Allergic interstitial nephritis causing reversible renal failure in four patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Perspectives from a Pathologist: My Journey on the Path to Women's Health Research, Sex and Gender Policy, and Practice Implications

These words reflect my recollections of major transition points in my life and career: as I first became dedicated to becoming a physician, being introduced to the field of pathology and research, and then transitioning to a somewhat different career focus by becoming the first director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women's Health. Many of the experiences that I gained during my years in pathology served me well as I made efforts to establish women's health research and sex and gender based studies as scientific endeavors. Participating in research and teaching as an academic pathologist, setting funding priorities, and supporting and encouraging research careers through governmental office programs have been the essence of my more than 50 years as a pathologist and physician.

Diuretics associated acute kidney injury: clinical and pathological analysis

OBJECTIVE

In order to evaluate the clinical and pathological characteristics of diuretics associated acute kidney injury (AKI) and its management.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study including 131 cases that diagnosed as diuretics associated AKI from 1 January 1999 to 1 January 2010 in Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Drug applications and its related clinical, laboratory and histological data were collected.

RESULTS

The male to female ratio was 2:1. The proportion of ages <20 years, 20-40 years, 40-60 years and ≥ 60 years were 6.9%, 17.6%, 27.5% and 48.1% respectively. Most patients (96.2%) had at least one complication of which chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurred most frequently (72 in 131, 55.0%). We divided all the patients to diuretic group (N=131) and non-diuretic group (N=185) based on diuretics history. We found patients in diuretic group had higher rates of CVD (38.9% vs. 18.4%), hypertension (42.0% vs. 29.2%), CKD (55.0% vs. 27.0%) and DM (17.6% vs. 4.3%) than non-diuretic group. Of 131 diuretics associated AKI, 36 cases (27.5%) were caused by diuretics only, 39 cases (29.8%) were caused by the combination of diuretics and other drugs like antibiotics, contrast media, ACEI or NSAIDs, and 56 cases (42.7%) had other AKI risk factors such as operation, infection, acute heart failure or hepatorenal syndrome. In addition, our data suggested the severity of RIFLE classification and pathological injury of glomerular basement membrane was higher in large-dosage furosemide group (>=120 mg/d) than in low-dosage group (<120 mg/d). The most common lesion induced by diuretics was vacuolar degeneration of tubular epithelial cell. Logistic regression analysis showed predictors of all-cause mortality were age, gender, RIFLE classification when AKI onset. Age and RIFLE classification were predictive factor of non-complete recovery.

CONCLUSION

This article firstly focuses on diuretics associated AKI, whose onset was related to aging, primary diseases and diuretic dosage. The combination of diuretics with other drugs such as antibiotics, contrast media, ACEI, NSAIDs, etc. would synergistically induced AKI. The pathological lesion of diuretics associated AKI may be mostly manifested vacuolar degeneration of tubular epithelial cell. Aging, gender, severity of RIFLE classification may be predictive factors of all-cause mortality of diuretics associated AKI.

Urinary microscopy as seen by nephrologists

Urinary microscopy is a diagnostic tool which is largely used by nephrologists. In the opinion of the authors the best results can be achieved when all the aspects concerning this test are properly taken into account. Thus, from the methodological point of view, proper patient guidance, proper urine collection and handling, adequate microscopic equipment, and knowledge of the factors which can influence the results are all necessary. All the elements of clinical importance have to be known, namely, erythrocytes (with their morphological subtypes), leukocytes, tubular cells, uroepithelial cells (both superficial and deep), lipids, casts, crystals, and microorganisms. Then, the urinary findings have to be interpreted and, whenever possible, also combined into urinary profiles (e.g., the nephritic sediment, the nephrotic sediment). This, combined with other laboratory tests, the pathologic findings, and the clinical data, allows for the definition and management of urinary tract diseases.

Chromium picolinate toxicity

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case of toxicity secondary to chronic ingestion of 6-12 times the recommended daily allowance of over-the-counter (OTC) chromium picolinate.

CASE SUMMARY

A 33-year-old white woman presented with weight loss, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, liver dysfunction (aminotransferase enzymes 15-20 times normal, total bilirubin 3 times normal), and renal failure (serum creatinine 5.3 mg/dL; blood urea nitrogen 152 mg/dL). She had ingested chromium picolinate 1200-2400 microg/d for the previous 4-5 months to enhance weight loss. The patient had chromium plasma concentrations 2-3 times normal. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome were ruled out by clinical findings, peripheral blood smears, and a bone marrow biopsy. The patient was managed with supportive measures and received blood product transfusions and hemodialysis. Hemolysis stabilized and liver function improved over 6 days. Liver function returned to normal prior to discharge. Renal function began to return on day 12 and her serum creatinine on discharge was 1.3 mg/dL. One year later, all laboratory values were within normal limits.

DISCUSSION

Trivalent chromium is an essential trace element that is considered safe when ingested in normal quantities. Trivalent chromium compounds are used by patients to enhance weight loss, increase lean body mass, and/or improve glycemic control. Information regarding the toxicity of chromium picolinate is limited.

CONCLUSIONS

Chromium supplements may cause serious renal impairment when ingested in excess. Medication histories should include attention to the use of OTC nutritional supplements often regarded as harmless by the public and lay media.

Management of acute renal failure in the elderly. Treatment options

Renal changes that occur with aging mainly consist of impairment in the ability to concentrate urine and to conserve sodium and water. These physiological changes increase the risk of volume depletion and the prerenal type of acute renal failure (ARF) in elderly people. Bladder outlet obstruction caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy is a common cause of ARF in elderly men. Another frequent cause of ARF in the elderly is drug-induced nephropathy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics are most often implicated in the development of ARF in the elderly. However, considering the high usage of these drugs, the incidence of drug-induced nephropathy is relatively small. NSAIDs are more likely to cause ARF in patients with congestive heart failure, chronic renal disease (including diabetic nephropathy) or chronic liver disease than in otherwise healthy individuals. NSAID-induced ARF is often of the prerenal type, but may be caused by acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). The presence of heavy proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome differentiates NSAID-induced AIN from AIN caused by other drugs. Antibiotics, especially semisynthetic penicillins, more commonly give rise to AIN associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia and eosinophiluria than NSAIDs. Ciprofloxacin is increasingly reported to cause AIN. Fever commonly accompanies AIN, especially when induced by antibiotics. Aminoglycosides produce ARF by inducing acute tubular necrosis (ATN), which results from the excessive accumulation of myeloid bodies in the tubules. In all cases of ARF it is essential to obtain a good history, to perform a through physical examination, with particular attention to skin turgor, and to measure blood pressure, pulse rate (supine and upright), urinary electrolyte and creatinine levels. Fractional excretion of sodium and the urine:plasma creatinine ratio are reliable indices that distinguish prerenal ARF from ATN. A prompt response to fluid challenge, with an increase in urine output and urinary sodium excretion, and a rapid decrease in blood urea nitrogen, constitutes strong evidence for prerenal ARF. However, these indices are unreliable when prerenal ARF has progressed to ATN or when ARF has an obstructive pattern to begin with. In all cases of ARF, especially in elderly men, urinary tract obstruction should be suspected unless the history is otherwise clear cut. Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder is a simple, non-invasive and meaningful test that can be used to rule out obstructive causes of ARF. If obstruction is the cause of ARF, ultrasound will be positive; in contrast, urinary obstruction is very unlikely if ultrasound findings are normal in a patient who has been oliguric or anuric for 48 hours or more. Similarly, acute glomerulonephritis, including rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, should be suspected when ARF is associated with heavy proteinuria. In such instances, percutaneous renal biopsy is essential to document the diagnosis. It is of utmost importance to establish whether ARF is of prerenal or postrenal type, both of which are potentially fully reversible. In contrast, patients with ATN or rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis may not recover, or may only partially recover, their renal function. Haemodialysis and nutritional support are common measures for patients with severe ATN and a highly catabolic state. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy should be instituted for rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, in addition to haemodialysis. haemodiafiltration instead of haemodialysis is recommended for patients who are haemodynamically unstable [i.e., with a persistently low blood pressure (systolic < or = 100 mm Hg)]. Haemodiafiltration has been shown to improve acid-base balance and uraemia better than standard haemodialysis. However, despite dialysis, mortality in patients with ARF associated with ischaemic ATN remains high.

Massive eosinophilic infiltration in a patient with the nephrotic syndrome and drug-induced interstitial nephritis

The pathologic feature of acute interstitial nephritis is the infiltration of mononuclear cells, predominantly lymphocytes and monocytes, into the interstitium. We present an unusual case of a 49-year-old man with drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis whose renal biopsy specimen showed a massive infiltration of eosinophils into the interstitium and eosinophils infiltrating into the glomerulus through a gap in Bowman's capsule and the juxtaglomerular zone. The patient initially was referred to us with a recurrence of the nephrotic syndrome. Deterioration of renal function and an increase in proteinuria was noted at that time. Triazolam, a sleep inducer, was the suspected cause of the acute interstitial nephritis. Renal biopsy revealed sclerotic glomeruli containing eosinophils among massive infiltrated eosinophils and a loss of endothelial cells and mesangial cells in contrast to a preservation of epithelial cells. Infiltrating eosinophils were directly attached to the glomerular basement membrane, and free granules from the eosinophils were observed in the capillary lumen. In addition to chronic sclerotic change, eosinophils may have further damaged the glomerular capillary wall, leading to an increased severity of proteinuria in this case.

Tubular and interstitial factors in the progression of glomerulonephritis

All recent studies of the outcome of different forms of progressive glomerulonephritis concur that a major factor, apparently determining outcome, is the presence and severity of tubulointerstitial changes, and not the degree of glomerular alteration. Moreover, at the time of biopsy, tubulointerstitial changes correlate much better with the glomerular filtration rate. These at first surprising findings are not only useful clinically, but should make us think about our models of how progression takes place in so-called glomerular nephritides. In fact, a major tubulointerstitial infiltrate of immune-competent cells is present in all forms of progressive glomerulonephritis, and again correlates with outcome. In addition, it is now clear the tubular epithelium is capable of synthesising and secreting a number of factors important in fibrogenesis, and of displaying major histocompatibility complex class II antigens and leucocyte-adhesion molecules. Tubular cells could thus present peptides to T helper cells and amplify, or maybe even initiate, immune reactions. Finally, fibrogenesis within the kidney is at last being studied, long after studies have been performed on liver and lung. In the past, too much attention has been paid to reversible inflammation and not enough to irreversible cirrhosis of the kidney.

Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis

Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) is a common disorder characterized by a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic urinary abnormalities to acute oliguric renal failure. Tubular dysfunction out of proportion to the degree of renal failure is an important clue to the diagnosis. This review describes its pathogenesis, pathophysiology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy, emphasizing the drug-induced form of ATIN.

The pharmacology and therapeutics of diuretics in the pediatric patient

Selection of appropriate diuretic therapy in children is hampered by a lack of age-specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, especially in premature neonates. Well-designed clinical trials in neonates, infants, and younger children are necessary prerequisites to safer and more efficacious diuretic therapy.

Dyazide-induced reversible acute renal failure associated with intracellular crystal deposition

Acute interstitial nephritis due to Dyazide therapy, ie, a combination of hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg) and triamterene (50 mg), has been recently reported in the literature. This had been characterized by nonoliguric renal failure after a long latent period (weeks) following exposure to the drug. Pathologic data have indicated a drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction. We report here one case of oliguric acute renal failure after a massive Dyazide intoxication. Based on the results of the renal biopsy and clinical course, we propose that the oliguria was secondary to a direct toxic effect on the tubules, and intrarenal obstruction was secondary to triamterene crystals and crystal-laden cells. In addition, pathologic findings also suggested a moderate hypersensitivity reaction. After hemodialysis and short-term steroid therapy, the patient achieved complete recovery of renal function within 12 days. Recent knowledge of triamterene-induced nephrolithiasis helps to explain the pathogenesis of acute renal failure in this patient, and is briefly reviewed here.

Interstitial nephritis associated with frusemide

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Reversibility of acute renal failure in elderly patients with the nephrotic syndrome

Acute renal failure may occur in the nephrotic syndrome due to minor glomerular changes, especially in the elderly. We describe five cases and review the literature. Previous renal damage due to ischaemia and drugs may be important in pathogenesis. We stress the importance of active management of these cases, as the renal lesions are reversible and recovery can be expected.

Acute renal failure

The diagnosis and therapy of acute renal failure should be approached in concert, bearing in mind that more than one cause may co-exist in a patient. Therapy includes reversing prerenal and postrenal failure, removing any nephrotoxins, adjusting drug dosages, correcting acidemia, maintaining good nutritional status, and using dialysis when necessary.

Selection, presentation, and interpretation of biochemical data in renal failure

There is more information in biochemical laboratory data than is generally appreciated; much can be gained by display and manipulation of data. Patients with renal disease are often under regular clinic review so that many will have sets of sequential data. Display of these data, which requires a computer if it is to be routine, will reveal patterns and define trends which could be otherwise missed or inadequately assessed. Trends are most useful if they are recti-linear and several transforms of the data should be tried to achieve this aim; for plasma creatinine the usual transforms are the reciprocal and the logarithm. The choice of transform is based on usefulness and not on any prior assumption about the underlying pathophysiology. More frequently, however, all that is available is a single measurement, typically the simple plasma creatinine rather than the more complex creatinine clearance. The problem is to balance simplicity against precision and decide what the needs and the reliability of the interpretations of the data are. There is an advantage in manipulation of the data and comparison with standard data; and the possibilities were discussed for the plasma creatinine; these tables are ideally suited to a laboratory computer. It was suggested that complex calculations so easily achieved with a computer should be avoided unless they bring real gains, since complexity tends to hide the basic principles involved.

Insights into intrarenal sites and mechanisms of action of diuretic agents

Effective diuresis requires both sufficient glomerular filtrate and adequate delivery of the diuretic drug to the lumen of the renal tubule. Diuretics will not "force open" the kidney. Diuretics that work primarily in the proximal tubule include osmotic diuretics (e.g., mannitol), diuretics that interfere with the adenyl cyclase system (e.g., xanthines), and those which inhibit carbonic anhydrase (e.g., acetazolamide). Some thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics have a secondary site of action in the proximal tubule based on either carbonic anhydrase inhibition or other mechanisms, such as inhibition of sodium phosphate reabsorption. The diuretics that work primarily in the medullary diluting segment of the loop of Henle, furosemide and ethacrynic acid, block the active reabsorption of chloride and interfere with the tubular reabsorption of free water. The exact mechanism remains unknown. These diuretics tend to have a "high ceiling," to be potent and rapidly acting, and to have a short duration of effect. They are excellent for the treatment of severe fluid overload or pulmonary edema but are not ideal for the treatment of uncomplicated hypertension. Furosemide is a sulfonamide derivative; ethacrynic acid can be used in patients who are allergic to sulfa drugs. Diuretics that work primarily in the cortical diluting segment include the thiazides and thiazide-like drugs. They inhibit sodium transport by an undetermined mechanism. Most of them seem to reach a dose-response plateau beyond which little additional effect is gained by increasing the dose. Most of them appear to lose efficacy as the glomerular filtration rate decreases, except for metolazone and indapamide. The thiazides are most commonly used to treat hypertension. Diuretics that work primarily in the distal tubule and collecting tubule include the aldosterone inhibitor spironolactone and two drugs that impair tubular reabsorption of sodium by direct action, triamterene and amiloride. These drugs are primarily used for their potassium-sparing effect.

The use of diuretics in varying degrees of renal impairment: an overview

Administration of diuretics during acute renal failure in animals has been demonstrated to be of value with mannitol and/or loop-blocking diuretics, furosemide or ethacrynic acid. There is evidence that if these drugs are given very early in the controlled experimental environment that there will be some beneficial effect in maintaining renal function. However, in man the temporal relationship between the acute onset and the successful response to the administration of the drugs is, at best, coincidental and the use of diuretics in acute renal failure may not produce the same results as seen in the laboratory. One of the best guides to the underlying disease when there is acute decompensation in renal function is the utility of the renal failure index which utilizes urine and plasma sodium and urine and plasma creatinine ratios. Large doses of loop-blocking diuretics can be of benefit in patients with mild to moderate chronic renal insufficiency and fluid retention and/or hypertension. When renal insufficiency is severe in the pre-dialysis setting, furosemide, bumetanide or muzolimine may be of some benefit; however, as renal failure worsens the response of the kidney is sluggish and it is wise to begin to dialyze when glomerular filtration deteriorates below 5 ml per minute.

Drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis with granulomas

To shed more light on the immunopathogenesis of drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis, a combined histologic, immunopathologic, and ultrastructural study of renal biopsy specimens from nine patients with drug-induced renal disease was performed. None of the patients had pre-existing renal disease or evidence of sarcoidosis or tuberculosis. The principal drugs included a hydrochlorothiazide-triamterene combination (Dyazide), hydrochlorothiazide, fenoprofen, and furosemide and triamterene. Renal insufficiency developed approximately four to ten weeks after initiation of drug therapy. In all cases, withdrawal of the drug(s) with or without steroid therapy resulted in restoration of normal or near-normal renal function. Histologically, all biopsy specimens showed acute interstitial nephritis characterized by an intense but patchy mononuclear cell interstitial infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes, monocytes, and plasma cells, modest numbers of eosinophils, patchy tubular atrophy, interstitial edema, and normal glomeruli. All biopsy specimens contained interstitial (and, in two cases, perivascular) non-caseating granulomas, which were numerous in one case, moderate in four cases, and rare in the remainder. Direct immunofluorescence was negative for IgG, IgM, IgA, C1q, C4, and C3 along glomerular and tubular basement membranes. Immunoperoxidase staining for lysozyme (performed in three cases) demonstrated many positive cells in the infiltrate. In two cases in which granulomas were present in prepared sections, the epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells did not stain for lysozyme. Electron microscopy of the granulomas in two cases revealed that the epithelioid and giant cells had "secretory" features characteristic of hypersensitivity granulomas. These findings provide further evidence for the participation of cell-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of at least some cases of drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis.

Renal dysfunction. 2. Proteinuria

Proteinuria greater than 150 mg/24 hr without antecedent strenuous exercise demands an explanation. As an aid in the search for that explanation, this article provides a simple, logical classification of the various causes of proteinuria. Part 1 of this two-part article, published last month (page 93), discussed urea and creatinine.

Interstitial nephritis

The clinical and pathological findings are reviewed in ten cases where renal biopsy showed abnormalities predominantly within the interstitium. In six the nephritis was considered to be drug-induced; in two the aetiology was slightly obscure but the most likely diagnosis was considered to be sarcoidosis. Of the remaining two cases one was chronic pyelonephritis and the other polyarteritis nodosa. The diagnosis and pathogenesis of the renal lesions are discussed and attention is drawn to the importance of distinguishing primary interstitial changes from those found in association with glomerular disease.

Acute interstitial nephritis associated with thiazide diuretics. Clinical and pathologic observations in three cases

Renal failure insidiously developed in three patients treated with a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene five to 10 weeks after commencing therapy. All had normal renal function prior to therapy and none had preexisting renal disease. Two of the patients had eosinophilia and two had a fever. One patient was oliguric. Renal biopsy demonstrated acute interstitial nephritis histologically. Direct immunofluorescence did not disclose evidence of either immune complex or antitubular basement membrane antibody deposition. Withdrawal of the drug led to remarkable improvement with renal function returning to normal in two patients and near normal in the third. The sequence of events and the histologic findings strongly suggest that the acute interstitial nephritis was due to a drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction. Although hydrochlorothiazide appears to be the drug responsible for the reaction, certain observations suggest a possible potentiating role for triamterene.

Tienilic acid in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension

1. A double-blind crossover trial comparing the antihypertensive effect of tienilic acid and hydrochlorothiazide was conducted in thirty-eight patients with mild to moderate hypertension. 2. Tienilic acid was shown to be as effective as hydrochlorothiazide in controlling blood pressure. 3. Tienilic acid acid significantly lowered serum uric acid levels compared with both placebo and hydrochlorothiazide. 4. Tienilic acid was generally well tolerated but one patient developed acute renal failure due to acute allergic interstitial nephritis whilst taking the drug.

Acute interstitial nephritis associated with gentamicin and lincomycin therapy

A case of acute oliguric renal failure following gentamicin and linocomycin therapy is described. Renal biopsy showed an acute interstitial nephritis. This was associated with high serum gentamicin levels and the later development of ototoxicity. Withdrawal of antibiotics and conservative measures was followed by rapid recovery of renal function. Attention is drawn to the association between gentamicin and lincomycin therapy and the development of an acute interstitial nephritis.

Molecular basis for several drug-induced nephropathies

A recent clinical advance has been the discovery that many drug-induced hepatic diseases result from the metabolic activation of chemically stable drugs to potent alkylating agents by the liver. In addition to the liver, however, the kidney also contains active enzyme systems capable of metabolically activating drugs and other chemicals. For this reason a systematic investigation of the possible role of metabolic activation in the pathogenesis of several drug-induced renal diseases has been undertaken. These laboratory results are reviewed in the light of the clinical spectrum of the renal injuries, and possible therapeutic implications of these new findings are briefly discussed. The potential use of these models of nephrotoxicity to probe a variety of physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms of renal function are noted.

Drug induced interstitial nephritis, hepatitis and exfoliative dermatitis

Acute interstitial nephritis associated with hepatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, fever and eosinophilia is uncommon. The syndrome has been described previously in association with phenindione administration, leptospirosis and heavy metal poisoning. Four cases are described, two of which were due to phenindione sensitivity. The other two patients had been exposed to a number of toxins including allopurinol, frusemide, chlorothiazide and methyldopa so that the exact aetiological agent is unclear. Interstitial nephritis should be considered as a cause of acute renal failure in patients with other features of drug hypersensitivity.

Irreversible acute renal failure in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

In five adult patients (aged 44 to 74 years) with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, irreversible acute renal failure developed. Prior renal disease, associated systemic illness or occlusion of major renal vasculature was not present. All patients continued to excrete large amounts of proteins (8.6 to 15 g/24 hours) despite a minimal glomerular filtration rate and severe oliguria. One patient died after five months without recovering renal function. Four patients have required hemodialysis for a period of 12 to 58 months. The failure to recover renal function could not be explained by the light microscopic findings. It is suggested that the irreversibility of the renal failure may be related to either permanent alterations in renal blood flow or ultrastructural changes, or to both. Clinically, adult patients in whom acute renal failure develops during the course of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome seem to have a grave prognosis. Protracted oliguria or irreversible renal failure can be expected to occur.

Acute diffuse interstitial nephritis related to chemotherapy of tuberculosis

Acute renal insufficiency developed in three patients receiving chemotherapy for tuberculosis. It is proposed that acute diffuse interstitial nephritis related to the drugs was responsible for the renal injury. Recovery of renal function was slow and incomplete. Physicians administering chemotherapy to patients with tuberculosis must be aware of the potential nephrotoxicity of the common treatment regimens.