"It is my daughter Joan, she is 23 years old that has the FSGS disease from
2008 and she had transplant done on November 30, 2011. But, the doctor said
after two days of transplant that the FSGS is back. Her creatinine is 220 right
now and she is doing plasma exchange three times a week. Is there anyway that
can help us get rid of the disease?"
FSGS is one of the major primary kidney diseases that cause end stage renal
disease requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. A major problem of patients
with this disease receiving a transplant is a very high risk for relapse of FSGS
leading to loss of the transplanted organ.
Though the mortality rate associated with ESRD can be partially improved by
kidney transplant, lots of patients with FSGS tend to lose the transplanted
organ due to the relapse of this disorder. Actually, relapse rates as high as
80% has been reported.
Characteristics of FSGS include:
▪ There are some scars on the kidney, but only some glomeruli become
scared.
▪ Urine Protein is the common presentation.
▪ In most cases, patients will develop into Renal Failure in 5~20 years.
However, for those with serious illness condition, this period only need 2~3
years.
Is there any way to get rid of FSGS?
As a kind of immune disease, it is mediated by immune cells. The infiltration
T cells in the glomeruli attack the renal intrinsic cells directly or damage the
epithelial cells by releasing vascular permeability factors.
The immune disorder will lead to over reaction of immune system. The immune
complex will stay in the blood circulation and deposit on other organs. Massive
depositions of immune complexes on the glomerular basement membrane will lead to
the proliferation and swelling of mesangial cells, thus impairing the glomeruli
filtrating barrier.
To get rid of this disease, patients with FSGS need to control the excessive
immune reaction. Moreover, removing the immune complex and restoring the kidney
function can help us avoid the relapse.