De novo Glomerular Disease and the Significance of Electron Microscopy in Renal Transplantation

BACKGROUND: De novo glomerular diseases comprising those both common and unique to transplant may develop in the renal allograft leading to posttransplant proteinuria, hematuria, or allograft failure. Electron microscopy (EM) is a useful adjunct to the standard light and immunofluorescence microscopy for accurately diagnosing these diseases and subsequently aiding the clinician in initiating appropriate treatments. SUMMARY: De novo diseases are those new-onset diseases in renal transplantation that are unrelated to the original kidney disease in the recipient. They include virtually any primary or secondary glomerular, tubulointerstitial, or vascular diseases, ranging from subclinical to clinically overt, having acute, subacute, or chronic clinical presentations. This review focuses on common or significant, mainly glomerular, entities, with particular attention to the EM findings. The time of onset, stage, and severity of these diseases may often be modified by the current immunosuppressive protocols and other donor and recipient predisposing characteristics. KEY MESSAGES: A renal allograft biopsy not only improves our understanding of the pathophysiology but also provides diagnostic accuracy prognostic information, and potential for reversibility. In some cases, the biopsy leads to detection of unsuspected or clinically asymptomatic de novo diseases in the setting of other concomitant rejection processes, infection, or toxicity, which can dictate appropriate therapy. Routine EM in transplant kidney biopsies is a valuable modality in recognizing fully developed or early/subtle features of evolving de novo diseases, often during the subclinical phases, in “for cause” or surveillance/protocol allograft biopsies.