New kidney disease research from Mie University, Medical Department outlined
2007 NOV 20 -- "Autoimmune pancreatitis is a chronic fibroinflammatory condition primarily affecting the pancreas. Recent accumulating evidence suggested that autoimmune pancreatitis is a systemic autoimmune disease (immunoglobulin G4 [IgG4]-related autoimmune disease) affecting various organs with dense infiltration of IgG4-positive mononuclear cells," scientists writing in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases report. "Tubulointerstitial nephritis is still a mysterious disease with an unknown cause. We report 2 cases of tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with autoimmune pancreatitis. In these patients, dense infiltrations of IgG4-positive mononuclear cells were observed in renal interstitium, with high serum IgG4 levels. Furthermore, in patient 1, who had sclerosing cholangitis, serum alkaline phosphatase and serum creatinine levels changed synchronously. Steroid therapy was followed by improved renal function and serum IgG4 levels in both patients. Because tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with IgG4-related autoimmune disease shows a favorable response to steroids and the renal dysfunction and pancreatic dysfunction are reversible, awareness of this entity is necessary for early diagnosis and prompt treatment," wrote K. Yoneda and colleagues, Mie University, Medical Department. The researchers concluded: "In addition, these cases support the hypothesis that IgG4-related autoimmune disease could be one cause of tubulointerstitial nephritis." Yoneda and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Kidney Diseases (Tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with IgG4-related autoimmune disease. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2007;50(3):455-462). Additional information can be obtained by contacting K. Murata, Mie University, School Medical, Dept. of Internal Medicine 1, 2-174 Eobashi, Tsu, Mie 5148507, Japan. The publisher of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases can be contacted at: W B Saunders Co-Elsevier Inc., 1600 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Ste. 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2899, USA. Keywords: Japan, Tsu, Kidney Disease, Mie University, Medical Department. This article was prepared by Science Letter editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Science Letter via NewsRx.com.
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