[Clinical significance of urine sediment spectrum analyses in crescentic glomerulonephritis].

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether the analyses of urine sediment spectrum contribute to the diagnosis of crescentic nephritis and whether special cells in urine could be a biomarker for the early stage crescentic nephritis.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients diagnosed as crescentic nephritis with renal biopsy were recruited. The phase-contrast microscope was used to observe the early morning urine and offer comprehensive descriptions of urine sediment spectrum. And podocalyxin antibody was utilized to detect podocytes in urine and renal specimens by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Marked hematuria and casts were present in the urine of crescentic nephritis and "special cells" appeared in over 50% subjects. The detection rates of "special cells" were 75%, 41% and 0 respectively in early, middle and later stages of crescentic nephritis. Podocytes were identified in the urine of 8/9 subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

The urine sediment spectrum contributes to the diagnosis of crescentic nephritis. And special cells in urine are helpful to gauge the stage of crescentic nephritis.