Distribution of glomerular IgG subclass deposits in malignancy-associated membranous nephropathy.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have shown a predominant glomerular deposition of IgG4 in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN), whereas significant depositions of other IgG subclasses have been shown in patients with lupus-associated MN and bucillamine-induced MN.


METHODS
We examined the distribution patterns of glomerular IgG subclass deposits in 10 patients with malignancy-associated MN (M-MN) and in 15 patients with idiopathic MN by immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy.


RESULTS
The glomerular IF intensities of IgG1 and IgG2 were significantly stronger in the malignancy group than in the idiopathic group (P<0.05). In contrast, there were no differences in glomerular IF intensities of IgG3 and IgG4 between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the distribution patterns of glomerular IgG subclass deposits are different in idiopathic MN and M-MN. The strong IF intensity of glomerular IgG1 and IgG2 in M-MN may provide a possible predictor for this condition.
Ohtani
Hiroshi
H
The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, Hondo, Japan. Ohtanih@doc.med.akita-u.ac.jp
Wakui
Hideki
H
Komatsuda
Atsushi
A
Okuyama
Shin
S
Masai
Rie
R
Maki
Nobuki
N
Kigawa
Akihiro
A
Sawada
Ken-ichi
K
Imai
Hirokazu
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011897:Random Allocation
D007074:Immunoglobulin G