Glomerulonephritis Flashcards
Define glomerulonephritis.
Glomerulonephritis is immunologically mediated inflammation of renal glomeruli.
Describe the pathogenesis of Glomerulonephritis.
May be idiopathic or secondary to systematic disease or infection.
Formation or deposition of immune complexes within the glomeruli is recognised as one pathogenic mechanism.
Leads to compliment activation and inflammation which damages glomeruli.
In Goodpasture’s disease, circulating antibodies directed against glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) mediate the injury, allowing blood and protein to leak into urine.
•Cross reactivity with alveolar membranes leads to pulmonary haemorrhage.
Describe the epidemiology of glomerulonephritis.
Makes up to 25% of cases of chronic renal failure.
Most common type worldwide is IgA nephropathy, typically presents in men aged 18-30yrs.
Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis also occurs principally in young adults.
Membranous nephropathy and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) are more common in patients aged 40-60yrs.
Focal and segmental glomerulonephritis (FSGS), minimal change disease and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis can affect at any age, the latter two are common in childhood.
What would a patient presenting with glomerulonephritis describe in their history?
Haematuria, subcutaneous oedema, polyuria or oliguria, proteinuria. History of recent infection.
Symptoms of uraemia or renal failure (acute and chronic).
