Browsing by Author "Vujic, Danica (55406378700)"

Introduction. Renal biopsy represents a diagnostic method that provides an acurrate diagnosis and adequate treatment of different renal diseases. The first biopsy in our Center was done in June 1982, but it has been performing routinely since 1984. The aim of this study was to report the histopathological features of biopsy proven kidney disease during the past 30 years. Methods. During 30 years, a total of 563 biopsies were performed, of which 530(94%) were succesfull. Data about gender, age, clinical syndrome and histopatological finding were collected from the medical records. Results. The mean age of our patients was 48±11 years, 53% were man (No=272). In the first decade (1982-1994) we performed 118(mean age 50±13), in the second (1995-2004) 208 (mean age 46±14), and in the third decade (2005-2014) 189 renal biopsies (mean age 50±16). Mean number of glomeruli per biopsy was 18±11. There were only two serious complications. The most common clinical syndromes as indication for renal biopsy were: nephrotic proteinuria (41%) followed by asymptomatic urinary abnormalities (AUA-14.8%), chronic renal failure (CRF-13.8%), acute kidney injury (AKI-12.8%), nephritic syndrome (7.6%), systemic lupus erytematosus (SLE-4.5%), isolated haematuria (2.7% of the cases) and other (2.9%). The major histological groups identified were: primary glomerulonephritis (GN) (62.3%), secondary GN (21.2%), and other (16.5% of the cases). The most common primary glomerulonephritis (PGN) were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis-FSGS (19.4%) followed by IgA nephropathy-IgAN (18.8%), membranous GNMGN (16.4%) and mesangial proliferation-MesGN (16%). Interstitial changes were present in 55% of biopsy samples in the first, in 66% in the second and in 63% in the third decade. Blood vessel changes were present in 39% of biopsy samples in the first, in 62% in the second and in 72% in the third decade. Conclusions. The most frequent finding among PGN was mesangioproliferative GN (including IgAN, alltogether 34.8%) followed by FSGS and MGN. Apart from succesful biopsies, there are several aspects to be improved in the future including expanding indications and earlier procedure during the course of chronic kidney disease-CKD.

[No abstract available]

Background/Aims: Glucocorticoids and classic immunosuppressive drugs can improve disease activity in primary glomerulonephritis (GN). However, these drugs have serious toxicity and patients frequently experience inadequate response or relapse, so there is a need for alternative agents. This multicenter uncontrolled study analyzed the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in high-risk patients with primary GN. Methods: A total of 51 patients with biopsy-proven membranous (n = 12), membranoproliferative (n = 15), mesangioproliferative (n = 10), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n = 13) and minimal change disease (n = 1) received MMF with low-dose corticosteroids for 1 year. The primary outcome included the number of patients with complete/partial remission. Results: Proteinuria significantly decreased, from its median value of 4.9 g/day (IQR 2.9-8.4) to 1.28 g/day (IQR 0.5-2.9), p < 0.001. The urine protein/creatinine ratio significantly improved, from a median of 3.72 (IQR 2.13-6.48) to 0.84 (IQR 0.42-2.01), p < 0.001. The mean area under the curve for proteinuria significantly decreased, from 4.99 ± 3.46 to 2.16 ± 2.46, between the first (visits 1-2) and last (vists 4-5) treatment periods (p < 0.001). The change was similar for every type of GN, without difference between groups. eGFR slightly increased (62.1 ± 31.8 to 65.3 ± 31.8 ml/min, p = n.s.) and ESR, total proteins, albumins, total- and HDL-cholesterol parameters improved significantly. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure decreased (p < 0.02 for systolic blood pressure). The age of patients was the only independent predictor of complete or partial remission. Conclusion: MMF proved to be efficient in 70% of high-risk patients with primary GN, who reached either complete or partial remission without safety concern after 12 months of treatment. Favorable effects of MMF therapy have to be confirmed in the long term and particularly after discontinuation of the drug. © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.