title: Quantitative and semi-quantitative histopathological examination of renal biopsies in healthy individuals, and associations with kidney function.
abstract: This study assesed the prevalence of histopathological changes in renal biopsies from healthy individuals, and the association with age, sex and smoking. Donor biopsies from 109 subjects were obtained from living kidney donors, and blood and urine samples were collected together with medical history. All biopsies were scored according to the Banff '97 classification with some modifications. The parameters included in this study were tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, arteriolohyalinosis and a sclerosis score. An alternative scoring system for tubular atrophy was examined (using ≤5% rather than <1% as a cut-off for grade 0). Glomerular filtration rate was measured in most cases as chromium ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (Cr-EDTA) clearance. Age was a significant predictor for tubular atrophy, fibrosis and sclerosis. Pack-years of smoking increased the risk of tubular atrophy, fibrosis and arteriolohyalinosis. The alternative scoring of tubular atrophy showed a stronger association with smoking, but a weaker association with age, compared with the original one. Limited histopathological changes are common in healthy kidney donors around 50 years of age with normal kidney function. We propose that a cut-off of ≤5% yields a better definition of grade 0 tubular atrophy compared with the established cut-off of >0%.
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Yael
authors: Y
authors: Bar
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Barregard
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Gerd
authors: G
authors: Sallsten
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Wallin
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology and Genetics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Mölne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014019:Tissue Donors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Living donor; interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy; kidney function; renal biopsy; smoking