We evaluated the relationship between the volume of parathyroid glands estimated by ultrasonography (US) and response of 22-oxa calcitriol (Maxacalcitol, OCT) in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (2HPT) to evaluate whether the volume can be a predictor of the OCT response. Eleven institutes participated in this study. Ninety-four patients with advanced 2HPT were enrolled. The volume of the parathyroid glands were estimated by US before and 6 months after OCT treatment. The response of OCT treatment was classified into three groups (Group A: i-PTH < 300 pg/mL; Group B: 300 pg/mL < or = i-PTH < 500 pg/mL; Group C: i-PTH > or = 500 pg/mL). Forty-eight patients were in Group A, 28 patients in Group B, and 18 patients in Group C. The PTH levels at the beginning and 6 months were 458.3-199.1 pg/mL (P < 0.0001) in Group A, 524.6-403.2 pg/mL (P = 0.007) in Group B and 736.7-613.6 pg/mL (ns) in Group C, respectively. The volume of the largest gland in Group B was significantly larger than that in Group A (96.2 vs. 343.2 mm3: P < 0.001). Clinical factors affecting response of OCT was evaluated by logistic regression analysis and only the volume of the largest gland was a significant factor. In the patients whose volume was less than 300 mm3, the OCT response was significantly effective. We conclude that the glandular volume of the largest parathyroid gland estimated by US can be a useful factor to predict the OCT response in patients with moderate or severe renal HPT.

recurrent fibronectin glomerulopathy in a renal transplant patient: a case report.Abstract: Fibronectin glomerulopathy (FNG) is a rare, autosomal dominant renal disease with massive mesangial, and subendothelial fibronectin deposits. It presents proteinuria, often in the nephrotic range in the third to fourth decade, and slow progression to end-stage renal disease. The risk of recurrent disease in renal allograft is uncertain. A Japanese female with end-stage renal disease because of unknown origin received a renal transplant and was referred with proteinuria and mild deterioration of renal function four months after transplantation. Five allograft biopsies were underwent from one h to 12 months after the transplantation, including a biopsy 19 d after the transplantation, which revealed dense deposits suggesting fibronectin. A biopsy 134 d after the transplantation showed a feature of lobular glomerulonephritis corresponding FNG. The diagnosis was confirmed by IST4 positive and IST9 negative immunostaining together with typical fibrillary dense deposits in the mesangium and subendothelial spaces in electron microscopy. This is the first report of recurrent FNG in Japan.

Horike K, Takeda A, Yamaguchi Y, Ogiyama Y, Yamauchi Y, Murata M, Kawaguchi T, Suzuki T, Otsuka Y, Inaguma D, Goto N, Watarai Y, Uchida K, Morozumi K. Is arteriolar vacuolization a predictor of calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity?
Clin Transplant 2011: 25 (Suppl. 23): 23–27.
© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract:  Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) have been commonly used as pivotal immunosuppressive agents to renal transplant recipients and have contributed significantly to improving short‐term allograft survival. However, long‐term administration of CNI may cause an adverse effect on kidney function, known as chronic nephrotoxicity. Chronic CNI nephrotoxicity (CNI‐NT) shows characteristic histopathological findings that involve arteriolar hyalinosis. Recently, the term alternative arteriolar hyalinosis (aah) is used to discriminate CNI‐specific arteriolar hyaline deposition from non‐specific arteriolar hyalinosis. We studied whether arteriolar vacuolization represents an early lesion of aah as a predictor of CNI‐NT. We retrospectively studied the 79 patients under treatment with a CNI immunosuppressant, who underwent living‐related renal transplantation (RTx) from January 2007 to March 2009. We examined serial protocol graft biopsies at one h, one, six, and 12 months after RTx. We classified histological findings into two groups on the basis of aah lesion (with or without aah) in serial biopsies for 12 months. Arteriolar vacuolization was more frequently observed in the aah group than in the non‐aah group with a significant difference. Arteriolar vacuolization was found even in the one‐h biopsy specimens, indicating a non‐specific histopathological finding. But in the aah group, arteriolar vacuolization tended to be more frequently observed later on. Aah can be a predictor of CNI‐NT.

No abstract

case of recurrent light chain deposition disease after living-related renal transplantation -detailed process of the recurrence.Abstract: A 53-yr-old woman with end-stage renal disease was admitted for renal transplantation (RTX). About a decade ago, she had presented with urinary abnormalities. Monoclonal IgA lambda was detected. Renal biopsy showed nodular glomerulosclerosis, and an immunohistochemical study for lambda was negative. Fibrillary glomerulonephritis was suggested as the most likely diagnosis. RTX was successfully performed, and graft function was stable for the first half year. Graft biopsy was performed at one yr post-transplant. Glomeruli showed nodular lesion similar to native kidney biopsy findings. Immunofluorescence microscopy (IF) indicated strong lambda staining along the glomerular basement membrane, the tubular basement membrane (TBM), and the peritubular capillary. The diagnosis of recurrent light chain deposition disease (LCDD) was confirmed. A series of biopsies are available to conduct studies on the recurrent process of LCDD. Light microscopy showed no remarkable changes up to six months post-RTX. However, the IF study revealed evident granular depositions of lambda along the TBM only at the one-h biopsy. Typical IF staining pattern of lambda and EDD compatible with LCDD were noted after six months post-transplant. This is the first case report that elucidated the details of the recurrent process of LCDD at one yr after the operation.