What you need to know Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease with a variable spectrum of severity and extent of extrarenal complications For ...adults with a family history of ADPKD, criteria for diagnostic screening with ultrasound exist, although repeat screening may be required for younger adults if they had an initially negative scan Hypertension is the earliest manifestation of ADPKD and is preferentially managed with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists For at-risk individuals and affected patients, the 50% risk of inheriting ADPKD or passing it on to offspring is associated with uncertainty and a psychosocial burden A new therapy (tolvaptan) to delay disease progression is available for use in selected patients in some countries after specialist assessment What is polycystic kidney disease?
Functional renal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has seen a number of recent advances, and techniques are now available that can generate quantitative imaging biomarkers with the potential to ...improve the management of kidney disease. Such biomarkers are sensitive to changes in renal blood flow, tissue perfusion, oxygenation and microstructure (including inflammation and fibrosis), processes that are important in a range of renal diseases including chronic kidney disease. However, several challenges remain to move these techniques towards clinical adoption, from technical validation through biological and clinical validation, to demonstration of cost-effectiveness and regulatory qualification. To address these challenges, the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action PARENCHIMA was initiated in early 2017. PARENCHIMA is a multidisciplinary pan-European network with an overarching aim of eliminating the main barriers to the broader evaluation, commercial exploitation and clinical use of renal MRI biomarkers. This position paper lays out PARENCHIMA's vision on key clinical questions that MRI must address to become more widely used in patients with kidney disease, first within research settings and ultimately in clinical practice. We then present a series of practical recommendations to accelerate the study and translation of these techniques.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulating gene expression in health and disease but their role in modifying disease expression in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) ...remains uncertain. Here, we profiled human urinary exosome miRNA by global small RNA-sequencing in an initial discovery cohort of seven patients with ADPKD with early disease (eGFR over 60ml/min/1.73m2), nine with late disease (eGFR under 60ml/min/1.73m2), and compared their differential expression with six age and sex matched healthy controls. Two kidney-enriched candidate miRNA families were identified (miR-192/miR-194-2 and miR-30) and selected for confirmatory testing in a 60 patient validation cohort by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We confirmed that miR-192-5p, miR-194-5p, miR-30a-5p, miR-30d-5p and miR-30e-5p were significantly downregulated in patient urine exosomes, in murine Pkd1 cystic kidneys and in human PKD1 cystic kidney tissue. All five miRNAs showed significant correlations with baseline eGFR and ultrasound-determined mean kidney length and improved the diagnostic performance (area under the curve) of mean kidney length for the rate of disease progression. Finally, inverse correlations of these two miRNA families with increased expression in their predicted target genes in patient PKD1 cystic tissue identified dysregulated pathways and transcriptional networks including novel interactions between miR-194-5p and two potentially relevant candidate genes, PIK3R1 and ANO1. Thus, our results identify a subset of urinary exosomal miRNAs that could serve as novel biomarkers of disease progression and suggest new therapeutic targets in ADPKD.
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Objectives
To develop a high-performance, rapid semi-automated method (Sheffield TKV Tool) for measuring total kidney volume (TKV) from magnetic resonance images (MRI) in patients with autosomal ...dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
Methods
TKV was initially measured in 61 patients with ADPKD using the Sheffield TKV Tool and its performance compared to manual segmentation and other published methods (ellipsoidal, mid-slice, MIROS). It was then validated using an external dataset of MRI scans from 65 patients with ADPKD.
Results
Sixty-one patients (mean age 45 ± 14 years, baseline eGFR 76 ± 32 ml/min/1.73 m
2
) with ADPKD had a wide range of TKV (258–3680 ml) measured manually. The Sheffield TKV Tool was highly accurate (mean volume error 0.5 ± 5.3% for right kidney, − 0.7 ± 5.5% for left kidney), reproducible (intra-operator variability − 0.2 ± 1.3%; inter-operator variability 1.1 ± 2.9%) and outperformed published methods. It took less than 6 min to execute and performed consistently with high accuracy in an external MRI dataset of T2-weighted sequences with TKV acquired using three different scanners and measured using a different segmentation methodology (mean volume error was 3.45 ± 3.96%,
n
= 65).
Conclusions
The Sheffield TKV Tool is operator friendly, requiring minimal user interaction to rapidly, accurately and reproducibly measure TKV in this, the largest reported unselected European patient cohort with ADPKD. It is more accurate than estimating equations and its accuracy is maintained at larger kidney volumes than previously reported with other semi-automated methods. It is free to use, can run as an independent executable and will accelerate the application of TKV as a prognostic biomarker for ADPKD into clinical practice.
Key Points
•
This new semi-automated method (Sheffield TKV Tool) to measure total kidney volume (TKV) will facilitate the routine clinical assessment of patients with ADPKD.
•
Measuring TKV manually is time consuming and laborious.
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TKV is a prognostic indicator in ADPKD and the only imaging biomarker approved by the FDA and EMA.
Our main objective was to identify baseline prognostic factors predictive of rapid disease progression in a large unselected clinical autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) cohort.
A ...cross-sectional analysis was performed in 618 consecutive ADPKD patients assessed and followed-up for over a decade. A total of 123 patients (19.9%) had reached kidney failure by the study date. Data were available for the following: baseline eGFR (n = 501), genotype (n = 549), baseline ultrasound mean kidney length (MKL, n = 424) and height-adjusted baseline MKL (HtMKL, n = 377). Rapid disease progression was defined as an annualized eGFR decline (∆eGFR) of >2.5 mL/min/year by linear regression over 5 years (n = 158). Patients were further divided into slow, rapid and very rapid ∆eGFR classes for analysis. Genotyped patients were classified into several categories: PKD1 (T, truncating; or NT, non-truncating), PKD2, other genes (non-PKD1 or -PKD2), no mutation detected or variants of uncertain significance.
A PKD1-T genotype had the strongest influence on the probability of reduced baseline kidney function by age. A multivariate logistic regression model identified PKD1-T genotype and HtMKL (>9.5 cm/m) as independent predictors for rapid disease progression. The combination of both factors increased the positive predictive value for rapid disease progression over age 40 years and of reaching kidney failure by age 60 years to 100%. Exploratory analysis in a subgroup with available total kidney volumes showed higher positive predictive value (100% vs 80%) and negative predictive value (42% vs 33%) in predicting rapid disease progression compared with the Mayo Imaging Classification (1C-E).
Real-world longitudinal data confirm the importance of genotype and kidney length as independent variables determining ∆eGFR. Individuals with the highest risk of rapid disease progression can be positively selected for treatment based on this combination.
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the leading genetic cause of end-stage renal failure (ESRF). The epidemiology of the incident ADPKD patient cohort requiring renal replacement ...therapy (RRT) in England and Wales has not been described.
We used a retrospective cohort design. Incident adult patients commencing RRT between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2011 in England and Wales were identified from the UK Renal Registry. Patients were stratified into three groups based on primary renal diagnosis (PRD): (i) ADPKD, (ii) diabetes as PRD, (iii) individuals with another PRD ('other'). Baseline demographics, comorbidity, care-related measures and outcomes including patient survival are described.
A total of 52,608 individuals started RRT during the study period, 3598 (6.8%) had ADPKD, 12,137 (23.1%) diabetes as PRD and 36,873 had another PRD diagnosis. The median age of commencing RRT was 55 years in the ADPKD group compared with 62 and 66 years in those with diabetes or 'other' PRD, respectively. The median age of starting RRT did not change within the ADPKD group over the 10-year period. Median age at death was similar across all groups. The ADPKD group had a lower hazard for all-cause mortality compared with the 'other' PRD group (adjusted hazard ratio 0.45, 95% CI 0.38-0.53). In all PRD groups, crude mortality rates had improved between 2000-06 and 2007-11.
Although engaged in renal services earlier than some other patient groups, individuals with ADPKD start RRT at a younger age and this has remained unchanged over the last decade. Developing a nationwide cohort and an enhanced disease-specific dataset would facilitate a wide range of research and quality improvement initiatives to try to modify progression to ESRF and the course of RRT.
The psychosocial impact of living with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is poorly understood. In this study, we assessed the overall quality of life (QOL), mood, perceived social ...support and psychosocial risk of having a diagnosis of ADPKD in a patient cohort from a major UK nephrology centre serving a large catchment population.
A postal questionnaire was sent to 349 patients registered at the Sheffield Kidney Institute with chronic kidney disease but not on renal replacement therapy (RRT). The questionnaire incorporated three validated forms: kidney disease quality-of-life short form (KDQOL SF1.3) to assess QOL; nine-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ9) to screen for depression; multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) to evaluate perceived social support; as well as a novel genetic psychosocial risk instrument (GPRI-ADPKD) designed to study the specific psychosocial impact of coping with a diagnosis of ADPKD.
The overall response rate was 53%. Patients with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (<30 mL/min) or larger kidneys (mean length on ultrasound ≥17 cm) reported reduced QOL and increased psychosocial risk. Clinically significant depression was reported in 22% and 62% felt guilty about passing ADPKD on to their children. In multivariate analysis, female gender was associated with overall poorer psychosocial well-being, whereas increasing age, lower kidney function, larger kidneys and loss of a first degree relative from ADPKD were additional risk factors for QOL, depression or psychosocial risk, respectively.
Our results reveal a significantly poorer QOL and increasing psychosocial risk with markers of disease progression in patients, particularly women, with ADPKD prior to starting RRT. The future management strategy of ADPKD should address these issues and provide for better individual and family support throughout the patient journey.
How simple are 'simple renal cysts'? Simms, Roslyn J; Ong, Albert C M
Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation,
09/2014, Volume:
29 Suppl 4, Issue:
suppl 4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The increasing use of medical imaging as an investigative tool is leading to the incidental and frequent finding of renal cysts in the general population. The presence of a solitary or multiple renal ...cysts has been generally considered benign in the absence of a family history of renal cystic disease or evidence of chronic kidney disease. Nonetheless, a number of recent studies have questioned this consensus by reported associations with the development of hypertension or malignant change. For these reasons, some clinicians consider the presence of renal cysts to be a contraindication to kidney donation. The situation is complicated by the different usage of the term 'simple' by some radiologists (to indicate non-complex lesions) or nephrologists (to indicate age-related non-hereditary lesions). We propose that the term 'simple' be replaced with the morphological description, Stage I renal cyst (Bosniak Classification). The presence of a Stage I renal cyst should not preclude kidney donation. However, occult renal disease should be excluded and appropriate donor assessment performed.
ObjectivesAutosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney condition, accounting for 7%–10% of patients with kidney failure. Fundamental basic science and ...clinical research on ADPKD is underway worldwide but no one has yet considered which areas should be prioritised to maximise returns from limited future funding. The Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity began a priority setting partnership with the James Lind Alliance (JLA) in the UK in 2019–2020 to identify areas of uncertainty in the ADPKD care pathway and allow patients, carers and healthcare professionals to rank the 10 most important questions for research.DesignThe scope covered ADPKD diagnosis and management, identifying new treatments to prevent/slow disease progression and practical, integrated patient support (https://pkdcharity.org.uk/research/for-researchers/adpkd-research-priorities). We used adapted JLA methodology. Initially, an independent information specialist collated uncertainties in ADPKD care from recent consensus conference proceedings and additional literature. These were refined into indicative questions with Steering Group oversight. Finally, the 10 most important questions were established via a survey and online consensus workshop.SettingUK.Participants747 survey respondents (76% patients, 13% carers, 11% healthcare professionals); 23 workshop attendees.Results117 uncertainties in ADPKD care were identified and refined into 35 indicative questions. A shortlist of 17 questions was established through the survey. Workshop participants reached agreement on the top 10 ranking. The top three questions prioritised by patients, carers and healthcare professionals centred around slowing disease progression, identifying persons for early treatment and organising care to improve outcomes.ConclusionsOur shortlist reflects the varied physical, psychological and practical challenges of living with and treating ADPKD, and perceived gaps in knowledge that impair optimal care. We propose that future ADPKD research funding takes these priorities into account to focus on the most important areas and to maximise improvements in ADPKD outcomes.
MKS3, encoding the transmembrane receptor meckelin, is mutated in Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS), an autosomal-recessive ciliopathy. Meckelin localizes to the primary cilium, basal body and elsewhere ...within the cell. Here, we found that the cytoplasmic domain of meckelin directly interacts with the actin-binding protein filamin A, potentially at the apical cell surface associated with the basal body. Mutations in FLNA, the gene for filamin A, cause periventricular heterotopias. We identified a single consanguineous patient with an MKS-like ciliopathy that presented with both MKS and cerebellar heterotopia, caused by an unusual in-frame deletion mutation in the meckelin C-terminus at the region of interaction with filamin A. We modelled this mutation and found it to abrogate the meckelin-filamin A interaction. Furthermore, we found that loss of filamin A by siRNA knockdown, in patient cells, and in tissues from Flna(Dilp2) null mouse embryos results in cellular phenotypes identical to those caused by meckelin loss, namely basal body positioning and ciliogenesis defects. In addition, morpholino knockdown of flna in zebrafish embryos significantly increases the frequency of dysmorphology and severity of ciliopathy developmental defects caused by mks3 knockdown. Our results suggest that meckelin forms a functional complex with filamin A that is disrupted in MKS and causes defects in neuronal migration and Wnt signalling. Furthermore, filamin A has a crucial role in the normal processes of ciliogenesis and basal body positioning. Concurrent with these processes, the meckelin-filamin A signalling axis may be a key regulator in maintaining correct, normal levels of Wnt signalling.