{"title":"Recurrent acute kidney injury with Fanconi syndrome related to red yeast rice supplement.","authors":"Yuri Katayama, Reina Miyazaki, Yasuhito Takahashi, Tetsuya Kawamura, Nobuo Tsuboi, Takashi Yokoo","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00926-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00926-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 51-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for acute kidney injury (AKI) with an elevated serum creatinine level of 5.07 mg/dL and Fanconi syndrome. The patient was discharged after partial recovery of kidney dysfunction with conservative treatment but was readmitted approximately three months later due to a recurrence of AKI with Fanconi syndrome. A kidney biopsy revealed findings consistent with acute tubular necrosis and localized tubulointerstitial nephritis, with no specific vascular or glomerular lesions. The patient's medical history revealed that prior to both AKI episodes, the patient had been taking \"Red Yeast Cholestehelp\", a lipid-lowering supplement for a period of time. Her kidney dysfunction and Fanconi syndrome improved with the discontinuation of the supplement and correction with oral medications. In Japan, a series of similar health hazards related to the red yeast rice supplement has been reported, but the causative toxin and its causal relationship with AKI have not been established. The present case provides firm evidence that clinically supports this relationship.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"178-182"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958922/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142046422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Presence of mitochondrial dysfunction in a case of Fanconi syndrome with normoglycemic MODY1.","authors":"Yuko Fujii, Hideki Matsumura, Kei Murayama, Yasushi Okazaki, Akira Ashida","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00948-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00948-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maturity-onset diabetes of the young 1 (MODY1) is characterized by macrosomia and transient hypoglycemia in neonates, in addition to diabetes mellitus (DM). Only patients with MODY1 harboring a pathogenic variant (c.187C > T; p.R63W) in HNF4A are sure to develop Fanconi syndrome (FS). Here we report the successful diagnosis of MODY1 in a patient harboring p.R63W before confirmation of DM-related hyperglycemia after being alerted to the presence of abnormal mitochondria in a kidney-biopsy specimen revealed by electron microscopy. The patient was born at 39 weeks of gestation with macrosomia, elevated levels of liver enzymes, and transient hypoglycemia. At three years of age, proteinuria was found by chance, and further laboratory investigations revealed metabolic acidosis, mild renal dysfunction, hypouricemia, proteinuria, aminoaciduria, and glycosuria. On this basis, we diagnosed the patient as having FS and performed percutaneous renal biopsy. Light microscopy revealed no evidence of proximal tubule disorder, but electron microscopy demonstrated mitochondria with disordered cristae in glomerular podocytes and giant mitochondria in proximal tubules. Mitochondrial nephropathy was suspected, and skin fibroblasts from the patient grown on galactose medium showed decreased oxygen consumption suggestive of mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, genetic testing was performed and a pathogenic variant (c.187C > T; p.R63W) in HNF4A was detected. Mitochondrial dysfunction in a Drosophila and murine model of patients with both MODY1 and FS has already been reported, and we detected it in this human MODY1/FS patient on the basis of functional tests and imaging. We believe mitochondrial dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of MODY1/FS.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"291-296"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958908/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142615447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lipoprotein glomerulopathy with a novel apolipoprotein E variant, APOE Kanto (Asp 151dup).","authors":"Akio Yokochi, Akira Matsunaga, Keiko Kanemoto, Naoto Tominaga, Susumu Uda, Takao Saito","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00920-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00920-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 33-year-old Japanese man was admitted for possible kidney disease because of massive proteinuria. Laboratory findings were characterized by marked urinary protein of 4.7 g/day and high-serum triglyceride levels of 266 mg/dL. Renal biopsy revealed segmental proliferation in the mesangium and lipoprotein thrombi in the glomerular capillary. These results suggested that the diagnosis was lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG), although serum apolipoprotein E (apo E) levels were within normal ranges. The APOE phenotype was identified as E2/3 by isoelectric focusing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Direct DNA sequencing analyses for apo E identified a duplication of amino acid 151, aspartic acid, and the gene mutation was named APOE Kanto. APOE gene mutations due to amino acid duplication are rare, and this is the first report showing that amino acid duplication among apo E gene mutations is involved in LPG. It is also noteworthy that the patient developed end-stage kidney disease after over than 10 years despite fibrate treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"162-166"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958863/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141975155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CEN Case ReportsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-07-17DOI: 10.1007/s13730-024-00917-8
Yuhei Fujisawa, Shigeto Horita, Keiko Wakabayashi
{"title":"Efficacy of sutimlimab for cold agglutinin disease in a patient on chronic hemodialysis.","authors":"Yuhei Fujisawa, Shigeto Horita, Keiko Wakabayashi","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00917-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00917-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reports of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), an autoimmune hemolytic anemia, in dialysis patients are limited. Recently, sutimlimab for CAD was covered by insurance. Herein, we report a case in which sutimlimab was effective in the treatment of CAD in a patient undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The patient was a 73 year-old Japanese man with an 11 year history of HD for diabetic nephropathy. He was admitted to our hospital for examination and treatment of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA)-induced hyporesponsive anemia and fatigue, which was present in the previous year October to March when temperatures were cooler. The patient was diagnosed with hemolytic anemia based on decreased hemoglobin levels, elevated reticulocyte count, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, and decreased haptoglobin levels. Furthermore, he was diagnosed with CAD based on a positive direct antiglobulin test for C3 and cold agglutinin tests. The patient did not respond well to an elevated dialysate temperature or rituximab therapy. After initiating sutimlimab treatment, an increase in the hemoglobin level was observed despite a decrease in temperature, and his fatigue disappeared. Anemia in hemodialysis patients is generally renal; however, some ESA resistance exists, which may be due to hemolytic anemia. In this case, the use of sutimlimab was effective in controlling hemolytic anemia due to CAD.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"119-123"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958846/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141626178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rare case of aspergillosis with solitary renal involvement: micro-fungus ball in graft kidney.","authors":"Guldehan Haberal, Arzu Saglam, Tolga Yildirim, Seref Rahmi Yilmaz, Haci Hasan Yeter","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00898-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00898-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kidney transplant recipients are at an increased risk of various infections due to immunosuppressive medications. Among them, fungal infections are associated with high mortality and morbidity. This report presents the case of a 54-year-old kidney-transplant recipient who was diagnosed with aspergillosis with solitary renal involvement. He was diagnosed by kidney biopsy with the micro-fungus ball. In the biopsy sample, consisting mostly of the medulla, a small focus consisting of an aggregate of fungal microorganisms was identified. The micro-fungus ball, which was also present in serial sections, was characterized by slight pigmentation and septate hyphae with acute angle branching, highlighted by the silver stains. The patient was examined for invasive fungal infection. In CT scans, there were no signs of invasive fungal infection. Due to the unexpected kidney biopsy finding, the patient underwent a repeat allograft biopsy from which a culture was sent. Aspergillus fumigatus complex was detected in tissue fungal culture of this repeat biopsy. The patient was started on voriconazole treatment and was successfully treated. It should be kept in mind that fungal infections with isolated subtle renal involvement may be possible in KTR under immunosuppressive treatment without an obvious fungal focus being demonstrated by imaging methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"124-127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958881/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141765623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Successfully treated C3 glomerulopathy in which protein and genetic analyses were useful for diagnosis.","authors":"Motoko Kanzaki, Motoyasu Kurahashi, Kentaro Watanabe, Mana Nishikawa, Kosuke Fukuoka, Noriaki Shimada, Masashi Mizuno, Kenichiro Asano","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00928-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00928-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>C3 glomerulopathy is a rare disease that results in nephritis due to complement dysregulation and is characterized by C3 deposition in the glomerulus. Dysregulation of the alternative pathway underlies the pathogenesis, but activation of the terminal pathway is also common. The disease is often caused by acquired rather than genetic factors, i.e., autoantibodies against C3 or C5 converting enzyme (convertase) and other complement-related proteins. We report a case of C3 glomerulopathy diagnosed by renal biopsy that responded well to corticosteroids and went into complete remission within two months. Analysis of complements and complement-related proteins revealed a low level of C3 and a high level of soluble terminal pathway protein complex (sC5b-9). Under genetic analysis about complement-related genes, no pathogenic variant was observed. Based on these findings, we diagnosed this patient with C3 glomerulopathy with autoantibodies. Corticosteroids had a marked effect, which also supports this speculation. Analyses of complements and complement-related proteins, and genetic variants may be useful in understanding the pathogenesis of C3 glomerulopathy and in selecting treatment options.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"188-193"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958876/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142280882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effective calcineurin inhibitor treatment in adult-onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with a novel splice donor site variant of TRPC6: a case report.","authors":"Tomoki Nagasaka, Kiyotaka Uchiyama, Eriko Yoshida Hama, Daiki Kojima, Kenji Kaneko, Norifumi Yoshimoto, Itaru Yasuda, Mamiko Yamada, Fuyuki Miya, Hisato Suzuki, Takaya Tajima, Shintaro Yamaguchi, Kaori Hayashi, Takeshi Kanda, Akinori Hashiguchi, Kenjiro Kosaki, Hiroshi Itoh","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00935-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00935-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) variants, which were initially detected in adult-onset familial focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), were also identified in pediatric-onset one. Here, we present a patient with adult-onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) who harbored a likely pathogenic TRPC6 variant and partially responded to calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). A 44-year-old woman with stable rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjögren's syndrome was presented with nephrotic syndrome. Her renal biopsy results showed minor glomerular abnormalities. Upon admission, she was treated with steroids for around 4 weeks, but it was ineffective. After 1-2 weeks of cyclosporine A (CyA) administration, urine output increased, renal function improved without a decrease in proteinuria, and she was discharged. Her renal function was maintained for 2 months, but after a CyA dose reduction, she was again admitted to the hospital due to relapsing edema, decreased urine output, and worsening renal function. CyA was replaced by tacrolimus (TAC). A second renal biopsy showed nearly the same findings as the first except for tubulointerstitial lesions. After 1-2 weeks of TAC administration, urine output increased, and renal function improved. However, urinary protein levels did not decrease as before. After discharge, a whole exome analysis revealed a heterozygous splice donor site variant NM_004621.6;c.2644 + 1G > A in TRPC6. Genetic testing identified a novel splice donor site variant of TRPC6 in a patient with adult-onset SRNS, which prevented unnecessary steroid continuation. The safety and efficacy of CNI in TRPC6 glomerulopathy must be evaluated in future larger studies with longer follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"208-216"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958860/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142342437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Successful treatment of severe renal failure caused by malignant hypertension using a combination of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors: a case report.","authors":"Wataru Harada, Yujiro Maeoka, Akira Takahashi, Mahoko Yoshida, Yosuke Osaki, Naoki Ishiuchi, Kensuke Sasaki, Takao Masaki","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00934-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00934-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Marked activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in malignant hypertension (MHT) by worsening hypertension and renal function. The rates of readmission for severe hypertension and cardiovascular disease in such emergencies are high, suggesting that suppression of the RAAS may be inadequate during the acute phase in some cases. This report presents a case of MHT complicated with renal insufficiency (creatinine 3.93 mg/dL) and massive proteinuria, in which antihypertensive therapy, including an angiotensin receptor blocker, aliskiren, and spironolactone, normalized blood pressure (BP) and preserved renal function. Plasma renin activity was extremely high (131.9 ng/mL/h) on admission but normalized within almost 2 weeks. Although aliskiren and spironolactone were discontinued before discharge, BP was well controlled and renal function was further improved (creatinine 1.14 mg/dL) at follow-up 24 months later. This case of renal failure induced by MHT was successfully treated with a combination of RAAS inhibitors during the acute phase. The controlled BP and improved renal function in this patient suggest that adequate suppression of the RAAS cascade during the acute phase is potentially effective in terms of breaking the vicious cycle of MHT with hyperreninemia.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"200-207"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958891/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142342438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CEN Case ReportsPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-10-13DOI: 10.1007/s13730-024-00940-9
Daigo Kobayashi, Jun Yoshino, Maki Hanada, Masafumi Ohba, Tomohiro Oka, Kenichi Itoga, Daisuke Niino, Takeshi Kanda
{"title":"A case of de novo glomerulonephritis following COVID-19 in a patient with preexistent IgA vasculitis.","authors":"Daigo Kobayashi, Jun Yoshino, Maki Hanada, Masafumi Ohba, Tomohiro Oka, Kenichi Itoga, Daisuke Niino, Takeshi Kanda","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00940-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00940-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, new-onset or relapsing glomerulonephritis, such as ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, following COVID-19 has been reported. However, to date, the association of COVID-19 with preexistent IgA vasculitis (IgAV) remains unclear. Here, we present the case of a 20-something old Japanese woman with preexistent IgAV who newly developed glomerulonephritis following COVID-19. At the diagnosis of IgAV, she had cutaneous purpura, joint pains, and gastrointestinal symptoms, but no signs of kidney involvement. Three months ago, she was tested positive for COVID-19 and subsequently developed hematuria and proteinuria. She was then admitted to our hospital and renal biopsy showed glomerular mesangial expansion and hypercellularity and cellular and fibrocellular crescents, accompanied by diffuse IgA and C3 deposits. With the diagnosis of de novo IgAV nephritis, the patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisolone. She had favorable responses to this treatment and has achieved and maintained the remission of hematuria and proteinuria after initiation of glucocorticoid therapy. Our case highlights that immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection could trigger the onset of glomerulonephritis in the IgAV patients who have no renal involvement.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"236-241"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958849/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142459018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recurrent localized fever caused by cryoglobulinemic vasculitis following hemodialysis: A case report.","authors":"Mitsuharu Kojima, Maki Shibata, Saori Tomita, Reina Ueda, Rina Kasai, Eriko Yamamoto, Ayako Ban, Satoshi Suzuki, Shoichi Maruyama","doi":"10.1007/s13730-024-00923-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13730-024-00923-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Post-dialysis fever is commonly reported in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, it is often challenging to identify the underlying cause owing to the wide variety of potential factors that can lead to fever. In this case, a 66-year-old Japanese man experienced recurrent fever after HD treatment. Initially, antibiotics were prescribed to treat pneumonia, but it was later discovered that the pneumonia was an alveolar hemorrhage caused by cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. It is believed that cryoglobulin was sensitized by cold exposure owing to the dialysate temperature, which resulted in fever being experienced only after HD. Although treatment for vasculitis required prednisolone and rituximab, simple plasma exchange and a dialysate temperature of 37.5 °C dramatically suppressed the occurrence of post-dialysis fever. Cryoglobulinemia should be considered as a potential cause of fever, as it may be a common occurrence in patients undergoing HD and could be overlooked as a possible cause of localized fever following HD treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":9697,"journal":{"name":"CEN Case Reports","volume":" ","pages":"151-156"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958887/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141888565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}