Kidney biopsy findings in vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury: a pooled analysis

Abstract

Background: Acute kidney injury represents a major adverse effect of vancomycin administration. The aim of the present study is to accumulate all biopsy-proven cases of vancomycin nephrotoxicity and assess the association of histopathological features with renal prognosis.

Methods: Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov were systematically searched from inception to 29 September 2020. All case reports/series providing individual data of patients with biopsy-proven vancomycin nephrotoxicity were held eligible. A time-to-event analysis was performed evaluating the effects of histological diagnosis on renal recovery.

Results: Overall, 18 studies were included, comprising 21 patients. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis was the predominant pattern in 9 patients and was associated with a significantly higher risk of permanent renal dysfunction (HR: 5.08, 95% CI: [1.05-24.50)] compared to acute tubular necrosis. Tubulitis and eosinophilic infiltration were the most common histopathological findings, while interstitial fibrosis was linked to significantly worse renal prognosis (HR: 5.55, 95% CI: 1.13-27.27). Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy features were non-specific. Obstruction by tubular casts composed of vancomycin aggregates and uromodulin has been identified as a new mechanism of nephrotoxicity.

Conclusions: Acute tubular necrosis and tubulointerstitial nephritis represent the main histological patterns of vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury. The presence of fibrosis in the context of interstitial inflammation may be linked to lower recovery rates and worse long-term renal outcomes. A novel cast nephropathy obstructive mechanism has been suggested, necessitating further confirmation. Large-scale studies should define the exact indications of kidney biopsy in cases with suspected vancomycin nephrotoxicity.

Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Kidney biopsy; Nephrotoxicity; Vancomycin.