Key pathological features characterize minimal change disease-like IgA nephropathy.

Aims: A subset of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients exhibiting minimal change disease (MCD) like features present with nephrotic-range proteinuria and warrants immunosuppressive therapy (IST). However, the diagnosis of MCD-like IgAN varied by reports. We aimed to identify the key pathological features of MCD-like IgAN.

Methods: In this cohort, 228 patients had biopsy-proven IgAN from 2009 to 2021, of which 44 without segmental sclerosis were enrolled. Patients were classified into segmental (< 50% glomerular capillary loop involvement) or global (> 50%) foot process effacement (FPE) groups. We further stratified them according to the usage of immunosuppressant therapy after biopsy. Clinical manifestations, treatment response, and renal outcome were compared.

Results: 26 cases (59.1%) were classified as segmental FPE group and 18 cases (40.9%) as global FPE group. The global FPE group had more severe proteinuria (11.48 [2.60, 15.29] vs. 0.97 [0.14, 1.67] g/g, p = 0.001) and had a higher proportion of complete remission (81.8% vs. 20%, p = 0.018). In the global FPE group, patients without IST experienced more rapid downward eGFR change than the IST-treated population (-0.38 [-1.24, 0.06] vs. 1.26 [-0.17, 3.20]mL/min/1.73 m2/month, p = 0.004).

Conclusions: The absence of segmental sclerosis and the presence of global FPE are valuable pathological features that assist in identifying MCD-like IgAN.