ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2020 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2020, please visit the archives.

Abstract: PUB013

AKI in a Patient with Erythema Elevatum Diutinum

Session Information

Category: Trainee Case Report

  • 102 AKI: Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Author

  • Sarkar, Mrinalini, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
Introduction

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EDD) is a rare cutaneous small vessel vasculitis with dapsone being the drug of choice. .EED has been associated with hematological disorders, autoimmune diseases and cancer in <5% of cases. Drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis (DI-AIN) represents 20% of patients with unexplained AKI.The classic triad of rash, fever, and eosinophilia occurs in <10% of patients, and onset may be delayed by weeks or months after drug initiation

Case Description

55-year-old male with history of EDD admitted for infected lower extremity lesions Vital signs and remainder of physical exam was normal. Patient was on dapsone in the past for over 10 years, however in the last 6months was not taking any medications. Vancomycin, zosyn and dapsone 200mg BID were started on admission. By day 3 only dapsone was continued as imaging was without evidence of deep infection. On day 4 he developed AKI, creatinine (Crt) 4.44mg/dL from 0.7mg/dL on admission. Labs also included Hb of 8.8g/dL, WBC 9.2 k/uL with 5% eosinophils, ESR 118mm/hr. Urinalysis with 3 wbc/hpf, UPCR of 0.18 and urine microscopy showed 1-2 WBC casts/LPF. Serum immunofixation revealed IgA-kappa in the beta region and a faint IgA-kappa monoclonal protein in the gamma region. Autoimmune and infectious serologic work-up negative. Dapsone was stopped on day 5 and renal biopsy was performed due to ongoing rise in Crt on day 8.
Biopsy confirmed diffuse active interstitial nephritis with prominent eosinophilic inflammation along with low grade membranous nephropathy favoring secondary, PLA2R negative. Patient started on IV solumedrol followed by oral prednisone taper over 6 weeks. Creatinine improved to 1mg/dL at 3 month follow-up.

Discussion

DI-AIN was attributed to dapsone. Despite withholding this medication, the Crt continued to rise prompting renal biopsy. Studies suggest that early corticosteroid initiation is associated with better outcomes and be considered in patients with no prior kidney dysfunction. In patients with suspected DI-AIN where a biopsy cannot be performed, a trial of empiric steroid therapy may be considered. The finding of secondary membranous nephropathy (MN) was unexpected as to date there has not been any reports of renal disease and EDD. We report a case of secondary MN in a patient with EDD now undergoing a full malignancy investigation.