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This article provides an update on the incidence rates and outcomes of primary membranous nephropathy (pMN) in the Greater Manchester region of the UK over a 20-year period. The study involved 381 cases of pMN and found that the mean incidence rate of pMN over the 20-year period was 6.55 per million population per year. The study also observed an increase in the proportion of cases tested for serum anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (anti-PLA2R) over time. The incidence rates reported in this study were lower than previous studies, which may be due to geographical differences and improved understanding of pMN as an autoimmune disease. The authors hypothesize that the lower incidence in the final 5-year period may be attributed to the impact of COVID-19. The study has limitations but provides valuable up-to-date incidence reporting of pMN in a large UK cohort. [Extracted from the article]

Background Cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and underrecognized [ 1 , 2 ]. Determining risk factors for cognitive impairment and whether speed of CKD progression is an important consideration may help identify cognitive impairment by nephrologists. Vascular disease is thought to underpin cognitive impairment in CKD and by segregating CKD patients with proven vascular disease, we may also be able to discover other important associations with cognitive impairment in CKD patients. Method A total of 250 patients in a UK prospective cohort of CKD patients underwent two cognitive assessments: Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and Trail Making Test. Cognitive impairment was defined using validated population cut-offs (cognitive impairment) and relative cognitive impairment. Relative cognitive impairment was defined by <1 standard deviation below the mean Z -score on any completed test. Two multivariable logistical regression models identified variables associated with cognitive impairment and realtive cognitive impairment. Results About 44 and 24.8% of patients suffered cognitive impairment and relative cognitive impairment, respectively. Depression, previous stroke and older age were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Older age was significantly associated with relative cognitive impairment (P ≤ 0.05) and higher proteinuria and the use of psychodynamic medications were also significantly associated with relative cognitive impairment (P = 0.05). Delta estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with cognitive impairment and relative cognitive impairment compared with those having normal cognition was similar (−0.77 versus −1.35 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, P = 0.34 for cognitive impairment and −1.12 versus −1.02 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, P = 0.89 for relative cognitive impairment). Conclusion Risk factors for cognitive impairment in CKD include previous stroke, depression or anxiety, higher proteinuria and prescription of psychodynamic medications. Patients with a faster eGFR decline do not represent a group of patients at increased risk of cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Several publications have demonstrated the use of renal biopsy in elderly patients in establishing a diagnosis and enabling directed therapy. However, evidence on the long-term outcomes following biopsies is lacking. The aim of this study is to describe the renal and patient outcomes in elderly patients according to indication for biopsy, clinical parameters and the histological diagnosis. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of 463 patients >70 years old who underwent a renal biopsy at our centre between 2006 and 2015. Results The median age of the patients was 74.8 (range 70.0–89.6) years. The most frequent primary diagnoses were pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN; 12%), acute interstitial nephritis (10.8%) and membranous GN (7.1%). Death-censored renal survival at 1 and 5 years following the index biopsy was 85.2 and 75.9%, respectively, and patient survival at 1 and 5 years was 92.2 and 71.6%, respectively. Patients who progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were at higher risk of dying compared with patients who did not require dialysis [hazard ratio 2.41 (95% confidence interval 1.58–3.68; P < 0.001]. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with the risk of progression to ESRD were creatinine (P < 0.001), heavy proteinuria (P = 0.002) and a non-chronic kidney disease (CKD) biopsy indication (P = 0.006). A histological diagnosis of primary GN (P = 0.001) or tubulointerstitial nephritis (P = 0.008) was associated with a favourable renal outcome, while patients with vasculitis and paraprotein-related renal disease (PPRD) had the highest risk of requiring dialysis (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.003, respectively). PPRD was also an independent risk factor for death. Conclusions This study demonstrates that renal biopsies in the elderly not only enable directed therapy, but also provide prognostic information on renal and patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]