Kidney outcomes of immune-complex associated mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis in patients with and without HIV

Abstract

Introduction: HIV-associated kidney diseases continue to be a major problem in South Africa. Objectives: We aimed to determine the kidney outcomes of immune-complex associated mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN) in patients with and without HIV. Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all adult patients with a kidney biopsy diagnosis of immune-complex associated MCGN from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2016. We compared the proportion of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients that reached the composite endpoint of either doubling of the serum creatinine or end-stage kidney disease. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to examine the association between the composite endpoint and predictor variables. Results: A total of 79 patients were included of which 20 (25.3%) were HIV-positive. Twentyfour patients (30.4%) reached the composite endpoint. The cumulative proportions reaching the composite endpoint at one and four years were 25.3% and 30.4% with no difference between HIVpositive and HIV-negative patients (45.0% versus 25.4%, respectively; P= 0.10). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model identified estimated glomerular filtration rate at biopsy (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84-1.00, P=0.04) and proteinuria at follow-up (HR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.21-2.11, P<0.01) as predictors of the composite endpoint at one-year. On survival analysis, there was no difference in the composite endpoint for HIV status (P=0.09; log-rank). Conclusion: Immune-complex associated MCGN continues to be a common histopathological pattern of injury at our center. Due to late presentation, kidney outcomes remain poor, regardless of HIV status.