Glomerulonephritis

Question 1

What is glomerulonephritis?

Answer 1

Glomerulonephritis is an umbrella term applied to conditions that cause inflammation of or around the glomerulus and nephron. There are many conditions that can be described as glomerulonephritis. Below there is a list of the types of glomerulonephritis. These are specific diseases and diagnoses that have their own pathophysiology.

Question 2

What is Interstitial nephritis?

Answer 2

Interstitial nephritis is a term to describe a situation where there is inflammation of the space between cells and tubules (the interstitium) within the kidney. It is important not to confuse this with glomerulonephritis. Under the umbrella term of interstitial nephritis, there are two key specific diagnoses: acute interstitial nephritis and chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis. These are discussed in a later section.

Question 3

What is glomerulosclerosis?

Answer 3

Glomerulosclerosis is a term to describe the pathological process of scarring of the tissue in the glomerulus. It is not a diagnosis in itself and is more a term used to describe the damage and scarring done by other diagnoses. Glomerulosclerosis can be caused by any type of glomerulonephritis or obstructive uropathy (blockage of urine outflow), and by a specific disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Question 4

Types of glomerulonephritis?

Answer 4

Minimal change disease
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Membranous glomerulonephritis
IgA nephropathy (AKA mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis or Berger’s disease)
Post streptococcal glomerulonephritis (AKA diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis)
Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
Goodpasture Syndrome

Question 5

How do you treat them?

Answer 5

Immunosuppression (e.g. steroids)
Blood pressure control by blocking the renin-angiotensin system (i.e. ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-II receptor blockers)