Genetic etiologies are estimated to account for a large portion of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) in children. However, data are lacking regarding the true prevalence of monogenic etiologies stemming ...from an unselected population screen of children with advanced CKD.
We conducted a national multicenter prospective study of all Israeli pediatric dialysis units to provide comprehensive “real-world” evidence for the genetic basis of childhood kidney failure in Israel. We performed exome sequencing and assessed the genetic diagnostic yield.
Between 2019 and 2022, we recruited approximately 88% (n = 79) of the children on dialysis from all 6 Israeli pediatric dialysis units. We identified genetic etiologies in 36 of 79 (45%) participants. The most common subgroup of diagnostic variants was in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract causing genes (e.g., EYA1, HNF1B, PAX2, COL4A1, and NFIA) which together explain 28% of all monogenic etiologies. This was followed by mutations in genes causing renal cystic ciliopathies (e.g., NPHP1, NPHP4, PKHD1, and BBS9), steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (e.g., LAGE3, NPHS1, NPHS2, LMX1B, and SMARCAL1) and tubulopathies (e.g., CTNS and AQP2). The genetic diagnostic yield was higher among Arabs compared to Jewish individuals (55% vs. 29%) and in children from consanguineous compared to nonconsanguineous families (63% vs. 29%). In 5 participants (14%) with genetic diagnoses, the molecular diagnosis did not correspond with the pre-exome diagnosis. Genetic diagnosis has a potential influence on clinical management in 27 of 36 participants (75%).
Exome sequencing in an unbiased Israeli nationwide dialysis-treated kidney failure pediatric cohort resulted in a genetic diagnostic yield of 45% and can often affect clinical decision making.
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Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare genetic disease caused by hepatic overproduction of oxalate, leading to kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis, kidney failure, and systemic oxalosis. In the ...6-month double-blind period (DBP) of ILLUMINATE-A, a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with PH1 ≥6 years old, treatment with lumasiran, an RNA interference therapeutic, led to substantial reductions in urinary oxalate (UOx) levels.
We report data to month 12 in the extension period (EP) of ILLUMINATE-A, including patients who continued lumasiran (lumasiran/lumasiran) or crossed over from placebo to lumasiran (placebo/lumasiran).
In the lumasiran/lumasiran group (n = 24), the reduction in 24-hour UOx level was sustained to month 12 (mean reduction from baseline, 66.9% at month 6; 64.1% at month 12). The placebo/lumasiran group (n = 13) had a similar time course and magnitude of 24-hour UOx reduction (mean reduction, 57.3%) after 6 months of lumasiran. Kidney stone event rates seemed to be lower after 6 months of lumasiran in both groups compared with the 12 months before consent, and this reduction was maintained at month 12 in the lumasiran/lumasiran group. At study start, 71% of patients in the lumasiran/lumasiran group and 92% in the placebo/lumasiran group had nephrocalcinosis. Nephrocalcinosis grade improved after 6 months of lumasiran in the lumasiran/lumasiran and placebo/lumasiran groups (13% and 8% of patients, respectively). After an additional 6 months of lumasiran, 46% of patients had improvement in nephrocalcinosis grade within the lumasiran/lumasiran group. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) remained stable during the course of lumasiran treatment. The most common adverse events (AEs) related to lumasiran were mild, transient injection-site reactions (ISRs).
Long-term lumasiran treatment enabled sustained lowering of UOx levels with acceptable safety and encouraging results on clinical outcomes.
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Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare genetic disease caused by hepatic overproduction of oxalate that leads to kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis, kidney failure, and systemic oxalosis. ...Lumasiran, an investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic agent, reduces hepatic oxalate production by targeting glycolate oxidase.
In this double-blind, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned (in a 2:1 ratio) patients with PH1 who were 6 years of age or older to receive subcutaneous lumasiran or placebo for 6 months (with doses given at baseline and at months 1, 2, 3, and 6). The primary end point was the percent change in 24-hour urinary oxalate excretion from baseline to month 6 (mean percent change across months 3 through 6). Secondary end points included the percent change in the plasma oxalate level from baseline to month 6 (mean percent change across months 3 through 6) and the percentage of patients with 24-hour urinary oxalate excretion no higher than 1.5 times the upper limit of the normal range at month 6.
A total of 39 patients underwent randomization; 26 were assigned to the lumasiran group and 13 to the placebo group. The least-squares mean difference in the change in 24-hour urinary oxalate excretion (lumasiran minus placebo) was -53.5 percentage points (P<0.001), with a reduction in the lumasiran group of 65.4% and an effect seen as early as month 1. The between-group differences for all hierarchically tested secondary end points were significant. The difference in the percent change in the plasma oxalate level (lumasiran minus placebo) was -39.5 percentage points (P<0.001). In the lumasiran group, 84% of patients had 24-hour urinary oxalate excretion no higher than 1.5 times the upper limit of the normal range at month 6, as compared with 0% in the placebo group (P<0.001). Mild, transient injection-site reactions were reported in 38% of lumasiran-treated patients.
Lumasiran reduced urinary oxalate excretion, the cause of progressive kidney failure in PH1. The majority of patients who received lumasiran had normal or near-normal levels after 6 months of treatment. (Funded by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; ILLUMINATE-A ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03681184.).
Lumasiran reduces urinary and plasma oxalate (POx) in patients with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) and relatively preserved kidney function. ILLUMINATE-C evaluates the efficacy, safety, ...pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of lumasiran in patients with PH1 and advanced kidney disease.
Phase 3, open-label, single-arm trial.
Multinational study; enrolled patients with PH1 of all ages, estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (if age ≥12 months) or increased serum creatinine level (if age <12 months), and POx ≥20 μmol/L at screening, including patients with or without systemic oxalosis.
Lumasiran administered subcutaneously; 3 monthly doses followed by monthly or quarterly weight-based dosing.
Primary end point: percent change in POx from baseline to month 6 (cohort A; not receiving hemodialysis at enrollment) and percent change in predialysis POx from baseline to month 6 (cohort B; receiving hemodialysis at enrollment). Pharmacodynamic secondary end points: percent change in POx area under the curve between dialysis sessions (cohort B only); absolute change in POx; percent and absolute change in spot urinary oxalate-creatinine ratio; and 24-hour urinary oxalate adjusted for body surface area.
All patients (N = 21; 43% female; 76% White) completed the 6-month primary analysis period. Median age at consent was 8 (range, 0-59) years. For the primary end point, least-squares mean reductions in POx were 33.3% (95% CI, −15.2% to 81.8%) in cohort A (n = 6) and 42.4% (95% CI, 34.2%-50.7%) in cohort B (n = 15). Improvements were also observed in all pharmacodynamic secondary end points. Most adverse events were mild or moderate. No patient discontinued treatment or withdrew from the study. The most commonly reported lumasiran-related adverse events were injection-site reactions, all of which were mild and transient.
Single-arm study without placebo control.
Lumasiran resulted in substantial reductions in POx with acceptable safety in patients with PH1 who have advanced kidney disease, supporting its efficacy and safety in this patient population.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.
Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with study number NCT04152200 and at EudraCT with study number 2019-001346-17.
Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare genetic disease characterized by excessive hepatic oxalate production that frequently causes kidney failure. Lumasiran is an RNA interference therapeutic that is administered subcutaneously for the treatment of PH1. Lumasiran has been shown to reduce oxalate levels in the urine and plasma of patients with PH1 who have relatively preserved kidney function. In the ILLUMINATE-C study, the efficacy and safety of lumasiran were evaluated in patients with PH1 and advanced kidney disease, including a cohort of patients undergoing hemodialysis. During the 6-month primary analysis period, lumasiran resulted in substantial reductions in plasma oxalate with acceptable safety in patients with PH1 complicated by advanced kidney disease.
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To assess a possible association between marked proteinuria and the risk of preeclampsia with severe features, as defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
This ...retrospective study included data recorded at a tertiary university-affiliated hospital between 2017 and 2022. Women at or beyond 24 weeks of gestation with proteinuria (protein levels > 300 mg in a 24 h urine collection) and normal blood pressure during the initial 48 h of admission were included. Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes were compared between women with mild proteinuria (300-1000 mg/24 h) and marked proteinuria (≥ 1000 mg/24 h).
Among the women with marked proteinuria (n = 48) compared to those with mild proteinuria (n = 108), the incidences were higher of preeclampsia (50.0% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.001) and of preeclampsia with severe features (18.8% vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis that adjusted for maternal age, primiparity, multiple pregnancy, uric acid level > 6 mg/dL and aspirin treatment, marked proteinuria was a risk factor for preeclampsia with severe features (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 10.2, confidence interval CI 95% 1.9-54.0, p = 0.007) and for small-for-gestational-age infants (aOR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.02-5.6, p = 0.001). Among women with marked compared to mild proteinuria, rates were also higher of labor induction (58.3% vs. 25.9%, p < 0.001), indicated preterm delivery (41.7% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.04) and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (44.1% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.017).
Women with marked compared to mild isolated proteinuria showed higher risk of developing preeclampsia with severe features and of delivering small-for-gestational-age neonates.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hepatic overproduction of oxalate. Excretion of oxalate via the kidneys leads to recurrent ...kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis, progressive kidney disease, and multiorgan damage from systemic oxalosis. Lumasiran, a subcutaneously administered RNAi therapeutic indicated for the treatment of PH1 in all age groups, has multiple ongoing phase 3 studies including ILLUMINATE-A, which enrolled 39 patients ≥6 years of age with eGFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73m2, and ILLUMINATE-B, which enrolled 18 patients <6 years of age with eGFR >45 mL/min/1.73m2 if ≥12 months of age or normal serum creatinine if <12 months of age. Here we present a comparison of the efficacy and safety of lumasiran in children versus adults with PH1 using pooled data from these two phase 3 studies of lumasiran.
Method
Efficacy and safety data from ILLUMINATE-A and ILLUMINATE-B, including urinary oxalate, plasma oxalate, eGFR, and adverse events were pooled and assessed by age <18 (N=40), or ≥18 years old (N=17). The analysis included all available data from 57 patients with PH1, ages 4 months to 60 years, who completed the initial 6 months of treatment with lumasiran.
Results
During the initial 6 months of treatment with lumasiran, patients with PH1 had a rapid and sustained decrease in urinary oxalate. The overall mean (SEM) percent reduction in urinary oxalate:creatinine ratios as measured in random spot urine samples from baseline to Month 6 was 63.1% (2.6) across all ages (N=54). A similar time course and magnitude of reduction was seen in patients <18 years at 64.5% (3.3) (N=38), and ≥18 years old at 59.8% (4.4) (N=16). The oxalate reductions observed in random spot urine samples were comparable to those observed from 24-hour urine collections. The overall mean (SEM) percent reduction in urinary oxalate excretion from 24-hour collections was 63.8% (2.6) across all ages (N=40), 63.2% (3.5) in the <18 group (N=23) and 64.8% (3.9) in the ≥18 group (N=17). The overall mean (SEM) percent reduction in plasma oxalate from baseline to Month 6 was 39.5% (3.7) across all ages (N=44), with similar reductions of 39.4% (4.6) and 39.7% (6.5) in patients <18 (N=30) and ≥18 (N=14) years of age, respectively. eGFR was calculated for all patients ≥12 months of age and remained stable in both age groups during the 6 months of treatment with lumasiran. The 57 patients had a cumulative exposure of 27.1 patient-years and 227 doses were given. Adverse events were reported in 86% of all patients, 88% of patients <18, and 82% of patients ≥18 years of age. All adverse events were graded as mild or moderate in severity by the investigator. One patient had a serious adverse event of viral infection that was not related to lumasiran. In all patients, the most common adverse events related to lumasiran were mild, transient, injection site reactions, experienced by 30% of all patients, 23% of patients <18 and 47% of patients ≥18 years of age. No treatment interruptions or discontinuations related to lumasiran or deaths occurred.
Conclusion
Lumasiran reduced urinary and plasma oxalate to a similar degree in pediatric and adult patients with PH1 enrolled in the Phase 3 studies ILLUMINATE-A and ILLUMINATE-B. Reductions in urinary oxalate were similar between random spot urine samples and valid 24-hour urine collections. Overall safety was comparable between pediatric and adult patients.
Background
Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by the liver defect of oxalate metabolism, which leads to kidney failure and systemic manifestations. Until ...recently, liver transplantation was the only definitive treatment. The timing of liver transplantation can be early, while kidney function is still normal (pre-emptive liver transplantation—PLT), or when the patient reaches stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and needs combined liver-kidney transplantation. We aimed to determine the long-term kidney outcomes of PLT in PH1 patients.
Methods
A retrospective single-center study of PH1 patients who were followed in our center between 1997 and 2017. We compared the kidney outcomes of patients who underwent PLT to those who presented with preserved kidney function and did not undergo PLT.
Results
Out of 36 PH1 patients, 18 patients were eligible for PLT (eGFR > 40 mL/min/1.73 m
2
at the time of diagnosis). Seven patients underwent PLT (PLT group), while 11 continued conservative treatments (PLTn group). In the PLT group, the median eGFR at the time of PLT and at the end of the follow-up period (14–20 years) was 72 (range 50–89) and 104 (range 86–108) mL/min/1.73 m
2
, respectively, and no patient died or reached stage 5 CKD. In the PLTn group, eight patients (72.7%) reached stage 5 CKD (median time to kidney replacement therapy was 11 years), and two patients died from disease complications (18.2%).
Conclusions
Pre-emptive liver transplantation preserved kidney function in patients with PH1 in our cohort. Early intervention can prevent kidney failure and systemic oxalosis in PH1.
Graphical abstract
A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as
Supplementary information
Hyperuricemia can cause renal damage and acute kidney injury or be secondary to renal failure and reduced excretion. Rasburicase, a recombinant urate oxidase, is a common treatment for hyperuricemia ...from different etiologies. There are scarce reports on rasburicase treatment for neonatal Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) with hyperuricemia to prevent renal damage secondary to hyperuricemia. Herein we report a case of neonatal AKI with hyperuricemia that was treated with a single dose of rasburicase. Serum uric acid declined immediately after rasburicase infusion and remained in the normal range since then. In contrast to previous reports, the normalization of uric acid levels was not accompanied by recovery from AKI and serum creatinine levels remained elevated for a long period. The neonate recovered from AKI only 2 weeks post rasburicase treatment. This case report highlights the importance of uric acid levels in neonatal AKI and suggests treatment with rasburicase in cases of hyperuricemia and acute kidney injury in neonates.
Background
Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare genetic disease that causes progressive kidney damage and systemic oxalosis due to hepatic overproduction of oxalate. Lumasiran demonstrated ...efficacy and safety in the 6-month primary analysis period of the phase 3, multinational, open-label, single-arm ILLUMINATE-B study of infants and children < 6 years old with PH1 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03905694 (4/1/2019); EudraCT: 2018–004,014-17 (10/12/2018)). Outcomes in the ILLUMINATE-B extension period (EP) for patients who completed ≥ 12 months on study are reported here.
Methods
Of the 18 patients enrolled in the 6-month primary analysis period, all entered the EP and completed ≥ 6 additional months of lumasiran treatment (median (range) duration of total exposure, 17.8 (12.7–20.5) months).
Results
Lumasiran treatment was previously reported to reduce spot urinary oxalate:creatinine ratio by 72% at month 6, which was maintained at 72% at month 12; mean month 12 reductions in prespecified weight subgroups were 89%, 68%, and 71% for patients weighing < 10 kg, 10 to < 20 kg, and ≥ 20 kg, respectively. The mean reduction from baseline in plasma oxalate level was reported to be 32% at month 6, and this improved to 47% at month 12. Additional improvements were also seen in nephrocalcinosis grade, and kidney stone event rates remained low. The most common lumasiran-related adverse events were mild, transient injection-site reactions (3 patients (17%)).
Conclusions
Lumasiran treatment provided sustained reductions in urinary and plasma oxalate through month 12 across all weight subgroups, with an acceptable safety profile, in infants and young children with PH1.
Graphical abstract
A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as
Supplementary information
This year marks the anniversary of the 80th year of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (1943 -2023), a very important and significant turning point in the history of the Holocaust. The Uprising is not the ...only demonstration of courage and strength, in rebelling against the brutal Nazi oppressor: there was another form of intellectual and spiritual resistance in the ghetto - medical resistance. Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals resisted. Not only did they provide very diverse and dedicated medical assistance to the ghetto residents, but they went beyond their professional duties in initiating research on Hunger Diseases and in founding a clandestine medical school. The medical work in the Warsaw Ghetto is a symbol of the victory of the human spirit.