Published in:
01-02-2013 | Original Article
Positive C1q staining associated with poor renal outcome in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
Published in: Clinical and Experimental Nephrology | Issue 1/2013
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Background
Pathogenesis and clinical prognosis of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) has not yet been established.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study of 41 patients with MPGN (type I and III) and examined the renal survival. In addition, factors contributing to survival time were analyzed.
Results
Fourteen patients (34 %) were classified into the renal death group. Patients with nephrotic syndrome and positive C1q staining of glomerular deposits showed a particularly poor prognosis. Significantly higher frequency of nephrotic syndrome and higher urinary protein excretion were observed in the renal death group (p = 0.0002, p = 0.0002) than in the renal survival group. The intensity of C1q staining was positively correlated with the severity of the proteinuria (p = 0.004). Factors that influenced the survival time were positive C1q staining of glomerular deposits (p = 0.003), presence of nephrotic syndrome (p = 0.004), serum albumin (p = 0.02), and proteinuria (p = 0.04).
Conclusions
C1q staining in glomerular deposits and nephrotic syndrome were important factors influencing the prognosis and outcome in MPGN patients. C1q deposition may play a key role in the pathogenesis of MPGN, as evidenced by numerous observations, such as induction of proteinuria.