Although confusions persist in what concerns the terminologies used for de-

The prognostic utility of histologic features in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) classified according to the Renal Pathology Society (RPS) classification is controversial. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between histologic changes and renal outcome in DN patients. We examined the renal outcome at November 30, 2017 of 74 adult patients (median age of 54.6 years, 69% male, 81% diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2, estimated GFR (eGFR) 29.6 mL/min) with biopsy proven DN between 2010 and 2015. The primary endpoint was renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation. Half of the patients progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD) during follow-up; they had lower eGFR, increased proteinuria, hematuria and serum cholesterol. Regarding the pathologic features, they were more frequently in class III and IV, had higher interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy score (IFTA), increased interstitial inflammation, more frequent arteriolar hyalinosis and higher glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickness. The mean kidney survival time was 2.7 (95%CI 2.1, 3.3) years. In univariate time-dependent analyses, higher RPS DN class, increased IFTA, the presence of arteriolar hyalinosis and arteriosclerosis were associated with RRT initiation. In the fully adjusted model, the clinical characteristics associated with poor renal survival were longer duration of DM, lower eGFR, increased proteinuria and higher hematuria and the only pathologic lesions to remain significant were the GBM thickness and the IFTA. In conclusion, in this European cohort, the severity of glomerular lesions evaluated with the RPS DN classification had limited utility in predicting RRT initiation. However, IFTA and GBM thickness were significantly associated with renal survival.

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Background The value of anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (anti-PLA2R ab) monitoring at 3 months after diagnosis in membranous nephropathy (MN) remains uncertain. Methods We retrospectively examined the outcome on 1 August 2020 of 59 adult patients (age 54 (44, 68) years, 69% male, SCr 1.0 (0.9, 1.3) mg/dL) diagnosed with MN (kidney biopsy, positive serum anti-PLA2R ab). The outcomes were: kidney survival; partial and/or complete remission. Results Most of the studied patients (97%) received immunosuppression, cyclophosphamide regimens were the most frequent (87%), followed by cyclosporine (10%). The median time to remission was 12.0 months and the cumulative remission rates were 34% at 6, 54% at 12, and 73% at 24 months. Forty (69%) patients had negative anti-PLA2R ab at 3 months, they had similar age, serum creatinine, albumin, proteinuria, and treatment with the group with positive ab at 3 months. In the Cox proportional hazard model, three months anti-PLA2R ab negativization (HR 0.4 (95%CI 0.1, 0.9)) was an independent predictor for remission, while baseline hypoalbuminemia (HR 3.0 (95%CI 1.5, 5.7)) was associated with absence of remission. Six (10%) patients died, mostly due to cardiovascular disease and infections. A total of five (9%) patients started dialysis. Mean kidney survival time was 50.3 months and there was no survival difference in relation to baseline anti-PLA2R ab titer ( p .09) or 3 months negativization ( p .8). Conclusions Three months anti-PLA2R ab negativization seems to be a late predictor of remission, and lower serum albumin at diagnosis is an early marker for remission absence. Abbreviations: anti-P LA2R ab, anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; ESKD, end stage kidney disease; MN, membranous nephropathy; NELL-1, neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein; RAAS: renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system; RBC: red blood cells; RRT, renal replacement therapy; T HSD7A, thrombospondin type-1 domain containing 7A

The aim of this study was to assess the association between pancreatic and thyroid autoimmunity (TA) and determine impact of thyroid antibodies on statural growth. Seventy-two children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (TIDM) and no clinical evidence of thyroid disorders were evaluated: glycated haemoglobin (A1c), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA), tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA2A), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The score of standard deviation for height (SDS) was calculated. There were 72 patients, 38 (52.7%) boys and 34 (47.2%) girls, with a mean age of 10.89 +/- 4.26 years and a mean duration of T1DM of 3.41 +/- 2.56 years. TPOAb were present in 23.6% of patients; 12.5% of subjects were positive for GADA and 41.6% for IA2A. Patients with TA had more prevalent GADA and IA2A (23.5% vs. 9%, p < 0.001, and 58.8% vs. 36.3%, p < 0.001, respectively). A1c was higher in patients with TA (9.7% +/- 2.05% vs. 8.6% +/- 2.11%, p = 0.05). TA was associated with lower SDS (0.26 vs. 0.98, p = 0.043). TSH was higher in patients with TA (3.39 vs. 2.15 microU/mL, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that a negative SDS for height was independently associated with duration of diabetes (p = 0.049) and TSH (p = 0.027) but not with birth weight, A1c, and TPOAb. In conclusion, TA was found in 23.6% TIDM children. Patients with TA had significantly higher prevalence of GADA and IA2A and significantly higher A1c vs. patients without TA. Our data suggest significant association between TA and height in children with T1DM. SDS was independently associated with diabetes duration and TSH.