Report of renal biopsies in Spain. 1996-1997 data. Spanish Registry of Glomerulonephritis (REGN)

The Glomerulonephritis Registry of the Spanish Society of Nephrology has ob tained data of 2,139 patients with biopsied renal disease (excluding biopsi es of transplant kidneys) from 71 centers between 1996 and 1997. 8.2% are c hildren (>15 years), 71.2% are adults (15-65 years) and 20.6% are elderly p atients (>65 years). At all ages renal disease is more prevalent in men. Th e prevalence of hypertension is higher in adults and elderly patients (48% and 54%, respectively). The most frequent clinical syndrome in children and elderly cases is nephrotic syndrome, followed by persistent urinary abnorm alities and acute renal failure, respectively. In adults, the prevalence of nephrotic syndrome and urinary abnormalities is similar. In children, prim ary glomerulonephritis are predominant, meanwhile there are most cases of s econdary glomerulonephritis and non glomerular renal disease in adults and elderly patients. The most frequent reported pathologies are IgA nephropath y (15%) focal glomerulosclerosis (10%) membranous nephropathy (9%) and lupu s nephritis (9%). In children, the most frequent causes are minimal-change disease (24%) IgA nephropathy (18%), focal glomerulosclerosis (17%). These data have not change in the last 4 years. There is a predominant geographic distribution of the forms of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children in the center and east of the country, and IgA nephropathy in the South. The m ost frequent causes of nephrotic syndrome are minimal-change disease (52%) and focal glomerulosclerosis (33%); the causes of persistent urinary abnorm alities are not well classified diseases (21%) and IgA nephropathy(18%). In adults the most frequent reported causes are IgA nephropathy (16%) lupus n ephritis (11%) and focal glomerulosclerosis (11%). These data have not chan ge in the last 4 years and regional differences are not found. The most fre quent causes of nephrotic syndrome are membranous nephropathy (22%) and lup us nephritis (16%). Urinary abnormalities are more frequently reported in I gA nephropathy (25%) and lupus nephropathy (15%). In elderly patients, the pathologies more frequently reported are membranous nephropathy (13%) cresc entic glomerulonephritis (12%), amyloidosis (9%) and vasculitis (8%). Membr anous nephropathy has increased its prevalence in the last years. There are not regional differences. The most frequent cause of nephrotic syndrome ar e membranous nephropathy (32%) and amyloidosis (16%). Urinary abnormalities are due to diabetic nephropathy (16%) and IgA nephropathy (14%).