title: [Epidemiology of biopsy-proven renal disease in Romania: data from a regional registry in north-eastern Romania].
abstract: Unlike Western European countries, data on the epidemiological biopsy-proven renal disease in Eastern Europe is scarce. We aimed to analyze retrospectively the main histological renal findings, over a 10-year (1995-2004) period, in a large tertiary nephrology referral center in North-Eastern (N-E) Romania, serving a population of 4.7 million inhabitants. Clinical and biological data were also collected and correlated with histological findings. 336 renal biopsies were finally analyzed. The distribution of major clinical syndromes was: nephrotic syndrome (52%), followed by acute renal failure (19%), mild-to-moderate chronic renal failure (17%), nephritic syndrome (8%) and asymptomatic urinary abnormalities. 56.6% and 32.2% were primary and secondary glomerulopathies (GN), respectively, whereas vascular nephropathies and tubulointerstitial nephritis accounted for only 3.6 and 2% of the diagnoses. Overall, membranoproliferative (MPGN) (38%) and mesangioproliferative (MesGN) GN's (19%) were the most common primary glomerulopathies. A progressive significant decrease in the incidence of MPGN and an increase in MesGN over time were seen in our center. Analyzing other Romanian regional data, also a geographical "shift" in the prevalence of the most common primitive GN's from Eastern (E) to Western (W) Romania, similar to the N to S gradients across Europe was noted: there is a high prevalence of MPGN in the E, and a high prevalence of MesGN (including IgA nephropathy) in W Romania. These important differences in the prevalence of the most common primary GN's in E Romania may be due to lower income, education, and infrastructure levels. This hypothesis is strengthening by the higher prevalence of post-infectious and, possible, vasculitis-related GN in E Romania.
authors.affiliation: Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr. T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica de Nefrologie.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gusbeth-Tatomir
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ardeleanu
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Covic
authors.forename: Irina Draga
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Căruntu
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Volovăţ
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covic
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors