Immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections versus immunofluorescence on frozen sections in the assessment of renal biopsies

• Main Authors: Nasar Yousuf Alwahaibi, Rajaa Mohammed Alsidiri, Thuraiya Amer Alsinawi, Wafa Hamed Almalki, Shadia Said Alsinawi, Marwa Abdullah Alriyami
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Nephrology
• Subjects: frozen sections; immunofluorescence; immunoperoxidase; paraffin sections; renal biopsy
• Online Access: http://www.indianjnephrol.org/article.asp?issn=0971-4065;year=2020;volume=30;issue=1;spage=8;epage=13;aulast=Alwahaibi
• ISSN: 0971-4065; 1998-3662

Introduction: There are few published studies comparing immunofluorescence on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections (IF-P) and immunoperoxidase on FFPE tissue sections (IP-P) with immunofluorescence on frozen sections (IF-F) for evaluation of renal diseases. Also, the accuracy for each method differs greatly. The aim of this study was to evaluate IF-P and IP-P as an alternative to IF-F (gold standard method) in the diagnosis of renal biopsies specimens. Methods: In all, 101 renal biopsies were subjected to IF-P, IP-P, and IF-F staining to demonstrate immunoglobulin IgA, IgG, and IgM immune deposits. Sensitivity, specificity, false-positive, and false-negative values were calculated. Results: IP-P showed sensitivity of 61.8%, 74.2%, and 64.2%, and specificity of 84.8%, 69.2%, and 66.7% for IgA, IgG, and IgM, respectively. IF-P showed a sensitivity of 45.6%, 69.4% and 52.8%, and specificity of 87.9%, 87.2% and 77.1% for IgA, IgG and IgM, respectively. False-positive cases of IF-P and IP-P were 4, 5, and 11 and 5, 12, and 16 for IgA, IgG, and IgM, respectively. Conclusion: Where IF-F lacks glomeruli or fresh renal biopsies are not available, IP-P is a sensitive method, whereas IF-P is a specific method for the evaluation of immune deposits in the renal tissue biopsies. The presence of false-positive cases in both methods deserves further research.