Primary glomerular diseases in the elderly

Primary glomerular diseases in the elderly population are a frustrating topic due to difficulties in both the diagnosis and decision making about treatment. The most frequent type of primary glomerular disease in elderly is membranous nephropathy; while its counterpart in younger population is Ig A nephropathy. The most frequent cause of nephrotic syndrome in the elderly is also membranous nephropathy. Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis(GN) rate increases both in elderly and very elderly population. Pauci-immune crescentic GNs should be regarded as urgencies in elderly patients as in their younger counterparts due to potential for causing end-stage renal disease in case of delayed diagnosis and treatment, and also causing mortality due to alveolar hemorrhage in patients with pulmonary involvement. Renal biopsy is the inevitable diagnostic method in the elderly as in all other age groups. Renal biopsy prevents unnecessary treatments and provides prognostic data. So advanced age should not be the sole contraindication for renal biopsy. The course of primary glomerular diseases may differ in the elderly population. Acute kidney injury is more frequent in the course and renal functions may be worse at presentation. These patients are more prone to be hypertensive. The decision about adding immune suppressive therapies to conservative methods should be made considering many factors like co-morbidities, drug side effects and potential drug interactions, risk of infection, patient preference, life expectancy and renal functions at the time of diagnosis.

Spectrum of Primary Glomerular Diseases in Patients Presenting with Urinary Abnormalities

Introduction: Primary Glomerular Diseases are a spectrum of renal disorders of unknown aetiology with distinct characteristics, specific natural history and prognosis. A thorough evaluation is prerequisite to establish the diagnosis since many systemic diseases and secondary aetiology masquerade as primary diseases. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care centre and included 30 patients, with clinical features suggestive of primary glomerular diseases, of which 23 patients (76.6%) were males and 07 patients (23.33%) were females. The mean age at presentation was 37.23 ± 12.89 years. Among the observed spectrum of Primary Glomerular Diseases, IgA Nephropathy (IgA N) was seen in 26.67% patients, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 20% patients and Membranous Glomerulopathy (MGN) in 13.33% patients, whereas the incidence of other abnormalities had less percentage contribution. Proteinuria was the commonest presentation seen in 60% patients, followed by Microscopic Haematuria in 20%. Mean Serum Creatinine was 0.99 ± 0.16 mg/dl. Mean Serum Albumin was 2.51 ± 0.76 gm/dl. Overall Nephrotic range proteinuria was observed in 15 (50%) patients. Results: IgA N, FSGS & MGN were the commonest observed Primary Glomerular Diseases. Proteinuria, Haematuria, Anasarca and Pedal Oedema were the commonest observed clinical presentations. Conclusions: In this studied series IgA Nephropathy, FSGS and MGN were the most prevelant diagnoses in the patients presenting with Urinary Abnormality. Nephrotic range Protenuria was the major indication for biopsy, there is a temporal variation in glomerulopathies wherein there is increase in incidence of IgA Nephropathy and decrease in incidence of FSGS.

A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN URINARY ALBUMIN EXCRETION QUANTITY AND SERUM CHOLESTEROL IN PRIMARY GLOMERULAR DISEASE

A study was made to analyse.the relationship between serum total cholesterol(STC) and the other three parameters,urinary albumin excretion quantity(UAEQ), serum β2-microglobulin(Sβ2-MG), serum albumin(SA)in a group of 38 patients with primary glomerular disease. The patients were classified into two groups according to proteinuria and serum albumin:Nephr it is group: proteinuria<3.5 g/d,serum albumin>30 g/L;Nephrosis group:proteinuria≥3.5 g/d,serum albumin≤30g/L. STC showed higher correlation with UAEQ(P< 0. 05￣0. 01),but did not have any significant correlation with Sβ2-MG berore and after the treatment or the two groups.STC had negative correlation with SA berore the treat ment of nephrosis group(P<0.01),but STC had no significant correlation with SA in nephritis group and after the treatment of nephrosis group. These data suggest that the decrease of SA is not the sole cause of hypercholestcrolemia. The presence of an association between STC and UAEQ indicates that the kidneys play a certain role in cholesterol metabolism.

Study on the Relationship between Blood Stasis Syndrome and Clinical Pathology in 227 Patients with Primary Glomerular Disease

To investigate the relationship between the severity of Chinese medicine(CM) bloodstasis syndrome(BSS) with clinical features and renal lesion indexes of the primary glomerular disease. Methods:An epidemiological survey was conducted to collect the data of 227 patients diagnosed as chronic primary glomerular diseases,and their severity of BSS were scored three days before renal biopsies were performed.The following clinical indexes were analyzed:age,course of glomerular diseases,24-h urine protein ration(Up...

IgA nephropathy treatment with traditional Chinese medicine:A case report

BACKGROUND IgA nephropathy(IgAN)is a common primary glomerular disease that leads to end-stage renal disease with poor therapy efficacy.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is effective in the treatment of IgAN and has the potential to become an alternative treatment for IgAN.Professor Yan-Qin Zou is a nephropathy expert,a National Chinese Medicine Master,and an heir to the Menghe School of Medicine.CASE SUMMARY A 28-year-old man had positive urinary protein and elevated serum creatinine(Scr)results and was diagnosed with IgAN 2-3 years prior to the outpatient department visit at our hospital in 2017.Professor Zou used the following methods to treat the patient:Invigorating the spleen and tonifying the kidney,removing dampness and clearing turbidity,quickening the blood and transforming stasis,and freeing vessels and regulating collaterals.She adjusted the prescription in accordance with the patient’s symptoms.After 6 mo of treatment,the symptoms had resolved and serological indexes were also decreased[Scr from 288.5 to 188.6μmol/L,blood urea nitrogen(BUN)from 10.9 to 9.5 mmol/L,serum uric acid(UA)from 612 to 503μmol/L].During follow-up,BUN,Scr,and UA levels remained stable.CONCLUSION Professor Zou’s therapeutic strategy to treat IgAN using TCM was efficacious and a good reference for application.