Primary hiperoxaluria diagnosed after kidney transplantation: report of 2 cases and literature review

Rios, John Fredy Nieto; Zuluaga, Monica; Higuita, Lina Maria Serna; Florez, Adriana; Bello-Marquez, Diana Carolina; Aristizábal, Arbey; Kohn, Catalina Ocampo; Zuluaga, Gustavo Adolfo

Abstract Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a very rare genetic disorder; it is characterized by total or partial deficiency of the enzymes related to the metabolism of glyoxylate, with an overproduction of calcium oxalate that is deposited in different organs, mainly the kidney, leading to recurrent lithiasis, nephrocalcinosis and end stage renal disease (ESRD). In patients with ESRD that receive kidney transplantation alone, the disease has a relapse of 100%, with graft loss in a high percentage of patients in the first 5 years of transplantation.

Three molecular disorders have been described in PH:

mutation of the gene alanin glioxalate aminotransferase (AGXT); glyoxalate reductase/hydroxy pyruvate reductase (GRHPR) and 4-OH-2-oxoglutarate aldolase (HOGA1). We present two cases of patients with a history of renal lithiasis who were diagnosed with primary hyperoxaluria in the post-transplant period, manifested by early graft failure, with evidence of calcium oxalate crystals in renal biopsy, hyperoxaluria, hyperoxalemia, and genetic test compatible; they were managed with proper diet, abundant oral liquids, pyridoxine, hydrochlorothiazide and potassium citrate; however, they had slow but progressive deterioration of their grafts function until they reached end-stage chronic renal disease.

Resumo A hiperoxalúria primária (HP) é um distúrbio genético muito raro, caracterizado por deficiência total ou parcial das enzimas relacionadas ao metabolismo do glioxilato, superprodução de oxalato de cálcio que se deposita em vários órgãos (principalmente os rins) resultando em litíase recorrente, nefrocalcinose e doença renal terminal (DRT). Nos pacientes com DRT que recebem transplante renal, a doença apresenta recidiva em 100% dos casos, com perda do enxerto nos primeiros cinco anos após o transplante num elevado percentual de pacientes.

Três distúrbios moleculares foram descritos na HP:

mutação dos genes da alanina-glioxilato aminotransferase (AGXT), glioxilato redutase/hidroxipiruvato redutase (GRHPR) e 4-OH-2-oxoglutarato aldolase (HOGA1). Apresentamos dois casos de pacientes com histórico de litíase renal diagnosticados com hiperoxalúria primária no período pós-transplante, manifestada na forma de perda precoce do enxerto com evidências de cristais de oxalato de cálcio na biópsia renal, hiperoxalúria, hiperoxalemia e testes genéticos compatíveis. Os pacientes foram tratados com abordagem nutricional, líquidos orais em abundância, piridoxina, hidroclorotiazida e citrato de potássio. Contudo, os pacientes apresentaram deterioração lenta e gradual da função do enxerto e evoluíram para doença renal terminal.