Unraveling the Link between Interferon-α and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: From the Molecular Mechanisms to Target Therapies.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease with a wide range of clinical expressions. The kidney is often affected, usually within 5 years of the onset of SLE, and lupus nephropathy (LN) carries a high risk for increased morbidity. The clinical heterogeneity of the disease is accompanied by complex disturbances affecting the immune system with inflammation and tissue damage due to loss of tolerance to nuclear antigens and the deposition of immune complexes in tissues.

Evidence for charge-based mimicry in anti dsDNA antibody generation.

Mechanisms for the generation of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies are still not completely elucidated. One theory states that dsDNA interacts for mimicry with antibodies raised versus other antigens but molecular features for mimicry are unknown. Here we show that, at physiological acid-base balance, anti-Annexin A1 binds IgG2 dsDNA in a competitive and dose-dependent way with Annexin A1 and that the competition between the two molecules is null at pH 9.

Clinical and histological findings at second but not at first kidney biopsy predict end-stage kidney disease in a large multicentric cohort of patients with active lupus nephritis.

Objective: To investigate second kidney biopsy as predictor of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in active lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven LN (International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society 2003) who had undergone a second kidney biopsy between January 1990 and December 2018 were included. Clinical and histological findings at first and at second biopsy were analysed with Cox proportional hazard models to predict ESKD, defined as start of kidney replacement therapy.

Beyond ISN/RPS Lupus Nephritis Classification: Adding Chronicity Index to Clinical Variables Predicts Kidney Survival.

Background: A renewed interest for activity and chronicity indices as predictors of lupus nephritis (LN) outcome has emerged. Revised National Institutes of Health activity and chronicity indices have been proposed to classify LN lesions, but they should be validated by future studies. The aims of this study were () to detect the histologic features associated with the development of kidney function impairment (KFI), and () to identify the best clinical-histologic model to predict KFI at time of kidney biopsy.

Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis in Kidney Transplantation.

Due to complex comorbidity, high infectious complication rates, an elevated risk of relapsing for primary renal disease, as well as inferior recipient and allograft survivals, individuals with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAVs) are often considered as poor transplant candidates. Although several aspects of recurrent and de novo AAVs remain unclear, recent evidence suggests that kidney transplantation (KT) represents the best option, which is also the case for this particular subgroup of patients. Special counselling and individualized approaches are strongly recommended at the time of enlistment and during the entire post-transplant follow-up.

Second Wave Antibodies in Autoimmune Renal Diseases: The Case of Lupus Nephritis.

Clinical Trial registry name and registration number: Zeus study, NCT02403115.

Rate and predictors of chronic organ damage accrual in active lupus nephritis: a single centre experience over 18 years of observation.

Objectives: We aimed to identify the rates and predictors of chronic damage accrual and mortality in lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: We retrospectively measured SLICC/ACR Damage Index (SDI) in biopsy proven active LN with at least 5 years follow-up. We searched for the predictors of first SDI increase and death at univariate and multivariate regression analysis.

COVID-19 Infection in Kidney Transplant Patients: An Italian One Year Single Centre Experience.

COVID-19 is a life-threatening infection among elderly patients, comorbid patients, or transplanted patients. Lombardy (region of Italy), accounts for 786,324 cases as of 21 April 2021. We retrospectively describe our single Centre experience in 82 adult kidney-transplant patients with COVID-19 infection during two pandemic outbreaks: 27 (first outbreak) and 65 (second outbreak).

Bone Effect and Safety of One-Year Denosumab Therapy in a Cohort of Renal Transplanted Patients: An Observational Monocentric Study.

In 32-kidney transplanted patients (KTxps), the safety and the effects on BMD and mineral metabolism (MM) of one-year treatment with denosumab (DB) were studied. Femoral and vertebral BMD and T-score, FRAX score and vertebral fractures (sVF) before (T0) and after 12 months (T12) of treatment were measured. MM, renal parameters, hypocalcemic episodes (HpCa), urinary tract infections (UTI), major graft and KTxps outcomes were monitored.

Neuropsychiatric Outcome of Children Born to Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Exposed to Azathioprine: A Case-Control Study.

The long-term outcome of children born to SLE mothers still represents a controversial topic in literature, with some studies reporting a possible increased prevalence of different neurologic and psychiatric diseases (NPD), including neurodevelopmental disorders (ND), and in particular learning disorders (LD). Different risk factors have been advocated, such as the exposure to auto-antibodies and drugs, particularly Azathioprine (AZA). A case-control study was designed to compare pregnancies treated with AZA (cases) with those not treated with AZA (controls).

Serum IgG2 antibody multicomposition in systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis (Part 1): cross-sectional analysis.

Objectives: Serum anti-dsDNA and anti-nucleosome IgGs have been proposed as signatures for SLE and LN in limited numbers of patients. We sought to show higher sensitivity and specificity of the same antibodies with the IgG2 isotype and included IgG2 antibodies vs specific intracellular antigens in the analysis.

Methods: A total of 1052 SLE patients with (n = 479) and without (n = 573) LN, recruited at different times from the beginning of symptoms, were included in the study.

Serum IgG2 antibody multi-composition in systemic lupus erythematosus and in lupus nephritis (Part 2): prospective study.

Objectives: Circulating anti-ENO1 and anti-H2A IgG2 have been identified as specific signatures of LN in a cross-over approach. We sought to show whether the same antibodies identify selected population of patients with LN with potentially different clinical outcomes.

Methods: Here we report the prospective analysis over 36 months of circulating IgG2 levels in patients with newly diagnosed LN (n=91) and SLE (n=31) and in other patients with SLE recruited within 2 years from diagnosis (n=99).

Lupus nephritis: clinical presentations and outcomes in the 21st century.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a frequent and severe manifestation of SLE. Along the decades, the epidemiology of LN and its clinical presentation have been changing. However, even though retrospective cohort studies report a decreased mortality rate and an improvement in the disease prognosis, the percentage of patients progressing into end stage renal disease (ESRD) keeps steady despite the improvements in therapeutic strategies.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections in a nephrology unit: Analysis of patient- and catheter-associated risk factors.

Background: Central venous catheter use is rising in chronic and acute hemodialysis. Catheter-related bloodstream infections are a major complication of central venous catheter use. This article examines clinical factors associated with catheter-related bloodstream infections incidence.

Lack of EULAR/ERA-EDTA response at 1 year predicts poor long-term renal outcome in patients with lupus nephritis.

Objectives: Short-term predictive endpoints of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are needed in lupus nephritis (LN). We tested response to therapy at 1 year.

Methods: We considered patients with LN who underwent renal biopsy followed by induction therapy between January 1970 and December 2016.

Multicentric study comparing cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine in the maintenance therapy of lupus nephritis: 8 years follow up.

Background: The ideal long-term maintenance therapy of Lupus Nephritis (LN) is still a matter of debate. The present study was aimed at comparing the efficacy/safety profile of cyclosporine (CsA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine (AZA) in long-term maintenance therapy of LN.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients with biopsy-proven active LN.

Belimumab may decrease flare rate and allow glucocorticoid withdrawal in lupus nephritis (including dialysis and transplanted patient).

Background: Belimumab (Benlysta) is currently approved for the treatment of active Lupus despite standard therapy. Few data are available on the efficacy of this drug in lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: 17 LN female followed in two Nephrology Italian Unit received belimumab for a median period of 36 months (range 6-42 months).

Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: Long-term Risk and Predictors of Relapse.

Rationale & Objective: Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is a rare disorder of unknown cause. Medical therapy can induce remission, but disease relapses are common. This study sought to characterize long-term outcomes of IRF and the factors associated with disease recurrences.

Causes of late transplant failure in cyclosporine-treated kidney allograft recipients.

Background: There is little information about very long-term outcomes of kidney allograft recipients exposed to calcineurin inhibitors.

Methods: In this single-centre retrospective study with 20-year follow-up, we analyzed data from 644 patients who underwent primary renal transplantation between 1983 and 1993. Participants were treated with a cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive scheme and had allograft function at 1 year.

Can we withdraw immunosuppressants in patients with lupus nephritis in remission? An expert debate.

Lupus nephritis (LN) treatment requires an initial intensive period of therapy followed by a long-term maintenance treatment in order to stabilize disease control and eventually reach renal remission. In this section, Authors discuss the feasibility of safely lowering and even suspending maintenance therapy in LN patients having entered remission, highlighting hurdles in predicting the depth and durability of disease quiescence together with the need for minimizing potentially toxic therapies. Even though no firm conclusions can still be drawn, the treating physician has to find the wise balance between disease control and treatment-related drawbacks by following patients closely and recognizing as early as possible the ones who are likely to reach a deep and durable renal remission; there is consensus that is these are the only patients in whom a potential safe complete withdrawal can be foreseen so far.

ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal involvement.

Systemic vasculitis is a rare but severe group of diseases characterized by inflammation and necrosis of blood vessels. The size of the vessel affected varies among the different forms of vasculitis and there are three main subgroups: large, medium and small vessel vasculitis. Among small vessel vasculitis, the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated forms are of particular importance.

The impact of recurrence of primary glomerulonephritis on renal allograft outcome.

Twenty-yr patient and death-censored graft survival of 348 kidney transplant recipients with primary glomerulonephritis (GN) and of 696 matched controls were 82.2% in GN patients and 75% in controls (p = 0.037) and 49.