Objective: To investigate the new pathological classification of diabetic nephropathy (DN) published by Research Committee of the Renal Pathology Society in 2010.
Methods: Renal biopsy specimens were obtained from 37 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with micro-albuminuria (MAU) or clinical albuminuria (CAU). These samples were classified according to new pathological classification for DN and new standard scores for interstitial vascular injury.
Results: Before the classification, DN was seen in 26 palients. After re-analysis according to the new pathological classification, the patients diagnosed with DN increased to 32. In these 32 DN patients, 1 was classified as type I, 3 as type IIa, 2 as type IIb, 23 as type III and 3 as type IV; 12 patients had mild interstitial injury, 15 had midrange interstitial injury, while 5 had severe interstitial injury.
Conclusion: The new pathological classification of DN can increase the diagnosis rate and attract more attention to tubular and interstitial damage in DN, contributing to the early diagnosis and treatment of DN.