Hill et al developed an index for evaluating renal biopsies from a patient with lupus nephritis. One component is the immunofluorescence index (IFI). The authors are from Hopitaux Broussais, St. Louis, Henri Mondor and Bichat in Paris.
Patient selection: lupus nephritis
Specimen: renal biopsy
Parameters graded by immunofluorescence (IF):
(1) glomerular capillary IF (glcapif)
(2) glomerular mesangial IF (glmesif)
(3) tubulointerstitial IF (tubulif)
(4) vascular IF (vascif)
Antibodies used for immunofluorescence:
(1) anti-IgG
(2) anti-IgM
(3) anti-IgA
(4) anti-C3
(5) anti-C1q
(6) anti-fibrinogen
Each antibody is scored at each site with a scale from 0 to 4+.
Staining
Points
none
0
weak
1
mild
2
moderate
3
strong
4
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 antibodies against all 4 sites)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 96
• The higher the score the greater the deposition of the target proteins.
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