A Clinical and Pathological Analysis of Children with Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis According to the Clinical Manifestations at Presentation

Jeon, Chang Ho; Kang, Mi Seon; Chung, Woo Yeong

Abstract

PURPOSE: Membranoproliferative glomeulonephritis(MPGN) has been diagnosed in an increasing number of asymptomatic cases. These cases have been detected by school urinary screening test even though the total cases of MPGN show a decreasing trend. We have analyzed the clinical and pathological characteristics of children with MPGN according to the clinical manifestations at the time of disease presentation.
METHODS
A total of 18 patients who had been diagnosed with idiopathic MPGN by percutaneous renal biopsy from January 1990 to February 2004 were involved in our study. The patients were divided into 2 groups as the school urinary screening(A) group and the symptomatic(S) group according to the clinical manifestations at the time of disease presentation.
RESULTS
Out of the total 18 patients, 8(44.4%) were in the S group and 10(55.6%) were in the A group. The mean serum total protein, albumin and C3 levels in the S group were significantly lower than those levels of the A group, respectively(4.9+/-1.2 g/dL vs 7.0+/-0.5 g/dL P=0.002, 2.8+/-0.9 g/dL vs. 4.1+/-0.3 g/dL P=0.002, 63.9+/-36.4 mg/dl vs. 100.8+/-39.5 g/dl P=0.041). The mean total protein amount of 24 hour collected urine in the S group were significantly higher than that of the A group(3684.0+/-2601.3 mg/m2 vs. 559.4+/-406.9 mg/m2, respectively, P=0.001). Hypocomplementemia was observed in 11(61.1%) out of 18 patients at the time of disease onset, 7(87.5%) in the S group and 4(40%) in the A group. However the hypocomplementemia was decreased in 6(33.3%) out of 18 patients at the time of final follow-up, 3(37.5%) in the S group and 3(30%) in the A group. According to the pathologic type, hypocomplementemia was observed 8 patients(61.5%) with type I disease, 1 patients (100%) with type II disease, 2 patients(50%) in type III disease at the disease onset, but 4 patients(30.8%) in type I disease, 1 patient(100%) in type II disease, 1 patient(33.3%) with type III disease at the time of last follow-up. The incidence of cellular crescent formation and tubular atropy, as observed on light microscopy, were higher in the S group compared to the A group. Mean grade of capillary wall thickening and, mesangial proliferation were significantly higher in the S group.
CONCLUSION
MPGN, as diagnosed in patients with only asymptomatic urinary abnormalities, has been increasing, it is more frequent in asymptomatic patients than in patients with presenting symptoms. Our result suggests that MPGN should be considered in the renal biopsy diagnosis regardless of serum C3 level when urinary abnormalities are found by school urinary screening test.