Diagnosis and Treatment of Renal ANCA Vasculitis: A Summary of the Consensus Document of the Catalan Group for the Study of Glomerular Diseases (GLOMCAT).

The document provides a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) with renal involvement, focusing on granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). It outlines the definitions, clinical presentation, histopathological classification, monitoring strategies, induction and maintenance treatments, as well as special considerations for relapsing, refractory, and frail patients with renal AAV. The document was prepared by the Catalan Group for the Study of Glomerular Diseases (GLOMCAT), which comprises nephrologists with extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of AAV patients.

The coexistence of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy is associated with worse kidney outcomes.

Background: Up to 50-60% of patients with diabetes have non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD) on kidney biopsy. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes frequently associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN). The objective of the current study was to investigate the kidney outcomes and survival in patients with biopsy diagnoses of DN and NDKD according to the presence of DR.

Risk factors for non-diabetic renal disease in diabetic patients.

Background: Diabetic patients with kidney disease have a high prevalence of non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD). Renal and patient survival regarding the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) or NDRD have not been widely studied. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of NDRD in patients with diabetes and to determine the capacity of clinical and analytical data in the prediction of NDRD.

Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody and spontaneous remission in membranous nephropathy.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in native kidney biopsies from adults. In 2009, antibodies to the M-type receptor of phospholipase A2 (anti-PLA2R) were identified in idiopathic MN patients, both within the kidney and in the circulation. The clinical course of idiopathic MN is variable and ranges from spontaneous remission to end-stage renal disease.

Malthus Mysterious Orofacial Cleft Correction.

Thomas Malthus (1766-1834), distinguished English professor, is the father of modern demography and the most famous harelip carrier of history. Much is known of his orofacial cleft but nothing regarding its mysterious surgical correction. An 1833 portrait of Malthus by John Linnell, finished when he considered himself "handsome enough," for sitting does not show any upper lip scar.

A Phase 2, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Study of Fresolimumab in Patients With Steroid-Resistant Primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

Introduction: Steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (SR-FSGS) is a common glomerulopathy associated with nephrotic range proteinuria. Treatment goals are reduction in proteinuria, which can delay end-stage renal disease.

Methods: Patients with SR-FSGS were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of fresolimumab, a monoclonal anti-transforming growth factor-β antibody, at 1 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg for 112 days, followed double-blind for 252 days (NCT01665391).

Efficacy of mycophenolate treatment in adults with steroid-dependent/frequently relapsing idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Background: This study assessed the efficacy of therapy with mycophenolate (MF) and reduced doses of steroids in adults with steroid-dependent/frequently relapsing idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (SD/FR-INS).

Methods: Twenty-nine nephrotic patients (including 16 males and 13 females; mean age: 40 years, range: 18-74) were treated. Starting doses of MF were 2000 mg/day for mofetil MF (1500 mg/day in one patient) or 1440 mg/day for sodium MF.

Therapeutic variability in adult minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Background: Variability in the management of glomerulonephritis may negatively impact efficacy and safety. However, there are little/no data on actual variability in the treatment of minimal change disease (MCD)/focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in adults. We assessed Spanish practice patterns for the management of adult nephrotic syndrome due to MCD or FSGS.

Effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil in C3 glomerulonephritis.

C3 glomerulonephritis is a clinicopathologic entity defined by the presence of isolated or dominant deposits of C3 on immunofluorescence. To explore the effect of immunosuppression on C3 glomerulonephritis, we studied a series of 60 patients in whom a complete registry of treatments was available over a median follow-up of 47 months. Twenty patients had not received immunosuppressive treatments.

Long-term outcome of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated small vessel vasculitis after renal transplantation.

The survival after renal transplantation of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated to systemic vasculitis is as good as in other diseases, although most of the reports are based on small numbers of patients. Furthermore, it is not known whether comorbidities (cardiovascular [CV] disease and cancer) are more frequent than in general population. We report our experience and the analysis of the published data on this topic.

Low-dose sirolimus combined with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and statin stabilizes renal function and reduces glomerular proliferation in poor prognosis IgA nephropathy.

Background: There is a lack of new therapeutic strategies for IgA nephropathy. Low-dose sirolimus inhibits mesangial cell proliferation and renal fibrosis in animal models.

Methods: We performed a pilot, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose sirolimus in patients with a high-risk IgA nephropathy.