Postmortem examination of the kidney in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients: possible involvement of graft-versus-host disease

Int J Hematol. 2008 Mar;87(2):225-230. doi: 10.1007/s12185-008-0026-2. Epub 2008 Feb 9.

Abstract

To investigate the association between graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and renal injury after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), we compared autopsy findings of 26 consecutive allo-SCT recipients with two control groups: patients with hematologic malignancies who received cytotoxic chemotherapy alone (Control 1, n = 21) and those with non-hematologic diseases (Control 2, n = 12). We evaluated the following renal pathology; renal tubulitis, allograft glomerulitis, intimal arteritis, allograft nephropathy, and peritubular capillaritis. These changes were found in 11 allo-SCT recipients and 10 patients in Control 1, but none in Control 2. While overall frequency of renal impairments was similar between allo-SCT recipients and Control 1 (3/26 vs. 1/21), allo-SCT recipients were more likely to have renal tubulitis and peritubular capillaritis compared to Control 1 (5/26 vs. 1/21), but less likely to present with glomerulitis (1/26 vs. 6/21). Grade III-IV acute or extensive-type chronic GVHD were seen in all of the three patients with renal tubulitis and four of the five patients with peritubular capillaritis. Allo-SCT recipients with severe GVHD tended to have tubulitis and peritubular capillaritis. These findings have implications of some renal impairment attributable to GVHD.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / complications*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Kidney / pathology*
  • Kidney Diseases / etiology
  • Kidney Diseases / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Transplantation, Homologous