Glomerulonephritis

Question 1

What is glomerulonephritis?

Answer 1

Acute or chronic injury to glomerulus (most often immune-mediated)

Question 2

List 3 specific forms of glomerulonephritis

Answer 2

Acute post-infectious GN
IgA nephropathy
Membranous nephropathy

Question 3

What is the most common form of glomerulonephritis in Australia?

Answer 3

IgA nephropathy

Question 4

What is the response of the kidney to glomerulonephritis?

Answer 4

Glomerular cells proliferate
May be inflammatory cells
Basement membrane may proliferate

Question 5

In what part of the glomerulus do dark (electron-dense) deposits aggregate in IgA nephropathy?

Answer 5

In the mesangium

Question 6

In what part of the glomerulus do dark (electron-dense) deposits aggregate in membranous nephropathy?

Answer 6

Along the outer aspect of the basement membrane

Question 7

What findings may be present if acute glomerulonephritis causes necrosis of part of the capillary tuft?

Answer 7

Crescent (clumps of exuded fibrin, monocytes and podocytes)

Not specific to the cause, just indicates necrosis of a segment of the glomerular tuft

Question 8

What deposits in the glomerulus in the immune-mediated forms of glomerulonephritis?

Answer 8

Immune complexes

Question 9

When does post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis occur?

Answer 9

Usually 3-4 weeks after S. pyogenes infection (pharyngitis or impetigo)

Question 10

When does IgA nephropathy arise?

Answer 10

Often a few days after an URTI