glomerulonephritis Flashcards
what are mesangial cell and what is their function
smooth muscle–like cells that contain actin and myosin -> they connect to each other via gap junctions and to the Glomerular Basement Membrane via cell processes;
Contraction of mesangial cells regulates the size of the capillary lumen and thus the amount of glomerular blood flow
what is a focal glomerulonephritis
affecting only some glomeruli
what is a diffuse glomerulonephritis
affecting all glomeruli
what is a segmental glomerulonephritis
affecting only one part of the glomerulus
what is a global glomerulonephritis
affecting the whole glomerulus
what is proliferation
increase in number of cells
what is cell expansion
increase in intracellular matrix
what is crescent proliferation
proliferation of cells within the bowman’s space
2 mechanisms underlying glomerulonephritides
- immunological
- vascular
types of immunological glomerulonephritides + examples !!! (4)
- antibody binding to INTRINSIC glomerular antigens (i.e. the body happens to have auto-antibodies to glomerular antigens) e.g. goodpastures;
- antibody binding to PLANTED glomerular antigens e.g. post strep glomerulonephritis;
- deposition of circulating antigen-antibody complexes -> in active autoimmine disease, complexes can deposit nonspecifically in the BM e.g. lupus nephritis
- NON-SPECIFIC DEPOSITION of circulating antibodies -> binds through the heavy chain (constant region) resulting in more sticky antibodies that can bind randomly e.g. IgA nephropathy
brief pathophys of goodpasture’s disease
antibodies against T4 collagen -> T4 collagen is used to form the basement membrane => destruction of glomerular basement membrane
what is “pauci-immune” crescentic glomerulonephritis
an idiopathic form of crescentic glomerulonephritis that typically lacks significant deposits within glomeruli and most often is associated with ANCA -> systemic vasculitis
indications for renal biopsy (6)
- nephrotic syndrome
- renal dysfunction of unknown cause (e.g. AKI with unknown cause)
- to guide treatment of assess prognosis where diagnosis is known
- dysfucntion of kidney transplant (sus of rejection)
- haematuria
- proteinuria
might not biopsy in last 2
complications of renal biospy (2)
- pain
- bleeding -> may need embolisation/nephrectomy, blood transfusion and may result in death
contraindications to renal biopsy
- abnormal clotting/thrombocytopenia -> take a drug history!!
- drugs (e.g. aspirin, clopi, warfarin)
- uncontrolled hypertension
- single kidney (risk of damaging only working kidney, can still biopsy but only if absolutely necessary)
- hydronephrosis
- urinary tract infection
what imaging guidance is used in renal biopsies
ultrasound
what does the EM of minimal change disease biopsy show
fusion of podocyte foot processes -> biopsy looks normal on light microscopy so EM must be done
what drug class is often implicated in minimal change disease
NSAIDs
what malignancy is often implicated in minimal change disease
lymphoma; leukemia
how does focal segmental glomerulosclerosis present
with nephrotic syndrome and renal impairment
what is seen on biopsy of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (if correct area taken)
segmental sclerotic lesions with C3 and IgM deposition
if nephrotic syndrome doesn’t improve with steroids, what underlying cause should be suspected
- focal segmental glomerulosclerosis !
- membranous nephropathy
what can FSGS and membranous nephrapthy progress to
CKD
secondary causes of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (4)
- obesity (hyperfiltration causes damage)
- IV heroin use
- HIV
- drugs (e.g.pamidronate)
what is the commonest cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults
membranous nephropathy
pathophys of membranous nephropathy
an autoimmune disorder in which immune complexes deposit along the subepithelial region of the glomerular basement membrane (IgG)
what is membranous nephropathy associated with (3)
- solid organ malignancy
- drugs (e.g. gold, penicillamine, captopril)
- infections (e.g. hepaitis, malaria)
what is the rule of 1/3s if membranous nephropathy is untreated
1/3 improve spontaneously
1/3 remain the same
1/3 develop progressive disease
how can mesangiocpillary glomerulonephritis (aka membranoproliferative GN) present
nephrotic or nephritic syndrome