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Introduction: Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) is a well-recognized cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to the tubulointerstitial inflammation. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical features, outcomes, and responses to corticosteroid treatment in patients with ATIN., Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven ATIN, who were diagnosed between 1994 and 2016 at the Department of Nephrology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine, and General University Hospital in Prague, were included in the study. Patient demographics, the aetiological and clinical features, the treatment given, and the outcome at 1 year of follow-up were extracted from patient records., Results: A total of 103 ATIN patients were analysed, of which 68 had been treated with corticosteroids. There was no significant difference in the median serum creatinine 280 (169-569) µmol/L in the conservatively managed group versus 374 (249-558) µmol/L in the corticosteroid-treated group, p = 0.18, and dependence on dialysis treatment at baseline at the time of biopsy (10.3 vs. 8.6%). During the 1 year of follow-up, those ATIN patients who had been treated with corticosteroids did better and showed greater improvement in kidney function, determined as serum creatinine difference from baseline and from 1 month over 1-year period (p = 0.001)., Conclusions: This single-centre retrospective cohort study supports the beneficial role of the administration of corticosteroid therapy in the management of ATIN., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The aim of the study was to characterize by molecular profiling two glomerular diseases: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and to identify potential molecular markers of IgAN and FSGS progression. The expressions of 90 immune-related genes were compared in biopsies of patients with IgAN (n=33), FSGS (n=17) and in controls (n=11) using RT-qPCR. To identify markers of disease progression, gene expression was compared between progressors and non-progressors in 1 year follow-up. The results were verified on validation cohort of patients with IgAN (n=8) and in controls (n=6) using laser-capture microdissection, that enables to analyze gene expression separately for glomeruli and interstitium. In comparison to controls, patients with both IgAN and FSGS, had lower expression of BAX (apoptotic molecule BCL2-associated protein) and HMOX-1 (heme oxygenase 1) and higher expression of SELP (selectin P). Furthermore, in IgAN higher expression of PTPRC (protein-tyrosine phosphatase, receptor-type C) and in FSGS higher expression of BCL2L1 (regulator of apoptosis BCL2-like 1) and IL18 compared to control was observed. Validation of differentially expressed genes between IgAN and controls on another cohort using laser-capture microdissection confirmed higher expression of PTPRC in glomeruli of patients with IgAN. The risk of progression in IgAN was associated with higher expression EDN1 (endothelin 1) (AUC=0.77) and FASLG (Fas ligand) (AUC=0.82) and lower expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) (AUC=0.8) and in FSGS with lower expression of CCL19 (chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 19) (AUC=0.86). Higher expression of EDN1 and FASLG along with lower expression of VEGF in IgAN and lower expression of CCL19 in FSGS at the time of biopsy can help to identify patients at risk of future disease progression.

We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common form of glomerulonephritis, with discovery and follow-up in 20,612 individuals of European and East Asian ancestry. We identified six new genome-wide significant associations, four in ITGAM-ITGAX, VAV3 and CARD9 and two new independent signals at HLA-DQB1 and DEFA. We replicated the nine previously reported signals, including known SNPs in the HLA-DQB1 and DEFA loci. The cumulative burden of risk alleles is strongly associated with age at disease onset. Most loci are either directly associated with risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier and response to mucosal pathogens. The geospatial distribution of risk alleles is highly suggestive of multi-locus adaptation, and genetic risk correlates strongly with variation in local pathogens, particularly helminth diversity, suggesting a possible role for host-intestinal pathogen interactions in shaping the genetic landscape of IgAN.

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerulonephritis, which may also coexist with other diseases. We present two patients with an unusual coincidence of IgAN and Fabry disease (FD)., Case Presentation: A 26 year-old man underwent a renal biopsy in February 2001. Histopathology showed very advanced IgAN and vascular changes as a result of hypertension. Because of his progressive renal insufficiency the patient began hemodialysis in August 2001. By means of the blood spot test screening method the diagnosis of FD was suspected. Low activity of alpha-galactosidase A in the patient's plasma and leukocytes and DNA analysis confirmed the diagnosis of FD. Enzyme replacement therapy started in July 2004. Then the patient underwent kidney transplantation in November 2005. Currently, his actual serum creatinine level is 250 μmol/l. Other organ damages included hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, neuropathic pain and febrile crisis. After enzyme replacement therapy, myocardial hypertrophy has stabilized and other symptoms have disappeared. No further progression of the disease has been noted.The other patient, a 30 year-old woman, suffered from long-term hematuria with a good renal function. Recently, proteinuria (2.6 g/day) appeared and a renal biopsy was performed. Histopathology showed IgAN with remarkably enlarged podocytes. A combination of IgAN and a high suspicion of FD was diagnosed. Electron microscopy revealed dense deposits in paramesangial areas typical for IgAN and podocytes with inclusive zebra bodies and myelin figures characteristic of FD. FD was confirmed by the decreased alpha-galactosidase A activity in plasma and leukocytes and by DNA and RNA analysis. Enzyme replacement therapy and family screening were initiated., Conclusions: Our results emphasize the role of complexity in the process of diagnostic evaluation of kidney biopsy samples. Electron microscopy represents an integral part of histopathology, and genetic analysis plays a more and more important role in the final diagnosis, which is followed by causal treatment.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and minimal change disease represent frequent histological patterns of renal injury in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Few cases carrying NPHS2 gene variants have been described to date. Mutational analysis of the NPHS2 gene was performed in 50 Czech adult patients with histologically proved FSGS/MCD. The common p.P20L and p.R229Q polymorphisms of the NPHS2 gene were tested in 169 patients with IgA nephropathy and in 300 individuals of the control group. No mutation in the NPHS2 gene in patients with adult onset was identified. One homozygous mutation p.V290M in a patient with onset in early childhood was found. One new heterozygous variant in the non-conservative area of the NPHS2 gene, p.G97S, was identified in a patient with childhood-onset FSGS. In one adult patient, there were two polymorphisms, p.P20L and p.R229Q, in trans-heterozygous state, which could contribute to steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. The most common polymorphism p.R229Q was identified in 12 % of FSGS/ MCD patients, in 11.8 % of IGAN patients and in 10% of controls. The heterozygosity of p.R229Q polymorphism was similar in the IGAN group, with non-significantly higher prevalence in IGAN patients with progressive form of the disease (15.9 % versus 9.4 %). The prevalence of p.P20L polymorphism was not significantly different among the groups (6 % in FSGS patients, 1.8 % in IGAN patients, 1 % in the control group). To conclude, NPHS2 mutations are rare in patients with adult onset of FSGS/MCD. The R229Q polymorphism is frequent in the Czech population and probably could have some influence on IGAN.

Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important mediator in maintaining normal kidney functions. In addition, several lines of evidence show that up-regulation of this mediator in glomeruli may be associated with or may directly cause renal dysfunction. We tried to assess the influence of the -2578 C/A and -1154 G/A polymorphisms in the regulatory region of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene upon progression of three primary chronic glomerulonephritides (minimal change disease/focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, immunoglobulin A nephropathy). We studied a cohort of 213 patients compared to 311 unrelated healthy controls. Analysis of the C/A polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor revealed an increased prevalence of CC genotype in the minimal change disease/focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis group in comparison with the other groups. A balanced distribution of G and A alleles among the respective types of chronic glomerulonephritides was shown in the analysis of -1154 G/A polymorphism. Finally, we have not proved any significant influence of the polymorphisms at positions -2578 C/A and -1154 G/A of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene promoter on the progression of chronic glomerulonephritides even though our study suggests a negative effect of CC genotype of -2578 C/A polymorphism on the clinical course of minimal change disease/focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Background: Significant phenotypical variability is observed in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Dysregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the kidney has been demonstrated in a wide range of renal diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of the -2578 C/A and the -1154 G/A polymorphisms in the regulatory region of the VEGF gene upon the progression of ADPKD toward end-stage renal disease (ESRD)., Methods: The study was performed on 283 ADPKD patients (145 males, 138 females, mean age 51.7 +/- 10.3 years) who had reached ESRD. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) ESRD development later than in 63 years (slow progressors, n = 47), (2) ESRD development before 45 years (rapid progressors, n = 69), and (3) ESRD development between 45 and 63 years (intermediate progressors, n = 167). Genetically unrelated healthy Czech individuals were analyzed as a control group (n = 311, 153 males, 158 females, mean age 44.6 +/- 9.2 years). DNA samples were genotyped for the -2578 C/A and for the -1154 G/A polymorphisms of the VEGF gene promoter. The serum levels of VEGF were established in 111 healthy Czech individuals from the control group., Results: The VEGF -2578 C/A and -1154 G/A genotype distribution showed no differences among the groups of slow, rapid and intermediate progressors. The age of ESRD with regard to different genotypes was not significantly different in all ADPKD patients. However, the AA genotype of the -2578 C/A polymorphism was associated with a significantly higher age of ESRD than other genotypes in rapid progressors (42.7 vs. 40.5 years, p = 0.01). The CG haplotype was found significantly more frequent in ADPKD rapid progressors than in slow progressors (p = 0.047). Serum levels of VEGF did not significantly differ in the control group, according to different genotypes of both polymorphisms., Conclusion: To conclude, AA genotype of the -2578 C/A polymorphism was related to better prognosis of the disease in a limited group of ADPKD patients. Classical genetic recessive and dominant model did not find significant influence of separate VEGF polymorphisms on the progression of ADPKD. Accordingly, CG haplotype was associated with earlier onset of ESRD in ADPKD patients., (Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The clinical course of chronic renal diseases and their progression to ESRD is highly variable. The strongest predictors of poor outcome of IgAN involve hypertension, severe proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine level. Different candidate gene polymorphisms have been advocated as possible modulators of the progression of IgAN. Megsin belongs to the serpin superfamily and was mapped to chromosome 18q21.3. Megsin plays a role in the regulation of a wide variety of processes in mesangial cells, such as matrix metabolism, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Overexpression of Megsin might lead to mesangial dysfunction, and impair degradation of the mesangial matrix and disposal of immune complexes. The expression of Megsin is upregulated in a variety of glomerular diseases with mesangial injury in humans and in animal models. We investigated a possible association of two C2093T, C2180T polymorphisms of the megsin gene with the progression of IgAN towards ESRD, as well as the haplotype reconstruction of megsin gene polymorphisms and clinical manifestation of IgAN. We examined a group of 197 pts with histologically proven IGAN (84 pts with normal renal function, 113 pts with progressive renal insufficiency); as a control group we used 61 genetically unrelated healthy subjects. DNA samples from collected blood were genotyped for two singlenucleotide polymorphisms of megsin C2093T, C2180T by means of PCR with defined primers, electrophoresis on 2% agarose gel, UV light visualization and direct sequencing. The megsin genotype distribution showed no differences among the groups of IgAN with normal renal function, progressive renal insufficiency and the control group. According to haplotype analysis, the TT haplotype (defined as T-2093, T-2180 alleles) was substantially more frequent in pts with IgAN and normal renal function (Table 1, P = 0.025; Table 3, P = 0.062). Pts in the progressive group showed significantly higher levels of 24-h UP (3.53 +/- 2.80 vs 2.06 +/- 2.06, P = 0.042; Table 10), diastolic blood pressure (92.89 +/- 15.66 vs 84.93 +/- 10.43, P = 0.047; Table 10) and almost significantly systolic blood pressure (150.79 +/- 32.88 vs 135.21 +/- 14.88, P = 0.058; Table 10). We confirmed the negative prognostic influence of hypertension and proteinuria on the progression of IgAN in Czech pts. We found out that the TT haplotype (defined as T-2093, T-2180 alleles) could play a protective role in the progression of IgAN. In our Czech population, we excluded the negative influence of the 2093C-2180T haplotype, which was proposed by Chinese studies.

The clinical course of chronic renal diseases and their progression to ESRF is highly variable. Different candidate gene polymorphisms have been advocated as possible modulators of ESRF progression. Moreover, ET-1 has been suggested as a major promoting factor in renal disease. However, limited data are available regarding an association of three ET-1 SNP K198N, T- 1370G and 3A/4A with the progression of IgAN to ESRF. We examined a group of 122 pts with histologically proved IgAN (91 pts with normal renal function, 31 pts with ESRF), as a control group we used 132 genetically unrelated healthy subjects. Patients' DNAs were genotyped for three ET-1 SNP: K198N, T-1370G and 3A/4A by means of PCR. The frequencies of different genotypes and ET-1 gene haplotypes were compared among control group, IgAN pts with normal renal function and IgAN pts with ESRF. The ET-1 genotype distribution showed no differences among the groups of IgAN with normal renal function (1. K198N - 63.74% KK, 32.97% KN, 3.3% NN; 2. TT - 68.13% TT, 28.57% TG, 3.3% GG; 3. 3A/4A - 42.22% 3A/3A, 50.0% 3A/4A, 7.69% 4A/4A ), IgAN with ESRF (1. K198N - 74.19% KK, 25.81% KN, 0% NN; 2. TT - 77.42% TT, 22.58% TG, 0% GG, 3. 3A/4A - 56.25% 3A/3A, 37.5% 3A/4A, 6.25% 4A/4A ) and the control group (1. K198N - 66.67% KK, 31.82% KN, 1.52% NN, 2. TT - 76.51% TT, 22.72% TG, 0.76% GG, 3. 3A/4A - 43.94% 3A/3A, 44.70% 3A/4A, 11.36% 4A/4A ). The analysis of haplotypes showed that the frequency of G-198, G-1370 and 4A allele combination was significantly higher in comparison with the control group (P=0.0056). We excluded the effect of K198N, T-1370G and 3A/4A polymorphisms of the ET-1 gene in single-gene analysis on the progression of IgAN to ESRF. A significant association of the GG4A haplotype with IgAN, demonstrated by haplotype reconstruction of the ET-1 gene, could suggest a role in the pathogenesis of IgAN.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is a genetic disorder characterized by accumulation of trihexosylceramide in lysosomes of various tissues leading to multiorgan manifestations, including progressive renal disease. Previous screening studies have shown that a non-neglectable proportion of haemodialysis(HD) patients have unsuspected FD. An extensive FD screening study, the largest to date, has been conducted in HD patients in Czech Republic. We aimed to uncover previously undiagnosed FD patients, to enable them to benefit from cause-specific therapeutic intervention with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT)., Methods: Large-scale screening was executed using a convenient automated enzymatic (alpha-galactosidose A, alpha-Gal A) dried blood spot on filter paper fluorescence method., Results: In total, 3370 (45.1% males, 54.9% females) out of 4058 HD patients (83%) in Czech Republic participated in this blood spot screening (BSS) study. Abnormal low fluorescence readings were obtained in 117 patients (3.5%). Subsequent determination of plasma alpha-Gal A activity identified four males and three females with deficient plasma enzyme activity. Determination of alpha-Gal A activity in peripheral blood leucocytes and confirmatory molecular analysis resulted in four newly diagnosed Fabry males and one female. Subsequent family screening identified 10 family members with genotypically proven FD. Based on these screening results, ERT could be offered to five male FD patients., Conclusions: BSS represents a promising screening tool that has proven to be convenient and effective in uncovering unrecognized FD patients among the chronic HD population in Czech Republic.

ADPKD is the most common hereditary renal disease. IGAN is a mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis characterized by diffuse mesangial deposition of immunoglobulin A. ET-1 has been suggested to be a major disease-promoting factor in renal diseases. The vasoconstrictor effect of ET-1 is mediated by the ET-A receptor. We have investigated the influence of C/T polymorphism in exon 8 of the EDNRA gene. A total number of 193 patients (87 males, 106 females) with ADPKD entered into this study. Patients were divided into three groups: 1. 47 pts with ESRD later than in 63 years (slow progressors), 2. 49 pts with ESRD before 45 (rapid progressors) and 3. 97 pts with ESRD between 45-63 years. Moreover, we examined a group of 153 pts with histologically proven IGAN (116 males, 37 females). Pts were divided into two groups: 1. 79 pts with ERSD during 5 years of the study (IGAN rapid progressors) and 2. 74 patients with normal renal function (IGAN slow progressors). As a control group we used 100 genetically unrelated healthy subjects. The distribution of C/T polymorphism did not significantly differ between rapid and slow progressors of ADPKD and IGAN. The comparison of ESRD ages showed that CC females with ADPKD failed significantly later than CT heterozygotes: CC (57.4 +/- 8.1 years), CT (53.0 +/- 9.1 years) and TT (54.5 +/- 6.4years) (t-test, P = 0.018). To conclude, the CC genotype could be protective in ADPKD females. This genotype was described to be associated with lower pulse pressure.

Although idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) is a common glomerular disease, its therapy still remains controversial. The aim of our study was to analyse the outcome of patients with iMN diagnosed and treated in our center. We retrospectively studied 82 patients with iMN that were diagnosed between January 1991 and June 2002. The group consisted of 57 males (69.5%) and 25 females (30.5%) with a mean age of 53 years. The mean follow-up was 56 +/- 38 months. Remission was achieved in 59.2% of patients treated with chlorambucil, 71.4% treated with cyclophosphamide, 85.7% treated with cyclosporine and in 71.4% of those who were left untreated intentionally. However, the proportion of patients in the different treatment subgroups differed significantly (60% vs. 8.5% vs. 8.5% vs. 23%, respectively). The relapse rate was 31.3%. The second-line treatment was effective in a majority of the patients. At the end of follow-up, almost 70% of the patients were in remission with the parameters of nephrotic syndrome significantly improved and renal function unchanged. The renal survival was 100%. Immunosuppressive therapy is effective in iMN, but spontaneous remissions occur as well. Although relapses are frequent, almost 70% of the patients were in remission at the end of follow-up. The renal survival in our group of iMN patients was very good, probably due to preserved renal function at diagnosis.

Background/aim: A significant phenotypical variability is observed in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The variability cannot be fully explained by the genetic heterogeneity of the disease. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been suggested to be a major promoting factor in renal diseases. The role of the ET-1 gene locus (EDN1) in the renal function in the general nondiabetic population was evaluated. We examined the influence of three single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the ET-1 gene (EDN1)--K198N, 3A/4A, and T-1370G--on the progression of ADPKD towards end-stage renal disease (ESRD)., Methods: Two hundred and five ADPKD patients (113 males and 92 females) who had reached ESRD were analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups: (1) 48 patients (23 males and 25 females) with ESRD later than 63 years of age (slow progressors), (2) 74 patients (41 males and 33 females) with ESRD before 45 years of age (rapid progressors), and (3) 83 patients (49 males and 34 females) with ESRD between 45 and 63 years old. DNA samples from collected blood were genotyped for three single-nucleotide polymorphisms of EDN1: K198N, 3A/4A, and T-1370G. Haplotype analysis was also done in 200 healthy individuals. We compared the frequencies of the different genotypes between the groups of slow and rapid progressors and the ages at the time of ESRD regarding the EDN1 genotypes., Results: The EDN1 genotype distribution showed no differences among the groups of slow progressors, rapid progressors, the ADPKD group with ESRD between 45 and 63 years old, and the control group. Comparing the ages of ESRD of all patients, we did not find significant differences with regard to the different genotypes. Furthermore, we compared the combinations of the different haplotypes and the ages at the time of ESRD. We found no differences in ages at the time of ESRD in patients with different haplotypes in the endothelin promoter (T-1370G) in combination with 3A/4A or K198N polymorphisms. Comparing the ages at the time of ESRD in patients with different 3A/4A and K198N haplotypes, we found a significantly lower age at the time of ESRD (47.1 +/- 8.7 years) in the carriers of the 4A allele in combination with the 198N allele (4A/4A, 3A/4A + 198KN,NN) than in the carriers of the 4A allele homozygous for the K198 allele (52.9 +/- 10.9 years; 4A/4A, 3A/4A + 198KK; t test: p < 0.01) and in the carriers of the 198N allele homozygous for the 3A allele (53 +/- 11.2 years; 3A/3A + 198KN,NN; t test: p < 0.05)., Conclusions: We excluded an effect of K198N, 3A/4A, and T-1370G polymorphisms of EDN1 on the progression of ADPKD. However, a deleterious effect of the combination of 4A and 198N alleles of EDN1 was observed in APKDK individuals., (Copyright 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most frequent syndromes characterized namely by heavy proteinuria. Majority of NS occurs as a sporadic form, the incidence of familial cases is from 3 to 5%. Seven genes have been recognized till present, which mutations are responsible for severe forms of NS: NPHS1, NPHS2, ACTN4, CD2AP and WT1, TRPC6, LAMB2. Proteins encoded by these genes (nephrin, podocin, alpha-actinin-4, an adapter protein anchoring CD2 and others) influence the function of the podocytes. In cases of mutation in NPHS1 gene, causing congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF), resistance to steroid therapy occurs regularly and recurrence of proteinuria after renal transplantation is about 20-25%. Mutations in NPHS2 gene lead to autosomal recessive steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (histologically focal segmental glomerulosclerosis). It was concluded that patients with steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) with homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in NPHS2 have reduced risk for recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in renal transplant (only 8% in comparison with 35% in patients without mutation in NPHS2). A functional polymorphism of NPHS2 gene--R229Q was associated with a late-onset nephrotic syndrome and also with an increased risk of microalbuminuria in the general population. The R229Q variant encodes a protein with lower affinity for binding nephrin. This polymorphism appears to enhance susceptibility to FSGS in association with a second mutant NPHS2 allele. There are also 3 genetic loci connected with autosomal dominant forms of FSGS: ACTN4, TRPC6 and CD2AP (found only in the mice models). These forms of FSGS differ from the recessive form by later-onset and more slowly progressive course of the disease; these mutations seem to be responsible for only a fraction of the autosomal dominant pattern of FSGS.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy is an immune-complex-mediated glomerulonephritis characterized by diffuse mesangial deposition of immunoglobulin A or IgA--containing immune complexes. Although its most common clinical presentation is macroscopic hematuria provoked by upper respiratory tract infection, this is neither universal nor necessary for the diagnosis. The patients with IgA nephropathy manifest with variable clinical symptoms (e.g., microhematuria with preserved renal function or progressive deterioration of renal functions resulting in end-stage renal disease). The pathogenetic mechanisms include the abnormality of O-glycosylation of the IgA1 molecule, genetic factors, environmental factors and various inflammatory mediators. The source of mesangial IgA deposits is total circulating serum IgA but the response of the mesangium and the mesangial cells to the deposited IgA is critical to the development of IgAN. Without a genetic predisposition to IgAN, IgA deposition can cause no risk for triggering glomerulonephritis. If generic progression risk factors of an unfavourable outcome coincide (e.g. hypertension, severe proteinuria, elevated serum creatinine level), this will increase the likelihood of progressive renal impairment. Further studies are needed to disclose the precise pathogenetic mechanisms involved in primary IgA nephropathy and to facilitate the development of newer therapeutic possibilities.

Our study is aimed to reveal the frequency and clinical significance of the coincidence of two widely spread entities, e.g. minimal change disease (MCD) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN), claimed to be found in an overwhelming number in some Asian regions. We retrospectively analyzed clinical and histological data from 627 renal biopsies, performed in our department from January 2002 to January 2005 and completed electron microscopy in 112 specimens diagnosed as IgAN. The coincidence of IgAN and MCD was found in 8 patients (7.1%). The coincidence of IgAN and minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) clinically--especially presence of nephrotic syndrome and the response to drug therapy (with corticosteroids)--behaves as "pure" MCN. Our data from Czech Republic seem to suggest that the combination of IgAN with MCNS can be found relatively frequently not only in Asian patients (as stressed by some authors of Asian origin) but also in European inhabitants. The pathogenesis of the coincidence of IgAN and MCD needs to be elucidated by further studies.