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Abstract Background Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing pandemic which has affected over 12 million people across the globe. Manifestations in different organs systems are being reported regularly. Renal biopsy findings in hospitalized COVID-19 patients presenting solely with acute kidney injury (AKI) have recently been described in published literature in few case reports. The findings include diffuse acute tubular injury (ATI) along with the glomerular lesion of collapsing glomerulopathy (CG). However, nephrotic syndrome as the presenting complaint of COVID-19 has not been reported widely, neither has any other glomerular lesion other than CG. Case presentation We describe the kidney biopsy findings of two patients who had recent diagnoses of COVID-19 and presented with new-onset nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy in both patients showed ATI (as in previous reports) and distinct glomerular findings on light microscopy – that of minimal change disease (MCD) initially in one patient followed by CG in a subsequent biopsy and CG at the outset in the other patient. The electron microscopic findings in both patients were that of severe podocytopathy (diffuse and severe podocyte foot process effacement). Conclusion Our cases highlight a novel clinical presentation of COVID-19 renal disease, not described before, that of new-onset nephrotic syndrome. While all published case reports describe CG as the glomerular pathology, we describe a non-CG pathology (MCD) in one of our cases, thereby adding to the repertoire of renal pathology described in association with COVID-19 patients. However, the exact mechanism by which podocyte injury or podocytopathy occurs in all such cases is still unknown. Optimal treatment options for these patients also remains unknown at this time.

Abstract Background Crystalglobulin-associated nephropathy (CAN), a rare subtype of monoclonal gammopathy, usually associated with multiple myeloma and occasionally monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS), is characterized by occluding monoclonal pseudothrombi within renal glomerular capillaries and/or interstitial arterioles. Ultrastructurally, these pseudothrombi are unique for having a crystalline substructure. We describe a case of an adult patient with monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) and acute renal failure whose kidney biopsy revealed a rare diagnosis of CAN. Case presentation A 63-year old male presented with a 2-month history of edema, arthralgia and malaise. He had acute kidney injury with hematoproteinuria on urine analysis. Serum and urine protein electrophoresis were both negative. A renal biopsy however revealed features of CAN. Organomegaly, bone pain and lymphadenopathy were absent. A repeat serum electrophoresis was positive for IgA kappa and a free light chain assay showed elevated free kappa light chains. Flow cytometry done subsequently revealed a diagnosis of MBL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) type. Conclusion CAN in association with MBL/CLL has not been previously described in literature, and our case highlights yet another instance of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) where a small B-cell clone resulted in extensive renal pathology without systemic manifestations.

The absence of a chronic kidney disease (CKD) registry in Ecuador makes it difficult to assess the burden of disease, but there is an anticipated increase in the incidence of CKD along with increasing diabetes, hypertension and population age. From 2012, augmented funding for renal replacement therapy expanded dialysis clinics and patient coverage. We conducted 73 in-depth sociological interviews with healthcare providers in eight provinces and collected quantitative epidemiological data on patients with CKD diagnoses from six national-level databases between 2015 and 2018. Datasets show a total of 17,484 dialysis patients in 2018, or 567 patients per million population (pmp), with an annual cost exceeding 11% of Ecuador’s public health budget. Each year, there were 139–162 pmp new dialysis patients, while doctors reported waiting lists. The number of patients on peritoneal dialysis was static; those on hemodialysis increased over time. Only 13 of 24 provinces were found to have dialysis services, and nephrologists were clustered in major cities, which limits access, delays medical attention, and adds a travel burden on patients. Prevention and screening programs are scarce, while hospitalization is an important reality for CKD patients. CKD is an emerging public health crisis that has increased dramatically over the last decade in Ecuador and is expected to continue, making coverage for all patients impossible and the current structure, unsustainable. A patient registry would help health policymakers and administrators estimate the demand and progression of patients with consideration for comorbidities, disease stage, requirements and costs, mortality and follow-up. This should be used to help identify where to focus prevention and improved treatment efforts. Organized monitoring of CKD patients would benefit from improvements in patient referral. Community-based education and prevention programs, the strengthening of primary healthcare capacity (including basic routine tests) and improved nephrology services are also urgently needed.

Abstract Background Hyperphosphataemia in dialysis subjects is associated with increased mortality. However cause and effect has not been proven, and the ideal phosphate target range is unknown despite KDOQI’s call for studies over 12 years ago. The design and conduct of a randomized controlled trial is challenging because maintaining two groups within differing target ranges of serum phosphate has not been achieved over a long follow-up of 1 year, in a trial setting, before. The SPIRiT study examines the subject acceptance, recruitment and retention rates for such a study in which subjects were randomised to two distinct serum phosphate concentrations, then titrated and maintained over 12 months. Methods A two center trial of 104 hemodialysis subjects randomized to lower range LRG 0.8–1.4 mmol/L or 2.5–4.3 mg/dL) and higher range (HRG 1.8–2.4 mmol/L or 5.6–7.4 mg/dL) serum phosphate groups. Two months’ titration and ten months’ maintenance phase. Interventions were non-calcium phosphate binders, self-help questionnaires, with blood tests at specified time intervals. Results Thirteen percent of the eligible dialysis population were successfully recruited. A mean separation by serum phosphate of 1.1 mg/dL was achieved and maintained between the groups over 10 months. Drop-out rate was 27% with mortality 10%. Nine subjects in the HRG (17.6%) and two subjects in the LRG (3.8%) died during the study, however the study was not powered to detect significant differences in outcomes. Conclusion Randomizing dialysis subjects to separate treatment targets for serum phosphate can achieve a clinically significant sustained separation over 12 months. A large scale longer term study is required to examine outcomes including mortality. Trial registration The trial registration number is ISRCTN24741445 – Date of registration 16th January, retrospectively registered.

An increase of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has affected many tropical countries but with an atypical presentation. This illness, known as Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu), presents in younger adults without the typical comorbidities for CKD, often among those working in agricultural production. The cause of disease is unknown but temperature, heat stress, or dehydration are thought to contribute to the development of this condition. There is no information on whether anyone in Ecuador is affected by this illness. We describe CKD rates in Ecuador and hypothesize that CKD is impacted by temperature and the agricultural industry in Ecuador. Using publicly available data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos from the years 2010—2015, we describe the rate of CKD among adults aged 20—45 in each province, as well as the agricultural industry across Ecuador. We combined this information with land surface temperature and used a Poisson mixed effects model to assess the relationship between mean temperature, maximum temperature and agricultural industry with CKD rates among adults aged 20—49 in each province. We found that the CKD rate is increasing in this age group over 2010—2015 (p=0.017), and in 2015, CKD rates were highest in Pastaza. Our spatial analysis found that both mean temperature and proportion of population in agriculture were positively associated with CKD rate by province in 2014 and 2015. This preliminary analysis shows that temperature and agricultural industry are associated with CKD rates among adults aged 20—49. While this association does not definitively show the presence of CKDu, it provides evidence to support further investigation of this illness in Ecuador.

Background. Retrospective, observational studies link high phosphate with mortality in dialysis patients. This generates research hypotheses but does not establish “cause-and-effect.” A large randomised controlled trial (RCT) of about 3000 patients randomised 50 : 50 to lower or higher phosphate ranges is required to answer the key question: does reducing phosphate levels improve clinical outcomes? Whether such a trial is technically possible is unknown; therefore, a study is necessary to inform the design and conduct of a future, definitive trial. Methodology. Dual centre prospective parallel group study: 100 dialysis patients randomized to lower (phosphate target 0.8 to 1.4 mmol/L) or higher range group (1.8 to 2.4 mmol/L). Non-calcium-containing phosphate binders and questionnaires will be used to achieve target phosphate. Primary endpoint: percentage successfully titrated to required range and percentage maintained in these groups over the maintenance period. Secondary endpoints: consent rate, drop-out rates, and cardiovascular events. Discussion. This study will inform design of a large definitive trial of the effect of phosphate on mortality and cardiovascular events in dialysis patients. If phosphate lowering improves outcomes, we would be reassured of the validity of this clinical practice. If, on the other hand, there is no improvement, a reassessment of resource allocation to therapies proven to improve outcomes will result. Trial Registration Number. This trial is registered with ISRCTN registration number ISRCTN24741445.