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Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics that interfere with protein synthesis. They were first widely prescribed by dermatologists in the early 1950s in the treatment of acne. More recently, their biological actions on inflammation, proteolysis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metal chelation, ionophoresis, and bone metabolism were studied. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that degrade components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMPs have direct or indirect effects on the vascular endothelium and the vascular relaxation/contraction system. The therapeutic effects of tetracyclines and analogues were studied in rosacea, bullous dermatoses, neutrophilic diseases, pyoderma gangrenosum, sarcoidosis, aortic aneurysms, cancer metastasis, periodontitis and autoimmune diseases autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. In addition, downregulation of MMP using doxycycline could be beneficial in reducing vascular dysfunction mediated by MMPs and progressive damage of the vascular wall. We review the nonantibiotic properties of doxycycline and its potential clinical applications.

Kimura's disease (KD) is an angiolymphoid proliferative disorder of soft tissue with eosinophilia, with a predilection for head and neck regions in young Oriental men. Kidney disease is thought to be rare in KD. About a case of adult-onset nephrotic syndrome with minimal change disease, we comment Kimura's disease and its associated kidney damage. Kimura disease should be suspected and included in the diagnosis of adult-onset nephrotic syndrome with minimal change disease.

Resume Le syndrome hepatorenal (SHR) est une complication severe de la cirrhose. Il resulte d’anomalies hemodynamiques associant une vasodilatation systemique et une vasoconstriction renale. Le risque infectieux augmente, la mise en jeux des systemes vasoconstricteurs et le syndrome de reponse inflammatoire systemique contribuent a la dilatation splanchnique et a l’alteration de l’autoregulation renale. Une fraction d’ejection cardiaque inadaptee et une incompetence systolique augmentent le risque d’insuffisance renale. Le SHR de type I est habituellement initie par un evenement precipitant associe a une reponse inflammatoire systemique exageree resultant en une defaillance multiviscerale. Les vasoconstricteurs sont le traitement de base au cours du SHR de type I avec en chef de file la terlipressine. La norepinephrine peut etre utilisee comme une alternative therapeutique. Le shunt porto-cave intrahepatique transjugulaire (TIPS) peut etre applicable chez un petit nombre de patients avec SHR de type I et dans la majorite des patients avec SHR de type II. La transplantation hepatique est le traitement definitif du SHR. La decision d’une bigreffe rein/foie ou d’une transplantation sequentielle foie puis rein reste tres controversee. En pratique, les patients ayant besoin de plus de huit a 12 semaines de dialyse pretransplantation doivent etre consideres pour une bigreffe rein/foie.

The hypereosinophilic syndromes (HESs) are a group of disorders marked by the sustained overproduction of eosinophils, in which eosinophilic infiltration and mediator release cause damage to multiple organs. In idiopathic HES, the underlying cause of hypereosinophilia (HE) remains unknown despite thorough aetiological work-up. Kidney disease is thought to be rare in HES. Renal manifestations described include eosinophilic interstitial nephritis, various types of glomerulopathies, thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and electrolyte disturbances. The diagnosis must be made in time, because a recovery of renal function can be obtained if treatment is initiated promptly.

We report a case of renal thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in a myeloproliferative variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) in a 24-year-old man which resolved with imatinib therapy. This is one of a few cases in the literature to date describing TMA in HES, suggesting that the pathogenesis of thrombosis is at least in part related to damage from activated eosinophils.

Nonhematologic malignancies are rarely reported to be associated with AA amyloidosis. Although the association between renal cell carcinoma and systemic AA amyloidosis has been established, the evidence linking pulmonary cancer to AA amyloidosis is scarce. Here, a case of biopsy-proven renal AA amyloidosis complicated with nephrotic syndrome associated with lung carcinoma is reported.

Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics that interfere with protein synthesis. They were first widely prescribed by dermatologists in the early 1950s in the treatment of acne. More recently, their biological actions on inflammation, proteolysis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metal chelation, ionophoresis, and bone metabolism were studied. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that degrade components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMPs have direct or indirect effects on the vascular endothelium and the vascular relaxation/contraction system. The therapeutic effects of tetracyclines and analogues were studied in rosacea, bullous dermatoses, neutrophilic diseases, pyoderma gangrenosum, sarcoidosis, aortic aneurysms, cancer metastasis, periodontitis and autoimmune diseases autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. In addition, downregulation of MMP using doxycycline could be beneficial in reducing vascular dysfunction mediated by MMPs and progressive damage of the vascular wall. We review the nonantibiotic properties of doxycycline and its potential clinical applications.

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication of cirrhosis. It develops as a result of abnormal hemodynamics, leading to systemic vasodilatation and renal vasoconstriction. Increased bacterial translocation, various cytokines and systemic inflammatory response system contribute to splanchnic vasodilatation, and altered renal autoregulation. An inadequate cardiac output with systolic incompetence increases the risk of renal failure. Type 1 HRS is usually initiated by a precipitating event associated with an exaggerated systemic inflammatory response, resulting in multiorgan failure. Vasoconstrictors are the basic treatment in patients with type 1 HRS; terlipressin is the superior agent. Norepinephrine can be used as an alternative. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt may be applicable in a small number of patients with type 1 HRS and in most patients with type 2 HRS. Liver transplantation is the definitive treatment for HRS. The decision to do simultaneous or sequential liver and kidney transplant remains controversial. In general, patients who need more than 8 to 12 weeks of pretransplant dialysis should be considered for combined liver-kidney transplantation.