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Anca negative pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis and mixed connective tissue disease: a case study

Abstract

One of the most common causes of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN). In the majority of cases, this condition has a positive serologic marker, the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), but in approximately 10% there are no circulating ANCAs, and this subgroup has been known as the ANCA-negative pauci-immune CrGN. RPGN can be associated with systemic diseases, but there are only few case reports describing the association with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). The authors report a case of ANCA-negative CrGN associated with a MCTD.

Keywords:
Glomerulonephritis; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.

Resumo

Uma das causas mais comuns da glomerulonefrite rapidamente progressiva (GNRP) é a glomerulonefrite crescêntica (GNC) pauci-imune. Na maioria dos casos, a patologia apresenta um marcador sorológico positivo, o anticorpo anticitoplasma de neutrófilos (ANCA), mas em cerca de 10% dos pacientes não há ANCAs circulantes, perfazendo um subgrupo da patologia conhecido como GNC pauci-imune ANCA-negativa. A GNRP pode estar associada a doenças sistêmicas, mas são poucos os relatos de caso que descrevem sua associação com doença mista do tecido conjuntivo (DMTC). O presente artigo relata um caso de GNC ANCA-negativa associada a DMTC.

Palavras-chave:
Glomerulonefrite; Doença Mista do Tecido Conjuntivo.

INTRODUCTION

Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN) is the most common cause of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) in adults.11 Chen M, Kallenberg CG, Zhao MH. ANCA-negative pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. Nat Rev Nephrol 2009;5:313-8.,22 Sampathkumar K, Ramakrishnan M, Sah AK, Gowtham S, Ajeshkumar RN. ANCA negative pauci-immune glomerulonephritis with systemic involvement. Indian J Nephrol 2010;20:43-7.

Mostly, CrGN is attributed to systemic small-vessel vasculitis, like granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, but also with renal limited vasculitis in a small number of cases. CrGN and RPGN share a common serologic hallmark, defined by the presence of the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), and for this reason they are known as ANCA-associated vasculitis. However, there is a small group of pauci-immune CrGN without ANCA positivity, representing about 10 % of cases.11 Chen M, Kallenberg CG, Zhao MH. ANCA-negative pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. Nat Rev Nephrol 2009;5:313-8.,33 Chen M, Yu F, Wang SX, Zou WZ, Zhao MH, Wang HY. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-negative Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol 2007;18:599-605. Only few cases of ANCA-negative pauci-immune CrGN have been published, so data available on this subset of patients is limited.11 Chen M, Kallenberg CG, Zhao MH. ANCA-negative pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. Nat Rev Nephrol 2009;5:313-8. Most of these cases are idiopathic and not associated with connective tissue diseases.33 Chen M, Yu F, Wang SX, Zou WZ, Zhao MH, Wang HY. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-negative Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol 2007;18:599-605. The mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is defined as a syndrome that shares features of systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A laboratory characteristic of this syndrome is a high titter of anti- ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibodies and positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) with high titter speckled pattern. The antibodies to double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) Sm, Ro and La might also be present, although not dominant or persistent. Renal involvement in MCTD is less common than in typical SLE. Normally it occurs either as a membranous nephropathy, less frequently as mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis or renal vasculopathy of scleroderma.44 Tewari R, Badwal S, Kumar A, Subramaniam S, Nijhawan VS, Srinivas V. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative crescentic paucimmune glomerulonephritis in a case of scleroderma with systemic lupus erythematosus overlap. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2016;27:602-5. Pauci-imune CrGN is a rare form of renal involvement in MCTD and is sparsely reported. The authors aim to describe a case of a pauci-immune CrGN, with negative ANCA, which was associated with MCTD.

CASE REPORT

A 58-year-old black man with history of hypertension, interstitial lung disease of unclear etiology, and recurrent right pleural effusion was admitted at our institution. The respiratory disease was attributed to an occupational exposition to tar and concrete, but definitive diagnosis could not be established. His outpatient medications were esomeprazole, hydrochlorothiazide plus valsartan, fluticasone, and salmeterol.

He was admitted at the emergency department with anorexia, asthenia, and right pleuritic thoracalgia lasting for two weeks. There was no history of new medications. He mentioned an episode of polyarthralgia and edema of lower extremities one year before, which had a spontaneous resolution. On admission, he was afebrile and his blood pressure was 170/91mmHg. He had diminished pulmonary sounds on the inferior lobes. The presence of puffy hands was notorious. The rest of his physical examination was unremarkable.

Initial investigation revealed a normocytic and normochromic anemia (hemoglobin 11 g/dL), C reactive protein of 0.84 mg/dL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 89 mm/h, blood urea 114 mg/dL, and serum creatinine of 3.5 mg/dL. Urinalysis presented with hematuria and proteinuria and an urinary sediment with numerous red blood cells (10-30 per high power field) and rare leucocytes (<5 per high power field). Chest radiography showed bilateral pleural effusion. Mild increased parenchymal echogenicity was found in the renal ultrasound with no dilation of the urinary system. Normocytic and normochromic anemia (Hb 11g/dL), normal serum creatinine of 0.98mg/dL and a normal urinalysis were present in laboratory analysis two years before. A RPGN was suspected and extended investigation showed a 24 hours urinary protein excretion of 5.9g, hypoalbuminemia of 2.8g/dL, hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol 228 mg/dL and LDL 153 mg/dL), and hypertriglyceridemia (298 mg/dL). A strongly positive ANA (1/1280) with speckled pattern and positive anti-RNP antibodies was apparent but the remaining immunologic studies were negative, including ANCA, anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies, anti-dsDNA, anti-La, anti-Ro, and anti-Sm. The complement levels (C3 and C4) were within the normal range and serum electrophoresis excluded a monoclonal gammopathy. Peripheral blood cultures were sterile. Tests for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus were negative.

Renal biopsy (Figure 1) revealed 10 out of 11 glomeruli with cellular crescents, some with fibrinoid necrosis and rupture of Bowman capsule. There was peri-glomerular fibro-edema, involving also 30% of the cortex. Severe inflammatory infiltrate, mainly mononuclear, was present in the interstitium. There were spots of acute tubular necrosis, but most of the tubules were preserved. Immunofluorescence was negative. Electron microscopy was not performed. These changes were compatible with pauci-immune CrGN. Steroid therapy was initiated with favorable response, but given the severity of the biopsy findings, cyclophosphamide was added. As a complication of immunosuppressive therapy, a bacterial pneumonia was successfully treated. For better characterization of the severity of the respiratory disease, a chest computed tomography (CT) showed lung cavities with destruction of the lung parenchyma in both inferior lobes and a right pleural effusion (Figure 2). A pulmonary CT performed two years before already showed these cavities, which were stable in size. A bronchofibroscopy showed ulcerative lesions in superior lobar bronchus that may be suggestive of vasculitis, diffuse inflammatory signs as well as abundant secretions. Broncho-alveolar lavage was negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other agents. At this point, a systemic disease with renal and respiratory involvement, previously present but undiagnosed, was considered, which led to a capillaroscopy revealing a secondary Raynaud phenomenon and a late scleroderma pattern. Echocardiography excluded pulmonary hypertension. Spirometry results disclosed a normal forced vital capacity (4.43 L, 99% of predicted), normal static volumes (total lung capacity of 6.61 L, 93% of predicted), normal airway resistance and a reduced diffusing capacity (DLCO 4.03 mmol/min/kPa, 40.7 % of predicted). These results were compatible with the diagnosis of MCTD. After induction therapy with cyclophosphamide, patient started on azathioprine (2 mg/Kg/day). He showed a significant improvement with serum creatinine decreasing to 1.2 mg/dL. Three months after the initial episode, the patient was asymptomatic. A continuous renal function improvement was evident (serum creatinine of 0.97 mg/dL, proteinuria of 335 mg/24 hours, with a normal urinary sediment) as well as an improvement in the respiratory symptoms and in the pulmonary function tests.

Figure 1
Periodic acid-Schiff staining shows a cellular crescent, with cellular inflammatory reaction, mainly mononuclear. Most of the tubules have a preserved structure (100x). Inset showing an amplification of a glomerulus with a cellular crescent (200x).

Figure 2
Chest computed tomography (CT): lung cavities with destruction of the lung parenchyma in the inferior lobes on both sides and a right pleural effusion.

DISCUSSION

MCTD is a rare syndrome with overlap features of rheumatic disorders, such as SLE, systemic sclerosis and polymyositis with the serologic marker of high titters of anti-RNP antibodies. The Alarcon-Segovia and Kahn's diagnostic criteria are the most used algorithms for establishing the diagnosis of MCTD55 Alarcón-Segovia D, Cardiel MH. Comparison between 3 diagnostic criteria for mixed connective tissue disease. Study of 593 patients. J Rheumatol 1989;16:328-34.. Both classifications include serological (high titters of anti-RNP antibodies) and clinical (swollen hands, synovitis, myositis, and Raynaud phenomenon) criteria.66 Ortega-Hernandez OD, Shoenfeld Y. Mixed connective tissue disease: an overview of clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2012;26:61-72. This patient presented with a higher titter of anti-RNP antibodies, swollen hands, synovitis, and Raynaud phenomenon, filling the diagnosis criteria for MCTD. Although almost any organ can be involved in MCTD, severe renal involvement is infrequent and it is hypothesized that high titters of anti-RNP antibodies may protect against the development of diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis.77 Farhey Y, Hess EV. Mixed connective tissue disease. Arthritis Rheum 2005;10:333-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1790100508
https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1790100508...

8 Bennett RM, O'Connell DJ. Mixed connective tissue disease: a clinicopathologic study of 20 cases. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1980;10:25-51.

9 Kobayashi S, Nagase M, Kimura M, Ohyama K, Ikeya M, Honda N. Renal involvement in mixed connective tissue disease. Report of 5 cases. Am J Nephrol 1985;5:282-9.

10 Kitridou RC, Akmal M, Turkel SB, Ehresmann GR, Quismorio FP Jr, Massry SG. Renal involvement in mixed connective tissue disease: a longitudinal clinicopathologic study. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1986;16:135-45.
-1111 Bennett RM, Spargo BH. Immune complex nephropathy in mixed connective tissue disease. Am J Med 1977;63:534-41. The most common presentations of renal disease in MCTD are membranous nephropathy and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. Interstitial nephropathy and renal vasculopathy are less frequent and could lead to malignant hypertension as observed in scleroderma renal crisis.99 Kobayashi S, Nagase M, Kimura M, Ohyama K, Ikeya M, Honda N. Renal involvement in mixed connective tissue disease. Report of 5 cases. Am J Nephrol 1985;5:282-9.

10 Kitridou RC, Akmal M, Turkel SB, Ehresmann GR, Quismorio FP Jr, Massry SG. Renal involvement in mixed connective tissue disease: a longitudinal clinicopathologic study. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1986;16:135-45.
-1111 Bennett RM, Spargo BH. Immune complex nephropathy in mixed connective tissue disease. Am J Med 1977;63:534-41. Published data reports only few cases of CrGN associated with connective tissue diseases, especially with MCTD. Considering only the subset of patients with ANCA-negative pauci-immune CrGN, the number of reported cases is even smaller.44 Tewari R, Badwal S, Kumar A, Subramaniam S, Nijhawan VS, Srinivas V. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative crescentic paucimmune glomerulonephritis in a case of scleroderma with systemic lupus erythematosus overlap. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2016;27:602-5.,1212 Baldeo C, Ali R, Hritani A, Poenariu A. ANCA-Negative Pauci-Immune Crescentic Glomerulonephritis Linked with Non-Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung. Case reports. Nephrol Dial 2015;5:168-72.,1313 Hedger N, Stevens J, Drey N, Walker S, Roderick P. Incidence and outcome of pauci-immune rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in Wessex, UK: a 10-year retrospective study. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2000;15:1593-9. We could only find 3 cases of ANCA negative pauci-immune CrGN associated with a MCTD.1414 Hayashi M, Naito S, Kamata M, Furuya M, Watarai R, Okina C, et al. A case of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-negative necrotizing glomerulonephritis (GN) superimposed on mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Nihon Jinzo Gakkai Shi 2012;54:556-60.

15 Mampilly N, Mathew M. A Case of ANCA Negative Pauci-immune Crescentic Glomerulonephritis in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. BMH Med J 2015;2:47-52.
-1616 Yeturi S, Cronin M, Robin A, Lorna C, Rosenthal AK. Pauci-Immune Crescentic Glomerulonephritis in Connective Tissue Disease. Case Rep Rheumatol 2016;2016:9070487. Because of the rarity of this association, we decided to report a case of a patient with biopsy proven pauci-immune necrotizing CrGN in the absence of ANCA positivity that simultaneously presented clinical and serological markers of MCTD. Specific therapeutic protocols for patients with CrGN and MCTD are not available due to the rarity of this association. The treatment for MCTD should be individualized depending on organ involvement and severity.66 Ortega-Hernandez OD, Shoenfeld Y. Mixed connective tissue disease: an overview of clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2012;26:61-72.,1717 Lozada CJ, Hoffman RW. Management of mixed connective tissue disease. Fut Rheumatol 2008;3:357-67.,1818 Kim P, Grossman JM. Treatment of mixed connective tissue disease. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2005;31:549-65. In this case report, the therapeutic approach was based on the most commonly accepted strategy for pauci-imune CrGN because of the magnitude of the renal involvement and included cyclophosphamide in combination with high dose steroids, followed by azathioprine.1919 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Glomerulonephritis. Kidney Int Suppl 2012;2:139-274. Successful use of azathioprine as maintenance therapy was reported in one case of pauci-immune CrGN associated with MCTD.1515 Mampilly N, Mathew M. A Case of ANCA Negative Pauci-immune Crescentic Glomerulonephritis in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. BMH Med J 2015;2:47-52. Azathioprine has also been used on MCTD with good results, especially when there is pulmonary, articular, or neurologic involvement.66 Ortega-Hernandez OD, Shoenfeld Y. Mixed connective tissue disease: an overview of clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2012;26:61-72.,1717 Lozada CJ, Hoffman RW. Management of mixed connective tissue disease. Fut Rheumatol 2008;3:357-67.,2020 Mathai SC, Danoff SK. Management of interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease. BMJ 2016;352:h6819. As expected, the renal outcomes would have been better if the treatment started in early stages of the disease.55 Alarcón-Segovia D, Cardiel MH. Comparison between 3 diagnostic criteria for mixed connective tissue disease. Study of 593 patients. J Rheumatol 1989;16:328-34.,1414 Hayashi M, Naito S, Kamata M, Furuya M, Watarai R, Okina C, et al. A case of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-negative necrotizing glomerulonephritis (GN) superimposed on mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Nihon Jinzo Gakkai Shi 2012;54:556-60. A favorable clinical outcome was observed, with renal function recovery, normalization of urinary sediment, significant proteinuria reduction and substantial improvement in pulmonary function tests. This multi-organ improvement after immunosuppression consolidated the hypothesis of a common immune origin in both renal and pulmonary dysfunctions.

CONCLUSION

This case study reports an extremely rare form of renal involvement in MCTD: an ANCA-negative pauci-immune CrGN. This report also highlighted the crucial role of detailed clinical examination, serologic markers, and an elevated level of suspicion to reveal a less frequent, and sometimes missed diagnosis. There is no treatment protocol for this condition, but careful assessment of organ involvement and severity should guide the best therapeutic strategy. In this case report, successful control of the disease was obtained with cyclophosphamide plus high dose corticosteroids followed by azathioprine.

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Chen M, Kallenberg CG, Zhao MH. ANCA-negative pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. Nat Rev Nephrol 2009;5:313-8.
  • 2
    Sampathkumar K, Ramakrishnan M, Sah AK, Gowtham S, Ajeshkumar RN. ANCA negative pauci-immune glomerulonephritis with systemic involvement. Indian J Nephrol 2010;20:43-7.
  • 3
    Chen M, Yu F, Wang SX, Zou WZ, Zhao MH, Wang HY. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-negative Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol 2007;18:599-605.
  • 4
    Tewari R, Badwal S, Kumar A, Subramaniam S, Nijhawan VS, Srinivas V. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative crescentic paucimmune glomerulonephritis in a case of scleroderma with systemic lupus erythematosus overlap. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2016;27:602-5.
  • 5
    Alarcón-Segovia D, Cardiel MH. Comparison between 3 diagnostic criteria for mixed connective tissue disease. Study of 593 patients. J Rheumatol 1989;16:328-34.
  • 6
    Ortega-Hernandez OD, Shoenfeld Y. Mixed connective tissue disease: an overview of clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2012;26:61-72.
  • 7
    Farhey Y, Hess EV. Mixed connective tissue disease. Arthritis Rheum 2005;10:333-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1790100508
    » https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1790100508
  • 8
    Bennett RM, O'Connell DJ. Mixed connective tissue disease: a clinicopathologic study of 20 cases. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1980;10:25-51.
  • 9
    Kobayashi S, Nagase M, Kimura M, Ohyama K, Ikeya M, Honda N. Renal involvement in mixed connective tissue disease. Report of 5 cases. Am J Nephrol 1985;5:282-9.
  • 10
    Kitridou RC, Akmal M, Turkel SB, Ehresmann GR, Quismorio FP Jr, Massry SG. Renal involvement in mixed connective tissue disease: a longitudinal clinicopathologic study. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1986;16:135-45.
  • 11
    Bennett RM, Spargo BH. Immune complex nephropathy in mixed connective tissue disease. Am J Med 1977;63:534-41.
  • 12
    Baldeo C, Ali R, Hritani A, Poenariu A. ANCA-Negative Pauci-Immune Crescentic Glomerulonephritis Linked with Non-Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung. Case reports. Nephrol Dial 2015;5:168-72.
  • 13
    Hedger N, Stevens J, Drey N, Walker S, Roderick P. Incidence and outcome of pauci-immune rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in Wessex, UK: a 10-year retrospective study. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2000;15:1593-9.
  • 14
    Hayashi M, Naito S, Kamata M, Furuya M, Watarai R, Okina C, et al. A case of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-negative necrotizing glomerulonephritis (GN) superimposed on mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Nihon Jinzo Gakkai Shi 2012;54:556-60.
  • 15
    Mampilly N, Mathew M. A Case of ANCA Negative Pauci-immune Crescentic Glomerulonephritis in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. BMH Med J 2015;2:47-52.
  • 16
    Yeturi S, Cronin M, Robin A, Lorna C, Rosenthal AK. Pauci-Immune Crescentic Glomerulonephritis in Connective Tissue Disease. Case Rep Rheumatol 2016;2016:9070487.
  • 17
    Lozada CJ, Hoffman RW. Management of mixed connective tissue disease. Fut Rheumatol 2008;3:357-67.
  • 18
    Kim P, Grossman JM. Treatment of mixed connective tissue disease. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2005;31:549-65.
  • 19
    KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Glomerulonephritis. Kidney Int Suppl 2012;2:139-274.
  • 20
    Mathai SC, Danoff SK. Management of interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease. BMJ 2016;352:h6819.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    18 Mar 2019
  • Date of issue
    Apr-Jun 2020

History

  • Received
    03 Jan 2019
  • Accepted
    20 Jan 2019
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