Correlation Analysis between Intrarenal Small Artery Intimal Thickening and Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis in Primary Membranous Nephropathy Patients

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is the most common pathological type of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Intrarenal small artery intimal thickening can be observed in most renal biopsies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between intrarenal small artery intimal thickening and clinicopathological features and prognosis in PMN patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data were continuously collected from patients who were diagnosed with PMN in Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University) from 2008 to 2021 for a retrospective cohort study. Regression analysis and survival analysis were used to analyze the relationship between intrarenal small artery intimal thickening and renal prognosis in PMN patients. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 300 PMN patients were enrolled in this study, including 165 patients (55%) with intrarenal small artery intimal thickening. Patients with intimal thickening were older, with higher BMI, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, serum uric acid, a higher proportion of hypertension, acute kidney injury, nephrotic syndrome, more urine protein, and lower eGFR. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, BMI, urine protein, eGFR, and the use of ACEI/ARB and hormone immunosuppressants, intimal thickening was a risk factor for renal prognosis in PMN patients (HR = 3.68, 95% CI 1.36–9.96, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the incidence of reaching the renal composite outcome was higher in the intimal thickening group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The prognosis of PMN patients with intrarenal small artery intimal thickening is worse, so early intervention is very important for these patients.