Abstract: SA-PO0944
Changes in the Glomerular Basement Membrane Thickness in Living-Donor Baseline Biopsies Within a 15-Year Period
Session Information
- Pathology: Updates and Insights
November 08, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Pathology and Lab Medicine
- 1800 Pathology and Lab Medicine
Authors
- Al-Baqain, Khaled, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, United States
- Brodsky, Sergey V., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
- Satoskar, Anjali A., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
- Dasgupta, Alana, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
- Abassi, Zaid, Technion Israel Institute of Technology The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Haifa District, Israel
Background
Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickness is a commonly measured parameter in kidney biopsies and is used for diagnosing GBM abnormalities. In healthy individuals, GBM thickness is believed to remain stable in adulthood. However, there is limited data assessing whether GBM thickness has changed in modern era in patients without overt kidney disease.
This study aimed to evaluate trends in the GBM thickness by comparing GBM thickness that was measured in baseline biopsies from living donor kidney allografts at the time of transplantation in two cohorts (2006–2007 and 2021–2024).
Methods
GBM thickness was measured in the baseline biopsies in two cohorts separated by 15 years. GBM thickness was measured by transmission electron microscopy using the orthogonal intercept method. Donor demographics, and body mass index (BMI), were recorded. Comparative statistical analyses were performed to evaluate temporal changes in the GBM thickness between the two cohorts.
Results
GBM thickness remained stable in males (413.5 ± 68.7 nm vs. 420.4 ± 64.9 nm, p = 0.698) and females (377.35 ± 48.6 nm vs. 373.5 ± 59.4 nm, p = 0.767), in both cohorts.
Among females, the 2021–2024 cohort was significantly older than the 2006–2007 cohort (44.7 ± 10.9 years vs 37.1 ± 8.8 years, p = 0.001), however BMI was significantly lower in the 2021-2024 cohort (25.6 ± 3.8 vs 28.12 ± 6.8, p = 0.024). Among males, BMI was significantly higher in the 2021–2024 cohort compared to the 2006-2007 group (27.4 ± 2.9 vs. 25.4 ± 2.9, p = 0.021)
Correlation analyses were used to assess associations between GBM thickness and age and BMI, but no significant correlations were identified. (p= 0.2 and 0.6 respectively for males, and 0.2 and 0.4 respectively for females.)
Conclusion
GBM thickness has remained stable over the past 15 years in adults. Despite differences in BMI and age between the cohorts, these factors did not appear to impact the GBM thickness.