ABSTRACT
Objective: to determine the frequency of IgA nephropathy presenting at a tertiary care hospital
Study Design: a cross sectional, observational study
Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad and Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from November 2008 to November 2014
Methodology: this was a retrospective analysis of renal biopsies for the diagnosis of nephropathy during the study period. Biopsies were stained with fluorescence isothyocyanate [FITC] labelled antibodies against IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4 and C1q for fluorescent microscopy. For histopathological examination, the specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Periodic acid Schiff and methanamine silver stains for light microscopy
Results: out of total 1,658 renal biopsy cases, 142 [8.6%] were diagnosed as IgA nephropathy on light and immunofluorescence microscopy. Majority of IgA nephropathy patients were young [mean age = 33.2] and presented with proteinuria. The frequency rose from 2% in 2008 to 9.4% in 2014
Conclusion: IgA nephropathy was present in younger population and has a rising trend in our population