Chronic kidney disease linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report

Abstract

Background

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about patient diagnosis and follow-up of chronically ill patients. Patients suffering from chronic illnesses, concomitantly infected by SARS-CoV-2, globally tend to have a worse prognosis and poor outcomes. Renal tropism and acute kidney injury following SARS-CoV-2 infection has recently been described in the literature, with elevated mortality rates. Furthermore, patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease, infected by SARS-CoV-2, should be monitored carefully. Here, we report the case of a 69-year-old patient with splenic marginal zone lymphoma, suffering from longstanding chronic kidney disease following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Case presentation

A 69-year-old male patient previously diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and splenic marginal zone lymphoma (Splenomegaly, Matutes 2/5, CD5 negative and CD23 positive), was admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath, fever and asthenia. A nasopharyngeal swab test was performed in addition to a CT-scan, which confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Blood creatinine increased following SARS-CoV-2 infection at 130 μmol/l, with usual values at 95 μmol/l. The patient was discharged at home with rest and symptomatic medical treatment (paracetamol and hydration), then readmitted to the hospital in August 2020. A kidney biopsy was therefore conducted as blood creatinine levels were abnormally elevated. Immunodetection performed in a renal biopsy specimen confirmed co-localization of SARS-CoV2 nucleocapsid and protease 3C proteins with ACE2, Lewis x and sialyl-Lewis x antigens in proximal convoluted tubules and podocytes. Co-localization of structural and non-structural viral proteins clearly demonstrated viral replication in proximal convoluted tubules in this chronically ill patient. Additionally, we observed the co-localization of sialyl-Lewis x and ACE2 receptors in the same proximal convoluted tubules. Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction test performed on the kidney biopsy was negative, with very low Ct levels (above 40). The patient was finally readmitted to the haematology department for initiation of chemotherapy, including CHOP protocol and Rituximab.

Conclusions

Our case emphasizes on the importance of monitoring kidney function in immunosuppressed patients and patients suffering from cancer following SARS-CoV-2 infection, through histological screening. Further studies will be required to decipher the mechanisms underlying chronic kidney disease and the putative role of sialyl-Lewis x and HBGA during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background

Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a major public health issue worldwide and the source of substantial healthcare costs [1]. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome related Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the Sarbecovirus subgenus along with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome related Coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1) [2]. SARS-CoV-2 possesses a large spectrum of virulence, varying from asymptomatic infection to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and multi-organ failure linked to cytokine storm, with possible Kawasaki-like syndromes and auto-immune manifestations, linked to interleukin 6 (IL-6) hypersecretion [3, 4]. Autopsy case series have shown several types of lesions linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially alveolar damage with viral replication in pneumocytes, but also viral replication in the kidneys with podocyte and proximal tubular involvement [5, 6]. Acute kidney injury has also been associated with severe COVID-19 infection and increased in-hospital mortality [7]. SARS-CoV-2 mainly uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) as an entry point into infected cells prior to protein priming by transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) [8]. Blood group antigen polymorphisms might also modulate virus binding and infectivity, as individuals with blood group A and B are potentially more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infections [9, 10]. Epidemiological studies recently illustrated the association between SARS-CoV-2 severe renal dysfunction and the occurrence of chronic comorbidities [11]. Here, we demonstrate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 chronic replication in the kidney of a comorbid patient, leading to longstanding chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Case presentation

In April 2020, a 69-year-old man with blood group A was admitted to the William-Morey General Hospital (Chalon-sur-Saône, France), with shortness of breath, fever and fatigue. His personal medical history included an indolent splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) of Matutes score 2 (splenomegaly, CD5 negativity and CD23 positivity), diagnosed following an idiopathic pulmonary embolism in December 2019, with no previous history of lung disease [12]. The patient was initially treated with apixaban for his pulmonary embolism. At the emergency room, a thoracic CT-scan showed bilateral ground-glass pulmonary infiltrates suggesting SARS-CoV-2 infection which was later confirmed by a nasopharyngeal swab RT-qPCR test. Blood tests showed elevated blood C-reactive protein (25 mg/ml) and ferritin (514 ng/dl) levels, associated with a deep lymphopenia (0,03 G/L), but normal electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels. The patient was carefully monitored and his condition rapidly improved with appropriate hydration and ventilation. One week later, the patient was discharged at home with routine guidelines following SARS-CoV-2 infection, including rest at home, hand hygiene, avoidance of contact with the surroundings, paracetamol intake and appropriate hydration in case of symptoms. During the following weeks, the patient suffered from dyspnea at exertion and chronic invalidating fatigue at home, later confirmed by his family physician. Serologies for SARS-CoV-2 performed in June 2020 were negative.

In August 2020, the patient was again admitted to the hospital due to intense exhaustion and significant weight loss (6 kg) during the 2 weeks prior to his admission, associated with mild fever, breathlessness and daytime sweating. Laboratory tests showed a microcytic anaemia (10.5 g/dl), a mild hypogammaglobulinemia associated with a persistent lymphopenia (0.6 G/L) and an altered renal function with elevated serum creatinine (167 μmol/l) and urea levels (13.7 mmol/l). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 35 ml/min/1.73m² using the CKD-EPI formula. Urine analysis revealed mild proteinuria at 0.09 g/24 h.

A kidney biopsy was then performed to explore the chronic kidney disease and sent to the Pathology Department of the University Hospital of Dijon (Bourgogne, France) for further investigation. Analysis of the kidney biopsy was conducted according to previously established criteria [13]. Histopathology showed 9 normal glomeruli and 2 obsolescent glomeruli with cortical grade I fibrosis and grade I tubular atrophy with focal interstitial inflammation, focal sloughing of epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules and intra-tubular cell casts, which indicated reversible and focal tubular necrosis (Fig. 1A and B). Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) staining revealed desquamation of the brush border of proximal convoluted tubules (Fig. 1B). Silver impregnation (Marinozzi) showed otherwise normal glomerular basement membranes. Congo red staining and direct immunofluorescence for IgA, IgM, IgG, albumin, fibrinogen, C3, C4c, C1q, kappa and lambda light chains were all negative.

Fig. 1

Histopathology and immunodetection assays in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded kidney biopsy from a 69-year-old patient suffering from chronic COVID-19 infection. A (HES, × 200) and B (PAS, × 200): grade I interstitial fibrosis associated with grade I tubular atrophy without glomerular damage; focal desquamation of the brush border of epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules (arrow), associated with focal sloughing of epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules with intra-tubular cell casts (arrowheads); C, D, E and I (× 600): co-detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (green fluorescence) and protease-3C (red fluorescence) in epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules (arrows) using anti-NP and anti-Prot3C mAb; F, G, H and J (× 600): co-detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (green fluorescence) and protease3C (red fluorescence) in the glomerular apparatus (arrows) using anti-NP and anti-Prot3C mAb; K (× 200): ACE2 detection on the brush border of epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules (arrowhead) using anti-ACE2 mAb. Positive detection is shown by brown staining; L (× 200): A antigen expression in glomerular capillary walls (arrowhead) and distal convoluted tubules (arrow) using anti-A mAb. Positive detection is shown by brown staining; M (× 200): Le^x antigen expression in proximal convoluted tubules (arrowhead) and podocytes (arrow) using anti-Le^x mAb. Positive detection is shown by brown staining; N (× 200): sialyl-Le^x antigen expression in proximal convoluted tubules (arrowhead) and podocytes (arrow). Positive detection is shown by brown staining

The presence of focal tubular necrosis was initially attributed to possible dehydration in a patient which manifested daytime sweating, as clinical examination and history taking ruled out other causes of tubular injury. In the context of tubular lesions in a patient suffering from symptom exacerbation possibly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, the possibility of direct tubular damage due to SARS-CoV-2 replication was explored through SARS-CoV-2 immunohistological analysis on biopsy slides following described protocols (Supplemental data). Double fluorescent staining revealed cytoplasmic co-localization of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein and protease-3C in proximal convoluted tubules and podocytes, demonstrating virus binding and replication (Figs. 1C -J). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the expression of ACE2 in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells bordering the proximal convoluted tubules (Fig. 1K), A antigen in capillary walls and distal convoluted tubules (Fig. 1L), and Le^x and sialyl-Le^x (CD15s) in the proximal convoluted tubules and podocytes (Fig. 1M and N).

The patient received effective and complete anticoagulative therapy by apixaban from December 2019 to April 2020. The patient stayed at the hospital for one week, with intravenous fluids and careful monitoring until his renal function improved enough to be sent home with appropriate symptomatic care. At present, the patient continues to complain of persistent dyspnoea on exertion and chronic fatigue, possibly caused by aggravation of SMZL or persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patient was later readmitted to the haematology department for initiation of chemotherapy including Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunorubicin, Oncovin and Prednisone (CHOP), without administration of Rituximab due to chronic kidney disease partially induced by the previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Testing of SARS-CoV-2 using serologies and nasopharyngeal swabs were negative in January 2021.

Before the initial episode of infection, blood creatinine levels were estimated at 95 μmol/l (eGFR was initially measured at 72 ml/min/1.73m²). Blood creatinine levels increased to 130 μmol/l in April 2020 (eGFR: 50 ml/min/1.73m²) up to 230 μmol/l in August 2020 (eGFR: 26 ml/min/1.73m²). Thereafter, the renal function was sustainably altered, with blood creatinine values ranging from 120 to 180 μmol/l (eGFR from 35 to 55 ml/min/1.73m²) (Fig. 2). Of note, no measurements of renal function were conducted between April 2020 and August 2020.

Fig. 2

Trends of renal function in a patient suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease following SARS-CoV-2 infection. eGFR: estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

Discussion and conclusions

Based on autopsy tissue samples, the ability of SARS-CoV2 to bind, replicate and induce cellular damage in podocytes and proximal convoluted tubules, where ACE2 is highly expressed, have been suggested [5, 6]. Recent data has described the mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 replication and kidney damage involving innate immunity and coagulation pathways [14, 15]. Indeed, SARS-CoV-2 binding to ACE2 induces CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte depletion as seen in our case, in addition to the SMZL comorbidity in this patient, that might have aggravated lymphocyte depletion [16]. Moreover, elevated ferritin levels and anaemia could reflect chronic inflammation linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and could be used as a marker of persistent infection [17, 18]. The expression of histo-blood group antigens (HBGA) in nephrons could also contribute to SARS-CoV-2 binding, as Le^x and CD15s are highly expressed in proximal convoluted tubules [19]. Indeed, in vitro studies have shown the high affinity of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein towards CD15s and other sialylated molecules with differential ligand affinity, as described with MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1 [20]. Additionally, the role of the blood group A antigen in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility was not highlighted in our case, as its identification in capillary walls and distal convoluted tubules was not related to SARS-CoV-2 binding and replication [10, 19, 21].

Further studies will be required in order to understand the mechanisms underlying chronic kidney disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 binding and replication in kidney cells. Kemp et al. recently described the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 to chronically infect a 70-year-old patient suffering from B-cell lymphoma, and to replicate in organs with possible de novo mutations of the spike protein at different sites of replication [22]. Regarding the occurrence of renal damage linked to SARS-CoV-2 infections, the high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute tubular necrosis with SARS-CoV-2 replication in proximal convoluted tubules in severe and lethal forms of SARS-CoV-2 infections has previously been documented in the literature [23]. Actual scientific data points towards CKD as an important risk factor of severe and prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection [11, 24, 25]. To our knowledge, data concerning the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of CKD following SARS-CoV-2 infection remain scarce. Current guidelines raise concern about appropriate surveillance of kidney function in patients who suffered from SARS-CoV-2 infection, indicating to refer patients with symptoms of exacerbation of chronic kidney disease or heavy proteinuria, and regular blood and urine analyses [26, 27]. The importance of histological screening in patients with CKD following SARS-CoV-2 infection remain an important point to discuss in comorbid patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Until vaccination becomes fully developed worldwide, more complete data will be needed in order to provide appropriate care and treatment for comorbid patients suffering from chronic kidney disease following SARS-CoV-2 infection.