Vol 94, No 6 (2022)

Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common organ lesion in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), developing in 40–50% of patients. Due to immunosuppressive therapy, the survival of patients with SLE has increased significantly over the past 50 years, and the proportion of severe kidney damage in the death structure has decreased. However, LN relapses and complications of immunosuppression, accelerated atherogenesis, concomitant diseases lead to the accumulation of organ damage and an increased risk of death. The article consideres the place of kidney damage in the SLE, the risk factors for LN development, the main renal histopathological changes, it identifies a number of issues that need to be addressed to optimize treatment and improve LN long-term outcomes, including, the revision of pathogenetic therapy regimens with restriction of glucocorticosteroids and prescribing drugs with steroid-sparing activity, the integration of new drugs for LN treatment, wider use of modern nephroprotection capabilities.

Aim. To analyze the outcomes of C3-glomerulopathy (C3-GP) and determine the associated factors.

Materials and methods. A retrospective single-center study included 60 patients with newly diagnosed C3-GP (with primary C3-GP – pC3-GP – 82%). Of these, 48 (80%) patients had clinical data to assess the following disease outcomes: development of remission and disease progression (by a composite endpoint that included initiation of chronic dialysis or a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate – eGFR – <15 mL/min/1.73 m² or a decrease in eGFR≥30% of baseline at the time of renal biopsy). The median follow-up period was 25 (7; 52) months.

Results. At early follow-up (median 4 [3; 9] months) remission was registered in 35% of patients; at the end of follow-up, in 48% (for pC3-GP, 32 and 41%). Disease progression occurred in 17 patients. In the overall group the likelihood of achieving early remission was higher with treatment (Expβ=6.4, 95% confidence interval – CI 1.4–29.3; p=0.017). Early remission was associated with the presence of remission at the end of follow-up (Expβ=6.3, 95% CI 2.2–18.4; p=0.001). Specific treatment (Expβ=0.308, 95% CI 0.108–0.881; p=0.028) and late remission (Expβ=0.079, 95% CI 0.017–0.368; p=0.001) were associated with reduced risk of disease progression in multivariable models (adjusted for eGFR, mean blood pressure). The same results were obtained for the group of patients with pC3-GP.

Conclusion. C3-GP is a variant of severe complement-mediated glomerular damage with unfavorable renal prognosis, which requires timely personalized expert-level diagnostics with clarification of etiopathogenesis of the disease followed by therapy aimed at achieving remission to improve outcomes.

Background. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is accompanied by a risk of thrombotic complications due to hypercoagulability. Routine laboratory tests are not sensitive enough to detect these disorders, and therefore the use of integral coagulation tests, including a new thrombodynamic test (TT) in patients with NS, is of high relevance.

Aim. Using a TT to determine hemostasis disorders in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) with NS.

Materials and methods. The study included 49 patients with CGN, mean age 37 years, of which 25 (51%) women and 24 (49%) men. Of all the examined patients, 20 (40.8%) of people had NS, 29 (59.2%) had no NS. The process of clot formation was assessed by TT.

Results. According to TT, 30% (6/20) of patients with NS and 13.7% (4/29) of patients without NS have hypercoagulation with changes in parameters that go beyond the reference values. In patients with NS, an increase in clot density (D), clot formation rate (V) and clot size (CS) was found, especially when albumin decreased below 25 g/l. Negative correlations were found between the levels of albumin, creatinine and clot density (D), which reflects the level of hyperfibrinogenemia, the rate of clot formation (V) and the integral index of coagulation (CS). The results indicate mainly the activation of the plasma hemostasis due to the internal coagulation pathway. However, the correlation of Tlag (delay time for the onset of clot formation after contact of blood plasma with the insert-activator) with serum cholesterol levels may also indicate activation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway.

Conclusion. In CGN patients with NS, activation of the plasma hemostasis is noted, as evidenced by an increase in the rate of formation (V) and size of the clot (CS) after 30 minutes, as well as the density of the formed clot (D).

Aim. To determine the incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Russian cohort of patients with COVID-19.

Materials and methods. We included 315 patients, who were hospitalized with COVID-19 from October 2020 till February 2021. The diagnosis was established on the basis of the positive SARS-CoV-2 swab test and/or typical radiologic findings on CT scans.

Results. AKI complicated the clinical course in 92 (29.21%) cases. The independent risk factors of AKI were female sex, underline chronic kidney disease and the highest level of C-reactive protein during hospitalization. In the general group of patients were 41 (13%) lethal cases, in the group with AKI – 32 (34.8%). Compared with those without AKI, patients with AKI had 4.065 (95% confidence interval 2.154 to 7.671) times the odds of death. Respiratory support, the highest serum creatinine and glucose levels appeared to be the risk factors of death among patients with AKI in the multivariable Cox regression.

Conclusion. The clinical course of COVID-19 was complicated by AKI in 29% cases. The independent risk factors of AKI in patients with COVID-19 are underline chronic kidney disease, circulatory disorder and the highest level of C-reactive protein during hospitalization.

Background. It has been established that the use of a low-protein diet (LPD) in combination with ketoanalogues (KA) of essential amino acids can contribute to cardio- and nephroprotection in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Moreover, it has been shown that replacing part of the animal protein with soy protein (SP) in the diet contributed to more pronounced nephro- and cardioprotection in CKD, however, the data, available in the literature, are mainly represented by experimental studies.

Aim. To compare the effects of 2 types of diets on the main parameters of nephro- and cardioprotection in patients with CKD.

Materials and methods. We have conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study which included 85 patients with 3B–4 stages of CKD, compliant to LPD (0.6 g of protein/kg body weight) + KA (1 tablet/5 kg body weight). 43 patients (Group 1) received LPD with replacing animal protein with soy (60% soy protein + 40% another vegetable proteins) + KA, and 42 patients (control group, Group 2) received LPD (60% animal protein + 40% vegetable protein) + KA, within 12 months.

Results. The dietary substitution of animal protein with SP to a greater extent delayed the decrease in glomerular filtration rate (-5.9% vs -13.3%; p=0.048), the increase in left ventricular hypertrophy (+4.7% vs +12.3%; p=0.042), as well as the increase in central systolic blood pressure (+2.6% vs +13.0%; p=0.021), augmentation index (+7.6% vs +23.3%; p=0.010), slowed down the decrease in lean body mass in men (+0.9% vs -11.2%; p=0.017) and women (-1.8% vs -10.3%; p=0.024), increase in phosphorus (-10.3% vs +13.0%; p=0.029), cholesterol (-10.7% vs -3.4%; p=0.047) and urea (+6.3% vs +19.6%; p=0.035) serum levels.

Conclusion. The use of LPD with substitution of animal protein with soy protein + KA provides a more pronounced effect on nephro- and cardioprotection as well as maintenance of nutritional status, than conventional LPD + KA in patients with 3B–4 stages of CKD.

The presented clinical observation reflects the difficulties of differential diagnosis of progressive kidney damage in a patient with sarcoidosis who has undergone a new coronavirus infection. The differential circle included interstitial nephritis as an exacerbation of the underlying disease, acute drug-induced kidney injury, acute glomerulonephritis. Nephrobiopsy confirmed the diagnosis of acute sarcoid tubulointerstitial nephritis with acute tubular necrosis. Timely administration of corticosteroids led to the control of the sarcoidosis process, restoration of kidney function.

Membranous nephropathy (MN), an immune-mediated glomerular disease, is the most common cause of adult nephrotic syndrome. In MN, proteinuria is developed by podocyte damage due to the complement system activation in response to the subepithelial deposition of immune complexes containing various auto- and exogenous antigens. Membrane-attacking complex (MAC) is the terminal product of any complement pathways activation (classical, lectin or alternative) and plays the leading role in the complement-mediated podocytic damage. Thus far, the main pathway of complement activation leading to the formation of MAC in MN has not been established. The review highlights current evidence of various complement pathways activation in the development of MN, as well as recently established new molecular mechanisms of complement-mediated podocyte damage.

The article presents an historical analysis of publications devoted lead intoxication to kidney damage developing during contact with lead. It is shown that one of the manifestations of occupational intoxication with this metal can be toxic nephropathy.