Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case Report

Rationale: Bartonella sp. are the most common causes of culture-negative infective endocarditis (IE) cases in the United States. Although, infection-related glomerulonephritis can frequently mimic primary vasculitis due to pauci-immune pattern, majority of previously reported cases of Bartonella hen...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Asim Shahzad, Khawaja Talha Aziz, Stephen Korbet
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2023-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20543581221150554
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author Muhammad Asim Shahzad
Khawaja Talha Aziz
Stephen Korbet
author_facet Muhammad Asim Shahzad
Khawaja Talha Aziz
Stephen Korbet
author_sort Muhammad Asim Shahzad
collection DOAJ
description Rationale: Bartonella sp. are the most common causes of culture-negative infective endocarditis (IE) cases in the United States. Although, infection-related glomerulonephritis can frequently mimic primary vasculitis due to pauci-immune pattern, majority of previously reported cases of Bartonella henselae -associated glomerulonephritis have immune-complex deposits on immunofluorescence. We present a rare case of B henselae IE-related pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Timely recognition of this atypical presentation led to appropriately directed medical therapy. Presenting concerns of the patient: A 33-year-old Caucasian male with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), alcohol abuse, previous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and recent wisdom tooth extraction (on amoxicillin) was transferred from an outside hospital for further evaluation of severe headache. He was diagnosed with an SAH and right anterior cerebral artery mycotic aneurysm. The serum creatinine at the outside hospital was 292 umol/L (3.3 mg/dL) with a previously normal baseline around 2 years ago. The serum creatinine at our institution was 256 umol/L (3.0 mg/dL). The urinalysis demonstrated +100 protein, +3 blood and 29 red blood cells/high power field. The urine protein creatinine ratio (UPC) was 1.7 g/g. Serologic evaluation was positive for a low C4 10.2 mg/dL, elevated rheumatoid factor 40 IU/mL and an elevated proteinase 3 (PR-3) antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA Ab) 4.0 U/mL. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed echo densities on both mitral and aortic valve. Blood cultures were negative. Further serologic evaluation was positive for B henselae IgG titer of 1:2560 (normal <1:320) with a negative IgM titer. Diagnoses: A percutaneous kidney biopsy revealed pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis, with 14/16 glomeruli globally sclerotic, and 2 glomeruli with active segmental necrotizing lesions. There was no evidence of immune-complex deposition on immunofluorescence or electron microscopy. Clinical findings were consistent with B henselae IE associated mycotic aneurysm and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Intervention: Empiric treatment for an active glomerulonephritis with immunosuppressive agents was deferred on admission, given concern for an underlying infectious process and mycotic aneurysms in an HIV-positive patient. He received antibiotic treatment with doxycycline and ceftriaxone with gentamicin for synergy. Despite this, the mitral and aortic valve regurgitation worsened, and he developed congestive heart failure requiring aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair. The explanted aortic valve was positive for B henselae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirming the diagnosis of B henselae IE. Outcomes: Immunosuppression was deferred due to timely identification of an atypical presentation of B henselae -associated ANCA antibodies-positive, pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis. A course of antibiotic treatment resulted in improved renal functions along with undetectable B henselae and PR3 Ab titers. The serum creatinine decreased to 176 umol/L (2 mg/dL) and remained stable 12 months after discharge. Teaching points: B henselae IE should be suspected in patients with pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis and culture-negative IE. This is imperative for optimal decision making in the management of such patients. Having high clinical suspicion can avoid unnecessary and potentially deleterious use of immunosuppressive agents.
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spelling doaj.art-27bc7f905fa84ef8b05639d0df906fa52023-01-18T14:10:42ZengSAGE PublishingCanadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease2054-35812023-01-011010.1177/20543581221150554 Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case ReportMuhammad Asim Shahzad0Khawaja Talha Aziz1Stephen Korbet2Division of Nephrology, RUSH University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USAKhyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, PakistanDivision of Nephrology, RUSH University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USARationale: Bartonella sp. are the most common causes of culture-negative infective endocarditis (IE) cases in the United States. Although, infection-related glomerulonephritis can frequently mimic primary vasculitis due to pauci-immune pattern, majority of previously reported cases of Bartonella henselae -associated glomerulonephritis have immune-complex deposits on immunofluorescence. We present a rare case of B henselae IE-related pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Timely recognition of this atypical presentation led to appropriately directed medical therapy. Presenting concerns of the patient: A 33-year-old Caucasian male with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), alcohol abuse, previous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and recent wisdom tooth extraction (on amoxicillin) was transferred from an outside hospital for further evaluation of severe headache. He was diagnosed with an SAH and right anterior cerebral artery mycotic aneurysm. The serum creatinine at the outside hospital was 292 umol/L (3.3 mg/dL) with a previously normal baseline around 2 years ago. The serum creatinine at our institution was 256 umol/L (3.0 mg/dL). The urinalysis demonstrated +100 protein, +3 blood and 29 red blood cells/high power field. The urine protein creatinine ratio (UPC) was 1.7 g/g. Serologic evaluation was positive for a low C4 10.2 mg/dL, elevated rheumatoid factor 40 IU/mL and an elevated proteinase 3 (PR-3) antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA Ab) 4.0 U/mL. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed echo densities on both mitral and aortic valve. Blood cultures were negative. Further serologic evaluation was positive for B henselae IgG titer of 1:2560 (normal <1:320) with a negative IgM titer. Diagnoses: A percutaneous kidney biopsy revealed pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis, with 14/16 glomeruli globally sclerotic, and 2 glomeruli with active segmental necrotizing lesions. There was no evidence of immune-complex deposition on immunofluorescence or electron microscopy. Clinical findings were consistent with B henselae IE associated mycotic aneurysm and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Intervention: Empiric treatment for an active glomerulonephritis with immunosuppressive agents was deferred on admission, given concern for an underlying infectious process and mycotic aneurysms in an HIV-positive patient. He received antibiotic treatment with doxycycline and ceftriaxone with gentamicin for synergy. Despite this, the mitral and aortic valve regurgitation worsened, and he developed congestive heart failure requiring aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair. The explanted aortic valve was positive for B henselae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirming the diagnosis of B henselae IE. Outcomes: Immunosuppression was deferred due to timely identification of an atypical presentation of B henselae -associated ANCA antibodies-positive, pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis. A course of antibiotic treatment resulted in improved renal functions along with undetectable B henselae and PR3 Ab titers. The serum creatinine decreased to 176 umol/L (2 mg/dL) and remained stable 12 months after discharge. Teaching points: B henselae IE should be suspected in patients with pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis and culture-negative IE. This is imperative for optimal decision making in the management of such patients. Having high clinical suspicion can avoid unnecessary and potentially deleterious use of immunosuppressive agents.https://doi.org/10.1177/20543581221150554
spellingShingle Muhammad Asim Shahzad
Khawaja Talha Aziz
Stephen Korbet
Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case Report
Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease
title Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case Report
title_full Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case Report
title_fullStr Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case Report
title_short Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case Report
title_sort infective endocarditis a rare cause of pauci immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis a case report
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20543581221150554
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AT khawajatalhaaziz infectiveendocarditisararecauseofpauciimmunenecrotizingglomerulonephritisacasereport
AT stephenkorbet infectiveendocarditisararecauseofpauciimmunenecrotizingglomerulonephritisacasereport