Objective To investigate immunological changes in the serum of elderly patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS).Methods We made a retrospective analysis of clinically relevant immunological parameters and pathological data of PNS patients 60 years old and above (elderly group)in our hospital for kidney biopsy between September 2010 and November 2013.The data of similar patients but younger than 60 years old (control group)were collected for comparison.Results ① The average levels of IgG in serum of the two groups were both lower than the normal level.And the patients with a decreased level accounted for 59.3% in the elderly group and 78.2% in the control group.The results exhibited a significant difference (P <0.05).The elderly group had higher proportions of IgA level in the serum and IgA and IgG/IgM ratio than the control group.The level of IgM in the aged patients,however,was significantly lower than that in the control group (P <0.05 ).The mean concentrations of C3 and C4 in the serum were both in the normal range,and no significant difference was observed (P >0.05).③ IgG had a negative correlation with urinary protein and cholesterol in serum (the values of r were-0.107,-0.238,respectively,P <0.05).However,there was a positive correlation between IgG and albumin (r=0.252,P <0.05).The results in both groups were consistent.④ Membranous nephropathy was the most common pathological type in aged patients while in control group IgA nephropathy was the most common.Conclusion ① The level of IgG in the serum decreases in most aged patients with PNC.The serum IgA and IgG/IgM ratio are elevated while concentrations of C3 and C4 change little.②The change of IgG is correlated with urinary protein, serum albumin and cholesterol in aged patients with PNS.

Objective To understand the clinical and pathological characteristics of idiopathic membranous nephropathy,and to investigate their relationships in the elderly patients.Methods The clinical and pathological data of idiopathic membranous nephropathy diagnosed by renal biopsy in the recently 10 years in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed and compared.Results Sex composition variable was not significant between elderly and non-elderly groups,with male accounting for 57.4％ and 59.2％ respectively (P＞0.05).The ratio of idiopathic membranous nephropathy in primary glomerular disease was higher in the elderly than in non-elderly group (42.8％ vs.17.4％,x2 =119.058,P＜0.01).The course of the disease,the occurrence of edema,hypertension,levels of blood urea nitrogen,serum creatinine,blood IgG,IgA and IgG/IgM ratio were higher,while glomerular filtration rate and blood IgM level were lower in elderly group than in non-elderly group (all P＜0.05).The risk for membranous nephropathy was higher in elderly than in non-elderly group (Z=-5.853,P＜0.01).Nephrotic syndrome was common in the clinical diagnosis in the two groups,but it was more common in elderly group than in non-elderly group (x2 =6.825,P=0.033).Membranous nephropathy stage Ⅱ was common in the two groups,and there were no significant differences in the pathological stages,clinical manifestations and their relationships between the two groups (all P＞0.05).Conclusions The risk for idiopathic membranous nephropathy is higher in elderly group than in non-elderly group.Edema,hypertension and renal dysfunction occur more commonly in elderly patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy.