Glomerulonephritis Flashcards
What is glomerulonephritis
is a renal disease
characterised by inflammation and damage to the
glomeruli.
The ‘glomerulopathies’ are a constellation of diseases
characterised by injury to renal glomeruli.
This glomerular damage allows protein (with or
without blood) to leak into the urine (proteinuria
and haematuria respectively).
What layers make up the filtration barrier
Endothelium - capillary wall
Basement membrane - selective barrier to macromolecules
Foot processes podocytes (specialised epithelial cells)
Secondary causes glomerulonephritis
Vasculitis (ANCA-ass vasculitis)
Amyloidosis
Diabetes mellitus
Primary causes of glomerulonephritis
IgA nephropathy
Minimal change disease
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Focal vs diffuse glomerulopathy
50% cut off - number of glomeruli affected
Global vs segmental glomerulopathy
50% of glomerulus itself is cut off
Immune mediated glomerulus damage
Immune complex deposition
activate pro inflam and complement response
Circulating anitbodies target key basement membrane proteins or endothelial cells -> inflammatory reaction
Non immune damage to glomeruli mechanism
Structure and/or function of podocytes affected disrupt filtration barrier -> larger macromolecules leak through
OR
accumulation of non immune material -> dysgunction
Histological patterns
Proliferative - increased cells + inflam response
Non proliferative - structural - sclerosis
Crescents - extracapillary lesions in bowmans capsule due to immune cell accumulartion = severe injury to capillary wall
What glomerulonephrotic diseases are proliferative
Glomerular inflammation with haematuria +/- nephritic syndrome
what glomerulopathies are non proliferative
Excess protein loss and nephrotic syndrome
Groups of glomerulopathies
Isolated haematuria
Isolated proteinuria
Nephrotic syndrome
Nephritic syndrome
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
What is a crescent
extracapillary lesions in Bowan’s capsule
due to accumulation of immune cells, fibroblasts,
epithelial cels and fibrin. Crescents represent
severe injury to the capillary wall that results in
glomerular membrane rupture.
What is isolated haematuria
Persistent haematuria in absence of proteinuria and normal renal function
Reassess over 1-4 weeks to determine
Causes of isolated haematuria
IgA nephropathy
Alport syndrome
Thin basement membrane disease
Exclude non renal causes
What causes isolated proteinuria
Glomerular
Tubular
Overflow
Post renal
What is isolated proteinuria
Persistent proteinuria in absence of other urinary abnormality and normal renal functioon
Non nephrotic in range <3.5 g/day
Benigin causes of proteinuria
Transietn - young patients - absent on repeat testing and exercise precipitates
Orthostatic proteinuria - presence only in upright position
Renal screen
Complement
ANA
ANCA
GBM
Anti-dsDNA
Myeloma screen - serum free light chains, protein electrophoresis
Anti-PLA2R AA
Virology - Hep B, C + HIV
Cryoglobulins
CK
What is anti-PLA2R autoantibody raised in
Membranous nephropathy
What is complement typically low in
Vasculitis
Myeloma screen
serum free lights chains, protein
electrophoresis
What is anti-dsDNA riased in
SLE
CT KUB use in glomerulonephritis
Rule out obstructive pathology
Assess structure of kidneys
Managmenet principles for all glomerular conditions
Regular monitoring
Treat underlying cuase
Determine natural history eg supportive or involved treat needed
Treat complications
Consider RRT
What disease can be both nephritic and nephrotic
Membranous proliferative GN