Sunday 7 October 2012

Glomerulonephritis - general

  • A group of disorders
    • With immunologically mediated injury to glomerulus
    • Involving both kidneys
    • With secondary injury after initial immune insult
    • May be part of generalised disease
    • Classified by histology

Pathogenesis
  • Deposition of immune complexes
  • Deposition of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody

Aetiology
  • Immune complex nephritis
    • Unknown antigen
    • Viruses
      • Mumps
      • Measles
      • Hepatitis B and C
      • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
      • Coxsackie
      • Varicella
      • HIV
    • Bacteria
      • Group A Beta-haemolytic streptococci
      • Streptococcus viridans
      • Staphylococci
      • Treponema pallidum
      • Gonococci
      • Salmonellae
    • Parasites
      • Plasmodium malariae
      • Schistosoma
      • Filiariasis
    • Host antigens
      • DNA (systemic lupus erythematosus - SLE)
      • Cryoglobulins
      • Malignant tumours
    • Drugs
      • Penicillamine
    • Anti-GBM antibody
      • Antibodies to type IV collagen
    • Secondary mechanisms
      • Complement activation
      • Fibrin deposition
      • Platelet aggregation
      • Neutrophil-driven inflammation
      • Kinin activation
  • Clinical features
    • GN presents in one of four ways
      • Asymptomatic proteinuria +/- microscopic haematuria
      • Acute nephritic syndrome
      • Nephrotic syndrome
      • Chronic renal failure

Investigations
  • 24 hour urinary protein (measure twice)
  • Urine microscopy
  • Renal function
  • Auto antibodies
  • Renal biopsy

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