Glomerulonephritis Flashcards
What is glomerulonephritis?
Inflammation of the glomerulus
Causes 15% of end stage kidney disease
Classified based on kidney biopsy findings
What does diagnosis of glomerulonephritis depend on?
Kidney biopsy
What are the glomerulonephritis features?
Haematuria (visible or non-visible), proteinuria (low grade or nephrotic), hypertension and renal impairment
Describe the nephritic state
Active urine sediment - haematuria, dysmorphic RBCs, and cellular casts
Hypertension
Renal impairment
What is nephrotic syndrome?
Oedema
Nephrotic range proteinuria > 3.5g/day or 350mg/mmol creatinine
Hypoalbuminemia - serum albumin <35g/l
Dyslipidaemia
What are the 2 categories of glomerulonephritis?
Proliferative and non-proliferative
What is proliferative glomerulonephritis?
Excessive numbers of cells in glomeruli which include infiltrating leucocytes
What is non-proliferative glomerulonephritis?
Glomeruli look normal or have areas of scarring
They have normal numbers of cells
What are the pathology descriptions?
Diffuse - more then 50% of glomerulus affected
Focal - less than 50% of glomerulus affected
Global - all glomerulus affected
Segmental - part of glomerulus affected
What are the types of non-proliferative glomerulonephritis?
Minimal change disease
Membranous nephropathy
FSGS
More nephritic than nephrotic
What are the types of proliferative glomerulonephritis?
Mesangio-proliferative GN - IgA nephropathy
Membrano-proliferative GN - lupus nephropathy
Diffuse proliferative GN - post infection GN
Crescentic GN - ANCA associated GN
More nephritic than nephrotic
Describe IgA nephropathy
Commonest cause of GN world wide
Characterised by IgA deposition in the mesangium and mesangial proliferation
Common in 2nd and 3rd decades of life with more males affected
Up to 30% can progress to end stage kidney failure
What is IgA nephropathy presentation?
Microscopic haematuria
Microscopic haematuria and proteinuria
Nephrotic syndrome
IgA crescentic GN
What is the treatment for IgA nephropathy?
Start on ACE inhibitors
Kidney transplant if continued increase in creatinine and decreased eGFR
Describe post-streptococcal GN
Follows 10-21 days after infection typically of throat and skin
Most commonly with Lancefield group A streptococci
Genetic predisposition - HLA-DR and -DP
IgG deposits