Incidence of Thin Basement Membrane Nephropathy in 990 Consecutive Renal Biopsies Examined with Electron Microscopy

• Published in: Ultrastructural pathology Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 221 - 226
• Main Authors: Zouvani, Ioanna, Aristodemou, Sophia, Hadjisavvas, Andreas, Michael, Thalia, Vassiliou, Mary, Patsias, Charalambos, Pierides, Alkis, Ioannou, Kyriacos, Kyriacou, Kyriacos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01-01-2008
• Subjects: Adult; Biopsy; Cypriot population; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Glomerular Basement Membrane - ultrastructure; Hematuria - etiology; Humans; Incidence; Kidney Diseases - complications; Kidney Diseases - epidemiology; Kidney Diseases - pathology; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Middle Aged; thin basement membrane nephropathy
• ISSN: 0191-3123; 1521-0758
• DOI: 10.1080/01913120802529859

Thin basement membrane nephropathy is one of the main causes of hematuria in both children and adults. It is often associated with a family history and its true incidence is unknown. Accurate diagnosis of thin basement membrane nephropathy relies on the presence of attenuated glomerular basement membranes, a finding that can be appreciated only by examination in the electron microscope. In Cyprus the department of electron microscopy has received 990 consecutive renal biopsies for diagnosis. The aim of this study is to define the incidence of thin basement membrane nephropathy in this population sample based on the results of electron microscopy.