Objective:To investigate the potential of the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) renal risk score (ARRS) in predicting the prognosis of children with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis (AAGN).Methods:Laboratory testing, renal pathology results, treatment and prognosis of 61 children with AAGN diagnosed by renal biopsy from June 2007 to May 2022 in General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command were retrospectively analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the overall and renal survival of children with AAGN, and risk factors of progression to end stage renal disease (ESRD) were analyzed by Cox regression analysis. Results:Among the 61 children with AAGN, there were 14 males and 47 females with the age of (15.65±3.74) years.According to ARRS, AAGN children were assigned into low-risk group (27 cases), medium-risk group (21 cases) and high-risk group (13 cases). During a median follow-up duration of 46.36 (14.58, 95.62) months, the number of ESRD cases in the high-risk group (9 cases) was significantly higher than that of low-risk group (2 cases) and medium-risk group (3 cases) ( χ2=13.079, P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that AAGN children in the high-risk group had the worst renal prognosis ( χ2=5.796, P=0.016), while no significant difference was detected in the overall survival among the 3 groups ( χ2=2.883, P=0.237). Multivariate Cox regression showed that estimate glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)≤15 mL/(min·1.73 m 2) ( HR=9.574, 95% CI: 4.205-25.187, P=0.015) and ARRS ( HR=2.115, 95% CI: 1.206-4.174, P=0.012) were independent risk factors for children with AAGN progress to ESRD.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve of ARRS for predicting the risk of progressing to ESRD in AAGN children was 0.880 (95% CI: 0.759-1.000), and the optimal cutoff value of ARRS was 5.50, with the sensitivity and specificity of 85.71% and 82.98%, respectively. Conclusions:ARRS was an independent risk factor for children with AAGN progress to ESRD, which had a predictive value for the progression of AAGN to ESRD.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with nutcracker syndrome (NCS).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed in patients with suspected NCS(155 cases) diagnosed in the Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command from January 2017 to July 2020.Suspected NCS was diagnosed primarily based on clinical signs or symptoms, laboratory testing, and imaging reports, and other conditions that may cause hematuria and/or proteinuria were excluded.MRI examination was performed in all patients.According to the diagnostic criteria of NCS, patients diagnosed as NCS with the compression of the left renal vein (LRV) were included in the NCS group(58 cases), and those without the compression of the LRV or with the compression of the LRV but was not consistent with the diagnosis of NCS were included in the control group(97 cases). t test, Mann- Whitney U test and χ2 test were used to compare the baseline characteristics, clinical characteristics and imaging characteristics of the children in the nutcracker group and the control group.Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to explore the diagnostic potential of MRI in children with NCS. Results:(1)The area under curve of the angle between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the aorta, compression ratio (CR) and beak sign in diagnosing NCS in children were 0.870, 0.895 and 0.878, respectively.(2)The optimal cut-off values of the angle between the SMA and the aorta and CR were 36.8° and 3.99, respectively.(3)The specificity of the angle between the SMA and the aorta<36.8°, beak sign, CR>3.99, the angle between the SMA and the aorta combined with beak sign, the angle between the SMA and the aorta<36.8° combined with CR>3.99, and beak sign combined with CR>3.99 in diagnosing NCS in children were 82.5%, 93.8%, 93.5%, 97.9%, 95.9% and 97.9%, respectively.Conclusions:Children with the angle between the SMA and the aorta<36.8°, beak sign and CR>3.99 suggested on MRI scans should be highly suspected of NCS.The beak sign has the highest specificity in the diagnosis of NCS in children, and the combination of any two parameters has a higher specificity than a single parameter.

The paper reports two cases of lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) in children. The Sanger sequencing results in 2 cases indicated apolipoprotein E gene mutation[c.127 (exon3) C>T, p.R43C (p.Arg43Cys); c.494 (exon4) G>C, p.R165P (p.Arg165Pro),respectively]. Renal pathological presentation of two children showed that a large number of lipoprotein emboli were formed in the glomerular capillary loop, and the diagnosis of LPG was confirmed. The onset of LPG has no specific clinical manifestation, which is easy to be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Renal biopsy is a diagnostic means, glucocorticoid treatment is ineffective, and long-term lipid-lowering treatment may be required for LPG.

Objective:To analyze the long-term prognosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and the risk factors related to renal prognosis in children with IgAN-FSGS.Methods:A retrospective study was concluded in IgAN-FSGS children who were followed up for more than 5 years and diagnosed by renal biopsy for the first time in the Eastern Theater General Hospital from January, 2004 to December, 2018. The end-point events of the study were entering end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decreased by ≥50% from baseline, which were defined as poor renal prognosis. Baseline clinicopathologic data of IgAN-FSGS children were compared between the end-point event group and the non-end-point event group. The cumulative renal survival rate of IgAN-FSGS children was calculated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The influencing factors of poor renal prognosis in IgAN-FSGS children were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model, and the diagnostic value was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) and area under the curve (AUC). The diagnostic value was verified by time dependent-ROC and time dependent-AUC.Results:A total of 204 IgAN-FSGS children were enrolled in this study, of whom 132 cases were males (64.7%). The median age of renal biopsy was 16 (14, 17) years old. During a median follow-up time of 90.7 (71.7, 114.8) months, 57 cases (27.9%) reached the end-point events. Compared with the non-end-point event group ( n=147), the end-point event group ( n=57) had higher proportions of males and hypertension, higher levels of 24-hour urinary protein, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, urinary N-acetyl-β- D-glucosaminidase, urinary retinol binding protein, higher proportions of glomerular segmental sclerosis (S1) ≥25% and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T1/T2), and lower levels of serum albumin, serum IgA, and serum IgG (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in treatment (all P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that with entry of ESKD or eGFR decreased by ≥50% from baseline as the end-point events, the 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year cumulative renal survival rates in IgAN-FSGS children were 88.7%, 67.6%, and 50.7%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that proteinuria >1 g/24 h ( HR=3.702, 95% CI 1.657-8.272, P=0.001), hyperuricemia ( HR=3.066, 95% CI 1.793-5.245, P<0.001), S1≥25% ( HR=2.017, 95% CI 1.050-3.874, P=0.035), T1/T2 ( HR=1.863, 95% CI 1.021-3.158, P=0.016) were the independent related factors for poor renal prognosis. ROC curve analysis showed that S1≥25% ( AUC=0.605, P=0.021, sensitivity 26.3%, specificity 94.6%), T1/T2 ( AUC=0.624, P=0.006, sensitivity 43.9%, specificity 81.0%), hyperuricemia ( AUC=0.658, P<0.001, sensitivity 52.6%, specificity 78.9%), proteinuria>1 g/24 h ( AUC=0.670, P<0.001, sensitivity 87.7%, specificity 46.3%) could accurately predict the renal outcome of IgAN-FSGS. Time dependent-ROC curve validation showed that the combined diagnosis of S1≥25%, T1/T2, hyperuricemia and proteinuria>1 g/24 h had a good predictive value for renal prognosis (3-year AUC=0.846 and 5-year AUC=0.777, respectively). Conclusions:During a median follow-up of 90.7 months, 27.9% of IgAN-FSGS children have poor renal prognosis, and the 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year cumulative renal survival rates are 88.7%, 67.6%, and 50.7%, respectively. Urinary protein >1 g/24 h, hyperuricemia, T1/T2, and S1 ≥25% are the risk factors for renal prognosis in IgAN-FSGS children.

Relapsing is the clinical characteristic of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in children, and some steroid-sensitive NS (SSNS) children have frequently relapsing NS and steroid-dependent NS. The long-term and frequent uses of glucocorticoids, as well as the adverse effects of immunosuppressants, seriously affect the quality of life in children with NS. The International Pediatric Nephrology Association released the clinical practice recommendation for SSNS in children in 2022. Based on the guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of steroid-sensitive, frequently- relapsing/dependent NS in children (2016) formulated by the Nephrology Group of Pediatrics Society of Chinese Medical Association, we interpreted the guideline on clinical treatment and management suggestions of SSNS, to provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of SSNS in children.

Objective:To analyze the clinical and prognosis of primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) in children with positive glomerular M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R).Methods:A total of 69 children diagnosed with PMN by renal biopsy admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Eastern Theater Command General Hospital from January 2006 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 40 males and 29 females, with an average age of 14.86 years.According to the immunofluorescence of renal pathology, they were divided into PLA2R positive group and PLA2R negative group.Pathological features between 2 groups were compared by the t test, Mann- Whitney U test and Chi- square test.Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the long-term renal survival rate and cumulative remission rate between 2 groups. Results:A total of 69 pediatric PMN patients were included.The po-sitive rates of serum anti-PLA2R antibody and positive expression of PLA2R in renal tissues were 53.6% (37 cases) and 82.6% (57 cases), respectively.The proportion of children with clinical manifestations of large proteinuria [55 cases(96.5% ) vs.9 cases(75.0%), P=0.034] was significantly higher in the PLA2R positive group than that of the PLA2R negative group.Blood urea nitrogen level was significantly higher in the PLA2R positive group than that of PLA2R negative group[1.14(0.93, 1.54) mg/L vs.0.80 (0.44, 1.18) mg/L, P=0.049], while estimate glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) [162.26 (139.81, 185.53) mL/(min·1.73 m 2) vs.199.52 (157.58, 212.01) mL/(min·1.73 m 2), P=0.034] and serum IgG [3.58 (2.50, 5.43) g/L vs.5.14 (4.35, 6.03) g/L, P=0.016] were significantly lower.The cumulative remission rate was significantly higher in the PLA2R negative group than that of PLA2R positive group ( P<0.001). The 24 h urinary protein ≥50 mg/kg ( HR=0.119, 95% CI: 0.021-0.595, P=0.010)was an independent risk factor for renal prognosis, and PLA2R( HR=0.263, 95% CI: 0.125-0.551, P<0.001) and 24 h urinary protein ≥50 mg/kg ( HR=0.568, 95% CI: 0.125-0.551, P=0.041)were independent predictors of urinary protein remission.PLA2R ( HR=1.020, 95% CI: 0.698-1.682, P=0.656)was not associated with renal prognosis. Conclusions:The severity of PMN in children with positive PLA2R was higher than that in those with negative PLA2R.The long-term cumulative remission rate of PLA2R negative children with PMN was higher than that of PLA2R positive children.

Objective:To analyze the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of children with Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura nephritis (HSPN).Methods:The clinicopathological data of children with HSPN who were followed up for more than 5 years and underwent renal biopsy in Jinling Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University from January 2001 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The follow-up endpoint event was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<90 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1. Participants were divided into two groups according to whether the children had reached the primary endpoint event or not. Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the influencing factors of renal poor prognosis in children with HSPN. Kaplan-Meier survival curve method was used for survival analysis, and log-rank test was used to compare the difference of renal cumulative survival rate between segmental sclerosis/adhesion (S1) group and non-segmental sclerosis/adhesion (S0) group. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) and area under the curve ( AUC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic value. Results:A total of 130 children with HSPN were enrolled in the study. The median onset age was 11.7(8.6, 13.3) years old, of whom 71 cases were males (54.6%). At a median follow-up time of 100.0(75.8, 119.0) months, 12 cases (9.23%) with HSPN reached the primary endpoint event. Compared with the non-endpoint event group, the endpoint event group had higher proportion of hypertension, higher levels of 24-hour urinary protein, serum cholesterol, serum uric acid, and serum creatinine, and lower levels of serum albumin (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in treatment between the two groups (all P>0.05). In terms of pathological features, compared with the non-endpoint event group, the endpoint event group had higher proportion of mesangial hyperplasia (M1), S1, tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T1/T2) and Glomerulus-Bowman's capsule adhesion (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression model showed that S1 was significantly correlated with renal poor prognosis ( HR=7.739, 95% CI 1.422-42.114, P=0.018). As was revealed in a Kaplan-Meier plot, renal cumulative survival rate in the S1 group was significantly lower than that in the S0 group (log-rank χ2=17.069, P<0.001). The ROC curve showed S1 accurately predicted the outcome ( AUC=0.710, 95% CI 0.549-0.872) with specificity of 0.667(95% CI 0.349-0.901) and specificity of 0.754(95% CI 0.667-0.829). Conclusions:S1 is an independent risk factor affecting renal poor prognosis and has a diagnostic value.

Objective:To analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics in children diagnosed with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) after repeated renal biopsy.Methods:The clinicopathological data of children who ever experienced renal biopsy in Jinling Hospital from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical manifestations, pathological characteristics and treatment responses were analyzed.Results:Of the 34 enrolled patients, there were 22 males and 12 females. The median age of the first renal biopsy was 14 years old (1-18 years old), and the median interval between repeat renal biopsy and first renal biopsy was 6 months (1-151 months). Thirty-one showed nephrotic syndrome, of which 22 had microscopic hematuria, and 4 had elevated serum creatinine. Among the other 3 patients, 2 had hematuria and proteinuria, and 1 had proteinuria. In the first renal biopsy, 16 cases were diagnosed as minimal change disease, 14 cases were diagnosed as mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, 2 cases were diagnosed as IgA nephropathy, and 2 cases were diagnosed as IgM nephropathy. All 34 children showed poor responses to hormone and immunosuppressive therapies. The pathological features of the first renal biopsy in some patients were adhesion (2/34), decreased loop podocyte attachment (2/34), peripheral loop extension to the urinary pole (2/34), renal tubular reflux (4/34), capillary thrombosis (2/34) and IgM deposition (12/34).Conclusions:The initial diagnosis of FSGS is difficult, and the lesions are atypical and easily misdiagnosed. The patients have poor responses to hormone and immunosuppressive therapies. For patients with the pathological changes of adhesion, decreased loop podocyte attachment, peripheral loop extension to the urinary pole, renal tubular reflux, capillary thrombosis and IgM deposition, follow-up is required, and if necessary, repeat renal biopsy needs be performed to determine whether it is FSGS.

The formation of crescent is a typical pathological change characterized by a rapid deterioration of renal function.T lymphocytes are involved in the formation of crescent and the pathological progression of crescent nephritis.CD4 + and CD8 + cells in T lymphocyte subsets, and T cell costimulatory factors mediate immune responses in different ways.They participate in the occurrence, development and fibrosis of crescent, or delay their deterioration.In order to provide a new target for clinical treatment of crescent nephritis, we review the mechanism of T lymphocytes in the formation and development of crescentic body.

Objective:To analyse the clinical and prognosis of C1q deposition in children with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in 177 children with PMN who were diagnosed by renal biopsy in the Eastern Theater Cornmand General Hospital from July 2005 to September 2013.Patients were divided into C1q deposit group and C1q non-deposit group according to the immunofluorescence staining of C1q.Clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment response, and long-term renal prognosis were compared between the 2 groups.Results:A total of 177 pediatric patients with PMN were included, involving 98 boys and 79 girls with a median age of 192.0 months.During an follow-up of (52.4±35.6) months, 7 cases(4.0%) progressed end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and 14 cases(7.9%) developed ESRD or renal dysfunction.The blood IgG level of C1q deposit group was higher than that of C1q non-deposit group [(5.10±2.51) g/L vs.(4.34±2.10) g/L, t=2.110, P=0.036]. The frequency of glomerular C4 deposits in C1q deposit group was significantly higher than that of C1q non-deposit group (34.7% vs.2.9%, χ2=32.567, P<0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that there were no differences in cumulative renal survival rate of ESRD ( P=0.561) and cumulative incidence rate of remission ( P=0.291) between groups.The Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that C1q deposition was not correlated with treatment responses ( P=0.587). Univariate COX regression analysis demonstrated that the male gender ( HR=8.578, 95% CI: 1.120-65.689, P=0.039) and no remission ( HR=0.053, 95% CI: 0.017-0.171, P<0.001) were risk factors for renal dysfunction in children with PMN.Multivariate COX regression analysis reveled that no remission ( HR=21.858, 95% CI: 5.595-85.387, P<0.001) and C1q deposition ( HR=0.116, 95% CI: 0.023-0.584, P=0.009) were independent risk factors for renal dysfunction in children with PMN. Conclusions:C1q deposition was an independent risk factor for renal dysfunction in children with PMN.The classical pathway does occur in some PMN patients, which plays an essential role in mediating kidney injury.