Angiotensin II receptor agonist antibodies are associated with microvascular damage in lupus nephritis

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor agonist antibodies (AT1R-AAs) have been associated with hypertension, atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation in human diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of AT1R-AAs in active lupus nephritis (LN) patients and their association with vascular damage. One hundred and seven active LN patients underwent a complete clinical examination, measurement of AT1R-AAs, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, carotid intima-media thickness measurement and morphometric analysis of subintimal fibrosis and medial hyperplasia of the vessels in the kidney tissue. Plasma AT1R-AAs were positive in 58 (54.2%) patients. The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score, complement C3 and C4 levels and titers of anti-dsDNA antibodies were higher in the group with positive AT1R-AAs compared with those with negative AT1R-AAs. The AT1R-AA titers correlated with anti-dsDNA antibody titers and with complement C3 and C4 serum levels. In the kidney biopsy, the percentage of subintimal fibrosis and the area of medial hyperplasia were greater in the AT1R-AA-positive patients. No differences in arterial pressure, carotid intima-media thickness and response to therapy were detected. In conclusion, AT1R-AAs are prevalent in active LN patients and are associated with histologic features of microvascular damage.

Tissue talks: immunophenotype of cells infiltrating the graft explains histological findings and the benefits of belatacept at 10 years

Previously, we found a substantial number of regulatory T cells (T_regs ) and fewer senescent and T helper type 17 (Th17) and a decrease in interstitial fibrosis (IF) in 12-month graft biopsies in belatacept versus cyclosporin (CNI)-treated patients [Belatacept Evaluation of Nephroprotection and Efficacy as First-line Immunosuppression Trial (BENEFIT) study]. Seven years after kidney transplantation (KT), mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), patient and graft survival were significantly higher with belatacept versus CNI treatment. The aim of this study was to determine whether the immunophenotypes of inflammatory and regulatory cell subsets infiltrating the grafts contribute to the BENEFIT's clinical findings a decade after KT. Twenty-three adult patients with functionally stable KT treated with belatacept and 10 treated with CNI were enrolled. Biopsies were analyzed by histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry for proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, inflammatory and regulatory cell markers in a blinded manner. Significantly lower percentages of inflammatory/fibrogenic cells [interleukin (IL)-22⁺ /Th17/Th2/M1 macrophages] were observed in patients treated with belatacept than in patients treated with CNI. By contrast, remarkably higher percentages of regulatory cells [T_regs /B_regs / plasmacytoid dendritic regulatory cells (pDC_regs )/M2] were found in belatacept-treated patients than in CNI-treated patients. Conspicuously lower percentages of apoptosis and senescence and higher proliferation markers were found in belatacept-treated patients than in CNI-treated patients. Consequently, there was significantly more inflammation in the microvascular compartments as well as increased tubular atrophy and IF in CNI-treated patients. These findings strongly suggest that regulatory mechanisms, along with the absence of deleterious effects of CNI, contribute to the long-term graft histology and function stability in patients treated with belatacept.

Prognostic significance of renal vascular pathology in lupus nephritis

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis to define the prognostic significance of vascular lesions documented in renal biopsies of lupus nephritis patients. A total of 429 patients were segregated into five groups: (1) no vascular lesions (NVL), (2) arterial sclerosis (AS), (3) non-inflammatory necrotizing vasculitis (NNV), (4) thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), and (5) true renal vasculitis (TRV). Renal outcomes were analyzed by Cox regression models, and correlations between vascular lesions and activity/chronicity scores were determined by Spearman's coefficients. A total of 200 (46.6%) had NVL, 189 (44.0%) AS, six NNV (1.4%), 23 (5.4%) TMA, and 11 (2.6%) TRV. Patients with NVL were younger, with higher renal function; patients with TMA and TRV had lower renal function and higher arterial pressure at baseline. Antiphospholipid syndrome and positive lupus anticoagulant were more frequently observed in the TMA group. Five-year renal survival was 83% for NVL, 63% for AS, 67% for NNV, 31% for TMA, and 33% for TRV. NNV and TRV were significantly correlated with activity scores, while AS and chronic TMA were correlated with chronicity scores. Renal vascular lesions are associated with renal outcomes but do not behave as independent factors. The addition of vascular lesions to currently used scores should be further explored.

Renal flare prediction and prognosis in lupus nephritis Hispanic patients

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis focusing on lupus nephritis renal flare incidence and outcome predictors. One hundred and eighteen patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were segregated by induction/maintenance regimes. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients experiencing renal flare. Secondary assessment included doubling of serum creatinine and development of end-stage renal disease. After a median follow-up of 31 months (interquartile range 21–46) from the date of response to induction therapy, 47 patients (39.8%) developed a renal flare. Azathioprine-maintained patients had a higher risk of renal flare compared with mycophenolate mofetil-maintained patients (hazard ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.39–4.59, p < 0.01). Age (hazard ratio 0.96, 0.92–0.99, p = 0.03), serum creatinine at presentation (hazard ratio 1.76, 1.13–2.76, p = 0.01), complete remission after induction therapy (hazard ratio 0.28, 0.14–0.56, p < 0.001) and azathioprine maintenance therapy (hazard ratio 4.78, 2.16–10.6, p < 0.001) were associated with renal flare on multivariate analysis. Ten patients progressed to end-stage renal disease (8.5%) by a median 32.5 months. Age (hazard ratio 0.88, 0.77–0.99, p = 0.05), complete remission after induction therapy (hazard ratio 0.08, 0.01–0.94, p = 0.04) and severe nephritic flare (hazard ratio 13.6, 1.72–107.7, p = 0.01) were associated with end-stage renal disease development. Azathioprine maintenance therapy is associated with a higher incidence of relapse in the Mexican-mestizo population. Younger age and nephritic flares predict development of end-stage renal disease.

[Leiomyosarcoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus in an adult with renal transplant]

Recently the association between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and smooth muscle lesions has been described in immunosuppressed children but it is infrequent in adults. The role of EBV in the pathogenesis of these lesions is obscure. We presents a 28 year old man with end stage renal disease transplanted in 1994. Two years later he developed several nodular lesions that affected both lungs, liver, spleen, retroperitoneal ganglia and the left thigh; one year later he died. The surgical specimen from the thigh and a liver biopsy were diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma. Immunohistochemical reactions against vimentin and smooth muscle actin were positive. In situ hybridization disclosed positivity against EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA-2) in neoplasic cells. This is the first case of sarcoma in transplanted patients of our institution and represents a rare case of leiomyosarcoma associated with EBV in adults.

Tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. A cytohistologic correlation

OBJECTIVE

To identify the cytologic characteristics of the tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma in fine needle aspiration biopsies and make a cytohistologic correlation.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group consisted of six patients subjected to fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid prior to surgical resection of the tumor.

RESULTS

Nineteen cases of the tall cell variant were identified in 229 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (8.5%) from 1957 to 1993. Six cases had aspirates with tall cells. The patients were females with a median age of 43 years, and all had aggressive neoplastic diseases. The tumors had > 30% tall cells. The fine needle aspiration biopsy findings included nuclear grooves and abundant oxyphilic cytoplasm (100%), pseudonuclear inclusions (83.3%) and ground glass chromatin (67%). The majority of neoplastic cells had a nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of 1:2. A tadpole shape was observed in noncohesive cells, and a respiratory epithelium-like arrangement was seen in cohesive cells.

CONCLUSION

Fine needle aspiration biopsy is the best method of identifying tall cells preoperatively. Nuclear and cytoplasmic changes should be added to make a firm diagnosis of the tall cell variant and to rule out columnar cell carcinoma or squamous metaplasia in goiter or usual thyroid papillary carcinoma.