Abstract
BACKGROUND: Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is associated with the highest risk for developing venous thrombosis compared with other nephrotic diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the predictive value of the pathognomonic anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibody with regard to incidence of venous thrombosis in PMN. METHODS: A total of 365 in-hospital patients diagnosed with PMN were enrolled in the study. Anti-PLA2R antibody was detected by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate logistic regression was used to detect the independent risk factors for venous thrombosis. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (10.14%) had venous thrombosis. Patients with venous thrombosis had higher levels of cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and D-dimer than those without venous thrombosis (p < .05). Patients with venous thrombosis had significantly lower levels of albumin (23.95 ± 5.53 vs. 26.18 ± 6.59 g/L, p = .049). No significant differences were found in proteinuria, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, platelets, and fibrinogen between patients with and without thrombosis. Anti-PLA2R antibody levels in patients with venous thrombosis were significantly higher than in patients without it (p = .002). In the univariate logistic regression, Ln anti-PLA2R antibody (OR: 1.340; p = .004), albumin (OR: 0.945; p = .050), CHOL (OR: 1.191; p = .006), and LDL (OR: 1.271, p = .006) were associated with venous thrombosis. Ln anti-PLA2R antibody (OR = 1.269; 95%CI: 1.032-1.561), and LDL (OR = 1.213; 95%CI: 1.017-1.448) were the independent risk factors for venous thrombosis (p < .05) in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-PLA2R antibody was the independent risk factor for venous thrombosis in PMN. Larger prospective studies were warranted to verify the results in future.