Benign Nephroangiosclerosis at the Zinder National Hospital: Clinical Presentation and Paraclinical Aspects

The aim of our study was to examine the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of benign nephroangiosclerosis (BNA) in the Nephrology department of the National Hospital of Zinder. Patients and method: This is a cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim that involved 152 patient files who had undergone a kidney biopsy (KB) over a period of 4 years from November 1, 2019 to November 1, 2023 at the Nephrology department of the Zinder National Hospital. The processing and analysis of the data collected were carried out using Excel and Epi Info software version 7.2.5.0. Results: During the study period, 152 patients underwent kidney biopsy, 31% of whom (n=47) were hypertensive. The hospital prevalence of NAS represented 9% (n=13) of all kidney biopsies. The mean age was 44.69 ± 10.66 years with extremes of 28 and 63 years. The sex ratio was 5.5 in favor of men. Two out of three patients had 24-hour proteinuria between 1 and 3g. In total, 61% (n= 8) of the patients in our sample were in the last stage of kidney failure. The main indication for kidney biopsy, unexplained kidney failure, was therefore the most frequent indication representing 53.85% (n= 7). Conclusion: This work demonstrates that benign NAS is a reality at the Zinder National Hospital. This disease is more common in young people with cardiovascular risk factors, whose diagnosis is most often made at the last stage of kidney failure. Its progression is insidious and potentially fatal, which is why detecting and controlling high blood pressure at the initial stage will reduce the morbidity and mortality of NAS in our context of limited resources.