Introduction:
The distribution and incidence of glomerular diseases are influenced by various factors, including ethnicity, genetic predispositions, environmental conditions, and socioeconomic status. These factors contribute to the varying prevalence of glomerular diseases within regions of the same country. This study was conducted to assess the clinical and histopathological patterns of glomerular diseases at a tertiary care center in North India, providing insights into regional trends and comparisons with other North Indian centers.
Methods:
This retrospective study analyzed data from 373 kidney biopsies performed between 2022 and 2024 at the Department of Nephrology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. Histopathological evaluation included light microscopy and immunofluorescence studies. Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, biopsy indications, and histopathological findings.
Results:
Among the 373 biopsy-proven cases, nephrotic syndrome was the most common indication for biopsy, observed in 70.5% of patients (263/373), followed by nephritic syndrome and SLE with kidney dysfunction. The most prevalent histopathological diagnosis was Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), accounting for 23.3% of cases (87/373). Minimal Change Disease (MCD) was diagnosed in 15.3% of cases (57/373), IgA Nephropathy in 14.2% (53/373), Post-Infectious Glomerulonephritis (PIGN) in 12.9% (48/373), Membranous Glomerulonephritis (MGN) in 12.1% (45/373), Lupus Nephritis in 11.8% (44/373), Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 7.0% (26/373), and C3 Glomerulonephritis in 3.5% (13/373). Clinically, 70.5% of patients (263/373) presented with pedal swelling, and 5.1% (19/373) had gross hematuria at presentation. Laboratory analysis showed that 29.8% of patients (111/373) presented with nephrotic-range proteinuria and raised serum creatinine levels, while 28.9% (108/373) had raised creatinine with sub-nephrotic proteinuria.
Conclusions:
This study provides a comprehensive overview of the histopathological spectrum of glomerular diseases in a North Indian tertiary care center, highlighting the regional prevalence and patterns. FSGS was identified as the most common glomerular disease, followed by MCD and IgA Nephropathy. The high prevalence of FSGS aligns with patterns observed in other North Indian centers, underscoring the importance of region-specific data to inform clinical management.
I have no potential conflict of interest to disclose.
I did not use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.