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Updated: May 22, 2026
Assessment of Kidney Function in Mouse Models of Glomerular Disease
Published on: June 30, 2018
Paraffin-based immunohistochemistry in the evaluation of glomerular diseases in renal biopsies
Muhammad Usman Rathore1, Muhammad Tahir Khadim, Sajid Mushtaq
1Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta. usmanrathore78@gmail.com
Objective:
To determine sensitivity and specificity of paraffin-based immunohistochemistry in the evaluation of glomerular diseases in renal biopsies using immunofluorescence as gold standard.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional analytical study.
Place And Duration Of Study:
Department of Histopathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from August 2008 to August 2009.
Methodology:
Seventy renal biopsy specimens fulfilling the inclusion criteria for light microscopy and immunofluorescence during the study period were evaluated. Antibodies to immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM) and components of complement system (C3) were applied on 70 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded renal biopsy specimens previously classified by means of light microscopy and immunofluorescence (IF). Staining for these antibodies was recorded as positive and negative for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and IF in paired proportions presuming IF as gold standard test. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predicitive value and negative predicitive value of individual antibody were calculated.
Results:
Of 70 patients, mean age was 33 ± 18 years ranging from 2 to 80 years. Forty five (64%) were males and 25 (36%) were females. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of individual antibodies to IgG, IgA, IgM and C3 were very low and generally in the range of 40 - 60%.
Conclusion:
The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded renal biopsy specimens were very low and therefore, not suitable for evaluation of renal biopsies in current circumstances.
