Glomerular Disease Flashcards
How does a normal glomerulus function?
- Blood enters via afferent arteriole
- Blood is filtered across glomerular membrane
- All proteins equal to or larger than albumin (including immunoglobulins) will not be filtered- they will stay in the plasma)
- Filtrate goes into Bowman’s space then into proximal tubule
- Blood cells, some fluid and albumin and larger proteins exit via efferent arteriole
What cells wrap around the capillaries present in the glomerulus?
Podocytes
How are podocytes able to wrap around capillaries?
They have interdigitating fingers or foot processes
What are the 3 components of the filter barrier (membrane)?
- Endothelial cell cytoplasm
- Basal lamina
- Podocyte
What are mesangial cells?
Tree-like group of cells which support capillaries
What is present in the efferent arteriole of the glomerulus?
Contains plasma including unfiltered proteins such as albumin and antibodies
What is glomerulonephritis?
- Diseases of the glomerulus which can be inflammatory or non inflammatory
- Large range of conditions
What does primary glomerulonephritis affect?
Only affects the glomerulus
What does secondary glomerulonephritis affect?
Glomerulus and other parts of the body e.g. in SLE or Wegener’s
What is the aetiology of glomerulonephritis?
- Some are due to immunoglobulin deposition
- Some are diseases with no immunoglobulin deposition - for example- diabetic glomerular disease
What are 4 common presentations of glomerulonephritis?
- Haematuria (blood in the urine)
- Heavy proteinuria (nephrotic syndrome)
- Slowly increasing proteinuria
- Acute renal failure (rapidly rising creatinine)
What are the main causes of glomerulonephritis?
- UTI
- Urinary tract stone
- Urinary tract tumour
- Glomerulonephritis
What must be done before a renal biopsy can be carried out?
Check clotting
What may the initial presentation of IgA proliferative nephropathy?
Discoloured urine (due to presence of blood)
What investigations may be carried out for IgA proliferative nephropathy?
- Dipstick urine
- Urine culture
- Ultrasound of abdomen
- Renal biopsy
What may be found on histology of IgA proliferative nephropathy?
- Accumulation of pink mesangial matrix
- Too many mesangial cells
- Deposits of IgA with prominent of mesangial cells
What may be seen on immunofluorescence of IgA proliferative nephropathy?
Immunoglobulin (of IgA type) and complement component C3 in mesangial area of all glomeruli
Why is there increased mesangial cells in IgA proliferative nephropathy?
IgA deposits cause increased proliferation of mesangial cells
What is the aetiology of IgA glomerulonephritis?
-Unknown
-May be due to excess antibody production as excess antibody (IgA) sometimes present in serum, but this is also true of some people who do not have IgA glomerulonephritis
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Why is IgA not removed by the glomerulus?
It is not known why but it is probable very important to the cause of the disease