Evaluation of Adult Patients Diagnosed with Idiopathic Membranous Glomerulonephritis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), an immunocompetent nephropathy, is among the most prevalent causes of nephrotic syndrome. While spontaneous remission may occur, there is a risk of developing long-term end-stage renal failure. Treatment approaches for MGN lack full consensus; however, immunosuppressive therapies are critically important. This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 99 patients who visited our center between March 2007 and November 2015 and were diagnosed with MGN. Patient data were scanned and recorded retrospectively from the hospital information system. Of the 99 patients, 43 (43.4%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 46.7 years, with a mean follow-up duration of 18.5 months. A total of 71 patients (71.7%) presented with nephrotic proteinuria, while 57 patients (57.6%) had nephrotic syndrome. Immunosuppressive drugs were prescribed to 85 patients (85.9%). Among those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, 57 patients (79.9%) still exhibited proteinuria at the time of diagnosis. Remission was achieved in 63 patients (74.1%) who underwent immunosuppressive therapy, compared to 10 patients (71.3%) who received conservative treatment. Hypertension and IgG deposition may be associated with a poorer treatment response in patients diagnosed with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN). In summary, MGN is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome that can affect individuals of various ages and genders. Our study identified higher remission rates in patients treated with immunosuppressive therapy, which emphasizes the value of evaluating individual risk factors and selecting appropriate treatment strategies for effective disease management.