, cyclosphosphamide, vepeside and cytosine A in four, and a total body irradiation in a single dose of 10 grays (1000 R) in all of them. Three children were treated immediately after grafting with low dose cyclosporine for four to six months. Five to 10 months after BMT, four patients developed a hemolytic uremic syndrome with severe hypertension. The remaining three were found to have isolated renal insufficiency several months post-BMT. In the seven patients, renal biopsy showed a uniform pattern of severe glomerular involvement characterized by extensive lesions of mesangiolysis associated with severe arteriolonecrosis. A repeat biopsy performed one year later, in two patients showed severe scarring of the renal parenchyma with minor lesions of mesangiolysis. The similarity of the pathologic features observed suggests that the same mechanism might have been operative in the seven patients. It is very likely that the nephropathy is related to total body irradiation enhanced by chemotherapy. We conclude that current treatments of high risk leukemia might become a new cause of chronic renal failure. Further investigations are needed to know the exact incidence of this complication.