Fig 1.
Representative kidney pathology to classify global and segmental foot process effacement (FPE) by electron microscopy.
The segmental FPE is defined as < 50% of glomerular capillary loop involvement, as shown in panels (a) (6,000× magnification) and (b) (10,000× magnification). In contrast, the global FPE is defined as > 50% of glomerular capillary loop involvement. In panels (c) (6,000× magnification) and (d) (10,000× magnification), FPE is extensive, and no normal part was seen. Black arrows denote FPE, white arrows denote normal podocyte foot processes, and asterisks denote mesangial electron-dense deposits.
Fig 2.
Abbreviations: IgAN, IgA nephropathy; FSGS, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, IRGN, infection-related glomerulonephritis; MGN, membranous glomerulonephritis; TMA, thrombotic microangiopathy; MEST, mesangial hypercellularity, endocapillary hypercellularity, segmental sclerosis, and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy; EM, electron microscopy; RAAS, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; IST, immunosuppressant therapy; FPE, foot process effacement; UPCR, urine protein/creatinine ratio.
Table 1.
Demographic characteristics and pathological features.
Table 2.
Proteinuria difference between segmental/global FPE groups.
Fig 3.
Treatment response differences between segmental and global foot process effacement groups.
Complete remission was achieved in 81.8% of the global FPE group and 20% in the segmental FPE group (p = 0.018).
Table 3.
The renal outcome comparison between different patient groups.
Fig 4.
Kaplan-Meier curve for renal event-free survival comparison between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.039)
Abbreviations: FPE, foot process effacement; IST, immunosuppressant therapy.
Table 4.
Clinical characteristics of different groups.