Immunoglobulin G/albumin staining in tubular protein reabsorption droplets in minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Background. Some renal biopsies cannot distinguish minimal change disease (MCD) from primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) because of inadequate sampling and/or a lack of sampled glomeruli with segmental sclerosis. As protein excretion in MCD has been described as being albumin-selective, we examined whether the ratio of immunoglobulin G (IgG)/albumin staining in protein reabsorption droplets (tPRD) might help distinguish MCD from FSGS. Methods. Frozen tissue from 144 native renal biopsies from patients with nephrotic syndrome and a diagnosis of MCD or FSGS [73 MCD, 30 FSGS tip variant (FSGS-tip), 38 FSGS-not otherwise specified (FSGS-NOS), 3 FSGS collapsing] was retrospectively stained by direct immunofluorescence for IgG and albumin; none of these samples showed diagnostic lesions of FSGS. IgG and albumin staining of tPRD were graded on a scale of 0 to 3+ based on the distribution and intensity of staining. Results. Mean (standard deviation) IgG/albumin staining ratios were 0.186 0.239 for MCD, 0.423 +/- 0.334 for FSGS-tip (P=0.0001 versus MCD) and 0.693 +/- 0.297 for FSGS-NOS (P<0.0001 versus MCD; P=0.0001 versus FSGS-tip). Of 84 biopsies with a ratio <= 0.33, 63 (75%) showed MCD, whereas among 21 with a ratio of 1.0, all but one showed FSGS (15 FSGS-NOS). Conclusions. In summary, IgG/albumin staining in tPRD was correlated with histologic diagnosis in renal biopsies with MCD and FSGS. A ratio of <= 0.33 was associated with MCD, whereas a ratio of 1.0 was most often seen with FSGS-NOS.

Automated summary

This study examined whether the IgG/albumin staining ratio in protein reabsorption droplets could help distinguish minimal change disease (MCD) from primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The results showed that a ratio ≤0.33 was more likely to indicate MCD, while a ratio of 1.0 was more likely to indicate FSGS.