Retrospective study: clinicopathological features and prognosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy with seronegative anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody

Background To discuss the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) who are serum-negative for the anti-PLA2R antibody. Method Overall, 229 IMN patients were retrospectively collected in this study and classified into anti-PLA2R antibody-negative (PLA2R−, 59 cases) and antibody-positive (PLA2R+, 170 cases) groups. The clinical and pathological features of the PLA2R− group were analyzed; 162 patients in both groups were followed up, and the PLA2R antigen was detected in renal biopsies from the PLA2R− group. Kaplan-Meier and survival analyses were used to compare differences in prognosis. Results Serum albumin levels were higher and 24-hour urine protein, creatinine, and beta 2-microglobulin (BMG) levels were lower in the PLA2R− group than in the PLA2R+ group; the proportion of acute and chronic tubular lesions was also significantly lower in the PLA2R− group than in in the PLA2R+ group. After treatment, the remission rate was significantly higher in the negative group than in the positive group (93.02% vs 74.78%,), especially the rate of complete remission (51.16% vs 23.47%). Furthermore, the PLA2R antigen-positive staining rate of 43 patients in the PLA2R− group was 62.79%. Although not significant, the survival rate was higher in the PLA2R− group than in the PLA2R+ group. BMG, 24-hour urine protein and acute and chronic tubular lesions were risk factors for kidney death, and 24-hour urine protein was an independent risk factor for kidney death. Conclusions Compared with the PLA2R+ group, the PLA2R− group had mild clinical manifestations and pathological damage and a higher clinical treatment remission rate. Renal tissue PLA2R antigen testing can be considered for patients with seronegative IMN to increase the diagnostic rate.