glomerulonephritis Flashcards
define glomerulonephritis
Inflammation of the glomerulus
What is relied on for the diagnosis and classification of glomerulonephritis
Kidney biopsy
What is the function of podocytes
They support the glomerulus barrier and prevent larger structures like albumin passing through
What is the filtration system of the glomerulus made up of
Endothelial cells on the inner side, basement membrane in the middle and podocytes on the outside
What are clinical features seen in glomerulonephritis
Haematuria
Proteinuria
Hypertension
Renal impairment
How does glomerulonephritis cause hypertension
Disruption of the glomerulus so less filtration and therefore cannot get rid of salt and water
How does glomeulonephritis cause renal impairment
Unable to get rid of the waste products
What are the features of a nephritic state
Hypertension
Renal impairment
Active urinary sediment - haematuria, dysmorphic red blood cells and cellular casts
What are the features of nephrotic syndrome
(More protein based)
Oedema
Nephrotic range proteinuria - more than 3.5g/day creatinine
Hypoalbuminaemia - serum albumin less than 35g/L
Dyslipidaemia - imbalance of HDL and LDL in the blood
What happens in a nephritic state
There is an invasion of neutrophils which damages all 3 layers of the wall which leads to cellular casts, albumin and blood leaking throug
What happens in nephrotic syndrome
Some thickening to the basement membrane but mainly the podocytes become short and ill so their foot processes come apart which leads to albumin being able to slip through
What are the two classifications which glomerulonephritis can be split into
Proliferative - excessive number of cells in the glomerulus including infiltrating leukocytes
Non-proliferative - glomerulus loom normal or have some areas of scarring - they have a normal number of cells
What does diffuse mean
More than 50% of the glomeruli is affected
What does focal mean
Less than 50% of the glomerulus is affected
What does global mean
The whole glomerulus is affected
What does segmental mean
Parts of the glomerulus are affected
What are the proliferative types of glomerulonephritis
Mesangioproliferative GN - e.g IgA nephropathy
Membranoproliferative GN - e.g Lupus nephritis
Diffuse proliferative GN - e.g post infectious GN
Crescentic GN - e.g ANCA associated GN
Crescentic glomerulonephritis is the only proliferative GN without proliferative in the nake
What are the non proliferative types of Glomerulonephritis
Minimal change disease
Membranous nephropathy
Focal and segmental glomeruosclerosis (FSGS)
What is the most common cause of glomerulonephritis
IgA nephropathy
Describe IgA nephropathy
Characterised by IgA deposition in the mesangium which caused mesangial cell proliferation
It is most common in males