Publications by authors named "Gloria Fraga"

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare inherited disorder of renal phosphate wasting with a highly variable phenotype caused by loss-of-function variants in the gene. The diagnosis of individuals with mild phenotypes can be challenging and often delayed. Here, we describe a three-generation family with a very mild clinical presentation of XLH.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the clinical features of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in young adults aged 18-30, highlighting their morbidity despite the disease typically appearing in adulthood.
  • In a cohort of 346 young adults, the average age of hypertension diagnosis was just over 21, with a prevalence of 28%, which increased with age.
  • The findings suggest that young adults with ADPKD experience significant health issues, underscoring the importance of early detection and management of hypertension in this group.
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Key Points: Kidney survival in C3 glomerulopathy is significantly higher in patients with a disease chronicity score <4 and proteinuria <3.5 g/d, regardless of baseline eGFR. A faster eGFR decline in C3 glomerulopathy is associated with higher probability of kidney failure.

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Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most frequent cause of genetic renal disease and accounts for 6-10% of patients on kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Very few prospective, randomized trials or clinical studies address the diagnosis and management of this relatively frequent disorder. No clinical guidelines are available to date.

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  • C3 glomerulopathy is a rare kidney disease that affects how the complement system works, making it hard to predict individual patient outcomes.
  • Researchers conducted a study involving 115 patients across 35 nephrology centers to develop a nomogram that forecasts long-term kidney survival using factors like estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria, and chronicity score from kidney biopsies.
  • The final nomogram showed high accuracy (C-index of 0.860) in predicting kidney failure risk at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years, demonstrating reliable calibration between predicted and actual outcomes.
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Background: Primary hyperoxalurias (PHs) are rare genetic diseases that increase the endogenous level of oxalate, a waste metabolite excreted predominantly by the kidneys and also the gut. Treatments aim to improve oxalate excretion, or reduce oxalate generation, to prevent kidney function deterioration. Oxalobacter formigenes is an oxalate metabolizing bacterium.

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Background: Activation of parietal-epithelial cells (PECs) with neo-expression of CD44 has been found to play a relevant role in the development of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The aim of this study was to analyse whether the expression of CD44 by PECs in biopsies of minimal change disease (MCD) is associated with the response to corticosteroids, with kidney outcomes and/or can be considered an early sign of FSGS.

Methods: This multicentric, retrospective study included paediatric and adult patients with MCD.

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Objectives: Idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) has been linked to immunological and inflammatory response dysregulations. The aim of this study was to find endotypes of FSGS patients using a cluster (CL) analysis based on inflammatory and immunological variables, and to analyse whether a certain endotype is associated with response to treatment with corticosteroids.

Methods: This prospective observational study included patients with idiopathic FSGS diagnosed by kidney biopsy.

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  • This study investigates how changes in protein levels in urine (proteinuria) over time relate to kidney health in patients with complement component 3 (C3) glomerulopathy.
  • Conducted across 35 nephrology departments in Spain, the research analyzed patient data from 1995 to 2020, focusing on the link between proteinuria trends and kidney failure risk.
  • Findings reveal that higher proteinuria levels significantly increase the risk of kidney failure, while a reduction of 50% or more in proteinuria is associated with a decreased risk, highlighting proteinuria changes as useful indicators for predicting kidney outcomes.
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Background: Inherited kidney diseases are one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that manifests before the age of 30 years. Precise clinical diagnosis of early-onset CKD is complicated due to the high phenotypic overlap, but genetic testing is a powerful diagnostic tool. We aimed to develop a genetic testing strategy to maximize the diagnostic yield for patients presenting with early-onset CKD and to determine the prevalence of the main causative genes.

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  • A study aimed to validate a previously proposed prognostic histologic index for C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) by analyzing kidney biopsy findings in a new patient cohort from Spain.
  • The research included 111 patients from various nephrology departments, with assessments focusing on demographic data, clinical parameters, and specific C3G scoring systems.
  • Results showed that 43% of patients developed kidney failure, with significant predictors identified, including eGFR, proteinuria, and specific histological features like tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates C3 glomerulopathy, a kidney disease linked to abnormalities in the complement system, to identify factors influencing treatment outcomes with corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).
  • - Conducted across 35 nephrology departments in Spain, the research analyzed data from 97 patients diagnosed with C3 glomerulopathy or dense deposit disease to evaluate remission rates and kidney survival.
  • - Results showed that treatment with corticosteroids plus MMF led to significantly better outcomes (79% remission; 14% kidney failure) compared to other treatments, especially in patients with autoantibody-mediated forms, while those with genetic variants had only partial remissions.
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Molecular diagnosis of inherited kidney diseases remains a challenge due to their expanding phenotypic spectra as well as the constantly growing list of disease-causing genes. Here we develop a comprehensive approach for genetic diagnosis of inherited cystic and glomerular nephropathies. Targeted next generation sequencing of 140 genes causative of or associated with cystic or glomerular nephropathies was performed in 421 patients, a validation cohort of 116 patients with previously known mutations, and a diagnostic cohort of 207 patients with suspected inherited cystic disease and 98 patients with glomerular disease.

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Background: The TTC21B gene was initially described as causative of nephronophthisis (NPHP). Recently, the homozygous TTC21B p.P209L mutation has been identified in families with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and tubulointerstitial lesions.

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Genetic diagnosis of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) using Sanger sequencing is complicated by the high genetic heterogeneity and phenotypic variability of this disease. We aimed to improve the genetic diagnosis of SRNS by simultaneously sequencing 26 glomerular genes using massive parallel sequencing and to study whether mutations in multiple genes increase disease severity. High-throughput mutation analysis was performed in 50 SRNS and/or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) patients, a validation cohort of 25 patients with known pathogenic mutations, and a discovery cohort of 25 uncharacterized patients with probable genetic etiology.

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Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most frequent cause of genetic renal disease and accounts for 6-10% of patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT). Very few prospective, randomized trials or clinical studies address the diagnosis and management of this relatively frequent disorder. No clinical guidelines are available to date.

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Mutations in the NPHS1 gene cause congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type presenting before the first 3 months of life. Recently, NPHS1 mutations have also been identified in childhood-onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and milder courses of disease, but their role in adults with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis remains unknown. Here we developed an in silico scoring matrix to evaluate the pathogenicity of amino-acid substitutions using the biophysical and biochemical difference between wild-type and mutant amino acid, the evolutionary conservation of the amino-acid residue in orthologs, and defined domains, with the addition of contextual information.

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Background: Mutations in the TRPC6 gene have been reported in six families with adult-onset (17-57 years) autosomal dominant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Electrophysiology studies confirmed augmented calcium influx only in three of these six TRPC6 mutations. To date, the role of TRPC6 in childhood and adulthood non-familial forms is unknown.

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