Glomerulonephritis - Overview

Question 1

What does glomerulonephritis mean?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the glomeruli and nephrons.

Question 2

What does the consequence of inflammation in this context mean?

Answer 2

• Damage to the glomerulus restricts blood flow, leading to increased BP
• Damage to filtration mechanism allows protein and blood to enter the urine
• Loss if the usual filtration capacity leads to AKI

Question 3

What spectrum of disease might patients present with?

Answer 3

BP - normal to malignant HTN
Urine dip - mild proteinuria is a nephrotic syndrome, haematuria is a nephritic.
Renal function - normal to sever impairment

Question 4

What might a nephrotic presentation look like?

Answer 4

1) BP - normal or mildly raised
2) Urine - proteinuria - >3.5g/24hr
3) GFR - normal, mildly reduced

Also hypoalbuminaemia, + oedema

Question 5

What might a nephritic presentation look like?

Answer 5

1) BP - moderately / severely raised

2) Urine - heamaturia (mild/macro), proteinuria (