The Role of Immunofluorescence in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Glomerulopathies With Extracapillary Proliferation

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the immune complex expression detected by immunofluorescence in order to establish the diagnosis and predict the course of glomerulopathies with extracapillary proliferation. Material and methods. A total of 165 kidney biopsies with extracapillary proliferation were analyzed by light and luminescent microscopy. Results. The immunofluorescence expression and its prognostic significance in glomerulopathies were described in the study. IgG deposits in IgA nephropathy increased the risk of impaired renal function by 2.68 times (95% CI 1.13-6.33). In pauci-immune glomerulonephritis, IgGs were associated with a higher segmental glomerulosclerosis percentage (p=0.020), the absence of IgM increased the risk of progression by 3.15 times (95% CI 1.43-6.94). IgM was more often detected in IgA nephropathy than in IgA vasculitis (p=0.049). Conclusion. Kidney biopsy assessment using immunofluorescence is important for the diagnosis and prognosis of glomerulopathies with extracapillary proliferation.