[Renal involvement in Erdheim-Chester disease]

G Ital Nefrol. 2013 Nov-Dec;30(6):gin/30.6.10.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

The Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare form of Langherans cells. Since 1987 it is distinguished from other istiocytosis previously identified. The diagnosis of the disease relies on defined radiological (bone imaging) and pathological (histiocytic infiltration) criteria. Bone disease is crucial but systemic manifestations are reported more frequently at onset. Renal involvement is always asymptomatic at onset of disease or in the follow-up. In this review we analyze the reports of the literature; we highlight 3 pathological mechanisms of renal involvement: renal and retroperitoneal infiltration, urinary tract obstruction, renal arteries stenosis. No treatment to date has demonstrated an improvement in survival of patients with EC. Renal involvement is therefore symptomatic (ureteral stenting, percutaneous nephrostomy) or is adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Erdheim-Chester Disease / complications*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Diseases / etiology*