Glomerulosclerosis predicts poor renal outcome in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy

This study aimed to investigate the association between the proportion of glomerulosclerosis (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and/or global glomerulosclerosis) and renal prognosis in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN).

A retrospective analysis performed from January 2008 to December 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University by renal biopsy confirmed 200 patients with IMN, and their clinical pathology and prognosis were compared. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of glomerular sclerosis proportion tertiles: low (Tertile1 group, proportion of glomerulosclerosis, 0-0%), middle (Tertile2 group, proportion of glomerulosclerosis, 0-5.5%) and high (Tertile3 group, proportion of glomerulosclerosis, 5.8-72.7%) tertiles. The follow-up endpoints were decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by 20%, end-stage renal disease, and all-cause mortality.

(1) Both, the Tertile1 and Tertile2, groups had significantly lower albumin level and higher 24-h urine protein level than that in the Tertile3 group. Regarding treatment, as the proportion of glomerulosclerosis increases, a more aggressive treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants should be provided. (2) Correlation analysis showed that the proportion of glomerulosclerosis was positively associated with age (P < 0.05). However, it was negatively associated with eGFR (P < 0.05). (3) Renal tubular atrophy and renal interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration were considered independent correlative factors for glomerulosclerosis. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that renal survival rate was significantly lower in patients with a proportion of glomerulosclerosis ≥ 6.45% than in patients with a proportion of glomerulosclerosis < 6.45%. Cox regression analysis revealed that as the proportion of glomerulosclerosis increases, the risk of renal outcomes increases gradually.

Patients in the Tertile3 (higher proportion of glomerulosclerosis) group had more severe renal pathological damage compared to patients in the Tertile1 and Tertile2 groups. Glomerulosclerosis is a risk factor for renal function progression and poor renal prognosis in patients with IMN. As the proportion of glomerulosclerosis increases, the risk of renal endpoint events increases gradually.