Clinical value of a serum anti-PLA2R antibody in the diagnosis and monitoring of primary membranous nephropathy in adults.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the positive rate of anti-PLA2R antibodies in patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), secondary membranous nephropathy (SMN), and non-membrane nephropathy (non-MN); evaluate serum anti-PLA2R antibodies in the diagnosis of PMN; quantify the serum anti-PLA2R antibody levels during the treatment of PMN patients; and evaluate the clinical value of monitoring changes in serum anti-PLA2R antibody quantification levels.

METHODS

The kidney tissue was collected by kidney biopsy. The expression of PLA2R in glomeruli was detected by immunofluorescence, and ELISA was used to quantify the serum anti-PLA2R antibody. The positive rate of PLA2R expression in renal tissue and positive rate of the anti-PLA2R antibody in the three groups were compared and calculated using a statistical method. The specificity and coincidence rate of anti-PLA2R used in the differential diagnosis of PMN and SMN were evaluated. The clinical value of monitoring changes in serum anti-PLA2R antibody quantification levels was evaluated.

RESULT

The serum levels of the anti-PLA2R antibody were significantly higher in patients with PMN than in patients with SMN and non-MN group. The difference was statistically significant (<0.05). The serum anti-PLA2R antibody became negative in the complete remission group. The serum anti-PLA2R antibody levels were significantly lower than before treatment in the partial remission group, and the difference was statistically significant (<0.05). However, in the non-remission group, the serum anti-PLA2R antibody levels remained high.

CONCLUSION

Detection of the serum anti-PLA2R antibody has a high specificity for diagnosing PMN. The change of the serum anti-PLA2R antibody level is closely related to the status of the PMN: if the anti-PLA2R antibody level has decreased, it indicates that the condition has improved; and if the serum anti-PLA2R antibody continues to show high levels of positive or quantitative increase, the condition is not in remission or has relapsed.