title: Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of Chinese patients with scanty immune deposits lupus nephritis: a large cohort study from a single center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess clinicopathological characteristics of lupus nephritis patients with scanty immune deposits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of patients with scanty immune deposits lupus nephritis were retrospectively analyzed. Plasma ANCA and complement components were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 316 cases with renal biopsy-proven lupus nephritis, 40 cases were diagnosed as scanty immune deposits. There were significantly higher value of serum creatinine (P = 0.002) and lower hemoglobin level (P = 0.009) and higher score of cellular crescents (P = 0.015) in scanty immune deposits group compared with immune complex deposits group. The frequency of positive plasma ANCA was significantly higher in scanty immune deposits group than that in immune complex deposits group (52.5% versus 10.1%, P < 0.001). As for comparisons of plasma complement components, there were significantly higher levels of C1q (P = 0.005) and Bb (P = 0.02) and lower level of factor H (P = 0.003) in scanty immune deposits group. The ratio of treatment failure was significantly higher in scanty immune deposits group than that in immune deposits group (42.5% versus 19.20%, P = 0.001). The renal outcomes were similar between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with scanty immune deposits lupus nephritis had more severe kidney damage. ANCA and activation of complement alternative pathway might be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China ; Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Qiuyu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China ; Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China ; Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Fengmei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China ; Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China ; Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3060-6233
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China ; Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing 100034, China ; Key Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D002681:China; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003404:Creatinine