[Quantitative pathomorphological findings in chronic glomerulonephritis at autopsy: characterization of the grade of renal insufficiency for correlation studies].

The investigation is based on 49 autopsies at which chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) was found. The glomerular findings were classified by the WHO classification of renal diseases. The ratio of kidney weight (g) to body height (cm) gave a constitutional kidney index which correlated with the degree of global and segmental (more than 50%) sclerosis of glomeruli in chronic GN (diffuse intracapillary type). The negative correlative coefficient from simple linear regression was rho = -0.606. Chronic GN was then further subdivided into four groups which mutually correlate: diffuse sclerosing GN (so-called end-stage kidney). Index: 0.27 g/cm; diffuse sclerosing GN (over 80% glomerular sclerosis). Index: 0.49 g/cm; diffuse proliferative and extensive sclerosing GN (more than 50% and less than 80% sclerosis) Index: 0.59 g/cm; diffuse proliferative and mild to moderate sclerosing GN (less than 50% sclerosing). Index: 0.93 g/cm. The indices of the diffuse extracapillary GN were high in comparison with diffuse intracapillary GN. The kidney index of diffuse extracapillary proliferative and extensive sclerosing GN with over 80% fibrous crescents was 0.78 g/cm. Index of diffuse extracapillary proliferative and mild to moderate sclerosing GN, mostly epithelial and fibro-epithelial, few fibrous crescents was 1.30 g/cm. The mean values of the indices for normal kidneys were (males) 0.78-0.81 g/cm and (females) 0.73-0.75 g/cm (age: 20-60 years). These results may be used for correlative investigations with morphometric parameters of renal osteopathy.