Observation on Clinicopathological Profile of Post-Infectious Glomerulonephritis

AGN: Acute Glomerulonephritis
ASO: Antistreptoysin-O
CRP: C-Reactive Protein
C3: Complement 3
ESR: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
HSP: Henoch-Schonlein Purpura 
PSGN: Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis 
RBC: Red Blood Cell
SLE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 
WBC: White Blood Cell

Presence of oliguria, oedema, hematuria, proteinuria and hypertension are the essential criteria of acute glomerulonephritis [1,2]. Acute glomerulonephritis is an immune complex disease where there is inflammation of glomerulus occurs by proliferations of cellular elements i.e., endocapillary proliferation with mesangial proliferation and neutrophil cell in the capillary of the glomerular tuff through an immunological response as seen in optic microscopy [2,3]. There have been stages of development of our knowledge with regards to etilogy and clinical course of acute glomerulonephritis since Bright’s description [4]. Post-infectious glomerulonephritis is the most common cause constituting 80% cases of post streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Postinfectious glomerulonephritis is results from an antecedent infection of the skin (impetigo) or throat (pharyngitis) caused by nephritogenic strains of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci and is coined as Post Streptococcal Glomerulonepritis (PSGN) [5-7]. In 1941, Seegal and Earl described the concept of nephritogenic strain causing PSGN [8]. The M and T proteins in the bacterial wall have been used for characterizing streptococci. Nephritogenicity is mainly restricted to certain M protein serotypes (i.e., 1, 2, 4, 12, 18, 25, 49, 55, 57 and 60) that have shown nephritogenic potential. These may cause skin or throat infections. The specific M types 49, 55, 57, and 60 are most commonly associated with skin infections. Some strain of Group C streptococci like Streptococcus zooepidemicus have been seen responsible for recent epidemics of APSGN. Hence it can be stated that nephritogenic antigens are present and possibly shared by streptococci from several groups [9]. The Incidence of acute post streptococcal glomerulonephrtis is more common with antecedent history of pharyngitis or pyoderma, [10-12].

A 31-year-old primiparous female, at 35 weeks gestational age, presented to obstetrics emergency department complaining of absence of fetal movements for the last 12h before admission.

She had been regularly attending the antenatal consultations with no risk factors identified. Her prenatal laboratory results were unremarkable except for GBS-unknown. She had three normal obstetric ultrasounds (one of each trimester); her blood type was A+. Pregnancy was uneventful with no history of vomiting, blood loss or abdominal trauma.

On admission at the delivery unit, the obstetric ultrasound revealed no fetal movements with the presence of heart beat. The Cardiotocograph (CTG) was not tranquilizing as it showed prolonged deceleration and reduced variability with pathological trace that suggested a sinusoidal pattern and, as a result, an emergent caesarean section was performed (Figure 1).A baby boy was born weighing 2610g. The newborn had a circular of the umbilical cord around the arms. On examination at birth, he was markedly pale and hypotonic with respiratory depression. Orothracheal intubation and connection to mechanical ventilation was immediately performed. He responded well and was extubated 4 minutes after and transferred to the neonatal unit with oxygen directly to his face, for further evaluation and management. The Apgar score was 5/8/8.

Initial blood gas from the umbilical cord revealed pH 7.27, pCO2 50.6 mm Hg, Hemoglobin 4.4, g/dL, bicarbonate 21.9 mmol/L and lactates 5.8 mmol/L. Laboratory exams revealed 4.0 g/dL of hemoglobin, white blood cell count of 47.700/10 EXP 9/L with 22.7% neutrophils (10.800), platelets count 183.000/10 EXP 9/L, DHL 680 UI/L, CK 190 UI/L. Further laboratory evaluation was unchanged (bilirubin, cardiac enzymes and C reactive protein). Coombs test and viral serology for Parvovirus B19 and Cytomegalovirus were negative. Hemoglobin electrophoresis showed a presence of 5% fetal hemoglobin on mother’s blood. Kleihauer-Betke test was performed, since it is a more specific exam and quantifies the amount of blood transfusion. It revealed 17.8% of fetal red cells in maternal circulation, which corresponds to a volume of approximately 890 mL of fetal blood based on the formula: (% of fetal cells determined by Kleihauer-Betke test/100) X 5000 mL = volume of FMH (in mL) [3] and also according to the fact that 1% of fetal erythrocytes in maternal circulation is equivalent to a fetal hemorrhage of 50mL [4].

Two red blood cell transfusions were made and at 12 hours of life his hemoglobin was 13.3 g/dL, white blood cells count of 10.100/uL (Neutrophils: 64.4%), platelets count of 219.000/uL and erythroblasts 87/100 leucocytes.

The outcome was favorable with hemodynamic and respiratory stability and absence of abnormal movements. Cranial ultrasonography showed, in the 3rd day of life, frontal bilateral parenchymal hyperechogenicity, was not present on 11th day of life as the ultrasounds were made by two different physicians. The authors admit that the hyperechogenicity have not been valorized by the second physician.

Follow-up at 2 and 4 months revealed a normal physical and neurological examination.

The objectives of the study is to know the clinicopathological profile of PSGN and its association with sore throat and pyoderma, clinical presentations, various laboratory parameters including Serum C3 level and course of illnesses.

Method

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

Methods

Observation

In our study commonest presentation of PSGN is between 3-8 years age group (60.71%), male (64.28%) were more affected than female (35.71%), ratio was 1.8:1. Sarkissian et al., [14] found similar type of study. We have found in 60.97% cases of PSGN there was history suggestive of infection, most common being the scabies, out of which pyoderma was 60.71%, sore throat was 25%. Popovic- Rolovic et al., [15] found preceding infection of respiratory tract in 82%, skin infection in 10 % and no infection in 8% of cases. Puri RK et al., [16] found 67.4% having history of skin infection and 8.9% with respiratory tract infection. Manhans et al., [17] found 60 % cases with history of pyoderma and 20% with sore throat. Dillon et al., [18] have reported pyoderma as the leading cause of PSGN in 66% cases. The finding is consistent with our results. Out of 56 patient have 41 patients latent period between 8 to 21 days (85.41%). Patient with sore throat have latent period of 8 to 14 days in majority cases (27.08%). The patient with pyoderma has latent period of 15 to 21 days in majority of cases (45.83%). Rajajee et al., [19] had reported that the latent period in AGN after streptococcal pharyngitis is 7 to 14 days and that after skin infection is 14 to 21 days. Similar finding about the latent period were reported by Hingalis et al., [20] and Lewy et al., [21]. The most common presentation was oliguria, and puffiness of face in 94.64 % cases, followed by pedal edema (60.71%), hematuria in 57.14% cases and fever in 42.71% cases. This finding was consistent with study done by Puri et al., [16] (85.7%) and Manhas et al., [17] (90%) respectively. Lewy et al., [21] reported edema in 61.1%. Hingalis et al., [20] observed gross hematuria in 77.8% cases. Puri et al., [16] reported 55.7 % cases PSGN with hematuria. Berry et al., observed association of hypertension in 69.1% cases. Puri et al., [16] found hypertension in 74.6% of cases. Our finding is consistent with them. Hypertension was found in 49% of cases by Meharban Singh et al., [22]. Fever, vomiting & headache are encountered in 55.71% & 24.28% respectively. Puri et al., [16] and Manhas et al., [17] have found similar type of presentation.

Atypical presentation like hypertensive encephalopathy was seen in 2.85% of cases where as Puri et al., [16] have encountered 8.8% of cases having hypertensive encephalopathy. We have seen 7.14% of patient having convulsion where as Strauss and welt et al., [23] reported 5% of PSGN cases having convulsion. Acute renal failure was observed in 5.35% of cases with PSGN in our study. Our finding is consistent with the finding of Earle DP et al., [24] and Sharma BK et al., [25], who found prolonged oliguria in 5-13% of cases but differ from the study done by Manhas et al., [17], who have reported 1.4% cases with anuria. Puri et al., [16] have reported 14.3% cases with ARF. Chugh et al., [26] reported 9.8% incidence of ARF due to PSGN. Papiloedema was seen in 2.85% of cases of PSGN. These cases were associated with convulsion and hypertensive encephalopathy. Similar finding was observed by Manhas et al., [17].

In our study ESR was raised in 87.50% of cases. Manhas et al., [17] reported raised ESR in 56.6% of cases of PSGN. Puri et al., [16] and Berry et al., [27] found raised ESR in about 95% of cases of PSGN. This is at par with our finding. CRP was raised in 17.14% of cases. Valyasevi A et al., [28] reported raised CRP in 15.38% of PSGN. Puri et al., [16] reported it to be raised in much higher percentages of cases.

In our study 46.42% of cases of PSGN had ASO positive. Out of which 50% had pharyngitis and 26.92% had pyoderma. Leung DT et al., [29] in Hong Kong had shown that 78% of PSGN in children had elevated ASO titer more than 200IU/L. Puri et al., [16] have found a raised titer in 75% cases. Rajajee et al., [19] have not found significant raised in ASO titer like our study with pyoderma. Wannamaker LW et al., [30] have found feeble ASO response in patients with pyoderma induced nephritis.

Complement 3 level was positive in 49 patients (87.50%). Popovic-Rolovic M et al., [15] had found low complement C3 level. Shroff KJ et al., [31] found low complement C3 level in 88% of patients. Federic strife et al., [32] and Vijaykumar M et al., [33] found hypocomplementemia in about 90% of patient with PSGN. Complete recovery was seen in 89.28% of cases of PSGN, 5 patients (8.92%) were discharged on request (latter on followed up), one patient died (1.78%) in hospital (after all investigation were done) due to associated sepsis with hypertensive encephalopathy. Puri et al., [16] found mortality rate of AGN to be 1.4%. Devid Charles et al., [34] and Berry S et al., [27] found mortality to be 1%. Our finding is consistent with their findings. Renal biopsy was done in all 3 cases who developed renal failure, it showed the futures of PSGN.

This work comprised of prospective study of post infectious glomerulonephritis from October 2014 to September 2016. In this study an attempt was made to know the various predisposing factors, presentations, course and outcome of post infectious glomerulonephritis. The numbers of patient taken in our study were 56. 

PSGN in children was presented more in males than females. Most common age group was 3 to 8 years. Most common preceding infection was infective scabies along with other infected skin lesions. Preceding history of Pharyngitis was found in fewer cases. Latent period between preceding infection and onset of disease varies from 8 to 30 days. The patients with sore throat had shorter latent period than that with skin lesions. Oliguria, facial puffiness, pedal edema, hematuria and hypertension were the most common mode of presentation of the disease, observed in this study. Microscopic hematuria and proteinuria were invariably present in all cases. RBC cast in urine was found in about 1/3rd of cases. Most of the patients with PSGN had diminished complement 3 levels, majority of which return to normal on follow-up after 8 weeks. Beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from either skin or throat swab in 1/3rd of patient studied. All most all cases recovered completely within two to three weeks of admission. Mortality from the disease was very low.