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Newer Developments in the Field of Glomerular Diseases

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Nephrology & Urology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2025) | Viewed by 2866

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Nephrology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Interests: glomerular disease; IgA nephropathy; ANCA vasculitis and glomerulonephritis; membranous nephropathy; lupus nephritis; complement-mediated glomerular diseases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The field of glomerular diseases has made significant progress over recent decades with new concepts of genetic risk factors, etiologic events, nephritogenic responses, and treatment of the major immunologically mediated types of glomerular injury. These include post-infectious glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy, anti-GBM antibody disease, ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis complement-mediated glomerular diseases, and podocytopathies such as minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and membranous nephropathy. Yet, identification of mechanistic pathways for these diseases has evolved into emerging therapies involving therapeutic targets as a result of newly appreciated roles for older mediators, like complement and complement regulatory proteins. Ongoing advances in understanding the immunopathogenesis of each of these entities also offer many opportunities for future therapeutic interventions.

This Special Issue welcomes articles either highlighting recent developments or continuing efforts to elucidate the pathogenesis and guide the management of glomerular diseases.

We are excited to host this Special Issue and welcome solicited and unsolicited submissions to create a special collection of articles that will help to advance the state of knowledge in this field.

Dr. Sophia Lionaki
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • glomerual diseases
  • post-infectious glomerulonephritis
  • IgA nephropathy
  • anti-GBM antibody glomerulonephritis
  • ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis
  • lupus nephritis complement-mediated glomerular diseases
  • minimal change disease
  • focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
  • membranous nephropathy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 10876 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Anti-PAR 1 and Anti-ACE 2 Antibody Levels on the Course of Specific Glomerulonephritis Types
by Maciej Szymczak, Harald Heidecke, Marcelina Żabińska, Łucja Janek, Jakub Wronowicz, Krzysztof Kujawa, Kai Schulze-Forster, Karolina Marek-Bukowiec, Tomasz Gołębiowski and Mirosław Banasik
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(9), 3178; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14093178 - 4 May 2025
Viewed by 339
Abstract
Background: Anti-PAR 1 (protease-activated receptor 1) and anti-ACE 2 (angiotensin 2-converting enzyme 2) antibodies are a kind of non-HLA (human leukocyte antigens) antibodies postulated to be of significance in autoimmunological diseases and organ transplantation. Methods: We assessed anti-PAR 1 and anti-ACE 2 antibody [...] Read more.
Background: Anti-PAR 1 (protease-activated receptor 1) and anti-ACE 2 (angiotensin 2-converting enzyme 2) antibodies are a kind of non-HLA (human leukocyte antigens) antibodies postulated to be of significance in autoimmunological diseases and organ transplantation. Methods: We assessed anti-PAR 1 and anti-ACE 2 antibody levels in patients with membranous nephropathy n= 18, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) n = 25, lupus nephritis (LN) n = 17, IgA nephropathy n = 14, mesangial proliferative (non-IgA) glomerulonephritis n = 6, c-ANCA (cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) vasculitis n = 40, p (perinuclear)-ANCA vasculitis n = 16, and compared them with a healthy control group n = 22. Next, we observed the clinical course of the patients (creatinine, total protein, and albumin) up to 2 years and correlated the results with the level of antibodies. Results: The anti-PAR 1 antibody level was lower in membranous nephropathy and FSGS compared to the control group. Anti-PAR 1 antibody levels were higher in secondary compared to primary glomerulonephritis. Both anti-PAR 1 and anti-ACE 2 antibody levels correlated positively (in focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis) or negatively (in lupus nephritis) with total protein and albumin at different time points of observation. Anti-PAR 1 and anti-ACE 2 antibody levels correlated also with creatinine level at one time point of observation in IgA nephropathy. Anti-PAR 1 and anti-ACE 2 antibodies correlated with each other in membranous nephropathy, FSGS, and p- and c-ANCA vasculitis (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The anti-PAR 1 antibody level was lower in membranous nephropathy and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis compared to the control group. Anti-PAR 1 antibody levels tend to be higher in secondary compared to primary glomerulonephritis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newer Developments in the Field of Glomerular Diseases)
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13 pages, 230 KiB  
Article
Safety Profile of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients with Lupus Nephritis: A Retrospective Study
by Dimitra Petrou, Smaragdi Marinaki, Pelagia Kriki, Sofia Flouda, Aliki Venetsanopoulou, Paraskevi Voulgari, Aggeliki Sardeli, Konstantinos Drouzas, Stylianos Panagoutsos, George Liapis, Harikleia Gakiopoulou and Sophia Lionaki
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(2), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14020406 - 10 Jan 2025
Viewed by 796
Abstract
Objectives: Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has been vital in alleviating the spread of the recent pandemic. We aimed to estimate the frequency and type of adverse events related to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with lupus nephritis (LN), and assess its impact, if any, on [...] Read more.
Objectives: Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has been vital in alleviating the spread of the recent pandemic. We aimed to estimate the frequency and type of adverse events related to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with lupus nephritis (LN), and assess its impact, if any, on the risk of subsequent reactivation of nephritis. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter study which included patients with biopsy-proven LN, who had received at least one vaccine dose. Patients who ended up with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) prior to vaccination or were diagnosed with LN after vaccination were excluded. Adverse events, systemic or local, COVID-19 outcomes (full recovery, death, or long COVID-19), outcome of LN (remission, refractory disease, relapse, ESKD or death), demographics, laboratory measurements, and immunosuppressive regimens were recorded. Results: Sixty-seven patients were included. The median age was 33 (20–46) years. Induction therapy for LN was administered to 92.5% of patients and 74.6% received maintenance therapy. Of these, 94.02% were in remission at vaccination. The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was administered in 97.01% of cases, with mild systemic adverse symptoms in 28.35% (myalgias 17.91%, headache 13.43%, arthralgias 13.43%, and fever 10.44%) and local adverse effects in 35.82% (pain 25.37%, swelling 13.43%). Overall, among patients in remission upon vaccination, two (3.17%) experienced a LN relapse within 5.75 (±0.25) months, while 75% of those with active disease at vaccination achieved remission within 21 (±2) months. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination appears safe for LN patients without serious adverse events occurring, and there is no significant impact in the clinical course of the disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newer Developments in the Field of Glomerular Diseases)
9 pages, 246 KiB  
Article
The Role of TNF-α in the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome and Its Usefulness as a Marker of the Disease Course
by Agnieszka Pukajło-Marczyk and Danuta Zwolińska
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(7), 1888; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13071888 - 25 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1282
Abstract
Background: The pathogenesis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) has not been fully explained. Among the likely factors, tumor necrosis factor - alpha (TNF-α) is considered. We aimed to evaluate the TNF-α (sTNF-α, uTNF-α) levels in the serum and urine of INS children, [...] Read more.
Background: The pathogenesis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) has not been fully explained. Among the likely factors, tumor necrosis factor - alpha (TNF-α) is considered. We aimed to evaluate the TNF-α (sTNF-α, uTNF-α) levels in the serum and urine of INS children, with the aim of determining its association with proteinuria, and of determining its usefulness as a marker of the disease severity. Methods: Fifty-one examined patients were divided into subgroups depending on the number of relapses as follows: group IA—first episode; group IB—more than two relapses, and according to treatment modality; group IIA—glucocorticosteroids (GS) alone; and group IIB—GS with immunosuppressants. Healthy age-matched children served as the control group. Results: sTNF-α and uTNF-α levels were significantly increased in active phases in the whole INS group compared to the control group. They decreased in remission, but remained significantly higher when compared to the control group. During remission in the IB group, sTNF-α levels were significantly higher than in IA, whereas, in the relapse phase, these values were similar. In the IA group, a positive correlation between proteinuria and sTNF-α was demonstrated. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that TNF-α plays a role in the development of INS, and may be used as a prognostic marker, as well as an indicator for the continuation of therapy. Additional research is required to verify this statement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newer Developments in the Field of Glomerular Diseases)
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