The incidence of kidney diseases has been increasing in the last decade due to extended lifespan, which is often related to polymorbidity. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) are associated with high morbidity and mortality, elevated costs for renal replacement therapy, and heavy psychosomatic burden. At the same time, therapeutic options are limited to prophylactic and renoprotective medications and measurements, and they often cannot restore the impaired kidney function. With the development of cellular therapies, new perspectives arise on the horizon with promising potential, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs). Here we review the current possibility of both cell types in the field of nephrology and assess their cost implication.

Atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, life-threatening, complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. Delayed diagnosis and treatment are associated with a high risk of irreversible renal damage and progression to end-stage kidney disease. This report describes the case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with severe thrombotic microangiopathy and rapidly progressive renal failure requiring dialysis. A systematic diagnostic approach enabled the exclusion of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, Shiga toxin-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and secondary causes of thrombotic microangiopathy, leading to a diagnosis of aHUS. Targeted complement inhibition with the long-acting C5 inhibitor ravulizumab was initiated early in the disease course. Treatment resulted in rapid hematologic stabilization, resolution of hemolysis, and partial recovery of renal function. This case illustrates the importance of prompt recognition of aHUS and early initiation of mechanism-based therapy. Ravulizumab represents an effective targeted pharmacological option in severe aHUS, including cases with advanced renal involvement, and may substantially improve hematologic and renal outcomes when applied in accordance with international guidelines.

Background/Objectives : Microbiological confirmation of suspected complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) is challenging, particularly in patients previously exposed to antibiotics or when fastidious organisms are involved. Molecular assays detect microbial nucleic acids independently of bacterial viability and may therefore yield results that differ from conventional culture. This study compared microorganism detection patterns and inter-method agreement between multiplex real-time PCR (mPCR), standard urine culture SUC, and rapid nephelometric screening (Uroquattro HB&L). Methods: In a prospective single-centre study, urine samples from 72 hospitalized patients with clinical suspicion of cUTIs were analyzed using SUC, mPCR (Novaplex™ UTI panel), and the Uroquattro system. Detection rates were calculated for each method. Agreement between paired methods was evaluated using Cohen’s kappa, and paired differences in detection were assessed using McNemar’s and Cochran’s Q tests. Results: mPCR detected microorganisms in 83.3% of samples, compared with 47.2% for SUC and 42.6% for Uroquattro. Agreement between mPCR and SUC was fair (κ = 0.26), whereas SUC and Uroquattro demonstrated high concordance. mPCR identified a broader spectrum of organisms, including fastidious and polymicrobial findings that were not recovered by culture. Correlation between PCR cycle threshold values and colony counts was weak and not statistically significant. Conclusions: mPCR demonstrated a substantially higher microorganism detection frequency than culture-based methods; however, the assays target different biological characteristics, highlight bacterial nucleic acid versus viable growth, and should be interpreted as complementary rather than interchangeable. Conventional culture remains necessary for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and clinical decision-making. Further studies incorporating clinical outcome-based reference standards are required to determine the clinical relevance of molecular detection in cUTIs.