Background: Granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis (GTIN) is a rare pathologic finding on kidney biopsy. GTIN can be associated with drugs, infection, systemic granulomatous disease, and tubulointerstitial nephritis with uveitis syndrome. We present a case of GTIN in a kidney transplant recipient (KTR) and a literature review of published cases of GTIN in KTRs.
Case presentation: A 65-year-old man with a history of pulmonary and ocular tuberculosis (TB), who had undergone deceased donor kidney transplant 8 years prior, was admitted for acute kidney injury, hypercalcemia, and uveitis. His medications included rifabutin, isoniazid, and tacrolimus. Serum laboratory tests revealed creatinine of 2.65 mg/dL (baseline 1.1-1.5 mg/dL) and corrected calcium of 13.2 mg/dL. Hypercalcemia workup showed parathyroid hormone 7 pg/mL, 1,25(OH) vitamin D 54 pg/mL, parathyroid hormone-related peptide <2.0 pmol/L, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 47 U/L. Kidney biopsy showed GTIN with noncaseating granulomas. Universal polymerase chain reaction testing for acid-fast bacilli, fungus, and bacteria was negative. He was treated with prednisone, and his kidney function returned to baseline, and his hypercalcemia resolved.
Discussion: GTIN is a rare entity seen in less than 1% of transplanted kidney biopsies. The exactly etiology of this GTIN case remains unknown. TB could not be entirely ruled out, because the patient was receiving active anti-TB therapy. Our literature review showed infection to be the leading cause of GTIN in KTRs and that GTIN with concomitant uveitis remains exceedingly rare. Steroids may be useful in certain cases.
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