American Journal of Kidney Diseases: the Official Journal of the National Kidney Foundation

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In older adults, the most common kidney biopsy diagnoses include pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis, membranous nephropathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Recently, investigators described a small series of older patients (aged 66-80 years) with acute kidney injury and a kidney biopsy demonstrating tubular basement membrane (TBM) immune deposits of polytypic immunoglobulin G (IgG) and C3, acute tubular injury, and tubulointerstitial inflammation. They identified a circulating antibody against kidney tubular low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2; also known as megalin) in patients' sera and colocalization of LRP2 with IgG in TBM deposits...

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Although primary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is associated with abnormalities in complement genes and antibodies to complement factor H, the role of complement in secondary aHUS remains debatable. We evaluated the usefulness of an ex vivo test to: (1) detect complement activation within the endothelium in primary and secondary aHUS, (2) differentiate active disease from remission, (3) monitor the effectiveness of eculizumab therapy, and (4) identify relapses during eculizumab dosage tapering and after discontinuation of treatment...

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at dialysis therapy initiation with mortality among adult dialysis patients has been greatly debated, with some studies showing no benefit from early dialysis therapy initiation. However, this association has not been well investigated in pediatric dialysis patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mortality risk associated with eGFR at dialysis therapy initiation in children and adolescents with kidney failure...

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RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Improving arteriovenous fistula (AVF) outcomes requires better understanding of the biology underlying maturation or failure. Our current knowledge of maturation relies on extrapolation from other vascular pathologies, which does not incorporate unique aspects of AVF remodeling. This study compares the RNA expression of pre-access (native) veins and AVFs with distinct maturation outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 64 patients undergoing 2-stage AVF surgeries at a single center...

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: In Central America, there is a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of nontraditional etiology often observed among agricultural workers. Few studies have assessed CKD prevalence among workers in nonagricultural occupations, which was the objective of this investigation. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Male and female workers (n = 224) employed by artisanal brickmaking facilities in La Paz Centro, Nicaragua...

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RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Vascular dysfunction, characterized by impaired vascular endothelial function and increased large-elastic artery stiffness, is evident early in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and is an important predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. Aldosterone excess has been implicated in the development of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness, in part by causing increased oxidative stress and inflammation. We hypothesized that aldosterone antagonism would reduce vascular dysfunction in patients with early-stage ADPKD...

In many countries, the use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains low despite arguments that support its greater use, including dialysis treatment away from hospital settings, avoidance of central venous catheters, and potential health economic advantages. Training patients to manage aspects of their own care has the potential to enhance health literacy and increase patient involvement, independence, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of care. Complex reasons underlie the variable use of PD across the world, acting at the level of the patient, the health care team that is responsible for them, and the health care system that they find themselves in...

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is associated with renal and cardiovascular disease in diabetes. Unfortunately, early RAAS blockade in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) does not prevent the development of complications. We sought to examine the role of hyperfiltration and RAAS activation across a wide range of T1DM duration to better understand renal hemodynamic status in patients with T1DM. STUDY DESIGN: Post hoc analysis of blood samples...

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in sickle cell disease (SCD) and its risk factors remain poorly defined. We identified characteristics associated with CKD as well as decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and presence of proteinuria over time in adults with SCD. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients with SCD 18 years or older in a single center from 2004 to 2013...

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) characterized by decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is often accompanied by various degrees of impaired tubular function in the cortex and medulla. Assessment of tubular function may therefore be useful in establishing the severity of kidney disease and identifying those at greater risk for CKD progression. We explored reductions in urinary concentrating ability, a well-known feature of CKD, as a risk factor for GFR decline and end-stage renal disease (ESRD)...

Renal imaging has become a fundamental part of clinical care for patients with kidney disease. Imaging strategies for the kidney have been evolving during the past hundred years and have been even more rapidly changing during the past couple of decades due to the development of modern computed tomographic techniques, magnetic resonance imaging, and more sophisticated ultrasonographic techniques, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Applying the correct radiologic study for the clinical situation maximizes the diagnostic accuracy of the imaging, and a judicious choice between techniques helps limit radiation dose and potential adverse events...

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