title: Contribution of glomerular morphometry to the diagnosis of pediatric nephropathies.
abstract: Only a few studies describe histopathological changes in renal biopsies performed in pediatric patients. This study was conducted to identify an association between morphometric data in renal biopsies and renal function of these patients. Fifty-nine individuals with ages between 2 and 18 years old were selected, who were divided into six groups consisting of frequent nephropathies in children and adolescents and one control group. Proteinuria, urea, and creatinine values of the patients were recorded. Interactive image analysis software Leica QWin[®]was used for morpho- metric analysis of Bowman's capsule, glomerular capillary tuft, and Bowman's space area. The mean glomerular tuft area was higher in the membranous glomerulopathy group than in the podo- cytopathy group (57,101 ± 25,094 vs. 27,420 c ± 6279 µm(2); P <0.05). The median of Bowman's space area was higher in the control group than in the podocytopathy group and in the thin basement membrane/Alport syndrome group [12,210 (7676-26,945) vs. 5801 (3031-7852) µm(2); P <0.01 and 12210 (7676-26,945) vs. 4183 (3797-7992) µm(2); P <0.01, respectively]. There was a positive and significant correlation between Bowman's capsule area and the levels of proteinuria, creatinine, and urea of the patients, as well as between the glomerular tuft area and the levels of proteinuria, creatinine, and urea in the patients, regardless of their nephropathy. Glomerular morphometry may contribute to the diagnosis of some glomerulopathies and the association between glomerular morphometric parameters, and laboratory data may promote a better understanding of the prognosis of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pathology, Biological and Natural Sciences Institute, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Barreto
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pathology, Biological and Natural Sciences Institute, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laura Penna
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pathology, Biological and Natural Sciences Institute, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Reis
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pathology, Biological and Natural Sciences Institute, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marlene Antônia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pathology, Biological and Natural Sciences Institute, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosana Rosa Miranda
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Corrêa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology*