ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the pattern of disease in adults with primary glomerular diseases (PGD) in the Shandong Province of China, to identify the clinical and renal pathology and to assess the relationship between these two factors.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of renal biopsies performed during the period January 2008 to June 2013. All biopsy specimens were evaluated according to the clinical data available and standard histological methods; the results were analysed according to age and clinical findings.

Results: A total of 3722 renal biopsies from adults with PGD were analysed. Nephrotic syndrome and nephritic syndrome were the two most common indications for biopsy among all PGD cases. The most common form of primary glomerulonephritis was due to immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (37.72%), followed by membranous glomerulonephritis (27.57%), minimal change disease (16.42%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [FSGS] (8.79%) and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis [Non IgA] (5.05%). The most common cause of nephrotic syndrome was membranous nephropathy (44.00%). Immunoglobulin A nephropathy was the leading cause of nephritic syndrome, asymptomatic urinary abnormalities and chronic renal failure. Crescentic glomerulonephritis was the pathological type associated with an older age group, whereas minimal change disease was the pathological type associated with a younger age group. Over the six years analysed, membranous glomerulonephritis showed a significant per cent increase, minimal change disease did not significantly vary and FSGS decreased slightly.

Conclusions: Nephrotic syndrome was the most common indications for biopsy among all PGD cases. The most common form of primary glomerulonephritis was due to IgA nephropathy. Minimal change disease was the pathological type associated with a younger age group. Membranous nephropathy showed a significant per cent increase during the six years.