Reversal of active glomerular lesions after immunosuppressive therapy in patients with IgA nephropathy: a repeat-biopsy based observation

Background Reversal of active glomerular lesions after immunosuppressive treatment in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and their association with prognosis have not been well established. Methods Sixty patients with IgAN who received repeat biopsies after immunosuppressive treatment were recruited. Reversal of renal pathological lesions was evaluated between the first and second biopsy. The end-point was defined as a 30 % reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or end-stage renal disease after the second biopsy. Results Active glomerular lesions, i.e. endocapillary hypercellularity (E), crescents (C) and necrosis (N) were markedly decreased at the second biopsy after immunosuppressive therapy (36.7 vs. 8.3 %, p