透射电镜检查在冷球蛋白血症肾损害诊断中的作用

目的 探讨透射电镜检查在冷球蛋白血症肾损害诊断中的作用。方法 我院近6年来接受的肾活检病例中,透射电镜观察发现肾组织内有类似冷球蛋白沉积形成的特殊有形结构的病例共16例,对其临床、病理特征及超微结构改变进行分析。结果 4例血冷球蛋白检测阳性,诊断为冷球蛋白血症肾损害;其余12例未进行血冷球蛋白的检测,诊断为可疑的冷球蛋白血症肾损害。临床上表现为蛋白尿及镜下血尿,部分病例有肾病综合征、高血压及轻至中度肾功能不全。病理改变以膜增生性肾小球肾炎为主要病理类型,伴有毛细血管内细胞增生及单核细胞浸润,可见肾小球内皮细胞下及毛细血管腔内的嗜复红蛋白沉积形成白金耳或微血栓样结构。透射电镜检查可见肾小球内皮细胞下及毛细血管腔内的沉积物形成特殊的有形结构,表现为微管状、纤维样、晶格样或颗粒样等结构。大部分病例是通过电镜检查首先观察到肾组织内的特殊结构后才提示冷球蛋白血症肾损害的存在。结论 透射电镜检查发现肾组织内特殊结构的沉积物是诊断冷球蛋白血症肾损害的重要依据。

Role of transmission electron microscopy in diagnosis of cryoglobulinemia related glomerulonephritis

Objective To investigate the role of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on the diagnosis of cryoglobulinemia related glomerulonephritis. Methods Sixteen cases which showed glomerular organized deposits by TEM in the renal biopsy specimens were collected in our hospital during last six years. Their clinical data, renal pathological features and ultrastructural morphology were analysed. Results Four cases had positive serum cryoglobulin were diagnosed as cryoglobulinemia related glomerulonephritis. Serum cryoglobulin was not available in the other 12 cases, who were suspected as cryoglobulinemia related glomerulonephritis. All patients had proteinuria with microscopic hematuria,and some cases had nephrotic syndrome, hypertension and mild to moderate renal insufficency. The main pathological pattern was membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.Endocapillary proliferation with an infiltration of monocytes was observed in these cases. Glomerular subendothelial deposits and intraluminal thrombi was their prominent features. Organized electron-dense deposits were identified by TEM, whose deposits organized into microtubular, fibrillary, crystalline-like and granular structures, and were demonstrated mainly in glomerular subendothelia and capillary lumen. Most of cases were considered as cryoglobulinemia related glomerulonephritis by the ultrastructural findings of glomerular organized deposits. Conclusion Glomerular organized deposits identified by TEM provide important diagnostic implications for cryoglobulinemia related glomerulonephritis.