Publications by authors named "Mercedes Cao"

Article Synopsis
  • Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDUE) is a leading global cause of kidney failure, and the GENSEN Study aimed to explore its genetic causes through extensive genetic testing on a large patient population.
  • The study involved 818 patients under 45 with advanced CKDUE, discovering pathogenic gene variants in about 25% of them, with type IV collagen genes being the most commonly affected.
  • The research revealed significant previously undiagnosed genetic kidney diseases, suggesting that genomic testing can be a valuable approach in understanding and treating CKDUE.
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Background: Despite significant advances in therapeutic management of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), guidelines are not timely updated and achieving a consensus on management recommendations remains a topic of ongoing discussion.

Methods: A Scientific Committee with five experts was set up. A literature review was conducted and publications addressing the classification of aHUS, patient profiles and therapeutic approach were selected.

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Unlabelled: Fabry disease may be treated by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), but the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the response to therapy remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to analyse the incidence and predictors of clinical events in patients on ERT.

Study Design: Multicentre retrospective observational analysis of patients diagnosed and treated with ERT for Fabry disease.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study explores the relationship between thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and various causes of malignant hypertension (mHTN) in 199 patients, revealing that TMA is most prevalent in cases related to primary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and drug-related hypertension.
  • - Findings indicate that patients with TMA are generally younger, predominantly female, and present with poorer kidney function and lower blood pressure levels compared to those without TMA; notably, no cases of renovascular or endocrine-related mHTN exhibited TMA.
  • - The results suggest that identifying TMA in mHTN patients should prompt clinicians to consider diagnoses such as primary aHUS and drug-related hypertension,
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Unlabelled: Fabry disease may be treated by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), but the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the response to therapy remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to analyse the incidence and predictors of clinical events in patients on ERT.

Study Design: Multicentre retrospective observational analysis of patients diagnosed and treated with ERT for Fabry disease.

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A cyclical corticosteroid-cyclophosphamide regimen is recommended for patients with primary membranous nephropathy at high risk of progression. We hypothesized that sequential therapy with tacrolimus and rituximab is superior to cyclical alternating treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide in inducing persistent remission in these patients. This was tested in a randomized, open-label controlled trial of 86 patients with primary membranous nephropathy and persistent nephrotic syndrome after six-months observation and assigned 43 each to receive six-month cyclical treatment with corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide or sequential treatment with tacrolimus (full-dose for six months and tapering for another three months) and rituximab (one gram at month six).

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Background And Objectives: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is a form of thrombotic microangiopathy caused by dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway. There is evidence showing complement activation in other thrombotic microangiopathies. The aim of this study was to evaluate complement activation in different thrombotic microangiopathies and to monitor treatment response.

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Malignant hypertension is listed among the causes of secondary thrombotic microangiopathy, but pathogenic mutations in complement genes have been reported in patients with hypertension-induced thrombotic microangiopathy. Here we investigated the frequency and severity of hypertension in 55 patients with primary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). A genetic analysis was performed in all patients, and funduscopic examination was performed in all the patients with Grades 2 and 3 hypertension.

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Background: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease associated with congenital or acquired genetic abnormalities that result in uncontrolled complement activation, leading to thrombotic microangiopathy and kidney failure. Until recently, the only treatment was plasma exchange or plasma infusion (PE/PI), but 60% of patients died or had permanent kidney damage despite treatment. Eculizumab, a complement inhibitor, has shown promising results in aHUS.

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Article Synopsis
  • * In a study of 513 aHUS patients, nine showed abnormalities in the FHR-1 gene due to recurrent gene conversions, leading to mutations that hinder the regulation of complement activity in the body.
  • * Functional tests revealed that these mutant proteins disrupt normal cellular processes, contributing to severe aHUS symptoms, especially in women post-childbirth, highlighting the need for comprehensive genetic testing methods to uncover these rare mutations.
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Pregnancy-associated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) refers to the thrombotic microangiopathy resulting from uncontrolled complement activation during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Pregnancy-associated aHUS is a devastating disease for which there is a limited clinical understanding and treatment experience. Here we report a retrospective study to analyze the clinical and prognostic data of 22 cases of pregnancy-associated aHUS from the Spanish aHUS Registry under different treatments.

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Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease characterized by hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure. It is related to genetic mutations of the alternative complement pathway and is difficult to differentiate from other prothrombotic microangiopathies. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) (Churg-Strauss syndrome, CSS) is a systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis and a hypereosinophilic disorder where eosinophils seem to induce cell apoptosis and necrosis and therefore, vasculitis.

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Background: Complement dysregulation occurs in thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) other than primary atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS). A few of these patients have been reported previously to be successfully treated with eculizumab.

Methods: We identified 29 patients with so-called secondary aHUS who had received eculizumab at 11 Spanish nephrology centres.

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