Glomerulonephritis Overview Flashcards
What is glomerulonephritis?
Inflammation of the glomerulus
What is often required for a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis?
Kidney biopsy
Which type of vessels make up the glomerulus?
Capillaries
What are the three layers of the triple filtration barrier of the glomerulus?
Endothelium cells on the inner side
Glomerular basement membrane in the middle
Podocytes on outer side
What is meant by active urine sediment?
If you look at a urine sample under the microscope, there would be haematuria, dysmorphic RBC’s and cellular casts seen
What are the three features of nephritic state?
Active urine sediment
Hypertension
Renal impairment
What are the four features of nephritic syndrome?
Oedema
Nephrotic range of proteinuria (>3.5g/day pr 350mg/mmol of creatinine)
Hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <35g/L)
Dyslipidaemia
What happens in nephritic state?
Invasion of the glomerulus by inflammatory cells
Attacks endothelium and damages glomerular basement membrane and podocytes
Disruption of these filter layers means leak of blood cells
What happens in nephrotic state?
Thickening of glomerular basemen membrane
Shrinking of podocytes meaning the foot processes come apart leading to the spillage of albumin
Glomerulonephritis can be classified as proliferative or non-proliferative.
When is glomerulonephritis known to be proliferative?
When there is excessive number of cells in the glomeruli, including infiltrating leucocytes
Glomerulonephritis can be classified as proliferative or non-proliferative.
When is glomerulonephritis known to be non-proliferative?
Glomeruli look normal or have areas or scarring but a normal number of cells
Which techniques can be used to asses glomerulonephritis ?
Immunofluorescence or electron microscopy
In terms of pathology description, what is meant if it is said there is diffuse glomerulonephritis ?
> 50% of the glomeruli are affected
In terms of pathology description, what is meant if it is said there is focal glomerulonephritis ?
<50% of the glomeruli are affected
In terms of pathology description, what is meant if it is said there is global glomerulonephritis ?
All the glomerulus is affected
->global = whole world
In terms of pathology description, what is meant if it is said there is segmental glomerulonephritis ?
Only part of the glomerulus is affected
Okay, what is the difference between nephrotic syndrome and nephritic syndrome?
Nephrotic- loss of significant volumes of protein, resulting in hypoalbuminemia
Nephritic- involves haematuria, mild to moderate proteinuria, hypertension.
What is the commonest cause of glomerulonephritis ?
IgA nephropathy