Objective  To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of 139 patients with primary membranous nephropathy in different age groups.

  Methods  Totally 139 patients with primary membranous nephropathy were selected and divided into group A (less than 20 years old) with 20 cases, group B (20 to less than 40 years old) with 39 cases, group C (40 to 60 years old) with 56 cases and group D (over 60 years old) with 24 cases.

  Results  There was no significant difference in the proportion of male and female in the four groups (P>0.05), but the proportion of male was significantly higher than that of female in each group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in edema and microscopic hematuria among the four groups (P>0.05). Among the four groups, incidence of hypertension increased significantly with increasing of age (P < 0.05). There was significant difference in the course of disease among the four groups (P < 0.05), and group A had the shortest course. There was no significant difference in clinical diagnosis among the four groups (P>0.05). There were significant differences in pathological diagnosis, renal function and risk among the four groups (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  The clinical and pathological manifestations of primary membranous nephropathy are different in patients with different age groups. The main clinical manifestation of primary membranous nephropathy is nephrotic syndrome. The older the patients are, the higher the risks of renal function, pathological diagnosis and dangerous degree are.