Mohammad Ilyas, Asad Tolaymat
Changing epidemiology of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in Northeast Florida: a comparative study.
Pediatr Nephrol. 2008 Jul;23(7):1101-6. doi: 10.1007/s00467-008-0778-1. Epub 2008 Mar 29.
Abstract/Text
The objective of this study was to review the epidemiological patterns of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) in a pediatric population. We compared incidence, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and outcomes in two APSGN pediatric patient cohorts in northeastern Florida. Retrospective medical records were reviewed of children who were admitted to our institution with a diagnosis of APSGN. Patients admitted between 1999 and 2006 (recent cohort) were compared with a previously reported cohort of patients admitted between 1957 and 1973 (earlier cohort). The recent cohort comprised 45 children with APSGN of whom 87% were male and 13% were female; the median age was 7 years, and there was an average incidence of 6.4 patients per year. The earlier cohort comprised 153 children with APSGN of whom 62% were male and 38% were female; the median age 4.25 years, and there was an average incidence of 10.9 patients per year. The recent cohort was predominantly White-American (62%) and the earlier cohort predominately African American (87%). In the recent cohort, 64% of patients had antecedent pharyngitis, and in the earlier cohort, 66% of patients had antecedent pyoderma. In the recent cohort, 11% of APSGN cases occurred between August to October, and in the earlier cohort, 50% occurred during these months. In the recent cohort, symptoms of APSGN at presentation were milder and all cases recovered, but in the earlier cohort two deaths (1.3% mortality) were reported. In conclusion, there has been a decline in the incidence and severity of APSGN at our institute in recent decades. Pharyngitis has replaced impetigo as the predominant cause of APSGN. The etiological agent for impetigo has changed over the last decade, which has impacted the incidence, racial distribution, seasonal variation and severity of APSGN.
Mandell: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th ed. Chapter178.
Kliegman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed. p1783-1785.
G A Cu, S Mezzano, J D Bannan, J B Zabriskie
Immunohistochemical and serological evidence for the role of streptococcal proteinase in acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Kidney Int. 1998 Sep;54(3):819-26. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.1998.00052.x.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated the preferential secretion of streptococcal proteinase or streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SPEB) by nephritic strains of Group A streptococci isolated from the skin or throat of patients with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN).
METHODS: To further explore the possible role of SPEB in APSGN, we performed ELISA studies to detect anti-SPEB antibodies in the sera of patients with APSGN, acute rheumatic fever (ARF), scarlet fever (SF) and normal children. Using ELISA, anti-SPEB titers on acute and convalescent APSGN sera were measured to determine immunity to APSGN. We also performed immunofluorescence studies on APSGN and non-APSGN kidney biopsies to probe for the presence and localization of SPEB.
RESULTS: Our data show that anti-SPEB antibodies are present in APSGN sera and antibody titers are significantly higher than in ARF, SF and normal sera. Anti-SPEB titers tend to rise acutely and decrease with time but do not reach baseline after one year. When kidney biopsies were probed with rabbit anti-SPEB antibody, 12 of 18 (67%) of the APSGN cases were positive while only 4 of 25 (16%) of the non-APSGN cases were positive.
CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we were able to demonstrate unique reactivity to SPEB in human sera and kidney biopsies of APSGN suggesting a significant role of this toxin in the pathogenesis of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Stephen R Batsford, Sergio Mezzano, Michael Mihatsch, Emile Schiltz, Bernardo Rodríguez-Iturbe
Is the nephritogenic antigen in post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis pyrogenic exotoxin B (SPE B) or GAPDH?
Kidney Int. 2005 Sep;68(3):1120-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00504.x.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Acute glomerulonephritis can follow infection by group A streptococci. An immune-complex pathogenesis is accepted, but the causative antigen(s) is still controversial. In recent years, 2 streptococcal antigens, the cationic cysteine proteinase exotoxin B (SPE B) and the plasmin receptor, a glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (Plr, GAPDH) have attracted attention because: (1) they were localized in glomeruli in patients with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN); and (2) serum antibody to these antigens was associated with nephritogenic streptococcal infections. To date, putative nephritogens were always tested independently. Here, the relevance of SPE B and GAPDH was evaluated in the same renal biopsies and serum samples of well-defined APSGN patients.
METHODS: Renal biopsies (17 patients) and serum samples (53 patients) with APSGN and appropriate controls were examined. Immunofluorescent staining of frozen sections was performed using specific antibodies to SPE B and GAPDH. Serum antibodies were investigated by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot methodology.
RESULTS: Glomerular deposits of SPE B were demonstrated in 12/17 APSGN biopsies, and 2 cases were borderline; circulating antibodies were found in all instances (53/53 patients). Glomerular deposition of GAPDH was detected in 1/17 biopsies, and 2 cases were borderline; circulating antibodies were found in 5/47 patients. In 31 control biopsies, only weak staining for each antigen was found in 2 cases.
CONCLUSION: In this study, glomerular deposits of and antibody response to zymogen/SPE B are more consistently present in APSGN than deposits and antibody response to GAPDH. Zymogen/SPE B is likely to be the major antigen involved in the pathogenesis of most cases of APSGN.
Nobuyuki Yoshizawa, Kazuo Yamakami, Masayuki Fujino, Takashi Oda, Kikuko Tamura, Koichi Matsumoto, Tetsuzo Sugisaki, Michael D P Boyle
Nephritis-associated plasmin receptor and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis: characterization of the antigen and associated immune response.
J Am Soc Nephrol. 2004 Jul;15(7):1785-93.
Abstract/Text
The role of nephritis-associated antigen as a virulence factor for acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) remains to be fully clarified. Nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr) was previously isolated from group A streptococcus (GAS) and shown to bind plasmin(ogen). The nucleotide sequence of the naplr gene from GAS isolates obtained from patients with APSGN was determined. The sequence of the putative open reading frame (1011 bp) showed 99.8% identity among isolated strains. Homology screen revealed an exact match with streptococcal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). NAPlr exhibited GAPDH activity in zymography, and it activated the complement pathway in vitro. In APSGN kidney biopsy specimens, NAPlr was observed mainly in the early stage of the disease (1 to 14 d after onset) but was not colocalized with either C3 or IgG as assessed by double immunofluorescence staining. Sera of patients with APSGN, patients with GAS infection without renal involvement, nonrenal pediatric patients, and healthy adults as controls were assayed for anti-NAPlr antibody titers. Anti-NAPlr antibodies were present most frequently in APSGN sera, and antibody titers were also significantly higher than in patients with GAS infection alone or in other control patients. Moreover, antibody titers remained elevated during the entire 10-yr follow-up period.
KDIGO 2021 CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF GLOMERULAR DISEASES Chapter 7: Infection-related glomerulonephritis.Kidney International. 2021;100(4):S172–S186. Available from: https://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(21)00562-7/fulltext
Mieke L van Driel, An Im De Sutter, Hilde Habraken, Sarah Thorning, Thierry Christiaens
Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Sep 11;9:CD004406. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004406.pub4. Epub 2016 Sep 11.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Antibiotics provide only modest benefit in treating sore throat, although effectiveness increases in participants with positive throat swabs for group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS). It is unclear which antibiotic is the best choice if antibiotics are indicated.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the evidence on the comparative efficacy of different antibiotics in: (a) alleviating symptoms (pain, fever); (b) shortening the duration of the illness; (c) preventing relapse; and (d) preventing complications (suppurative complications, acute rheumatic fever, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis). To assess the evidence on the comparative incidence of adverse effects and the risk-benefit of antibiotic treatment for streptococcal pharyngitis.
SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL (2016, Issue 3), MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to March week 3, 2016), Embase Elsevier (1974 to March 2016), and Web of Science Thomson Reuters (2010 to March 2016). We also searched clinical trials registers.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised, double-blind trials comparing different antibiotics and reporting at least one of the following: clinical cure, clinical relapse, or complications or adverse events, or both.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently screened trials for inclusion, and extracted data using standard methodological procedures as recommended by Cochrane. We assessed risk of bias of included studies according to the methods outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and used the GRADE tool to assess the overall quality of evidence for the outcomes.
MAIN RESULTS: We included 19 trials (5839 randomised participants); seven compared penicillin with cephalosporins, six compared penicillin with macrolides, three compared penicillin with carbacephem, one trial compared penicillin with sulphonamides, one trial compared clindamycin with ampicillin, and one trial compared azithromycin with amoxicillin in children. All included trials reported clinical outcomes. Reporting of randomisation, allocation concealment, and blinding was poor in all trials. The overall quality of the evidence assessed using the GRADE tool was low for the outcome 'resolution of symptoms' in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and very low for the outcomes 'resolution of symptoms' of evaluable participants and for adverse events. We downgraded the quality of evidence mainly due to lack of (or poor reporting of) randomisation or blinding, or both, heterogeneity, and wide confidence intervals (CIs).There was a difference in symptom resolution in favour of cephalosporins compared with penicillin (evaluable patients analysis odds ratio (OR) for absence of resolution of symptoms 0.51, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.97; number needed to treat to benefit (NNTB) 20, N = 5, n = 1660; very low quality evidence). However, this was not statistically significant in the ITT analysis (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.12; N = 5, n = 2018; low quality evidence). Clinical relapse was lower for cephalosporins compared with penicillin (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.99; NNTB 50, N = 4, n = 1386; low quality evidence), but this was found only in adults (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.88; NNTB 33, N = 2, n = 770). There were no differences between macrolides and penicillin for any of the outcomes. One unpublished trial in children found a better cure rate for azithromycin in a single dose compared to amoxicillin for 10 days (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.73; NNTB 18, N = 1, n = 482), but there was no difference between the groups in ITT analysis (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.05; N = 1, n = 673) or at long-term follow-up (evaluable patients analysis OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.82; N = 1, n = 422). Children experienced more adverse events with azithromycin compared to amoxicillin (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.78 to 3.99; N = 1, n = 673). Compared with penicillin carbacephem showed better symptom resolution post-treatment in adults and children combined (ITT analysis OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.99; NNTB 14, N = 3, n = 795), and in the subgroup analysis of children (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.99; NNTB 8, N = 1, n = 233), but not in the subgroup analysis of adults (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.22, N = 2, n = 562). Children experienced more adverse events with macrolides compared with penicillin (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.15; N = 1, n = 489). Studies did not report on long-term complications so it was unclear if any class of antibiotics was better in preventing serious but rare complications.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There were no clinically relevant differences in symptom resolution when comparing cephalosporins and macrolides with penicillin in the treatment of GABHS tonsillopharyngitis. Limited evidence in adults suggests cephalosporins are more effective than penicillin for relapse, but the NNTB is high. Limited evidence in children suggests carbacephem is more effective than penicillin for symptom resolution. Data on complications are too scarce to draw conclusions. Based on these results and considering the low cost and absence of resistance, penicillin can still be regarded as a first choice treatment for both adults and children. All studies were in high-income countries with low risk of streptococcal complications, so there is need for trials in low-income countries and Aboriginal communities where risk of complications remains high.
S Roy, W M Murphy, B S Arant
Poststreptococcal crescenteric glomerulonephritis in children: comparison of quintuple therapy versus supportive care.
J Pediatr. 1981 Mar;98(3):403-10.
Abstract/Text
Crescenteric glomerulonephritis preceded by a streptococcal infection with creatinine clearance CCr of less than 30 ml/minute/1.73 m2 was treated by supportive care plus three months of quintuple therapy (prednisone, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, dipyridamole, and heparin followed by warfarin) in five children (Group A) or by supportive care alone in five others (Group B). Of the glomeruli examined, 69.8 +/- 11.7% (mean +/- SE) in Group A and 64.4 +/- 10.6% in Group B had crescents which involved 54.0 +/- 10.8% and 60.0 +/- 10.5% of glomerular circumference, respectively. Clinical and histologic findings supported a recent streptococcal infection in every patient. Two patients from Group A had mild proteinuria and normal CCr at 12 months; one died abruptly of pulmonary hemorrhage after maintaining a normal CCr for 25 months. Following a second episode of poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis seven months after the first, one patient from Group B had persistent mild proteinuria for 41 months and hypertension through 56 months of follow-up. Nine surviving patients have maintained normal CCr for eight to 60 months (mean 29.5 months). The findings of this study suggest that this quintuple therapy offers no advantage over supportive care in the clinical management and outcome of children with severe crescenteric glomerulonephritis when an antecedent streptococcal infection is confirmed by serologic and histopathologic criteria.
Marco Zaffanello, Luigi Cataldi, Massimo Franchini, Vassilios Fanos
Evidence-based treatment limitations prevent any therapeutic recommendation for acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis in children.
Med Sci Monit. 2010 Apr;16(4):RA79-84.
Abstract/Text
The majority of children with the epidemic form of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) have an excellent prognosis, which contrasts with the poor long-term outcome of sporadic cases. Therapy is largely supportive. Rarely, the disease shows long-term complications, worsening to chronic kidney disease requiring long-term interventional measures. To compare the effectiveness of different therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of APSGN in childhood, the authors reviewed randomized controlled trials on the prevention and treatment of APSGN in children. Nine studies fit the inclusion criteria. Primary outcomes were the development of APSGN, the effectiveness of medication for controlling hypertension, and the development of chronic renal failure in patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis. No advantages of antimicrobials (cefuroxim, ceftibuten, and others) given for 5 days were found over penicillin V given for 10 days (4 trials). Nifedipine showed advantages in controlled acute hypertension (1 trial). ACE inhibitors (captopril and enalapril) had better control of blood pressure and echocardiographic changes than other antihypertensive drugs/diuretics (2 trials). The use of combined immunosuppressants for crescentic poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis showed no advantages over supportive therapy alone (1 study). The studies were of small number and with limitations that seriously weaken the results.
Bernardo Rodriguez-Iturbe, James M Musser
The current state of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.
J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008 Oct;19(10):1855-64. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2008010092. Epub 2008 Jul 30.
Abstract/Text
Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is one of the oldest recognized renal diseases. In the past three decades, significant changes have occurred in its epidemiology, in new insight gained in the nephritogenic characteristics of streptococcal antigens, and in the natural history of the disease. The disease is now rare in industrialized nations, but in the underprivileged world, the burden of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis ranges between 9.5 and 28.5 new cases per 100,000 individuals per year. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment is advisable in epidemic conditions and to household contacts of index cases in communities where the prevalence of the disease is high. The long-term prognosis is variable; in general, prognosis is excellent in children but significantly worse when it occurs in elderly individuals and in populations that present other risk factors of chronic kidney disease. Contemporary large-scale research strategies such as genome-wide sequencing may uncover new information about pathogenic factors contributing to disease.
T Kasahara, H Hayakawa, S Okubo, T Okugawa, N Kabuki, S Tomizawa, M Uchiyama
Prognosis of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is excellent in children, when adequately diagnosed.
Pediatr Int. 2001 Aug;43(4):364-7.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Recently, the prognosis of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) has been reported as improved, compared with the results of previous studies. In an attempt to clarify this, we analyzed the clinical course of patients with APSGN.
METHODS: A total of 220 children with acute nephritic syndrome were treated in the affiliated hospitals of our department, between January 1988 and December 1997. Among them, 138 children who were diagnosed with APSGN according to the presence of hematuria, transient hypocomplementemia and evidence of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection, were studied.
RESULTS: Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels at onset were 0.5 +/- 0.2 mg/dL and 20 +/-12 mg/dL, respectively. There were no patients with renal dysfunction (serum creatinine level > or = 1.5 mg/dL), but one patient with nephrotic syndrome. Blood pressure was well controlled in all patients and there were no patients with persistent hypertension. Serum complement levels were normalized within 12 weeks (100%), hematuria disappeared within 4 years (100%) and proteinuria disappeared within 3 years (100%) from the onset.
CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the prognosis of APSGN during childhood is excellent, when adequately diagnosed and treated.
J W Lien, T H Mathew, R Meadows
Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in adults: a long-term study.
Q J Med. 1979 Jan;48(189):99-111.
Abstract/Text
The long-term outcome after acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis was studied in 57 patients (52 aged 16 or over) followed for a period of one to 14 years (mean seven years). All patients presented with hypertension, haematuria and proteinuria. The antistreptolysin-0 titre was raised or the serum complement was low in all cases at the initial episode. All patients had histological evidence of a diffuse proliferative and exudative glomerulonephritis at onset. Follow-up renal biopsy was performed in 33 patients; in 18 patients this was carried out five years or more after the initial illness. Five patients died beyond two years, only two having had abnormal renal function at the time or death. Four patients were found to be mildly hypertensive without other clinical abnormalities. Eleven patients had proteinuria, haematuria or abnormal renal function; in three of these repeat renal biopsy was normal, incomplete resolution was reported in five, obsolescent glomeruli in one, and two others were not biopsied. No patient who had normal renal function at the time of follow-up had abnormal renal histology on biopsy. Obsolescent glomeruli were present in two other biopsies in association with evidence of incomplete resolution. It was concluded that the majority of patients with acute PSGN have a good prognosis. Histological resolution of the renal lesion may not occur for nine years.
Ricardo Sesso, Sergio Wyton L Pinto
Five-year follow-up of patients with epidemic glomerulonephritis due to Streptococcus zooepidemicus.
Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2005 Sep;20(9):1808-12. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfh904. Epub 2005 May 26.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: In 1998 there was a large outbreak of acute glomerulonephritis in Nova Serrana, Brazil, caused by group C Streptococcus zooepidemicus. This study describes the follow-up of these patients, after a mean time of 5.4 years of the acute episode.
METHODS: Of 135 cases identified in 1998, 56 were re-examined in a prospective study and had measurements of blood pressure, creatinine clearance (estimated by the Cockcroft and Gault formula), microalbuminuria (radioimmunoassay), urine sediment analysis and a protein dipstick test.
RESULTS: Of the original group of 135 subjects, 3 died in the acute phase and 5 (3.7%) required chronic dialysis. Of the 56 cases re-evaluated, 54 (96%) were adults (mean+/-SD age, 43+/-17 years) and 36 (64%) females. At the follow-up examination, we found arterial hypertension in 30% (n = 17/56) of the subjects, reduced creatinine clearance (<80 ml/min) in 49% (n = 26/53) and increased microalbuminuria (>20 microg/min) in 22% (n = 11/51). Compared to the evaluation carried out 3 years before, the number of cases with creatinine clearance lower than 80 ml/min increased from 20 to 26 (of 53 cases). Increased microalbuminuria and/or reduced creatinine clearance were detected in 57% (n = 32/56) of the subjects. Patients with reduced creatinine clearance were older than those without reduced renal function (54+/-15 vs 34+/-12 years, P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: After a mean time of 5.4 years, a relatively high proportion of patients with epidemic poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis due to S.zooepidemicus present hypertension, reduced renal function and increased microalbuminuria.
S W Pinto, R Sesso, E Vasconcelos, Y J Watanabe, A M Pansute
Follow-up of patients with epidemic poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Am J Kidney Dis. 2001 Aug;38(2):249-55. doi: 10.1053/ajkd.2001.26083.
Abstract/Text
In 1998 there was a large outbreak of acute glomerulonephritis (GN) in Nova Serrana, Brazil, caused by group C Streptococcus zooepidemicus and linked to the consumption of contaminated cheese produced with unpasteurized milk. This study describes the follow-up of these patients after a mean of 2 years following the acute episode. Of 134 patients identified in 1998, 69 patients were reexamined and underwent measurements of blood pressure, 24-hour creatinine clearance, microalbuminuria (radioimmunoassay), and urine sediment analysis. Of the original group of 134 patients, 3 patients died in the acute phase and 5 patients (3.7%) required chronic dialysis. Of 69 patients reevaluated, 65 patients (94%) were adults (mean age, 39 +/- 2 [SE] years) and 47 patients (68%) were women. At the follow-up examination, we found arterial hypertension in 42% of subjects (27 of 64 subjects), serum creatinine levels greater than 1.2 mg/dL in 12% (10 of 68 subjects), reduced creatinine clearance (<80 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) in 30% (20 of 67 subjects, 2 of them on chronic dialysis therapy), and increased microalbuminuria (>20 microg/min) in 34% (22 of 65 subjects). Increased microalbuminuria and/or reduced creatinine clearance were detected in 48% of the subjects (31 of 65 subjects). Patients with microalbuminuria had greater diastolic blood pressure than those without microalbuminuria (mean, 98 +/- 4 versus 88 +/- 2 mm Hg; P = 0.02). In conclusion, after a mean of 2 years, patients with epidemic poststreptococcal GN caused by S zooepidemicus present a high rate of hypertension and frequent abnormalities of renal function, with some having reached end-stage renal disease. Longer follow-up will be important to define the prognosis of these patients.
Wendy E Hoy, Andrew V White, Alison Dowling, Suresh K Sharma, Hilary Bloomfield, Bernard T Tipiloura, Cheryl E Swanson, John D Mathews, David A McCredie
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a strong risk factor for chronic kidney disease in later life.
Kidney Int. 2012 May;81(10):1026-32. doi: 10.1038/ki.2011.478. Epub 2012 Feb 1.
Abstract/Text
Although unusual in western countries and in Australia in general, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is still common in Australian Aboriginal children living in remote communities. Here, we evaluated whether episodes of acute PSGN increased the risk for chronic kidney disease in later life in 1519 residents of a remote Aboriginal community (85% of those age eligible), with high rates of renal and cardiovascular disease, who participated in a health screen over a 3-year period. Of these, 200 had had at least one episode of PSGN, with 27 having had multiple episodes, usually in childhood. High levels of albuminuria (albumin/creatinine ratio) with increasing age were confirmed. All PSGN episodes were associated with group A streptococcal skin infections, often related to scabies. In both genders, aged 10-39 years at screening, about one in five had such a history. Among them, PSGN (5 years or more earlier) was significantly associated with higher levels of albuminuria than those without. In women, aged 30-39 years, a history of PSGN was associated with a significantly higher frequency of estimated glomerular filtration rates <60 ml/min. The adjusted odds ratios for an albumin/creatinine ratio over 34 g/mol (overt albuminuria) in males and females with a history of PSGN were 4.6 and 3.1, respectively, compared with those without a history. Thus, PSGN contributes to the very serious burden of chronic kidney disease in this community. Rigorous strategies to prevent scabies and Group A streptococcal infections will reduce this burden.
José Herrera, Bernardo Rodríguez-Iturbe
End-stage renal disease and acute glomerulonephritis in Goajiro Indians.
Kidney Int Suppl. 2003 Feb;(83):S22-6.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Goajiro Indians are a semi-nomad tribe that live on the Goajiro peninsula, in the northwestern part of Venezuela. We investigated the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) among Goajiros and to determine if it was increased and whether congenital endowment of low number of nephrons (as indicated by low birth weight) was a contributing factor in their predisposition to chronic renal failure (CRF).
METHODS: The incidence of ESRD and the attack rate of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) among Goajiros during the period December 1991 through December 1998 were evaluated from the records of the University Hospital, in Maracaibo, which is the referral center for Goajiro Indians. Demographic characteristics and birth weight were obtained from the records of the Regional Public Health Service. Subclinical reduction in renal functioning mass was investigated in 11 healthy Goajiros with a standardized tubular stress test that determines the increment in tubular secretion of creatinine (TSCr) resulting from the intravenous administration of a bolus of creatinine.
RESULTS: The incidence of ESRD among Goajiros was 220 patients per million inhabitants per year, 1.7 times higher than the incidence for the country. The attack rate of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is nearly double among Goajiro Indians (2.9 +/- 1.3 cases/100,000 inhabitants/year) than in the general population in the neighboring Maracaibo city (1.5 +/- 0.3, P < 0.02). Low weight birth was common among Goajiros; as many as 23% of newborns weigh less than 1000 g. The stimulated TSCr in healthy Goajiros was 30% lower than in controls (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Goajiro Indians have a high incidence of ESRD. A high attack rate of PSGN and low nephron endowment in combination may be responsible, at least in part, for the increased risk of ESRD in this population.
