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Caster DJ, Abner CW, Walker PD, Wang K, Heo J, Rava AR, Bunke M. Clinicopathological Characteristics of Adult IgA Nephropathy in the United States. Kidney Int Rep 2023; 8:1792-1800. [PMID: 37705898 PMCID: PMC10496075 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2023.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a progressive autoimmune kidney disease and a leading cause of glomerular disease that can result in kidney failure (KF). The median age at diagnosis is 35 to 37 years and approximately 50% of patients will progress to KF within 20 years. We aimed to enhance the understanding of renal histology and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage at the time of IgAN diagnosis using a large real-world biopsy cohort. Methods This retrospective cohort study evaluated biopsy data and clinical characteristics from adult patients within the US who were diagnosed with IgAN between January 1, 2016 to May 31, 2020. Descriptive statistics were summarized and relationship(s) between each Oxford Classification (MEST-C) component score with 24-hour proteinuria or CKD stage were examined using regression analysis. Results A total of 4375 patients (mean age 47.7 years, 62.7% male) met eligibility criteria. Mild to moderate mesangial hypercellularity (47.3%), segmental sclerosis (65.0%), tubular atrophy ≥25% (57.4%), and crescents (18.5%) were identified; and 74.6% of patients were at CKD stage ≥3. Proteinuria ≥1 g/d was associated with higher MEST-C scores, and the odds of mesangial hypercellularity, segmental sclerosis, tubular atrophy, and crescents increased with CKD stage. Conclusion Most patients with IgAN in our US cohort were diagnosed at CKD stage ≥3 and had high MEST-C scores and proteinuria that are suggestive of significant disease burden at the time of kidney biopsy. Strategies are required to raise awareness and promote earlier detection of asymptomatic urinary abnormalities before extensive irreversible kidney damage has occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kaijun Wang
- Travere Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | | | - Martin Bunke
- Travere Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
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Testa F, Fontana F, Pollastri F, Chester J, Leonelli M, Giaroni F, Gualtieri F, Bolelli F, Mancini E, Nordio M, Sacco P, Ligabue G, Giovanella S, Ferri M, Alfano G, Gesualdo L, Cimino S, Donati G, Grana C, Magistroni R. Automated Prediction of Kidney Failure in IgA Nephropathy with Deep Learning from Biopsy Images. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 17:1316-1324. [PMID: 35882505 PMCID: PMC9625090 DOI: 10.2215/cjn.01760222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Digital pathology and artificial intelligence offer new opportunities for automatic histologic scoring. We applied a deep learning approach to IgA nephropathy biopsy images to develop an automatic histologic prognostic score, assessed against ground truth (kidney failure) among patients with IgA nephropathy who were treated over 39 years. We assessed noninferiority in comparison with the histologic component of currently validated predictive tools. We correlated additional histologic features with our deep learning predictive score to identify potential additional predictive features. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Training for deep learning was performed with randomly selected, digitalized, cortical Periodic acid-Schiff-stained sections images (363 kidney biopsy specimens) to develop our deep learning predictive score. We estimated noninferiority using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in a randomly selected group (95 biopsy specimens) against the gold standard Oxford classification (MEST-C) scores used by the International IgA Nephropathy Prediction Tool and the clinical decision supporting system for estimating the risk of kidney failure in IgA nephropathy. We assessed additional potential predictive histologic features against a subset (20 kidney biopsy specimens) with the strongest and weakest deep learning predictive scores. RESULTS We enrolled 442 patients; the 10-year kidney survival was 78%, and the study median follow-up was 6.7 years. Manual MEST-C showed no prognostic relationship for the endocapillary parameter only. The deep learning predictive score was not inferior to MEST-C applied using the International IgA Nephropathy Prediction Tool and the clinical decision supporting system (AUC of 0.84 versus 0.77 and 0.74, respectively) and confirmed a good correlation with the tubolointerstitial score (r=0.41, P<0.01). We observed no correlations between the deep learning prognostic score and the mesangial, endocapillary, segmental sclerosis, and crescent parameters. Additional potential predictive histopathologic features incorporated by the deep learning predictive score included (1) inflammation within areas of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy and (2) hyaline casts. CONCLUSIONS The deep learning approach was noninferior to manual histopathologic reporting and considered prognostic features not currently included in MEST-C assessment. PODCAST This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2022_07_26_CJN01760222.mp3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Testa
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Federico Pollastri
- Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari," University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna Chester
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dental Medicine and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marco Leonelli
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Giaroni
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Gualtieri
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dental Medicine and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Federico Bolelli
- Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari," University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Elena Mancini
- U.O. Nefrologia, Dialisi, Ipertensione, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maurizio Nordio
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Unità Locale Socio Sanitaria 15 (ULSS 15), Camposampiero-Cittadella, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Sacco
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Azienda Sanitaria Locale 3 (ASL 3), Genoa, Italy
| | - Giulia Ligabue
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dental Medicine and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Silvia Giovanella
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dental Medicine and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Ferri
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dental Medicine and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Gaetano Alfano
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Loreto Gesualdo
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Simonetta Cimino
- Nephrology and Dialysis, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Gabriele Donati
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dental Medicine and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Costantino Grana
- Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari," University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Riccardo Magistroni
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dental Medicine and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Martín-Penagos L, Fernández-Fresnedo G, Benito-Hernández A, Mazón J, de Cos M, Oviedo MV, San Segundo D, López-Hoyos M, Gómez-Román J, Ruiz JC, Rodrigo E. Measurement of galactosyl-deficient IgA1 by the monoclonal antibody KM55 contributes to predicting patients with IgA nephropathy with high risk of long-term progression. Nefrologia 2021; 41:311-320. [PMID: 36166247 DOI: 10.1016/j.nefroe.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE About 25% of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) progress to stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) after years of evolution. Various tools have been developed in recent years designed to predict which of the patients will had poorer outcomes. The value of circulating galactosyl-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) has been related to a worse evolution of IgAN in several studies. There are also some publications that relate higher APRIL values with a worse evolution. Recently, a new method has been developed that allows measuring the value of circulating Gd-IgA1 in a simpler way than those previously available. The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of circulating Gd-IgA1, measured by this method, on the progression of IgAN. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-nine patients with a diagnosis of IgAN demonstrated by renal biopsy were selected in our center, without having received prior immunosuppressive treatment, for whom frozen serum was available. The median follow-up was 4 years. Gd-IgA1 was measured by lectin-independent ELISA with the monoclonal antibody KM55 (IgA1 kit Cat. No. 30111694. IBL Int., Hamburg, Germany). Likewise, APRIL levels were also measured in these patients. RESULTS 19 (38.8%) patients reached stage 5 CKD. The fourth quartile of circulating Gd-IgA1 was related to a higher cumulative risk of reaching stage 5 CKD in the Kaplan-Meier analysis (risk at the 5th year 39.4% vs. 24.3%, log rank p=0.019). The Gd-IgA1 value was related to an increased risk of CKD stage 5 (HR 1.147, 95% CI 1.035-1.270, p=0.009), regardless of glomerular filtration rate, proteinuria, the percentage of sclerosed glomeruli and the value of segmental sclerosis. We did not find significant differences in the APRIL values. CONCLUSIONS The value of circulating Gd-IgA1 measured by the monoclonal antibody KM55 is related to a worse evolution of patients with IgAN independently of other variables, so it could be included in the study of patients to improve the prediction of the risk of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Martín-Penagos
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain.
| | - Gema Fernández-Fresnedo
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain
| | - Adalberto Benito-Hernández
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain
| | - Jaime Mazón
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain
| | - Marina de Cos
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain
| | | | - David San Segundo
- Servicio de inmunología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla de SANTANDER, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain
| | - Marcos López-Hoyos
- Servicio de inmunología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla de SANTANDER, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain
| | - Javier Gómez-Román
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Ruiz
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain
| | - Emilio Rodrigo
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, Spain
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Martín-Penagos L, Fernández-Fresnedo G, Benito-Hernández A, Mazón J, de Cos M, Oviedo MV, San Segundo D, López-Hoyos M, Gómez-Román J, Ruiz JC, Rodrigo E. [Measurement of galactosyl-deficient IgA1 by the monoclonal antibody KM55 contributes to predicting patients with IgA nephropathy with high risk of long-term progression]. Nefrologia 2021; 41:311-320. [PMID: 33741175 DOI: 10.1016/j.nefro.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE About 25% of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) progress to stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) after years of evolution. Various tools have been developed in recent years designed to predict which of the patients will had poorer outcomes. The value of circulating galactosyl-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) has been related to a worse evolution of IgAN in several studies. There are also some publications that relate higher APRIL values with a worse evolution. Recently, a new method has been developed that allows measuring the value of circulating Gd-IgA1 in a simpler way than those previously available. The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of circulating Gd-IgA1, measured by this method, on the progression of IgAN. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-nine patients with a diagnosis of IgAN demonstrated by renal biopsy were selected in our center, without having received prior immunosuppressive treatment, for whom frozen serum was available. The median follow-up was 4 years. Gd-IgA1 was measured by lectin-independent ELISA with the monoclonal antibody KM55 (IgA1 kit Cat. No. 30111694. IBL Int., Hamburg, Germany). Likewise, APRIL levels were also measured in these patients. RESULTS 19 (38.8%) patients reached stage 5 CKD. The fourth quartile of circulating Gd-IgA1 was related to a higher cumulative risk of reaching stage 5 CKD in the Kaplan-Meier analysis (risk at the 5th year 39.4% vs. 24.3%, log rank p=0.019). The Gd-IgA1 value was related to an increased risk of CKD stage 5 (HR 1.147, 95% CI 1.035-1.270, p=0.009), regardless of glomerular filtration rate, proteinuria, the percentage of sclerosed glomeruli and the value of segmental sclerosis. We did not find significant differences in the APRIL values. CONCLUSIONS The value of circulating Gd-IgA1 measured by the monoclonal antibody KM55 is related to a worse evolution of patients with IgAN independently of other variables, so it could be included in the study of patients to improve the prediction of the risk of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Martín-Penagos
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España.
| | - Gema Fernández-Fresnedo
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España
| | - Adalberto Benito-Hernández
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España
| | - Jaime Mazón
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España
| | - Marina de Cos
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España
| | | | - David San Segundo
- Servicio de inmunología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla de SANTANDER. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España
| | - Marcos López-Hoyos
- Servicio de inmunología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla de SANTANDER. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España
| | - Javier Gómez-Román
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España
| | - Juan Carlos Ruiz
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España
| | - Emilio Rodrigo
- Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. IDIVAL-REDINREN, Santander, España
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Yun D, Kim DK, Oh KH, Joo KW, Moon KC, Kim YS, Lee K, Han SS. MEST-C pathological score and long-term outcomes of child and adult patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis. BMC Nephrol 2020; 21:33. [PMID: 32000703 PMCID: PMC6993338 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-020-1691-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN), a small-vessel vasculitis, shares renal pathological features with immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Oxford classification of immunoglobulin A nephropathy pathology has been updated to the MEST-C score, but its application in HSPN remains unresolved. METHODS Two hundred and thirteen patients with biopsy-proven HSPN were retrieved from the Seoul National University Hospital between 2000 and 2017. Renal outcome risks (i.e., end-stage renal disease or doubling of serum creatinine) were evaluated according to MEST-C scores after stratification by age: 113 children aged < 18 years (9.2 ± 3.6 years) and 100 adults aged ≥18 years (38.6 ± 18.3 years). We pooled our data with four previous cohort studies in which MEST or MEST-C scores were described in detail. RESULTS Twenty-one child (19%) and 16 adult (16%) patients reached the renal outcome during the median follow-up periods of 12 years and 13 years, respectively (maximum 19 years). In children, M1 and T1/T2 scores revealed worse renal outcomes than did M0 and T0 scores, respectively, whereas the T score was the only factor related to worse outcomes in adult patients after adjusting for multiple clinical and laboratory variables. The pooled data showed that M1, S1, and T1/T2 in children and E1 and T1/T2 in adults were correlated with poorer renal outcomes than those of their counterpart scores. CONCLUSIONS The Oxford classification MEST-C scores can predict long-term renal outcomes in patients with HSPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghwan Yun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Ki Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Kook-Hwan Oh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Kwon Wook Joo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Kyung Chul Moon
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Yon Su Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyoungbun Lee
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.
| | - Seung Seok Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.
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Schimpf JI, Klein T, Fitzner C, Eitner F, Porubsky S, Hilgers RD, Floege J, Groene HJ, Rauen T. Renal outcomes of STOP-IgAN trial patients in relation to baseline histology ( MEST-C scores). BMC Nephrol 2018; 19:328. [PMID: 30453889 PMCID: PMC6245781 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-018-1128-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) defines histologic criteria (MEST-C) that provide prognostic information based on the kidney biopsy. There are few data on the predictive impact of this classification in randomized clinical trial settings. Methods We performed an exploratory analysis of MEST-C scores in 70 available renal biopsies from 162 randomized STOP-IgAN trial participants and correlated the results with clinical outcomes. Analyses were performed by researchers blinded to the clinical outcome of the patients. Biopsies had been obtained 6.5 to 95 (median 9.4) months prior to randomization. Results Mesangial hypercellularity (M1) associated with higher annual eGFR-loss during the 3-year trial (M1: − 5.06 ± 5.17 ml/min/1.73 m2, M0: − 0.79 ± 4.50 ml/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.002). An M0-score additionally showed a weak association with full clinical remission, whereas the percentage of patients losing ≥15 ml/min/1.73 m2 over the 3-year trial phase was higher among those scored as M1. Among patients with additional immunosuppression, ESRD occurred more frequently in patients when tubulointerstitial fibrosis (T1/2) was present (T1/2 = 33%, T0 = 0%, p = 0.008). In patients receiving supportive care only, ESRD frequencies were similar (T1/2 = 18%, T0 = 7%, p = 0.603). At randomization, eGFR was significantly lower when tubulointerstitial fibrosis was present (T1/2: 45.2 ± 15.7 ml/min/1.73 m2, T0: 74.6 ± 28.2 ml/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.0001). Endocapillary hypercellularity (E), and glomerular segmental sclerosis (S) were not associated with any clinical outcome parameter. In the analyzed cohort, patients with glomerular crescents (C1/2 scores) in their biopsies were more likely to develop ESRD during the 3-year trial phase, but this trend was only significant in patients under supportive care. Conclusions This secondary analysis of STOP-IgAN biopsies indicates that M1, T1/2 and C1/2 scores associate with worse renal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Isabel Schimpf
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Till Klein
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Intensive Care, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christina Fitzner
- Department of Medical Statistics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Porubsky
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Floege
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Hermann-Josef Groene
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Rauen
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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