Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a clinicopathological entity. The following five FSGS variants: Collapsing, cellular, glomerular tip, peri-hilar and not otherwise specified (NOS) are recognized, which may have prognostic value. The aim of this study was to highlight the clinical course and outcome in the different pathological variants of FSGS and to evaluate the predictive risk factors of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It was a retrospective analysis of biopsy-proven primary FSGS patients who presented over a period of three years. The data were collected from the clinical and biopsy records of the Nephrology Unit. There were 116 patients with biopsy-proven FSGS. The frequency of occurrence of FSGS among all cases of the nephrotic syndrome seen in our unit was 35.47%. NOS was the most common pathological variant (62.2%), followed by peri-hilar (11.2%), cellular (9.4%) and glomerular tip (7.7%), and the least common variant was collapsing (4.3%). Majority of patients with collapsing, NOS and glomerular tip variants had nephrotic range proteinuria. However, the amount of proteinuria was highest in the glomerular tip and collapsing variants. A higher percentage of patients with the collapsing and cellular variants had renal failure at the time of presentation. A higher rate of tubular and interstitial changes was seen in the collapsing and cellular variants. The collapsing and cellular variants showed lower response rate and higher rates of ESRD, while the glomerular tip lesion had the highest remission rate and the lowest rate of ESRD. Poor prognostic factors for ESRD in FSGS were initial renal insufficiency, severe tubulo-interstitial change, initial nonresponsiveness to steroids and collapsing histopathological variant. Our study suggests that histopathological classification of FSGS is of paramount importance in the management and in predicting the prognosis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is common in our country, and renal involvement is an important cause of chronic kidney disease. This study was aimed at comparing the three regimens, i.e., cyclophosphamide-based regimes (low dose and high dose) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based regime and determining if cyclophosphamide (CPM)-based regime can be an effective, safe, and cheap alternative to MMF-based regime in a resource-limited setting. Out of 144 patients, females constituted 89%. Nephrotic nephritic presentation was the most common. Rapidly progressive renal failure was seen in in 42 (29.1%) patients. Class IV was the most common 66 (45.8%) histological class. Crescentic glomerulonephritis was seen in 18 (12.5%). Overall remission (complete + partial) at 6 months was seen in 71.4% in National Institute of Health regime, 65% in European lupus nephritis trial protocol and 72.9% in MMF regime. End-stage renal disease and switching to other therapies were comparable among the three groups. Although infections were more with CPM, the difference was not statistically significant. CPM-based therapies were associated with a significantly lower cost.

The aim of the study was to determine the various histopathological lesions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with renal dysfunction and to establish clinicopathological correlation. Over a period of two years from January 2008 to March 2010, 27 HIV positive patients with renal dysfunction were subjected to renal biopsy. Of the 27 patients, 23 were males and four were females (85.2% males, 14.8% females). Mean age was 38.2 ± 10.36 (range 20 – 60) years. The probable mode of acquisition of HIV infection was sexual in 22 patients (81.5%). Thirteen patients (48%) had nephrotic proteinuria. The CD4 count ranged from 77 to 633/microliter. The kidneys were of normal size in 19 (70.4%) and bulky in eight (29.6%) patients. Thirteen patients required renal replacement therapy. Eleven patients had acute tubule-interstitial lesions (40.7%) while 15 (55.5%) had glomerular lesions. The various glomerular lesions were, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in five, amyloidosis in three, diffuse proliferative GN in two, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (GN), membranous GN, minimal change disease, diabetic nephropathy, crescentic GN, and thrombotic microangiopathy were seen in one each. None of the clinical or laboratory variables, except hypertension, was found to predict glomerular versus non-glomerular lesions on biopsy. In conclusion we show that a variety of glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions can be seen on renal histology. Hence, renal biopsy is indicated in renal dysfunction associated with HIV for making proper diagnosis and therapy.

Renovascular hypertension can be managed medically in most cases. However, in cases of failed medical therapy revascularization is indicated. Splenorenal grafting is one such method for revascularization. We present a report of splenorenal grafting for the management of resistant hypertension.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease all over the world. India has a high incidence and prevalence of diabetes and >30% have nephropathy. Recently, a histological classification has been proposed. This study analyzed the renal histology in 114 diabetic patients with renal dysfunction. Nearly 75% of patients had DN. Fifty five (63.95%) were males. Mean duration of diabetes was 7.04 ± 4.9 years. Mean serum creatinine in study group was 5.2 ± 2.9 mg/dl, with mean estimated glomerular filtration rate of 23.43 ± 21.48 ml/min/1.732 m2. Forty eight patients (55.81%) had diabetic retinopathy (DR); prevalence of DR was more in patients who had diabetes for > 10 years than patients who had diabetes for <6 years (P = 0.022). The most common histological class was Class IV observed in 37 (43.02. %) cases, Class III DN in 24 (27.90%) cases, Class IIa and Class IIb in 11 (12.79%) cases each and Class I DN in 3 (3.48%) cases. Higher histological class was associated with higher proteinuria, lower glomerular filtration rate (P < 0.001) and was more likely to be associated with retinopathy (P = 0.012) and hypertension (P = 0.0003) but did not correlate with duration of diabetes (P = 0.85). There was a poor correlation between retinopathy and DN. Biopsy helps to stage the renal lesions in diabetics with renal dysfunction.