Utility of Different Anti-IgG Antibodies in Recognition of Punctate (Powdery) Podocyte Staining by Immunofluorescence in Patients with Diffuse Podocyte Foot Process Effacement

Circulating anti-nephrin autoantibodies recently were recognized as a possible pathogenic factor in patients with steroid-resistant minimal change disease. In a kidney biopsy, these patients have punctate ("powdery") staining in the podocytes by immunofluorescence. Previously published data described such pattern of staining by using anti-IgG Dako antibody. In the routine practice, different laboratories use different anti-IgG antibodies from a variety of vendors. The aim of this work was to compare the ability to recognize the punctate staining in the podocyte by two different anti-IgG antibodies (Dako and Kent) that are in use in our routine renal pathology practice. Our data indicates that both anti-IgG antibodies recognize the punctate ("powdery) staining in the podocytes in a subset of patients with minimal change disease.