Estimating individual glomerular volume in the human kidney: clinical perspectives

Puelles, Victor G., Zimanyi, Monika A., Samuel, Terence, Hughson, Michael D., Douglas-Denton, Rebecca N., Bertram, John F., and Armitage, James A. (2012) Estimating individual glomerular volume in the human kidney: clinical perspectives. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfr539
 
35
2


Abstract

Background. Measurement of individual glomerular volumes (IGV) has allowed the identification of drivers of glomerular hypertrophy in subjects without overt renal pathology. This study aims to highlight the relevance of IGV measurements with possible clinical implications and determine how many profiles must be measured in order to achieve stable size distribution estimates.

Methods. We re-analysed 2250 IGV estimates obtained using the disector/Cavalieri method in 41 African and 34 Caucasian Americans. Pooled IGV analysis of mean and variance was conducted. Monte-Carlo (Jackknife) simulations determined the effect of the number of sampled glomeruli on mean IGV. Lin’s concordance coefficient (RC), coefficient of variation (CV) and coefficient of error (CE) measured reliability.

Results. IGV mean and variance increased with overweight and hypertensive status. Superficial glomeruli were significantly smaller than juxtamedullary glomeruli in all subjects (P < 0.01), by race (P < 0.05) and in obese individuals (P < 0.01). Subjects with multiple chronic kidney disease (CKD) comorbidities showed significant increases in IGV mean and variability. Overall, mean IGV was particularly reliable with nine or more sampled glomeruli (RC > 0.95, <5% difference in CV and CE). These observations were not affected by a reduced sample size and did not disrupt the inverse linear correlation between mean IGV and estimated total glomerular number.

Conclusions. Multiple comorbidities for CKD are associated with increased IGV mean and variance within subjects, including overweight, obesity and hypertension. Zonal selection and the number of sampled glomeruli do not represent drawbacks for future longitudinal biopsy-based studies of glomerular size and distribution.

Item ID: 20967
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1460-2385
Keywords: glomerular heterogeneity, glomerular size, glomerular volume
Date Deposited: 14 Mar 2012 07:08
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1103 Clinical Sciences > 110312 Nephrology and Urology @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920119 Urogenital System and Disorders @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 2
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page