[Nephrology: what's new in 2024 (I)].

From immunoglobulin A nephropathy to primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, sparsentan expands its indications. Complement inhibitors offer new hope for patients with certain poor-prognosis glomerulonephritides. Semaglutide enjoys great success, promising nephro- and cardioprotection for type 2 diabetics.

[Respiratory infections: when a horse is actually a zebra].

While most episodes of community-acquired pneumonia are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and respiratory viruses, other atypical pathogens can also be responsible for lung infections. The Infectious Diseases Service of the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) organizes an annual meeting aimed at general practitioners, during which interesting clinical cases are presented. In this article, we summarize five cases of community-aquired respiratory infection due to atypical pathogens that were presented during the 2023 meeting, each with a particular teaching point.

[Gastroenterology and hepatology: what's new in 2023].

2023 has been marked by numerous advancements in the fields of hepatology, liver transplantation, gastroenterology, and interventional endoscopy. These developments hold the promise of changing our daily practice while enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of various hepatic and gastroenterological conditions. Additionally, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) has issued recommendations for the management of hepatitis delta, acute-on-chronic liver failure, liver diseases of pregnancy, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

[Management of genetic renal disorders: local experience and importance of the network].

In nephrology, rare disorders are frequently encountered. In children, about 60% of the renal disorders are rare, with congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract disorders (CAKUT), being highly prevalent. In adults, about 22% of the disorders leading to renal replacement therapies are rare and include glomerulonephritis and genetic disorders.

[Update on the management of cytomegalovirus infection in transplant recipients].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a significant infectious complication after transplantation. In this article, we summarize the recent advances in the management of CMV infection in solid-organ and hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients. Firstly, recent trials have better delineated the indications for the preventive strategies available, namely antiviral prophylaxis and the preemptive approach.

[When to consider lung transplantation?].

Pulmonary transplantation remains the ultimate therapeutic option for selected patients with an advanced pulmonary disease and terminal respiratory insufficiency when all other therapeutic options have been exhausted. The optimal time-frame to proceed to a first discussion and evaluation about lung transplantation may be difficult to determine. This article describes the pathway of a patient towards lung transplantation and summarizes the criteria, which may help to timely identify eligibility for this therapeutic modality.

[Short telomere syndrome in adults: a rare entity that should be evoked].

Short telomere syndrome (STS) is a group of rare, often underrecognized, diseases caused by defects in telomere-maintenance genes, leading to abnormal telomere shortening and associated with diverse multi-organ manifestations. In pediatric patients, STS typically presents with mucocutaneous or gastrointestinal lesions, bone marrow failure and neoplasia. In adulthood, aplastic bone marrow disease, liver disease and pulmonary fibrosis are classic clinical manifestations.

The Rational Use of Complement Inhibitors in Kidney Diseases.

The development of complement inhibitors represented one of the major breakthroughs in clinical nephrology in the last decade. Complement inhibition has dramatically transformed the outcome of one of the most severe kidney diseases, the atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a prototypic complement-mediated disorder. The availability of complement inhibitors has also opened new promising perspectives for the management of several other kidney diseases in which complement activation is involved to a variable extent.

Relevance of deceased donor proteinuria for kidney transplantation: A comprehensive national cohort study.

Purpose: Proteinuria is frequent in patients with nephropathies and associated with progressive kidney disease and risk for end stage kidney disease. However, the relevance of deceased donor proteinuria on transplant outcome remains uncertain. In this nationwide cohort study, we evaluated the prevalence of proteinuria in deceased donor candidates and measured the impact on outcome after kidney transplantation.

[Hypertension after kidney transplantation].

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. While graft survival has considerably improved with current immunosuppressive strategies, long-term prognosis is dependent on cardiovascular complications. There is a high prevalence of arterial hypertension after kidney transplantation.

[Autoimmune hepatitis: 2021 update].

Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare disease which can present as acute or chronic forms and can be difficult to diagnose due to its variable clinical presentation. The disease arises in genetically susceptible individuals and several triggers have been identified. The diagnosis is based on the presence of autoantibodies, elevated transaminases and serum immunoglobulin G levels as well as a compatible histology.

Outcome of kidney transplantation from very senior donors in Switzerland - a national cohort study.

Kidney transplantation from older and marginal donors is effective to confront organ shortage. However, limitations after transplantation of kidneys from very marginal kidney donors remain unclear. We compared patient and graft outcome, achieved allograft function and quality of life of renal transplantations from Very Senior Donors (VSD, defined as donors aged 70 years and older) with Senior Donors (SD, aged 60-70 years) and Regular Donors (RD, aged younger than 60 years) in Switzerland.

[Post-transplantation diabetes in kidney transplant: from the diabetologist point of view].

Post-transplantation diabetes (PTDM) exposes to increased morbidity (cardiovascular or infectious complications, early graft dysfunction) and to a risk of premature death. Recognition of risk factors is essential for early and individualized care. The management of a PTDM requires the use of oral antidiabetic treatments (metformin or DPP4 inhibitors) or GLP1 receptor agonists for their favorable effects on weight and kidney that seem ideal in this context.

[SARS-CoV-2 infection and solid organ transplantation].

Transplantation has become a valid therapeutic option for an increasing number of patients with end-stage organ disease. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection and associated disease (COVID-19) has alarmed the transplant community, since recommendations for adequate follow-up of organ transplant recipients during the acute phase of a pandemic are limited. Furthermore, treatment options against COVID-19 disease and adequate adjustment of immunosuppression in at risk patients remain a concern.

[Infectious risks of new immunosuppressive biologicals : which prophylaxis and when ?].

Biological treatments are a revolution in the management of many diseases and their development, with the marketing of many new biologics, challenges practitioners in assessing the risk of infectious complications. A rigorous evaluation is required with the introduction of prophylaxis, vaccinations or specific clinical monitoring.

[Outpatient follow-up of liver transplant recipients: the essential role of the general practitioner].

The population of liver transplant recipients has increased in Switzerland over the last few years. Morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation are due, in the early post-transplant period, to surgical and infectious complications as well as to rejection, whereas cardiovascular, metabolic, renal and oncologic complications are the most frequent complications in the late post-transplant period. The role of the general practitioner in the long-term follow-up of liver transplant recipients is of the highest importance and can represent the first-line care of these patients as soon as 6 to 12 months post-transplantation, while maintaining a close and regular collaboration with the transplant center.

[Renal, vascular and urological variations and abnormalities in living kidney donor candidates].

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anatomic variations (renal, vascular and urological) and acquired renal pathologies in living kidney donor candidates (LKDC).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of all LKDC referred to our center between April 2003 and September 2014. Of the 491 LKDC, 189 were initially excluded for medical reasons (n=140) or others reasons (n=49), without undergoing a radiological assessment.

The number of FoxP3 regulatory T cells in the circulation may be a predictive biomarker for kidney transplant recipients: A multistage systematic review.

Background: The kinetics of the FoxP3 regulatory T-cell (Treg) population in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are related to the clinical effect of immunosuppression based on mammalian Target Of Rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) with/without belatacept (predictive biomarker).

Methods: A multistage systematic review of published and unpublished literature is presented [registration IDs in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42017057570, CRD42018085019, CRD42018084941, CRD42018085186]. A multidisciplinary supervision mechanism for contextualizing of search findings was required.

[Primary biliary cholangitis : an update].

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease which affects primarily women and is characterized by progressive destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts. Most common symptoms are fatigue and pruritus. Diagnostic hallmarks are cholestasis and positive antimitochondrial antibodies.

[Return to dialysis after kidney transplantation: a retrospective study in the Canton de Vaud].

Renal transplantation is the first-line therapy for eligible patients with end-stage kidney disease. However, approximately 20 % of cadaveric graft recipients need to start dialysis at 5 years. The transition period between transplantation and dialysis is at high risk of complications, but data exploring this issue are scarce.

Multimodal imaging of retinal pigment epithelial detachments in patients with C3 glomerulopathy: case report and review of the literature.

Background: To describe the optical coherence tomography angiograhy (OCTA) of drusenoid pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) in a woman affected by Complement 3 (C3) glomerulopathy, which represents a spectrum of glomerular diseases characterized on fluorescent microscopy by C3 accumulation with absent, or scanty, immunoglobulin deposits. It is due to acquired or genetically defective alternative pathway control and is generally associated with drusen-like deposits in Bruch's membrane, as well as choriocapillaris. These retinal lesions can be associated with choroidal neovascularization and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).

[Hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension].

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) and portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) are two frequent pulmonary complications of liver disease. Portal hypertension is a key element in the pathogenesis of both disorders, which are however distinct in terms of pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. HPS corresponds to an abnormal arterial oxygenation in relation with the development of intrapulmonary vascular dilatations.

[Transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis].

Transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis (ATTR) is a progressive and potentially lethal genetic disorder, transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Tissue injury is induced by amyloid fibrils consisting of mutated transthyretin. The symptomatology and clinical course of ATTR is highly variable but typically causes peripheral polyneuropathy and autonomic dysfunction, leading to death within 10 years.