Immunosuppressant Use in Infective Endocarditis-Associated Glomerulonephritis: A Systematic Review

Patients with infective endocarditis can develop various renal diseases, including infective endocarditis-associated glomerulonephritis. Antibiotics are essential for eradicating the infection. However, the prognosis for renal function remains poor. This systematic review examines the role of immunosuppressants in managing infective endocarditis-associated glomerulonephritis (GN).

A comprehensive search was performed across four databases: PubMed, Scopus, MedLine, and Web of Science up to April 2024. We included studies that investigated patients with any type of GN due to infective endocarditis (IE) who were treated with immunosuppressants. Data extraction was conducted using a standardized sheet, and study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool.

The review incorporated 55 studies encompassing 84 cases, 65 of whom were male. The median age was 46.5 years. A total of 30 cases required kidney replacement therapy. Following immunosuppressive therapy, clinical improvement of IE was observed in 54 cases, while 9 patients experienced worsening conditions, 3 patients had no clinical change, and data were unavailable in 18 cases. Renal outcomes showed improvement in 67 patients, with 9 cases showing worsening conditions, 3 patients showing no change, 3 experiencing partial or residual impairment, and renal outcome was unavailable in 2 cases. A total of ten patients died, primarily owing to sepsis or infection-related complications (five cases), congestive or global heart failure (three cases), and renal failure with associated metabolic complications (two cases). Additional treatments included plasma exchange, with nine cases receiving plasmapheresis/plasma exchange. Of these, eight patients showed marked renal function improvement, and one patient showed partial improvement. Three patients also received intravenous immunoglobulin.

Immunosuppressive therapy led to renal function improvement in the majority of cases, suggesting its potential benefit in managing infective endocarditis-associated glomerulonephritis. However, variability in response and significant mortality highlight the need for individualized treatment strategies and further research to optimize management.