Nephrolithiasis is considered a systemic disease. A link has been established between nephrolithiasis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), the metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis. A significant ...correlation has been found between the high levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and CVD and atherosclerosis, including coronary and femoral artery disease. To the best of our knowledge, oxLDL has not been evaluated in patients with nephrolithiasis. This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of oxLDL, anti-oxLDL antibodies (oxLDL-ab) and other markers of atherosclerosis in patients with nephrolithiasis, according to the severity of the disease. The population sample consisted of 94 patients of 30–70 years of age with no symptoms of CVD who presented with renal calculi documented by ultrasonography, abdominal X-ray or computed tomography. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (≥ 3 stones) and Group 2 (1–2 stones). A comparison control group was formed with 21 healthy individuals. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess oxLDL and oxLDL-ab. Lipid peroxidation indexes were also analyzed. Median serum oxLDL values were higher in Groups 1 and 2 compared to the control group (≥ 3 stones,
p
= 0.02; 1–2 stones,
p
= 0.03). Median serum anti-oxLDL antibody levels were lower in the patients in Group 1 compared to the controls (
p
= 0.03). There was no significant difference in the oxLDL/oxLDL-ab ratio between patients and controls. These findings suggest that this may be the link between nephrolithiasis and the greater incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in patients with kidney stones.
Abstract Gaucher Disease (GD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficient activity of beta-glucocerebrosidase. GD is one of the lysosomal storage diseases with the most remarkable ...alterations in the immune system, and that may manifest clinically as autoimmune disorders and malignancy. We reported the immunological evaluation of a patient with GD and lupus nephritis. Decreased absolute values of T, and NK, and an inversion of CD4+ /CD8+ ratio, low levels of IgM and normal B cells were found when compared to reference values in a Brazilian population. Absence ofCD4+ CD25high Foxp3+ Treg and high levels of total NKT, iNKT cells and CD8+ iNKT subsets were also observed when compared to the healthy control and GD patient without lupus nephritis. Treg subset and CD8+ iNKT abnormalities might be involved in severe lupus nephritis in a GD patient. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of the immunological evaluation on early diagnosis of autoimmunity contributing to reduce mortality and morbidity of these patients.
Gaucher Disease (GD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficient activity of beta-glucocerebrosidase. GD is one of the lysosomal storage diseases with the most remarkable ...alterations in the immune system, and that may manifest clinically as autoimmune disorders and malignancy. We reported the immunological evaluation of a patient with GD and lupus nephritis. Decreased absolute values of T, and NK, and an inversion of CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio, low levels of IgM and normal B cells were found when compared to reference values in a Brazilian population. Absence ofCD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp3(+) Treg and high levels of total NKT, iNKT cells and CD8(+) iNKT subsets were also observed when compared to the healthy control and GD patient without lupus nephritis. Treg subset and CD8(+) iNKT abnormalities might be involved in severe lupus nephritis in a GD patient. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of the immunological evaluation on early diagnosis of autoimmunity contributing to reduce mortality and morbidity of these patients.
