Acute Kidney Injury Following Exposure to Calcineurin Inhibitors in a Patient with Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

Immunosuppressants against acute kidney injury: what to prefer or to avoid?

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical global health issue associated with high mortality rates, particularly in patients undergoing renal transplants and major surgeries. These individuals often receive immunosuppressants to dampen immune responses, but the impact of these drugs on AKI remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to provide a detailed understanding of the effects of different classes of immunosuppressants against AKI, elucidating their role in either exacerbating or mitigating the occurrence or progression of AKI.

METHODS

Several preclinical and clinical reports were analyzed to evaluate the impact of various immunosuppressants on AKI. Relevant preclinical and clinical studies were reviewed through different databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, and official websites like https://clinicaltrials.gov to understand the mechanisms underlying the effects of immunosuppressants on kidney function.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Specific immunosuppressants have been linked to the progression of AKI, while others demonstrate renoprotective effects. However, there is no consensus on the preferred or avoided immunosuppressants for AKI patients. This review outlines the classes of immunosuppressants commonly used and their impact on AKI, providing guidance for physicians in selecting appropriate drugs to prevent or ameliorate AKI.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the effects of immunosuppressants on AKI is crucial for optimizing patient care. This review highlights the need for further research to determine the most suitable immunosuppressants for AKI patients, considering both their efficacy and potential side effects.

Anuria after kidney transplantation diagnosed as early recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis combined with acute calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a glomerular disease that sometimes recurs in patients after kidney transplantation (KT) and increases the risk of graft loss. Proteinuria is a common early sign of recurrent FSGS, but an abrupt decrease in urine volume is rare. Herein, we report a patient with early recurrence of FSGS with anuria following KT.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 55-year-old man with end-stage kidney disease caused by primary FSGS experienced anuria on postoperative day 2 following deceased donor KT. Laboratory results revealed that serum tacrolimus trough levels were consistently elevated at the time of anuria. At first, we considered acute calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) nephrotoxicity based on graft biopsy on light microscopy, laboratory findings, and clinical courses. However, the allograft function did not recover even after discontinuation of CNI, and recurrent FSGS was diagnosed 2 weeks later on electron microscopy. A total of 13 sessions of plasmapheresis and two administrations of rituximab (375 mg/m2) were required to treat recurrent FSGS. The patient achieved a partial response, and the spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratio decreased from 15.5 g/g creatinine to 5.2 g/g creatinine. At 5 months following KT, the serum creatinine level was stable at 1.15 mg/dL.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight that anuria can occur in cases of early recurrence of FSGS combined with acute CNI nephrotoxicity.

Non-diabetic urine glucose in idiopathic membranous nephropathy

This study aims to analyze the characteristics of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) with nondiabetic urine glucose during the follow-up. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 1313 patients who were diagnosed iMN. The prevalence of nondiabetic urine glucose during follow-up was 10.89%. There were significant differences between the patients with nondiabetic urine glucose and those without urine glucose in gender, hypertension ratio, proteinuria, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, retinol binding protein, serum albumin, serum creatinine (Scr), cholesterol, triglyceride and positive anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody ratio, glomerular sclerosis ratio, acute and chronic tubular injury lesion at baseline. To exclude the influence of the baseline proteinuria and Scr, case control sampling of urine glucose negative patients was applied according to gender, baseline proteinuria and Scr. The proteinuria nonremission (NR) ratio was 45.83 versus 12.50% of the urine glucose positive group and case control group. Partial remission (PR) ratio of the two groups was 36.46 versus 23.96% and complete remission (CR) ratio was 19.79% versus 63.54%, respectively. Patients with urine glucose had higher risk of 50% estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reduction. Cox regression showed that urine glucose and baseline Scr were risk factors of 50% reduction of eGFR. Urine glucose remission ratio of the patients with proteinuria NR, PR, and CR was 13.33, 56.25, and 94.73% (p < 0.005). Patients who got urine glucose remission also had better renal survival. In conclusion, non-diabetic urine glucose was closely related to proteinuria. It could be applied as a tubular injury marker to predict renal function.

Effect of Nephritis Rehabilitation Tablets combined with tacrolimus in treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) has a high incidence in the middle-aged and elderly population, and poses a great threat to the physical and mental health and quality of life of patients. Nephritis Rehabilitation Tablets have many potential effects, such as clearing residual toxins, tumefying the kidney and spleen, replenishing qi, and nourishing yin, and have played an important role in the treatment of a variety of kidney diseases.

AIM

To investigate the efficacy and safety of Nephritis Rehabilitation Tablets combined with tacrolimus in the treatment of IMN.

METHODS

Eighty-four patients with IMN recruited from January 2017 to September 2020 were randomly divided into a study group (n = 42) and a control group (n = 42). On the basis of routine symptomatic treatment, both groups were treated with tacrolimus, and the study group was additionally treated with Nephritis Rehabilitation Tablets. Both groups were treated for 12 wk. The therapeutic effect, the levels of renal function indexes [serum creatinine (Scr), serum albumin, and 24-h urinary protein], urinary immunoglobulin (IgG4), membrane attack complex (C5b-9), and the incidence of adverse reactions were measured before and after 12 wk of treatment.

RESULTS

The total effective rate in the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Before treatment, there was no significant difference in Scr, serum albumin, or 24 h urinary protein between the two groups. After 12 wk of treatment, the levels of Scr and 24-h urinary protein in both groups were significantly lower and serum albumin was significantly higher than those before treatment (P < 0.05), and the levels of Scr and 24-h urinary protein were significantly lower (P = 0.003 and 0.000, respectively), and the level of serum albumin was significantly higher (P = 0.00) in the study group than in the control group. Before treatment, there was no significant difference in urinary IgG4 and C5b-9 levels between the study group and the control group (P = 0.336 and 0.438, respectively). After 12 wk of treatment, the levels of urinary IgG4 and C5b-9 in the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and the levels of urinary IgG4 and C5b-9 in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P = 0.710).

CONCLUSION

Based on routine intervention, Nephritis Rehabilitation Tablets combined with tacrolimus in the treatment of IMN can effectively improve the renal function of patients and downregulate the expression of urinary IgG4 and C5b-9. In addition, they can improve the overall therapeutic effect while not increasing the risk of adverse reactions.