C3 Deposition in IgA Nephropathy in Children and Adolescents

The aim of this study was to assess the significance of C3 deposition in IgA nephropathy in children and adolescents. One hundred and two patients aged 5–21 years (57 male and 45 female) were studied. The findings of C3 deposition were classified into 8 groups by immunofluorescent (IF) pattern and intensity as follows: group MC3+ (N = 12): mesangiocapillary pattern and 3+ in intensity; group MC2+ (N = 13): mesangiocapillary and 2+; group MC1 + (N = 4): mesangiocapillary and 1 +; group M3+ (N = 11): mesangial and 3+; group M2+ (N = 24): mesangial and 2+; group M1 + (N=18): mesangial 1 +; group S (N = 12): only segmentally positive; and group N (N = 8): negative. Histological changes were scored semiquantitatively as an activity index (cellular proliferation, necrosis, interstitial cell infiltration, and cellular crescents) and a chronicity index (mesangial sclerosis, segmental and global glomerular sclerosis, fibrous crescents, adhesion and tubulo-interstitial change). IF findings were scored semiquantitatively and laboratory findings were also studied. The following results were obtained: 1) The scores of total activity index in MC groups were higher than in the M, S or N groups, and the greater the degree of C3 deposition, the higher the score; 2) Such result was not evident in the chronicity index; 3) High IF scores of IgG and IgM were found in the MC3+ and MC2+ groups; 4) Hematuria was more severe in MC3+ and MC2+ than in other groups, and proteinuria was more prominent in the MC than other groups. Thus the degree of C3 deposition was parallel with histological activity and urinary findings.     

伴有新月体形成的原发性IgA肾病的临床与病理分析

目的了解儿童伴有新月体形成的原发性IgA肾病的临床与病理特点.方法对29例伴新月体形成的原发性IgA肾病患儿的临床及病理资料进行分析,并依受新月体累及的肾小球比例分组比较,≥50%(A组),9例;<50%(B组),20例.结果 (1)临床方面29例均有血尿+蛋白尿,尿蛋白≥1 g/24 h 者22例(76%)和肉眼血尿86%,水肿、高血压、肾功能异常者均不及半数.A组以肾病综合征和急进性肾炎为主,持续性肉眼血尿、大量蛋白尿、高血压、肾功能衰竭均较B组明显(P<0.05).B组无症状性血尿+蛋白尿者65% .(2)病理方面新月体形成累及肾小球5%～85%, A组为52%～85%(其中新月体型IgA 肾病10%),B组5%～40%,以细胞性为主.均有系膜增生和小管-间质病变,球囊粘连易见. 两组比较A组系膜增生严重、小球硬化和小管灶状萎缩明显(P<0.05),B组球囊粘连多见(P<0.05).(3)免疫荧光均有IgA+IgM+C3沉积,合并IgG沉积者18例(62%),其中5例(17%)为"满堂亮"(A组占4例).未见一例单纯IgA沉积.结论伴有新月体形成的原发性IgA肾病临床均有血尿合并蛋白尿,以持续性肉眼血尿和大量蛋白尿为主;以弥漫性系膜增生为主要病理改变,易见球囊粘连和小管-间质病变;沉积物以IgA+IgM型或IgA+IgM+IgG型多见,部分呈"满堂亮";较一般型IgA肾病临床、病理明显加重.     

Renal histological changes in relation to renal function and urinary protein excretion in IgA nephropathy.

Renal function and urinary protein excretion (UPE) were investigated at the time of kidney biopsy in 24 children with IgA nephropathy. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were measured by clearances of inulin and para-aminohippuric acid. For UPE albumin, IgG, beta 2 microglobulin, and creatinine were analysed. Glomerular global/segmental sclerosis and crescents in the biopsy specimens were assessed, and glomerular and tubulointerstitial changes classified on a five degree scale. The patients with tubulointerstitial or mesangial biopsy changes or glomerular sclerosis had significantly lower GFR than those without corresponding lesions. Patients with segmental sclerosis also had higher excretion rates of IgG, which increased with increasing segmental sclerosis. Six patients had GFRs below 2SD of the controls. Within the group of patients with reduced GFR overt albuminuria, a raised excretion rate of IgG, interstitial fibrosis, and advanced mesangial lesions were more frequent. A rising excretion rate of IgG seems to indicate both reduced GFR and increasing segmental glomerulosclerosis and may be a marker of progressive disease.     

Significance of Fibrin/ Fibrinogen Related Antigen in Glomeruli in Children with IgA Nephropathy

The relationship between the deposition of fibrin/fibrinogen related antigen (FRA) and morphologic findings in glomeruli was investigated in 59 children with IgA nephropathy. After treatment of renal biopsy sections with monochloroacetic acid (MCA) solution, MCA-insoluble FRA, suggesting cross-linked fibrin, was observed within the capillary walls, the mesangium and/or the sclerotic area in children with severe proliferative lesions, such as segmental sclerosis, capsular adhesions or crescent formation. Mesangial deposits of FRA were confined to electron-dense deposits, and the MCA-soluble FRA did not seem to be closely related to glomerular damage. FRA deposits within crescents may consist of MCA-soluble FRA.     

Pathological improvement of IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis with urokinase therapy

The pathological findings of 13 patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy or Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis before and after urokinase (UK) administration were investigated retrospectively. The mean activity index value decreased significantly at the time of the second biopsy compared with that of the biopsy before UK treatment. The mean chronicity index value, which was considered to reflect the renal outcome, before and after UK treatment did not change significantly, although it improved significantly in six patients. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the immune deposition of C3 decreased, but that of IgA and fibrin-related antigen were unchanged, by UK therapy. These results suggest that UK may prevent the mesangial proliferation associated with IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis not only by its fibrinolytic action, but also by other mechanisms, such as digestion of the mesangial matrices.     

Combined therapy of enalapril and losartan attenuates histologic progression in immunoglobulin A nephropathy

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that combined therapy of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker significantly decreases proteinuria in immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. However, histologic alterations following the therapy have not been reported. METHODS: A total of nine Japanese children with severe proteinuric IgA nephropathy who received a prompt immunosuppressive therapy were enrolled the study, four of whom received a combined therapy of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, enalapril and angiotensin receptor blocker, losartan (Group A), while the remaining five did not (Group B). All underwent renal biopsy before and approximately 12 months after the first renal biopsy. RESULTS: At presentation, urine protein excretion and the histologic indices of mean activity index, mean chronicity index and tubulointerstitial scores did not show a statistical difference between the two groups: Group A (2.6 +/- 0.6 g/day; mean activity index, 5.0 +/- 1.0; mean chronicity index, 5.0 +/- 1.0; tubulointerstitial scores, 4.3 +/- 1.0) and Group B (2.2 +/- 0.6 g/day; mean activity index, 4.8 +/- 0.8; mean chronicity index, 4.8 +/- 1.3; tubulointerstitial scores, 3.6 +/- 0.5, respectively). All had normal blood pressure and renal function. Urine protein excretion and the activity index decreased at the second renal biopsy, while the chronicity index and the tubulointerstitial scores slightly increased or remained unchanged. In comparison with Group B, a significant suppression in increasing the chronicity index and the tubulointerstitial scores obtained at the second renal biopsy were observed in Group A [Group A: 4.3 +/- 1.2 and 3.0 +/- 0.0, respectively, vs Group B: 6.0 +/- 0.7 and 4.4 +/- 0.9, respectively (P < 0.05)]. One patient in Group B developed chronic renal insufficiency thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: Although only a small number of patients were examined, these clinical findings suggest that a combined therapy of enalapril and losartan may attenuate histologic progression in at least a proportion of patients with severe proteinuric IgA nephropathy.     

Idiopathic mesangial IgA-glomerulonephritis in childhood

Nineteen out of 83 children with asymptomatic haematuria were classified as having IgA glomerulonephritis, characterized by diffuse mesangial deposition of IgA in the absence of systematic disease. Different histological patterns were observed: i.e., minor glomerular lesions (5 cases), focal and segmental proliferative glomerulonephritis (8 cases) and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (6 cases). Recurrent gross haematuria is the clinical hallmark of the disease. Proteinuria was present in 14 children and exceeded 1 g/m²/day in 3 patients. Clinico-pathological correlations showed a close relation between the degree of proteinuria and the histological lesions. Serum IgA levels were elevated in 3 children. Glomerular filtration rate remained above 80 ml/min/1.73 m² in a 1 to 9 year follow-up.Dedicated to Prof. W. Doerr (Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg) on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Clinicopathological characteristics of the focal and segmental form of idiopathic membranous nephropathy: Comparison with the typical form of this disease

Although idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is thought to represent a diffuse glomerulopathy, it was found that three of 31 children histologically diagnosed as IMN showed focal and segmental deposition of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and C3 on the glomerular capillary walls. The present study attempted to comparatively investigate clinical and pathological features of the diffuse group and the focal segmental group in 31 IMN children. Immunofluorescence study revealed that 28 of 31 IMN exhibited diffuse granular deposition of IgG along glomerular capillary walls. In contrast, focal and segmental deposition of IgG and C3 was noted in three children with IMN. In addition, focal and segmental electron-dense deposits were identified in these cases. In two children of the focal segmental group, immunofluorescent patterns of IgG deposition were unchanged even at the second biopsy. The focal segmental form of IMN tended to occur in younger children than diffuse IMN. However, other clinical parameters such as the range of proteinuria, hematuria, serum albumin and prognosis did not show any significant differences between both groups. Electrophoretic profiles of urinary proteins on sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were not different between both groups. It is proposed that the focal segmental form of IMN may have a distinctive glomerulopathy from the typical form of IMN.     

Immunofluorescence Studies of Lung Tissue in Cystic Fibrosis

Previous studies have suggested that immune mechanisms contribute to lung injury in cystic fibrosis (CF); however, there have been no comprehensive studies of immunofluorescent staining patterns in CF lung tissue. We performed immunofluorescence (IF) studies for immunoglobulins, C3, and fibrinogen on autopsy frozen lung tissue from 21 CF patients. Results were compared with lung findings in patients without CF. In CF-derived lung tissue fibrinogen was ubiquitous along the alveolar wall, alveolar space, and interstitium. Free immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA coated the alveolar surface segmentally in 14 and 6 cases, respectively. Unequivocal interstitial deposits were infrequent and IgM was present in blood vessels in one patient only. Intra-alveolar and interstitial inflammatory cells demonstrated cytoplasmic IgG, IgA, and IgM, respectively, in 18, 14, and 6 patients. C3 was seen only segmentally along the alveolar wall in two patients and in blood vessels in one. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) staining of interstitial cells for C3 and immunoglobulins was seen in five patients, four of whom had interstitial pneumonitis. Insignificant amounts of alveolar or interstitial fibrinogen and immunoglobulins in inflammatory cells were seen in controls in the absence of lung inflammation. The IF patterns were similar in the inflammatory lesions of CF and control specimens.

The IF patterns observed in CF lung tissue are consistent with nonspecific vascular leakage and chronic inflammation with little evidence of immune complex deposition in the interstitium or blood vessels. This study confirms previous reports of ANA activity in CF patients, although the significance of this finding is unknown.     

Berger's disease in childhood]

Berger's disease or IgA nephropathy (NIgA) is the most common form of glomerulonephritis in the world. In children macroscopic haematuria is the first sign in about 80% of the patients. Renal failure appears in 20% of cases after twenty years of follow-up. The most important prognosis indicators are a nephrotic syndrome at the onset, a proteinuria > 1 g/24 hours, diffuse tubulo-interstitial lesions and extracapillary proliferation with crescents in more than 50% of the glomeruli. The pathogenic mechanisms are just emerging and involve a disrupted process of the systemic tolerance to mucosal antigen with abnormal mucosal gamma delta T cell repertoire, abnormally glycosylated IgA1 molecules and a down-regulation of Fc alpha receptors on blood cells. After IgA deposition, the mechanisms of mesangial cell damage and activation involve vascular factors as endothelin/nitric oxide system, cytokines and growth factors such as interleukine-6, platelet derived growth factor and transforming growth factor beta. There is no curative treatment but steroids are useful in diffuse proliferative extracapillary forms, when histological activity score is high with a short delay between diagnosis and treatment, or for moderately severe NIgA with normal renal function.     

儿童新月体性IgA肾病临床与病理分析

目的 了解儿童原发性新月体性IgA肾病的临床、病理和免疫病理的特征 方法 分析9例儿童原发 性新月体性IgA肾病患儿的临床、病理和免疫病理资料,进行疗效观察及随访 结果 临床表现为肾病综合征5例, 急进性肾炎3例,无症状性血尿和蛋白尿1例。尿蛋白均>2 g／d,其中>3 g／d者7例:有持续性肉眼血尿8例,其中>2 周者7例;肾功能减退苦8例,其中5例仅内生肌酐清除率(CCr)轻度下降者;伴高血压7例 9例肾病理均有不同程 度的弥漫性系膜增生和小管-间质病变,平均74.5％肾小球有新月体形成,半数病例可见球囊粘连、小球硬化、节段内 皮增生和间质灶状纤维化。免疫荧光无1例单纯IgA型,IgA M和IgA M G型占55.6％,4例呈"满堂亮"。8例经大剂 量甲基泼尼松龙冲击2~4个疗程治疗,肉眼血尿、高血压全部消失,肾功能恢复正常,蛋白尿有不同程度改善 7例随 访3~18个月,3例尿蛋白正常,2例轻度蛋白尿(<1 g／d),尿蛋白>3 g／d者2例 结论 本组儿童原发性新月体性IgA 肾病临床以肾病综合征为主,持续性肉眼血尿和大量蛋白尿突出,肾功能减退程度不一;肾小球、小管和间质均有急、 慢性病理改变,球囊粘连、小球硬化和间质纤维化易见,免疫病理以IgA合并IgM、IgG沉积为主,可见"满堂亮"现象 及时大剂量甲基泼尼松龙冲击治疗,短期疗效好。     

单中心341例紫癜性肾炎患儿不同病理分型一致性的病例系列报告

背景：临床常将国际儿童肾脏病研究协作组(ISKDC) 的分级标准用于紫癜性肾炎(HSPN),但其只能反映发病时肾脏活动性炎症情况,不能反映慢性病变的情况。 目的：探讨IgA肾病牛津分类（MEST-C）评分标准在儿童HSPN中的应用价值。 设计：病例系列报告。 方法：回顾性收集2015年1月至2017年12月于河南中医药大学第一附属医院住院、年龄≤14岁、符合HSPN诊断标准且行肾活检的患儿。采集患儿的一般情况、肾活检前尿和血标本实验室检查指标、临床表现、ISKDC分级、基于病理报告的免疫荧光分型。依据病理报告结果在病理科医生指导下参照MEST-C评分标准对肾脏病理重新评估,因本研究无管状萎缩/间质纤维化(T1/T2病变),故将肾小管间质病变分为急性（Ta）和慢性（Tc）评分,分为系膜细胞增生（M0/M1）、内皮细胞增生（E0/E1）、节段性硬化/粘连（S0/S1）、Ta0/Ta1、Tc0/Tc1、新月体形成（C0/C1/C2）组,对MEST-C与ISKDC病理分级和免疫荧光病理行kappa一致性检验。 主要结局指标：HSPN不同病理分型的一致性。 结果：①341例HSPN患儿进入本文分析,男191例,女150例,中位发病年龄9(8,11)岁,首发症状至出现尿检异常的间隔时间为10(3,21)d。②临床分型以血尿和蛋白尿型最常见,C1组血尿和蛋白尿型比例较高,M1、E1和Ta1组肾病综合征型比例较高,S1和Tc1组慢性肾炎型比例较高,P均<0.05;M1、Ta1、C2与较严重的镜下血尿有关,M1、E1、Ta1、C2与大量蛋白尿有关,P均<0.05;M1、Ta1、C1/C2与eGFR水平下降有关,P<0.05。③ISKDC分级中Ⅱ、Ⅲ级最常见,无Ⅰ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ级病例;MEST-C评分中以E1和C1病理改变较多见;MEST-C与ISKDC分级存在相关性,M1、E1、Ta1、C1/C2组ISKDC病理分级较重,S1、Tc1组ISKDC分级较轻。 结论：MEST-C评分与儿童HSPN临床表现、实验室指标的一致性符合临床预期;MEST-C病理指标均与ISKDC分级存在一致性,Ta和E指标分别与补体C3和Fib沉积严重程度存在一致性。     

Berger disease: Henoch-Schönlein syndrome without the rash

Identical 7-year-old twin boys each had a proved adenovirus infection at the same time. A few days later one developed florid Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura, severe alimentary tract symptoms, and transient joint symptoms. He had an acute nephritic syndrome, which progressed to nephrotic syndrome and renal insufficiency. Biopsy showed severe proliferative glomerulonephritis with crescents and marked deposition of IgA, IgG, C3, and fibrin. The second twin had hematuria and abdominal pain but no rash. Biopsy showed mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with mesangial deposits of IgA and, to a lesser extent, IgG and C3. The appearance was characteristic of Berger disease, and the subsequent clinical course has been that of symptomless microscopic hematuria and recurrent macroscopic hematuria with normal renal function. Immunologic studies have not revealed why these identical twins responded differently to the same provocation. Perhaps Berger disease may be considered a variant of Henoch-Sch?nlein nephritis.     

The relationship between serum transaminase activities and fatty liver in children with simple obesity

To determine hepatic diseases in obese children, biochemically and histologically, 11 obese patients with abnormal serum transaminase activities were subjected to this study. Fat accumulation in the liver was semiquantitatively graded, and histologically the 11 patients were classified into four groups; fatty liver, fatty hepatitis, fatty fibrosis and fatty cirrhosis. All patients had fat deposition in liver specimens, the grade of which did not significantly correlate with the degree of obesity. The grade of fat deposition in the liver specimens also did not significantly correlate with either serum transaminase activities or GOT/GPT ratio. Five patients were grouped into the fatty liver group, three into the fatty hepatitis group, and the remaining three patients into the fatty fibrosis group. However, no significant differences were found among the three histologically classified groups in terms of serum transaminase activities or GOT/GPT ratio. The usefulness of serum transaminase activities and GOT/GPT ratio was limited in predicting the severity of fat deposition or histological abnormality in pediatric obese patients.     

Intermittent intravenous cyclophosphamide arrests progression of the renal chronicity index in childhood systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To assess prospectively the safety and efficacy of a 36-month course of systematic bolus intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy (IVCY) for children with lupus nephritis. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen children with lupus nephritis were treated with IVCY for 36 months. Renal biopsies performed before and after treatment were scored for activity and chronicity. SLEDAI scores, laboratory measures, and prednisone dosage were recorded at the time of each treatment. RESULTS: After 36 months of IVCY therapy, the renal biopsy activity index decreased from 9 +/- 4 to 1 +/- 1 (P <.001) without a change in chronicity. The mean creatinine clearance increased from 90 +/- 23 to 107 +/- 23 mL/min/1.73 mol/L(2) (P <.01), and the mean 24-hour urine protein excretion decreased from 2.0 +/- 2.4 g/24 h to 0.5 +/- 0.7 g/24 h (P <.05). The mean SLEDAI score decreased from 19 +/- 5.2 to 2.9 +/- 3.1 (P <.001). The mean prednisone dosage decreased from 35.5 +/- 20 mg/d to 14.0 +/- 3 mg/d (P <.001). No significant complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-six months of systematic IVCY therapy led to decreased renal biopsy activity without progression of chronicity, with excellent disease control and a greater than 50% reduction in mean corticosteroid dose.     

Antibody‐mediated rejection with the presence of glomerular crescents in a pediatric kidney transplant recipient: A case report

Glomerular crescents in kidney transplantation are indicative of severe glomerular injury and constitute a hallmark of RPGN. Their concurrence with ABMR has been rarely described only in adult patients. We report a case of 10‐year‐old boy with compound heterozygous Fin‐major Finnish‐type congenital nephrotic syndrome, who had received a deceased‐donor kidney transplant 5 years before onset of acute kidney injury and nephrotic range proteinuria without hematuria. Kidney allograft biopsy illustrated 6 glomeruli with global sclerosis and 6 with remarkable circumferential or segmental cellular crescents. Negative glomerular immunofluorescence for immune‐complex deposits and the absence of serum ANCA eliminated the presence of immune‐mediated and ANCA‐positive pauci‐immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. Diagnosis of ABMR was based on the high levels of HLA class II DSA and the histological evidence of glomerulitis, peritubular capillaritis, and acute tubular injury with positive linear peritubular capillary C4d staining. The patient despite plasmapheresis and enhanced immunosuppressive treatment progressed to end‐stage renal disease. We conclude that glomerular crescents may represent a finding of AMBR and possibly a marker of poor allograft prognosis in pediatric patients.     

婴幼儿227例肾穿刺及临床病理学特点

目的 分析婴幼儿肾脏疾病临床病理的特点及婴幼儿肾穿刺安全进行的方法和意义.方法 对临床诊断为肾脏疾病的227例婴幼儿进行经皮肾穿刺活检,肾脏病理组织分别进行光镜、免疫荧光和电镜观察.光镜标本做苏木精-伊红(HE)、过碘酸雪夫反应(PAS)、六胺银(PASM)和Masson染色,免疫荧光检测其肾组织中的IgG、IgM、IgA、C3、C4、C1q、Fibrin,204例标本同时行电镜检查.结果 所有患儿肾穿刺均获成功,术后无明显并发症.有肾穿刺适应证的227例婴幼儿肾脏疾病中最常见的是肾病综合征(38.3%)、孤立性血尿(37.0%)和急性肾炎综合征(9.3%),继发性肾脏疾病相对较少(5.3%).肾脏病理类型中最常见的是系膜增生性肾小球肾炎(62.6%)、IgA肾病(8.4%)和局灶节段性肾小球硬化(5.7%).87例肾病综合征病理类型最常见的是系膜增生性肾小球肾炎(50例)、微小病变(11例)和局灶节段性肾小球硬化(9例);84例孤立性血尿病理类型最常见的是系膜增生性肾小球肾炎(68例)和IgA肾病(9例).结论 在不盲目扩大适应证的基础上,安全有效地进行婴幼儿肾穿刺,可以提高婴幼儿肾脏疾病的诊治水平.     

肾小球系膜区IgM沉积在儿童原发性肾小球疾病中的意义

目的：探讨肾小球系膜区IgM沉积在儿童原发性肾小球疾病中的意义。方法：选取2005年6月至2011年6月于北京大学第一医院儿科住院并行肾穿刺活检的原发性肾小球疾病患儿作为研究对象。根据免疫荧光下肾小球系膜区有无IgM沉积进行分组,将肾小球系膜区IgM沉积≥+且IgM免疫荧光强度≥其他免疫球蛋白荧光强度的患儿作为IgM沉积组,其余患儿为对照组。回顾性分析两组的临床、病理特点和随访等情况。结果：125例原发性肾小球疾病患儿进入分析,其中IgM沉积组76例,对照组49例。①两组在发病年龄、血总蛋白、血白蛋白、血总胆固醇、肌酐清除率、肾早期损伤指标、高血压和肾功能不全发生率等方面差异无统计学意义。IgM沉积组24 h尿蛋白定量及血IgM水平显著高于对照组（P分别为0.025和0.038）。②IgM沉积组肾小球硬化及小动脉病变发生率显著高于对照组(P分别为0.002和0.039),基底膜增厚发生率显著低于对照组（P=0.000）。③对激素治疗反应两组差异无统计学意义（P=0.364）。④随访2~78个月,两组肾功能不全及ESRD发生率差异无统计学意义。⑤IgM沉积组3/76例男性患儿行重复肾活检。除1例首次肾活检已诊断为局灶节段性肾小球硬化外,余2例在第2次肾活检时均由系膜增生性肾小球肾炎转化为局灶节段性肾小球硬化。结论：伴系膜区IgM沉积的原发性肾小球疾病患儿蛋白尿程度更重,肾脏病理改变亦更突出。对于伴系膜区IgM沉积的原发性肾小球疾病患儿应格外关注并密切随访,警惕其进展为局灶节段性肾小球硬化的可能。     

Expression and significance of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in children with IgA nephropathy

Background  IgA nephropathy (IgAN) exhibits an indolent but slowly progressive course, and about 30% of children with IgAN are found to deteriorate to end-stage renal failure characterized by overaccumulation of extracellular matrix, diffuse glomerular sclerosis, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays an important role in glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The present study aimed to elucidate the significance of expressions of TGF-β1, phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3), Smad7 and fibronectin (FN) in the renal tissue of children with IgAN. Methods  Forty-six children with IgAN were divided into 3 groups according to their clinical features: isolated hematuria group (IH group, 8 patients), hematuria and proteinuria group (HP group, 24), and nephritic syndrome group (NS group, 14). Patients were also divided into three groups according to their pathologic grade: grade I+II (22 patients), grade III (12) and grade IV (12) groups. Five normal renal specimens were used as the control group. The expression of TGF-β1, p-Smad3, Smad7 and FN in renal biopsy specimens was detected by two-step PowerVision™. The degrees of renal tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis were scored according to the Katafuchi semi-quantitative criteria. Results  The expression of TGF-β1, p-Smad3, Smad7 and FN in children with IgAN was significantly higher than that in the control group (in glomeruli: P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively; in tubulointerstitium: P<0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) and the highest expression levels were found in the NS and grade IV groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expression levels of the four proteins were not only positvely correlated with each other, but also with the grade of renal tubular injury and renal interstitial fibrosis (P<0.05). Conclusion  The TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway plays an important role in the progress of glomerular sclerosis, renal tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis in children with IgAN.     

Neutrophil function tests in children with repeated infections—a preliminary study

Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test and candida avidity test were done in 100 cases of children with repeated infections. Serum IgG, IgA, IgM and C3 levels were also determined to assess the status of humoral immunity. It was seen that in the predominent (85%) group of repeated respiratory tract infections, 87 percent and 70 percent had moderate and marked rise of serum IgG and IgM, respectively, though 59 percent had lower than normal IgA values. C3 levels were normal in 41 percent and decreased in 36 percent in the same group. NBT was decreased in 45 percent within normal range in 30 percent and increased in 25 percent. The Candida avidity index (CAI) was decreased in 90 percent of cases with respiratory tract infections. The observations in the other groups were comparable to those of group repeated respiratory infections. As many of the cases were malnourished the influence of malnutrition on phagocytic activity could not be ruled out. There was no correlation between NBT and CAI tests and the levels of serum immunoglobulins and C3. The CAI appears to be more sensitive than NBT, indicating the particle avidity of the neutrophils.