IgA vasculitis nephritis clinical course and kidney biopsy : national study in children

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of typical clinical symptoms, severity of histopathological lesions in kidney biopsies in IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN) and to propose indications for kidney biopsy in children. Material and methods This retrospective study enrolled 106 patients, included in the IgAVN registry of Polish children, diagnosed by kidney biopsy. Renal and extrarenal symptoms at onset of the disease were analyzed. Biopsy results were assessed using Oxford classifications (MEST-C). The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the severity of proteinuria: A-nephrotic proteinuria with hematuria; B-non-nephrotic proteinuria with hematuria; C-isolated hematuria. Results The first symptoms of nephropathy were observed at the 0.7 (1–128.4) months from the onset of extrarenal symptoms. Kidney biopsy was performed on 39 (6–782) days after the onset of nephropathy symptoms. MEST-C score 4 or 5 was significantly more frequent in children from group A than in groups B and C. Significantly higher mean MEST-C score was found in patients with abdominal symptoms than without. In group A: S0 and T0 we found in significantly shorter time to kidney biopsy than in S1, T1–2 p < 0.05) and in group B the significantly shorter time in T0 compare to T1–2 p < 0.05). The ROC analysis shows that S1 changes appear in kidney biopsies in group A with cut off 21 days (AUC 0,702, p = 0.004, sensitivity 0.895 specificity 0.444) T1–2 changes after 35 days (AUC 0.685, p = 0.022, sensitivity 0.750, specificity 0.615), and in goupn B T1–2 cut off is 74 days (AUC 0,738, p = 0.002, sensitivity 0.667, specificity 0.833). Conclusions In childhood IgAVN, the severity of changes in the urine is clearly reflected in the result of a kidney biopsy. The biopsy should be performed in patients with nephrotic proteinuria no later than 3 weeks after the onset of this symptom in order to promptly apply appropriate treatment and prevent disease progression. Accompanying abdominal symptoms predispose to higher MESTC score

The role of complement component C3 activation in the clinical presentation and prognosis of IgA nephropathy - a national study in children

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the intensity of mesangial C3 deposits in kidney biopsy and the serum C3 level on the clinical course and outcomes of IgAN in children. The study included 148 children from the Polish Pediatric IgAN Registry, diagnosed based on kidney biopsy. Proteinuria, creatinine, IgA, C3 were evaluated twice in the study group, at baseline and the end of follow-up. Kidney biopsy was categorized using the Oxford classification, with a calculation of the MEST-C score. The intensity of IgA and C3 deposits were rated from 0 to +4 in immunofluorescence microscopy. The intensity of mesangial C3 > +1 deposits in kidney biopsy has an effect on renal survival with normal GFR in children with IgAN. A reduced serum C3 level has not been a prognostic factor in children but perhaps this finding should be confirmed in a larger group of children