Publications by authors named "Fernando Caravaca Fontan"

The treatment landscape for IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is rapidly evolving with the introduction of novel therapies targeting diverse disease pathways. Some have already been approved in different countries, while others are under investigation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with encouraging results. However, almost all performed RCTs have included only patients with refractory non-nephrotic proteinuria and preserved renal function.

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Purpose Of Review: Pioneering contributions in membranous nephropathy over the last decade have greatly enhanced our comprehension of its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatments, igniting renewed interest in this entity. This review provides an updated perspective on the diagnosis and therapeutic management of membranous nephropathy.

Recent Findings: The identification of antiphospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibodies in 50-80% of membranous nephropathy patients was a key breakthrough.

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Sex is a key variable in the regulation of human physiology and pathology. Many diseases disproportionately affect one sex: autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, are more common in women but more severe in men, whereas the incidence of other disorders such as gouty arthritis and malignant cancers is higher in men. Besides the pathophysiology, sex may also influence the efficacy of therapeutics; participants in clinical trials are still predominately men, and the side effects of drugs are more common in women than in men.

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SLE is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease that affects the kidneys in approximately 50% of patients, with the prevalence rising to as high as 70% in certain populations, such as African American and Asian people. Antimalarials-and particularly hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-are currently considered a mainstay of therapy, together with immunosuppressants. Over the past decades, several studies have extensively investigated the mechanisms of action of antimalarial agents and their potential beneficial properties in patients with SLE in general.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Despite these positive outcomes, the effectiveness of SGLT2i in treating patients with glomerulonephritis remains uncertain due to various study limitations.
  • * This manuscript reviews evidence for the use of SGLT2i in glomerular diseases and discusses both the limitations and their potential clinical role.
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Membranous nephropathy (MN) management poses challenges, particularly in selecting appropriate immunosuppressive treatments (IST) and monitoring disease progression and complications. This article highlights 10 key tips for the management of primary MN based on current evidence and clinical experience. First, we advise against prescribing IST to patients without nephrotic syndrome (NS), emphasizing the need for close monitoring of disease progression.

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Randomized clinical trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy of novel agents targeting the alternative complement pathway in patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), a rare glomerular disease. The Kidney Health Initiative convened a panel of experts in C3G to ( 1 ) assess the data supporting the use of the prespecified trial end points as measures of clinical benefit and ( 2 ) opine on efficacy findings they would consider compelling as treatment(s) of C3G in native kidneys. Two subpanels of the C3G Trial Endpoints Work Group reviewed the available evidence and uncertainties for the association between the three prespecified end points-( 1 ) proteinuria, ( 2 ) eGFR, and ( 3 ) histopathology-and anticipated outcomes.

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Introduction: Kidney disease is a well-known extraintestinal manifestation (EIM) associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with a variety of underlying etiologies. However, little is known about the overall outcomes and predictors.

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational cohort study.

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Background: Autosomal dominant Alport Syndrome (ADAS), also known as thin basement membrane disease (TBMD), is caused by pathogenic variants in the COL4A3 and COL4A4 genes. A cystic phenotype has been described in some patients with TBMD, but no genetic studies have been performed. We conducted a genetic and radiologic investigation in a cohort of ADAS patients to analyze the prevalence of multicystic kidney disease (MKD) and its association with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

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Article Synopsis
  • Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common type of kidney inflammation globally, with recent research highlighting the critical role of the complement system, especially the alternative pathway, in its progression.
  • Studies indicate that specific proteins like factor H-related proteins and the lectin pathway contribute to disease severity, and glomerular deposition of markers like C3 and C4d may predict worse outcomes.
  • The understanding of complement's involvement in IgAN has led to the development of new treatments targeting various components of the complement system, with several clinical trials currently underway to assess their effectiveness.
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  • The activation of the alternative pathway (AP) of the complement system plays a significant role in the development of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), but the exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
  • Researchers analyzed gene variants and plasma levels of different complement components in a Spanish cohort of 102 AAV patients to explore the impact of the AP on the disease.
  • The study found that specific genetic variants influence disease susceptibility and kidney damage severity, while high levels of AP activation and certain plasma component ratios correlate with worse outcomes, highlighting FHR-1 as a potential therapeutic target.
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Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a pattern of injury caused by autoantibodies binding to specific target antigens, with accumulation of immune complexes along the subepithelial region of glomerular basement membranes. The past 20 years have brought revolutionary advances in the understanding of MN, particularly via the discovery of novel target antigens and their respective autoantibodies. These discoveries have challenged the traditional classification of MN into primary and secondary forms.

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Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a pattern of injury caused by autoantibodies binding to specific target antigens, with accumulation of immune complexes along the subepithelial region of glomerular basement membranes. The past 20 years have brought revolutionary advances in the understanding of MN, particularly via the discovery of novel target antigens and their respective autoantibodies. These discoveries have challenged the traditional classification of MN into primary and secondary forms.

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Introduction: We aimed to characterize the incidence and clinical presentation of membranous nephropathy (MN) after kidney transplantation (KT), and to assess allograft outcomes according to proteinuria rates and immunosuppression management.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective cohort study including patients from six Spanish centers who received a KT between 1991-2019. Demographic, clinical, and histological data were collected from recipients with biopsy-proven MN as primary kidney disease ( = 71) or MN diagnosed after KT ( = 4).

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Background: The role of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in the management glomerular/systemic autoimmune diseases with proteinuria in real-world clinical settings is unclear.

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, international cohort study. Adult patients with biopsy-proven glomerular diseases were included.

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Introduction: Macroscopic hematuria (MH) bouts, frequently accompanied by acute kidney injury (AKI-MH) are one of the most common presentations of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in the elderly. Immunosuppressive therapies are used in clinical practice; however, no studies have analyzed their efficacy on kidney outcomes.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicenter study of a cohort of patients aged ≥50 years with biopsy-proven IgAN presenting with AKI-MH.

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Article Synopsis
  • However, about 20%-30% of patients may still face treatment-resistant forms of MN, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies.
  • Promising new treatments under investigation include novel anti-CD20 agents, anti-CD38 therapies, and innovative techniques used primarily in cancer treatment, paving the way for a more precise approach to managing MN in the future.
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Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline is causally associated with kidney failure and is a candidate surrogate endpoint for clinical trials of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Analyses across a diverse spectrum of interventions and populations is required for acceptance of GFR decline as an endpoint. In an analysis of individual participant data, for each of 66 studies (total of 186,312 participants), we estimated treatment effects on the total GFR slope, computed from baseline to 3 years, and chronic slope, starting at 3 months after randomization, and on the clinical endpoint (doubling of serum creatinine, GFR < 15 ml min per 1.

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