Multicenter Review of Glomerular Diseases in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi: Six Years' Experience

Abstract

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a rising paramount renal disease that varies in etiology from inherited or acquired factors. Its severity can range from asymptomatic depictions to end-stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to study the patterns of biopsy-proven GN based on the data from a multicenter in Abu Dhabi. Included kidney biopsies were from all patients above the age of 18 years, over a six-year period from 2010 to 2015, who had diagnosis of glomerular disease other than diabetes mellitus. The number of reviewed biopsies was 416. The most common type of GN among the study sample was IgA GN (22.8%) followed by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (20.4%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (19.7%). The least common types were pauciimmune (1.7%). There was female preponderance in lupus nephritis and pauciimmune GN. The nationality comparison did not reveal a predominate GN among Emirati nationals. The age relationship to GN types showed that majority (82.9%) of SLE patients, MCD (74.55%), and noncategorized (71.4%) patients are young aged between 18 and 39 years. On the other hand, 57.1%, 25%, and 16.7% of patients with pauciimmune, other GN types, and membranoproliferative GN, respectively, are 60 years and older. This study shows the histopathological variety of glomerular disease in Abu Dhabi. It could be a driving point to help understand GN better in the region.