Elevation of serum von Willebrand factor and anti-endothelial cell antibodies in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy are associated with intrarenal arterial lesions

Aim: Recent studies suggest that intrarenal arterial lesions are frequently observed in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). However, the mechanisms of the injury have not been elucidated. The level of serum von Willebrand factor (vWF) and the prevalence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) were investigated in patients with IgAN with different intrarenal arterial lesions. Methods: Sera from 28 patients with mild intrarenal arterial lesions (group 1) and 36 patients with severe intrarenal arterial lesions (group 2) were collected. Sera from 20 patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (group 3) and 50 healthy volunteers were also obtained as disease and normal controls, respectively. Serum vWF and AECA of both IgG and IgA isotype were detected. Results: In comparison with normal controls, serum vWF was significantly higher in group 2 and group 3. Serum vWF was also significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1. Both IgG-AECA and IgA-AECA could be detected in three groups of patients. The prevalence of anti-87 kD IgG-AECA was greatest in patients in group 2. IgAN patients, especially those in group 2 with IgG-AECA or anti-87 kD IgG-AECA, had significantly higher serum creatinine and lower creatinine clearance than those without. No significant difference could be found for IgA-AECA. The level of serum vWF was higher in IgAN patients with IgG-AECA than that in patients without. Conclusion: Intrarenal arterial lesions are associated with endothelial cell damage in IgAN, and vWF is a useful serological biomarker of severe intrarenal arterial lesions. AECA, especially IgG-AECA, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of intrarenal arterial damage in IgAN.     

正常血压IgA肾病患者动脉病变的意义

目的:传统观点认为动脉硬化与高血压有关。然而,部分IgA肾病患者,尽管血压正常,但仍有动脉硬化的改变。本研究的目的就是比较血压正常、伴有和不伴有动脉病变的IgA肾病患者的临床病理特点,探讨正常血压IgA肾病患者肾内动脉病变的影响因素及意义。方法:所有患者均经肾活检诊断为原发性IgA肾病,无高血压病史,肾活检前血压<140/90mmHg。动脉病变的定义为活检肾组织光镜下见动脉壁增厚和(或)动脉玻璃样变。符合标准的105例患者,根据动脉病变的有无分为两组,有动脉病变组52例、无动脉病变组53例,分别比较两组的临床病理特点。肾脏动脉病变的半定量分级标准:0:无损害;1:<25%;2:≥25%,<50%;3:≥50%。统计学方法:分别比较两组的临床病理特点,将差异有统计学意义的单因素指标作为多因素分析的入选指标,采用逐步回归方法分析动脉病变的影响因素,以P<0.05作为差异有统计学意义。结果:与无动脉病变组比较,动脉病变组肾活检时的年龄、血肌酐、血尿酸、尿蛋白定量、尿NAG酶、肾小球硬化、肾小管萎缩以及肾间质纤维化的程度显著增高,尿渗透压显著下降。多因素分析的结果表明,肾活检时的血肌酐、尿渗透压、肾小管萎缩及肾间质纤维化是正常血压IgA肾病动脉病变的独立影响因素。动脉病变的程度与血肌酐、肾小管萎缩及肾间质纤维化呈正相关;与尿渗透压呈负相关。结论:血压正常IgA肾病患者的肾内动脉病变,主要与年龄、血肌酐、血尿酸增高等因素有关,常伴有肾小管间质损害。     

Characteristics of patients with coexisting IgA nephropathy and membranous nephropathy

Background: Coexistence of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and membranous nephropathy (MN) in the same patient is rare. Few studies have reported the clinical and pathological features of patients with combined IgAN and MN (IgAN–MN).

Methods: The clinico-pathological features, levels of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) and autoantibodies against M-type transmembrane phospholipase A₂ receptor (anti-PLA₂R) in sera were compared among IgAN–MN, IgAN, and MN patients.

Results: Twenty-six patients with biopsy-proven IgAN–MN were enrolled. The mean age at biopsy was 43.6?±?15.9?years, and 65.4% were male. Proteinuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels in patients with IgAN–MN were similar to that of MN patients. Compared with the IgAN patients, IgAN–MN patients showed a higher median proteinuria level (4.3 vs. 1.2?g/day, p?2, p?p?=?.801). Percentage of IgAN–MN patients with detectable serum levels of anti-PLA₂R was lower than that of MN patients (38.5% vs. 68.6%, p?=?.011).

Conclusions: IgAN–MN patients display similar clinical features to MN patients and milder pathological lesions than IgAN patients. IgAN–MN patients have similar levels of Gd-IgA1 to those of IgAN patients, and a lower proportion of anti-PLA₂R than MN patients.     

伴恶性高血压IgA肾病的临床病理特征及其与肾血管病变的相关性

目的 分析伴恶性高血压IgA肾病（IgAN-MHT）的临床病理特征并探讨其与肾血管病变的相关性。 方法 从我科1997年4月至2007年5月间肾活检确诊的2000例原发性IgA肾病中筛选出29例IgAN-MHT患者，收集其临床、病理及预后资料。半定量分析肾小球、肾小管间质及血管（肾内微动脉、小动脉）的病理改变，包括436条入球动脉、124条小叶间动脉及5条弓形动脉。分析血管病变与肾脏病理改变、临床指标及预后的相关性。终点事件为基线Scr水平增加1倍或终末期肾病。 结果 原发性IgAN中MHT发生率约为1.5%。IgAN-MHT患者的临床表现主要为肾功能不全（100%）、高尿酸血症（62.7%）、高三酰甘油血症（51.7%），尿蛋白量（24 h）平均为2.8 g。常见肾脏病理改变为中度系膜细胞增殖、重度肾小球硬化、重度间质炎细胞浸润、重度肾小管萎缩及间质纤维化。IgAN-MHT患者的肾内小动脉（弓形动脉和小叶间动脉）及微动脉（入球动脉）均可受累。常见肾内血管病变特点为动脉闭塞、动脉中膜增厚、增生性动脉内膜炎（洋葱皮样改变、黏液样变性）、血管壁透明样变性，其中以肾内动脉闭塞为主（86.2%）。微动脉病变程度与年龄、总蛋白水平呈负相关；血管闭塞程度与尿酸水平呈正相关。平均随访21.1个月（1~84个月），14例患者达到终点。肾内微动脉病变是IgAN-MHT患者预后不良的主要危险因素(RR = 10.21，95%CI = 1.16~89.67)。 结论 IgAN-MHT的主要临床特点是肾功能不全；主要病理特征是以动脉闭塞为主的微动脉病变。微动脉病变是IgAN-MHT患者预后不良的主要危险因素。     

Epidemiology, major outcomes, risk factors, prevention and management of chronic kidney disease in China

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in China. In residents older than 40 years in Beijing, China, 11.3% of subjects had at least one indicator of kidney damage. The primary cause of chronic renal failure in China was glomerulonephritis, which was followed by diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephrosclerosis. Renal failure, cardiovascular disease and infection were important complications. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common CKD in China. The prevalence of hypertension, intrarenal artery lesions and tubulointerstitial lesions in patients with IgAN at the time of renal biopsy was approximately 40, 55 and 85%, respectively. The genetic variation in Megsin confers susceptibility to IgAN in Chinese. The patients with SL/LL genotypes of the MUC20 gene, the 38AA genotype of uteroglobin and DD genotype of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene had a higher risk of progression. Chinese prospective clinical trials showed that benazepril (BZ) conferred substantial renal benefits in patients with advanced renal insufficiency. The combined therapy with urokinase and BZ was more effective than with BZ alone in reducing proteinuria and protecting renal function in Chinese patients with severe IgAN. Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common form of secondary renal disease diagnosed by renal biopsy in China. Chinese multicenter clinical trials showed that mycophenolate mofetil or leflunomide combined with steroids was effective as induction therapy for proliferative LN.     

Clinical and pathology features of idiopathic membranous nephropathy accompanied by mesangial dense deposit

Objective To investigate clinical and pathological features of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) accompanied by mesangial dense deposit. Methods Clinical data of 46 patients who were diagnosed as IMN accompanied by mesangial dense deposit admitted to Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. They were compared with those of 29 patients who were diagnosed as IMN without mesangial dense deposit during the same period in the hospital. Analysis of their clinical and pathological features was conducted. Results The IMN accompanied by mesangial dense deposit accounted for IMN 61.3%, and had more hyaline changes of arteriole (43.5% vs 6.9%, P=0.001) and more obvious arteriolar wall thickening (78.2% vs 51.7%, P=0.016) than IMN without mesangial dense deposit. Furthermore, the positive rate of IgA deposition in IMN accompanied by mesangial dense deposit was greatly higher than that in IMN without mesangial dense deposit (21.7% vs 0, P=0.007). In other index, such as serum biochemical parameters, urine protein, glomerular lesion, tubulointerstitium pathological damage and other immunopathologic changes, no statistically significant differences were found between these two groups. Conclusions IMN patients accompanied by mesangial dense deposit have severe intrarenal artery lesions,and high positive rate of IgA deposition.     

Tissue-specific expression of renin-angiotensin system components in IgA nephropathy

BACKGROUND: The renin-angiotensin II system (RAS) has been implicated in the development of glomerulonephritis. The aims of this study were to determine (1) the expression of RAS components, angiotensin (Ang II)-forming enzymes [angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) and chymase], and Ang II receptors, and (2) the correlation between RAS expression and severity of tissue injury in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). METHODS: The expression levels of ACE, chymase, and Ang II type 1 and type 2 receptor (AT1R and AT2R) mRNAs were determined by in situ hybridization in renal specimens from 18 patients with IgAN, 5 patients with non-IgA mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (non-IgAN) and 10 patients with nonmesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (minimal change nephrotic syndrome, n = 5, and membranous nephropathy, n = 5). Normal portions of surgically resected kidney served as control. RESULTS: In normal kidney, a few mesangial cells and glomerular and tubular epithelial cells weakly expressed ACE, chymase and AT1R mRNAs. In IgAN and non-IgAN samples, ACE, chymase, AT1R and AT2R mRNAs were expressed in resident glomerular cells, including mesangial cells, glomerular epithelial cells and cells of Bowman's capsule. The glomerular expressions in IgAN were stronger than in minimal change nephrotic syndrome and membranous nephropathy. In IgAN, the expressions in glomeruli correlated with the degree of mesangial hypercellularity, whereas the expression levels were weaker at the area of mesangial expansion. IgAN with severe tubulointerstitial injury showed expression of ACE, chymase, AT1R and AT2R mRNAs in atrophic tubules and infiltrating cells and such expression correlated with the degree of tubulointerstitial damage. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that renal cells can produce RAS components and that locally synthesized Ang II may be involved in tissue injury in IgAN through Ang II receptors in the kidney.     

存在肾小动脉微血管病变且非高血压IgA肾病患者的临床病理特点和预后分析

目的总结和分析非高血压的IgA肾病(IgA nephropathy,IgAN)合并肾小动脉微血管病变(microangiopathy,MA)患者的临床病理特点和预后。方法抽取北京大学第一医院IgAN前瞻性队列人群中非高血压成人患者,重新进行病理阅片,根据肾小动脉病变,分为MA组、动脉硬化病变(AS)组和无血管病变组,分析其临床病理及预后特点。复合肾脏终点事件包括终末期肾病或估算肾小球滤过率(eGFR)下降≥30%。采用Cox回归模型分析预后的危险因素。结果共420例IgAN患者被纳入本研究,其中37(8.8%)例患者合并MA,134(31.9%)例合并AS,其余249例无血管病变。相对于AS组或无血管病变组,合并MA的患者尿蛋白量更严重[1.47(1.08,2.84)g/d比1.31(0.68,2.56)g/d、1.04(0.55,2.00)g/d,P=0.002],肾功能更差[eGFR:(75.3±26.5)ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1比(85.7±27.0)ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1、(98.6±24.8)ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1,P<0.001],并有更高的节段性肾小球硬化和(或)球囊粘连(S1)、肾小管萎缩/间质纤维化(T1/2)、细胞/细胞纤维新月体病变(C1/2)比例(均P<0.05)。随访期间,合并MA的患者发生终点事件比例更高[54.1%比33.6%、32.9%,χ2=6.491,P=0.039]。Cox多因素分析模型显示,MA是IgAN发生进展的独立危险因素(HR=1.872,95%CI 1.044~3.357,P=0.035),而其他类型血管病变不影响预后。结论非高血压IgAN患者合并MA不少见,这提示高血压并非导致IgAN血管病变的唯一危险因素。     

Clinical and pathology features of IgA nephropathy with active tubular interstitial lesions

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in association with active tubular interstitial lesions. Methods 148 patients who were diagnosed as IgAN by renal biopsy and admitted to Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from March 2014 to December 2014 were enrolled. They were divided into IgAN with active tubular interstitial lesions group (IgAN-ATIL group, 23 patients) and IgAN without active tubular interstitial lesions group (control group, 125 patients). Clinical and pathological characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influence factors. Results The prevalence of ATIL in 148 IgAN patients was 15.5%. IgAN-ATIL group showed an older average age and more higher proportion of medication history (antibiotics, diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc) than those in control group. There were significant differences in Alb, eGFR, Scr, BUN, 24-hour urinary protein quantity, urinary NGAL and urinary RBC count between two groups (P＜0.05, respectively). A moderate of tubulointerstitial lesions of IgAN-ATIL group was shown, while the control group was mainly mild lesions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, medication history and the urinary NGAL level were independent risk factors of IgAN-ATIL. Conclusions IgAN patients with active tubular interstitial lesions had more severe clinical manifestations and chronic interstitial lesions. The age, medication history (antibiotics, diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc) and the urinary NGAL level were independent risk factors of IgAN-ATIL.     

Renal transplantation in patients with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Opinions on the clinical course and outcome of renal transplantation in patients with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) have been controversial. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-centre study on 542 kidney transplant recipients over the period 1984-2001. Long-term outcome and factors affecting recurrence in recipients with primary IgAN were analysed. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients (13.8%) had biopsy-proven IgAN as the cause of renal failure, and their mean duration of follow-up after transplantation was 100 +/- 5.8 months. Fourteen (18.7%) of the 75 patients had biopsy-proven recurrent IgAN, diagnosed at 67.7 +/- 11 months after transplantation. The risk of recurrence was not associated with HLA DR4 or B35. Graft failure occurred in five (35.7%) of the 14 patients: three due to IgAN and two due to chronic rejection. Three (4.9%) of the 61 patients without recurrent IgAN had graft failure, all due to chronic rejection. Graft survival was similar between living-related and cadaveric/living-unrelated patients (12-year graft survival, 88 and 72%, respectively, P = 0.616). Renal allograft survival within the first 12 years was better in patients with primary IgAN compared with those with other primary diseases (80 vs 51%, P = 0.001). Thereafter, IgAN patients showed an inferior graft survival (74 vs 97% in non-IgAN patients, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that around one-fifth of patients with primary IgAN developed recurrence by 5 years after transplantation. Recurrent IgA nephropathy in allografts runs an indolent course with favourable outcome in the first 12 years. However, the contribution of recurrent disease to graft loss becomes more significant on long-term follow up.     

Higher HOMA-IR index and correlated factors of insulin resistance in patients with IgA nephropathy

Objective: To investigate the index of homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients, and to explore the possible correlated factors contributing to insulin resistance (IR) within these patients. Material: There were 255 IgAN patients and 45 membranous nephropathy (MN) patients in our database. We identified 89 IgAN subjects and 21 MN subjects without diabetes and undergoing glucocorticoid therapy for at least 6 months. Methods: Data regarding physical examination, blood chemistry and renal pathology were collected from 89 IgAN subjects and 21 MN subjects. Then 62 IgAN patients and 19 MN patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 1 - 2 were selected for the comparison of HOMA-IR index, 89 IgAN patients were selected for multiple regression analysis to test for correlated factors of HOMA-IR index with IgAN patients. Results: Comparison between IgAN and MN show that HOMA-IR index was significantly higher in IgAN patients with CKD Stage 1 - 2. After logarithmic transformation with urine protein (UPr), Ln(UPr) (b = 0.186, p = 0.008), eGFR (b = -0.005, p = 0.014), > 50% of glomeruli with mesangial hypercellularity (b = 0.285, p = 0.027) and body mass index (BMI) (b = 0.039, p = 0.008) were correlated factors of HOMA-IR index in the multiple regression analysis. Conclusion: IgAN patients had higher HOMA-IR index compared with MN in the stages of CKD 1 - 2. For IgAN patients, more UPr, lower eGFR, > 50% of glomeruli with mesangial hypercellularity and higher BMI were correlated with IR.     

Analysis of 4931 renal biopsy data in central China from 1994 to 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the changing spectrum and clinicopathologic correlation of biopsy-proven renal diseases in central China. We retrospectively analyzed data of 4931 patients who underwent renal biopsy in ten hospitals between September 1994 and December 2014. Among them, 81.55% were primary glomerular diseases (GD), and 13.02% were secondary GD. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) was the most common primary GD (43.45%), followed by focal glomerulonephritis (16.79%), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN, 14.35%), and membranous nephropathy (MN, 13.28%). IgAN was leading primary GD in patients under 60 years old, while MN was the leading one over 60 years old. The most frequent secondary GD was lupus nephritis (LN) (47.35%). The prevalence of IgAN, MN and minimal change disease was found to increase significantly (p?<?0.001, p?<?0.001, and p?<?0.01, respectively), while that of MsPGN, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and LN decreased significantly (p?<?0.001, p?<?0.001, and p?<?0.05, respectively). The main indication for renal biopsy was proteinuria and hematuria (49.03%), followed by nephrotic syndrome (NS, 20.36%). IgAN was the most common cause in patients with proteinuria and hematuria, chronic-progressive kidney injury, hematuria and acute kidney injury; and MN was the leading cause of NS. Primary GD remained the predominant renal disease in central China. IgAN and LN were the most prevalent histopathologic lesions of primary and secondary GD, respectively. The spectrum of biopsy-proven renal disease had a great change in the past two decades. Proteinuria and hematuria was the main indication for renal biopsy.     

Influence of clinical and histological features on actuarial renal survival in adult patients with idiopathic IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis: survey of the recent literature.

The most recent studies, using the actuarial life-table technique, of the problem of long-term renal outcome and the factors that influence it in adult patients with one of the three most common types of chronic idiopathic immune complexes-mediated glomerulonephritis (IgA nephropathy [IgAN], membranous nephropathy [MN], and type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis [MPGN]) are reviewed. In the last decade, renal survival 10 years after onset has become similar to adult patients with idiopathic IgAN (80% to 87%) and idiopathic MN (75% to 83%), because of improvement of the renal survival of patients with MN. Renal survival at 10 years is worse for adult patients with idiopathic type I MPGN (60% to 64%). There is no substantial difference in the average renal survival times between different geographical regions, with the exception of a better prognosis for idiopathic MN in Japan. The presenting clinical factors that most strongly predict subsequent poor outcome are similar for the three types of glomerulonephritis and are rather nonspecific: (1) severe proteinuria, (2) impairment of renal function, and (3) arterial hypertension. As for the histological features, the most powerful predictor of subsequent progression in all three types of glomerulonephritis is tubulointerstitial damage, suggesting that a cell-mediated immune process believed to occur there may independently influence outcome in glomerular diseases.     

特发性与继发性膜性肾病的临床与病理分析

目的了解肾小球膜性病变的病因及临床、病理特点。方法分析统计我院肾脏病研究所经肾活检确诊的肾小球膜性病变189例。结果①特发性膜性肾病占28．57％，继发性膜性肾病占71．43%；②特发性膜性肾病平均年龄（46．24±15．31）岁，男女比例1.46：1。临床主要表现为蛋白尿、肾病综合征、高血压。肾病综合征的发生率为45．51％；③继发性膜性肾病最常见的病因依次为系统性红斑狼疮（70．37%）、乙型肝炎（28．89％）、银屑病（0．74％）。结论我院。肾小球膜性病变以继发性膜性肾病为主；特发性膜性肾病以男性、中年多见，大多为。肾病综合征；继发性膜性肾病最常见病因为系统性红斑狼疮、乙型肝炎和银屑病，病理分期主要为Ⅰ～Ⅱ级，病理表现中系膜细胞和基质增生在特发性膜性肾病和乙型肝炎病毒相关性肾炎、狼疮性肾炎之间差异显著。     

不同性别原发性IgA肾病随增龄的临床病理特点

目的：了解不同性别原发性IgA肾病（IgAN）患者随增龄的临床病理特点。方法：回顾性分析我科2003年1月～2006年12月经肾活栓确诊的757例原发性IgAN患者的临床病理资料，根据年龄分成四组：A组（青年组，≤24岁，n=172例）、B组（中青年组，25岁～39岁，n=318）、C组（中年组，40岁～54岁，n=189）及D组（中老年组，≥55岁，n=78），分别比较不同性别组随增龄及同一年龄段男性与女性的临床病理特点。结果：A、B、C组男性多于女性，而D组女性多于男性。男、女性原发性IgAN中肾功能中度受损（eGFR〈60 ml／min）、高血压、高甘油三酯血症的比例均与年龄有关（P〈0．05）。A组最低，男性中B、C、D组均显著高于A组（P〈0．007），而女性中仅D组显著高于A组（P〈0．007），B、C组与A组无差异。另外，B、C组中男性肾功能中度受损、高血压及高甘油三酯血症的比例均显著高于女性（P〈0．05），而A、D组均无此趋势。B、C组男性的肾小管间质病变、肾内血管病变及血管壁透明样变性程度均重于同年龄段的女性（P〈0．05），而A、D组均无此趋势。女性患者肾功能中度受损的独立相关因素有年龄、高尿酸血症、肾小管间质损害、蛋白尿〉1g／d、肾内动脉病变5个参数。男性的独立相关因素为年龄、高尿酸血症、肾小管间质损害、全球硬化这4个参数。结论：中青年及中年女性IgAN患者的临床表现、慢性化病理改变显著轻于同年龄段男性，而55岁以上及24岁以下女性多个临床病理预后指标与同年龄段男性基本一致。     

Therapeutic approach of patients with IgA nephropathy

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most commonly encountered primary glomerulonephritis and it usually follows an indolent clinical course. However, hypertensive patients with proteinuria and renal insufficiency at presentation and patients with severe histological involvement are at high risk to develop end stage renal failure. There is no consensus for the treatment of patients with IgA nephropathy. In general, patients with normal renal function, mild proteinuria (3 g/24 h) and in progressive disease despite treatment with ACE inhibitors. Fish oil might be an alternative to corticosteroids in cases with renal insufficiency and chronic histological lesions. Combinations of corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs are saved for patients with IgA nephropathy and a rapidly progressive course.     

Recurrent IgA nephropathy after renal transplantation despite immunosuppressive regimens with mycophenolate mofetil.

BACKGROUND: Transplantation offers an excellent option for patients with immunoglobulin-A nephropathy (IgAN) with severe renal dysfunction. However, IgAN frequently recurs in allografts treated with azathioprine. We examined the impact of mycophenolate mofetil immunosuppression on recurrence of IgAN. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of patients transplanted for IgAN at our institution in the cyclosporin era. Patients were excluded from further analysis if follow-up was <12 months or if immunosuppression at engraftment did not include azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. Laboratory data, medications and allograft biopsy findings were compiled. RESULTS: 152 kidney transplantations met the study criteria. At engraftment, 61 allografts were treated with azathioprine and 91 with mycophenolate mofetil. By 3 years post-transplant, IgAN developed in six of 60 (10.0%) azathioprine-treated allografts and five of 62 (8.1%) mycophenolate mofetil-treated allografts (P = 0.76). Overall, 13 azathioprine-treated and seven mycophenolate mofetil-treated allografts showed recurrence. As expected in this retrospective study, the duration of observation was longer in the azathioprine group. The interval between engraftment and diagnosis of recurrent disease was also longer. Survival of allografts with recurrent IgAN was similar in the two groups. Survival of allografts with recurrent IgAN was worse than for allografts without recurrence or allografts transplanted into patients with non-IgAN renal failure. Neither switching azathioprine to mycophenolate mofetil nor using an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin-II type 1 receptor blocker ameliorated the clinical course after a biopsy documented recurrent IgAN. CONCLUSIONS: Mycophenolate mofetil, compared with azathioprine, did not lessen the recurrence of IgAN or its clinical impact.     

Pathological patterns of primary nephrotic syndrome in Central China: a retrospective study of 627 cases

Background: The pathological patterns underlying PNS in adult are poorly studied in Central China. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the clinical and pathologic data involving 627 adult patients with PNS who have been finished the renal biopsies from January 2009 to September 2012 in XiangYa 2nd Hospital of Central South University. Patients enrolled in our study were all from Central China. Results: There were 379 males and 248 females, formed the ratio of 1.53:1. There existed three main sorts of pathological patterns underlying PNS: membranous nephropathy (MN) 26.63%, minimal change disease (MCD) 23.60%, IgA nephropathy (IgAN) 23.39%. Among all biopsies, the proportion of FSGS underlying PNS increased from 5.8% during the period from 2009 to 2010 to 14.7% during the period from 2011 to 2012. The most common complication of PNS was infectious diseases, and MCD underlying PNS ran a higher risk of encountering acute renal injury. IgAN had the highest incidence of hematuresis. The common pathological patterns of PNS differed in age-brackets: IgAN and MCD were the main pathological lesions in patients aged from 16 to 30?years; MN mostly occurs in patients over 30. MCD was the dominating pathological lesions underlying IgAN which expressed as PNS. Conclusions: (1) MN was the most frequent pathological pattern underlying PNS, the proportion of FSGS underlying PNS increased during the last 2?years. (2) The common pathological patterns of PNS differed in age-brackets and pathological patterns correlated to the complications or comorbidities of PNS to some extent.     

IgA serology in recurrent and non-recurrent IgA nephropathy after renal transplantation

BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether abnormal circulation of macromolecularIgA and IgA with altered glycosylation or electrical chargeplays a role in the recurrence of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) aftertransplantation. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 92 renal transplant patients were enrolled; 52 IgANpatients and 40 with other non-IgAN. The IgAN group included10 patients showing IgA mesangial deposits in the grafted kidneys(recurrent group) and 10 who did not (immunohistochemicallyproven non-recurrent group). In addition another 22 IgAN transplantpatients were clinically free of recurrent disease. METHODS: The analyses included macromolecular IgA (IgAIC) detected bythe conglutinin assay (K), heavy IgA precipitated in 2.5% polyethyleneglycol (PEG), IgA-fibronectin aggregates (IgA/F Aggr), mixedIgA/IgGIC, IgA binding to mesangial matrix components (fibronectin,laminin, type IV collagen) or polycations (poly-L-lysine) andIgA with altered glycosylation (Jacalin-binding assay). RESULTS: After transplantation, IgAN patients displayed significantlyhigher mean levels for each variable measured than non-IgAN(ANOVA, P <0.05). By stepwise regression analysis, the bindingof IgA to fibronectin had the highest coefficient. By comparingdata in recurrent and clinically non-recurrent IgAN, we observedthat two groups could be distinguished by the results of thetwo assays for macromolecular IgA (conglutinin IgAIC and IgA-fibronectinaggregates) and IgA with increased affinity for type IV collagen(P <0.05). When the selected group of immunohistochemicallyproven non-recurrent IgAN was compared to the recurrent one,a statistically significant difference was found only for thebinding of IgA to type IV collagen (P<0.05). Data from thistest were significantly related with proteinuria (P<0.05)and microscopic haematuria (P <0.04). CONCLUSION: Even though the IgA serology of renal transplant IgAN patientsshows peculiar features and recurrent and non-recurrent IgANdiffer in many aspects, the prevalence of positive data in thetwo groups had no predictive value. This suggests that the recurrenceof IgAN is modulated by factors affecting the interaction betweencirculating abnormal IgA and mesangial cells and/or matrix.     

Related factors of hyperuricemia in IgA nephropathy patients

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of hyperuricemia in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Methods A retrospective study was performed in patients with renal biopsy diagnosed as IgAN in the Department of Nephrology, Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2016 to October 2018. According to the blood uric acid level, they were divided into two groups: patients with hyperuricemia and patients without hyperuricemia. The general clinical indicators and renal pathological data were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of hyperuricemia in IgAN patients. Results A total of 125 IgAN patients with age of (35.70±11.16) years old were enrolled, including 63 males and 62 females. The morbidity of hyperuricemia was 44.0%(55/125). Compared with the normal blood uric acid group, the blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and the proportion of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3-5, small arterial wall thickening, fibrous crescents/globules, renal interstitial fibrosis, renal tubular atrophy, glomerular sclerosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in the hyperuric acid group were higher, while the level of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was lower. And the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the level of serum creatinine was an independent related factor of hyperuricemia in IgAN patients (OR=1.034, 95%CI 1.005-1.064, P=0.021). Conclusions IgAN patients with hyperuricemia presented more severe glomerular, tubular and interstitial lesions, and the level of serum creatinine is an independent related factor of hyperuricemia in IgAN patients. High uric acid level may have an important influence on the progression of IgAN, so good control of serum uric acid may improve the prognosis of patients with IgAN.