[8] Glomerulonephritis Flashcards
What is glomerulonephritis?
A group of disorders resulting from glomerular damage
What can glomerulonephritis lead to?
Proteinuria, with or without haematuria
AKI or end-stage renal failure
How might glomerulonephritis present?
Asymptomatic haematuria
Nephrotic syndrome
Nephritic syndrome
What are the causes of glomerulonephritis?
Idiopathic Immune Infection Drugs Amyloid
What are the immune causes of glomerulonephritis?
SLE
Goodpastures
Vasculitis
What are the infectious causes of glomerulonephritis?
HBV
HCV
Strep
HIV
What drugs can cause glomerulonephritis?
Penicillamine
Gold (?????)
What investigations should be done into glomerulonephritis?
Blood
Urine
Imaging
What basic bloods should be done in glomerulonephritis?
FBC
U&E
ESR
What other bloods should be done in glomerulonephritis?
Complement
Antibodies
Serum protein electrophoresis and Ig
Bloods to look for infection
What Abs should be looked for in glomerulonephritis?
ANA
dsDNA
ANCA
GBM
What bloods should be done to look for infection in glomerulonephritis?
ASOT (looks for strep)
HBV and HCV serology
What urine testing should be done in glomerulonephritis?
Dipstick
Spot PCR
MCS
Bence-Jones protein
What imaging should be done in glomerulonephritis?
CXR
Renal US, with or without biopsy
What may be found on CXR in glomerulonephritis?
Infiltrates
Give two examples of when infiltrates may be seen on CXR in glomerulonephritis?
Goodpasture’s
Wegener’s
What is involved in the general management of glomerulonephritis?
Refer to nephrologist
Rx HTN aggressively, including ACEi and ARA
What BP should be aimed for in glomerulonephritis?
<130/80
What are the causes of asymptomatic haematuria?
IgA nephropathy
Thin BM disease
Alport’s syndrome
Who does IgA nephropathy most common present in?
Young males
How does IgA nephropathy commonly present?
Episodic macroscopic haematuria occuring a few days after a URTI, with rapid recovery between attacks
What is found on blood testing in Iga nephropathy?
Increased IgA
What can IgA nephropathy occassionally lead to?
Nephritic syndrome
What is found on biopsy in IgA nephropathy?
IgA deposition in mesangium
How is IgA nephropathy managed?
Steroids or cyclophosphamide if decreased renal function
What is the prognosis of IgA nephropathy?
20% develop end-stage renal failure after 20 years
What is the inheritance pattern of thin BM disease?
Autosomal dominant
What is the risk of end-stage renal failure in thin BM disease?
Very small
What is the inheritance pattern of Alport’s syndrome?
85% of cases are X-linked
How does thin BM disease present?
Persistent, asymptomatic microscopic haematuria
What are the features of Alport’s syndrome?
Haematuria and proteinuria lead to progressive renal failure
Sensorineural deafness
Lens dislocation and cataracts
Retinal ‘flecks’
How does Alports syndrome present in females?
With haematuria only
What are the features of nephritic syndrome?
Haematuria and red cell casts Proteinuria Hypertension Oedema Oliguria and progressive renal impairment
Is the haematuria macroscopic or microscopic in nephritic syndrome?
Can be either
Where is oedema common in nephritic syndrome?
Periorbital
What are the causes of nephritic syndrome?
Proliferative/post-streptococcal
Crescentic/RPGN
Who is proliferative/post-streptococcal nephritic syndrome most common in?
Young children
How does proliferative/post-streptococcal nephritic syndrome present?
Malaise and nephritic syndrome with smoky urine developing 1-2 weeks after sore throat or skin infection
What is found on blood testing in proliferative/post-streptococcal nephritic syndrome?
Increased ASOT (titre for strep) Decreased C3
What is found on biopsy in proliferative/post-streptococcal nephritic syndrome?
IgG and C3 deposition