Glomerular basement membrane thickness among the Saudi population

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to determine the mean glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickness in the Saudi population. We calculated the average GBM thickness in patients diagnosed with minimal change disease, and the ultrastructural analysis of at least three glomeruli was reviewed using a digital camera installed in an electron microscope. There were a total of 53 cases from 53 Saudi patients aged 2–70 years old. The mean GBM thickness for all cases was 323.6 ± 49.5 nm. There was no significant statistical difference in the mean GBM thickness between males and females. There were significant differences in the mean GBM thickness between all age groups, except for between the age groups 18–60 and >60 years old, where GBM thickness did not differ significantly. Age was significantly correlated with definite progression or diminution in the thickness of the GBM. The mean GBM thickness in our Saudi sample population was comparable to the very few reported measurements in the literature. There was no significant association between GBM thickness and gender; however, GBM thickness is directly proportional to age, up to 60 years old.

KEYWORDS:

• Glomerular basement membrane
• minimal change disease
• thickness