OBJECTIVETo validate the value of the Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy in predicting the renal outcome in Chinese population.

METHODSRetrospective study was done in patients with IgA nephropathy. All slides were re-assessed according to the Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy. The primary end point is doubling serum creatinine, or a 50% reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), or end-stage renal disease. Pathologic predictors for the progression to the end point were determined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression.

RESULTSTotally 533 patients were enrolled in the study. During the follow-up (median: 39 months; range: 12-263 months), 5.07% of the patients reached the end point. While tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis and arterial/ arteriolar lesion were associated with the endpoint in univariate analysis, only the T score was predictive of the renal outcome in multivariate Cox regression. Combination of the patho- logic lesions had no impact on renal outcome.

CONCLUSIONAccording to the Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy, the degree of tubulointerstitial fibrosis is the only feature independently predictive of renal outcome.