Urinary mRNA Expression of Glomerular Podocyte Markers in Glomerular Disease and Renal Transplant.

The research of novel markers in urinary samples, for the description of renal damage, is of high interest, and several works demonstrated the value of urinary mRNA quantification for the search of events related to renal disease or affecting the outcome of transplant kidneys. In the present pilot study, a comparison of the urine mRNA expression of specific podocyte markers among patients who had undergone clinical indication to renal transplanted (RTx, = 20) and native (N, = 18) renal biopsy was performed. The aim of this work was to identify genes involved in podocytes signaling and cytoskeletal regulation (, and ) in respect to glomerular pathology.

Rituximab or Cyclophosphamide in the Treatment of Membranous Nephropathy: The RI-CYCLO Randomized Trial.

Background: A cyclic corticosteroid-cyclophosphamide regimen is the first-line therapy for membranous nephropathy. Compared with this regimen, rituximab therapy might have a more favorable safety profile, but a head-to-head comparison is lacking.

Methods: We randomly assigned 74 adults with membranous nephropathy and proteinuria >3.

Ribavirin as a beneficial treatment option for hepatitis C virusassociated glomerular disease.

The management of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced glomerular disease remains unsatisfactory despite novel advances in antiviral and immunosuppressive therapy. Recent evidence highlighted the role of ribavirin, a drug provided with immunomodulatory properties, in the treatment of glomerular diseases associated with chronic HCV. We administered low-dose ribavirin (200 mg/day or 200 mg twice a week or 200 mg thrice weekly) in a prospective fashion to a group of patients with HCV-associated glomerular disease (n = 7).

Membranous Nephropathy (MN) Recurrence After Renal Transplantation.

Primary membranous nephropathy (MN) is a frequent cause of NS in adults. In native kidneys the disease may progress to ESRD in the long term, in some 40-50% of untreated patients. The identification of the pathogenic role of anti-podocyte autoantibodies and the development of new therapeutic options has achieved an amelioration in the prognosis of this disease.

Effects of zoledronic acid and dexamethasone on early phases of socket healing after tooth extraction in rats: A preliminary macroscopic and microscopic quantitative study.

Background: The exact pathogenesis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is still unknown. The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of zoledronic acid and dexamethasone on the early phases of socket healing in rats subjected to tooth extractions.

Material And Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: pharmacologically treated group (T, n=20) and non-pharmacologically treated group (C, n=10).

Delayed Diagnosis of West Nile Virus Infection in a Kidney Transplant Patient Due to Inaccuracies in Commonly Available Diagnostic Tests.

West Nile virus infection is more frequently associated with neuroinvasive disease and high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts. Here, we describe a 47-year-old Egyptian kidney transplant recipient who was admitted to our department in 2016 for persistent fever, altered mental status, and upper limb tremors. In addition, renal impairment, signs of acute thrombotic microangiopathy, pancreatitis, and slightly altered inflammatory indices were present.

Immunosuppressive and antiviral treatment of hepatitis C virus-associated glomerular disease: A long-term follow-up.

Background: The evidence in the medical literature on the treatment of hepatitis C virus-associated glomerular disease is extremely limited. The advent of nonconventional immunosuppressive agents and direct-acting antivirals promises high efficacy and safety.

Aims: We conducted an open-label, single-arm clinical study to examine the efficacy and safety of a combined approach for hepatitis C virus-associated glomerular disease.

Rituximab therapy for primary glomerulonephritis: Report on two cases.

The evidence in the medical literature on the efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy for primary glomerulonephritis is limited and controversial. We describe two male Caucasian patients with rapidly progressive kidney failure due to primary proliferative glomerulonephritis. Both of them received high-dose intravenous corticosteroids and oral cyclophosphamide with limited benefit.

The effect of laser therapy on the expression of osteocalcin and osteopontin after tooth extraction in rats treated with zoledronate and dexamethasone.

Purpose: Laser therapy has been used for the prevention and management of medication-related ostenecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). The aim of this paper was to investigate the action of laser therapy on extraction socket healing in rats in conditions at risk for MRONJ, evaluating the expression of markers of bone metabolism.

Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in four groups: control group (C, n = 5), laser group (L, n = 5), treatment group (T, n = 10), and treatment plus laser group (T + L, n = 10).

Acute tubular necrosis following interferon-based therapy for hepatitis C: case study with literature review.

Background/aims: Interferon treatment of malignant or viral diseases can be accompanied by various side-effects including nephro-toxicity.

Methods: We report on a 68-year-old Caucasian male who received dual therapy with pegylated interferon 2a plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C.

Results: After three months of antiviral therapy, the patient developed acute kidney failure (serum creatinine up to 6 mg/dL) with mild proteinuria (500 mg daily) and haematuria.

Antiviral therapy for HCV-associated cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis: case report and review of the literature.

We describe the case of a 51-year-old woman with HCV-associated cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis (GN). She presented mild deterioration of kidney function, non-nephrotic proteinuria, and active urinary sediment. Kidney biopsy showed features of membranoproliferative changes with some sclerosis.

Remission of HCV-associated glomerulonephritis with pegylated ifn and ribavirin therapy after liver transplantation: case report and literature review.

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with a variety of extrahepatic disorders such as membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis, which is generally due to cryoglobulinemia. 


Setting: We describe the case of one liver transplant recipient who received antiviral therapy (subcutaneous administration of peg-IFN-alpha-2a 180 mcg weekly and oral ribavirin 200 mg thrice a day) 
for HCV-related membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis. He presented normal kidney function, non-nephrotic proteinuria (2 g/24 h) and mild hematuria.

Management of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Importance Of The Field: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) can have a variable natural course. Treatments able to induce remission can improve the long-term prognosis. However, the optimal therapy for IMN remains controversial.

Long-term outcome of renal transplantation in patients with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (MN).

Background: Little information is available about the long-term outcome of renal transplanted patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN).

Methods: The outcomes of 35 first renal transplants performed between 1975 and 2008 in patients with MN were compared with those of 70 controls transplanted in the same period and matched for sex, age and source of donors.

Results: The mean post-transplant follow-up was 117 ± 86 months for MN patients and 123 ± 83 months for controls.

Can prognostic factors assist therapeutic decisions in idiopathic membranous nephropathy?

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) may have a variable course, with some patients entering spontaneous remission and others slowly progressing to renal failure. The disease is treatable, but the available treatments are not devoid of potential morbidity. We review the studies dedicated to finding prognostic markers.

[Controversial issues in the Giornale Italiano di Nefrologia: how to treat patients with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis].

Primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) commonly presents with nephrotic syndrome. Spontaneous remission is rare and persistent nephrotic syndrome is a marker of poor prognosis. For this reason, obtaining remission using drugs with minimal side effects is desirable.

[Treatment of membranous nephropathy with chronic renal insufficiency].

Several studies have suggested that, in patients with membranous nephropathy, immunosuppressive therapy is effective even when started in the presence of already established renal insufficiency. Most of the favorable results reported have been obtained with the use of cytotoxic agents given together with glucocorticoids, which produce a 70-80% reduction of proteinuria and can preserve renal function. However, patients with renal insufficiency are more exposed to the risk of side effects caused by these drugs.

The place of cyclosporin in the management of primary nephrotic syndrome.

The 3 main causes of primary nephrotic syndrome are minimal change nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and membranous nephropathy. Corticosteroids result in remission of proteinuria in most patients with minimal change nephropathy. Many patients, however, develop corticosteroid dependency.

Serological and genetic factors in early recurrence of IgA nephropathy after renal transplantation.

Background: The relative role of IgA anomalies and genetic factors in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) recurrence after transplantation has never been investigated in a single cohort.

Methods: Sixty-one transplanted patients who had IgAN as an original disease (30 with biopsy-proved early recurrence, median 2.9 yr post-transplant), and 120 controls, were investigated for aberrantly glycosylated IgA1, IgA binding to mesangial matrix, macromolecular IgA (IgA/fibronectin and uteroglobulin/IgA/fibronectin complexes), and polymorphisms of cytokines [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin 10 (IL-10), IL-6, interferon gamma and transforming growth factor beta 1] and renin-angiotensin system (angiotensinogen converting enzyme, angiotensin II receptor 1, and angiotensinogen) genes.

Hepatitis C virus infection and rituximab therapy after renal transplantation.

Background: Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody, has been successfully given in various diseases including HCV-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia. However, only preliminary data exists on its efficacy and safety after renal transplantation.

Methods: We report on a renal transplant recipient with chronic hepatitis C who received rituximab therapy for gastric cancer.

[Treating lupus nephritis: guideline from the Italian Society of Nephrology].

Background: The current 3rd edition of the Italian Society of Nephrology guidelines has been drawn up to summarize evidence of key intervention issues on the basis of systematic reviews (SR) of randomized trials (RCT) or RCT data only. In the present guideline, evidence of lupus nephritis (LN) treatment is presented.

Methods: SR of RCT and RCT on different therapeutic options for LN were identified referring to a Cochrane Library and Renal Health Library search (2005 update).

[Immunosuppressive and non-immunosuppressive agents for patients with IgA nephropathy: guideline from the Italian Society of Nephrology].

Background: The current 3rd edition of the Italian Society of Nephrology guidelines has been drawn up to summarize evidence of key intervention issues on the basis of systematic reviews (SR) of randomized trials (RCT) or RCT data only. In the present guideline, evidence of the use of immunosuppressive and non-immunosuppressive treatments in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is presented.

Methods: SR of RCT and RCT on treatment in patients with IgAN were identified referring to a Cochrane Library and Renal Health Library search (2005 update).

[Therapeutic strategies for membranous nephropathy: guideline from the Italian Society of Nephrology].

Background: The current 3rd edition of the Italian Society of Nephrology guidelines has been drawn up to summarize evidence of key intervention issues on the basis of systematic reviews (SR) of randomized trials (RCT) or RCT data only. In the present guideline, evidence of interventions for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN) is presented.

Methods: SR of RCT and RCT on interventions for MN were identified referring to a Cochrane Library and Renal Health Library search (2005 update).