Clinical Aspects of Glomerular Disease (Glomerulonephritis) Flashcards

1
Q

What is glomerulonephritis?

A

A group of inflammatory disorders of the kidney

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2
Q

How are the different sub-types of GN classfied?

A

Via their morphology

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3
Q

Describe nephrotic syndrome.

A

Massive loss of protein via urine = Hypoalbuminaemia - this is due to leaky glomeruli

Hypoalbuminaemia leads to oedema and hyperlipidaemia

Urine looks frothy

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4
Q

Why does Hypoalbuminaemia cause oedema and hyperlipidaemia?

A

Oedema - loss of albumin causes a reduced intravascular oncotic pressure which causes fluid to leak out of vessels and into surrounding tissue

Hyperlipidaemia - low albumin causes liver to increase albumin production in order to compensate BUT this also leads to increased production of lipids

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5
Q

Describe nephritic syndrome.

A

High levels of blood in urine
Increased levels of protein, but not as high as in nephrotic
Mild hypertension
Low urine volume due to reduced renal function

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6
Q

What type of glomerulonephritis causes nephrotic syndrome?

A

Non-proliferative glomerulonephritis - such as minimal change, membranous, focal segmental and Membranoproliferative (not sure about this one)

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7
Q

What type of glomerulonephritis causes nephritic syndrome?

A

Proliferative glomerulonephritis - such as:

IgA
Cresent/rapidly progressive
Post-streptococcal/post-infective

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8
Q

What do diffuse, focal, global and segmental mean in terms of glomerulonephritis?

A

Focal affects under 50% of the glomeruli
Diffuse affects over 50%
Global affects 100%

Segmental only affects specific parts of the glomerulus

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9
Q

Differentials for nephrotic syndrome?

A

Congestive heart failure

Hepatic disease

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10
Q

Name the proliferative subtypes again and name which ones are focal and which on is diffuse.

A

IgA - focal

Post Infectiive - diffuse

Crescentic/Focal necrotizing/rapidly progressive - focal

Membrano-proliferative

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11
Q

Describe the presentation of post-infective GN.

A

Follows 10-21 days after infection of throat or skin

Patient will be generally unwell and have dark urine

Might have puffy face
Might have higher BP

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12
Q

Most common type of bacteria causing post-infective GN?

A

Lancefield group A streptococci

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13
Q

Does post-infective GN have a genetic predisposition?

A

Yes

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14
Q

Treatment for post-infective GN?

A

Loop diuretics IF there is oedema - frusemide

Vasodilators for mild hypertension - amlodipine

Antibiotics are debatable

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15
Q

Most commonest cause of GN ?

A

IgA nephropathy

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16
Q

Pathogenesis of IgA GN?

A

IgA is depositied in mesangium causing mesangial proliferation (see Dr P Browns lecture for more)

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17
Q

How will IgA present?

A

As a nephritic syndrome but with microscopic blood in urine with maybe some protein present in urine also

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18
Q

IgA investigations?

A

Biopsy will show IgA deposits

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19
Q

IgA GN treatment?

A

Steroids or cyclophosphamide if reduced renal function - support for transplantation

Otherwise just support symptoms, like hypertension with hypertensive therapy (ACEIs)

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20
Q

What is the outcome for IgA?

A

20% ~ reach ESRD in 20 years

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21
Q

Outcomes for post infective?

A

95% of children make full recovery

The rest could go on to develop crescentic/ rapid progressing GN

22
Q

Describe Cresentic GN.

A

Most aggressive type and can lead to ESRD in days

23
Q

What does crescentic look like pathology wise?

A

A crescent shape of cells fills the bowmans space

24
Q

What does crescentic GN do to creatinine levels?

A

Increases them greatly

25
Q

What is anti-GBM?

A

Anti-glomerular basement membrane also known as goodpastures

A type of crescentic GN causes by anti-GBM (glomerular basement membrane)

26
Q

What % of crescentic GN is anti-GBM?

A

10-20%

27
Q

How does anti-GBM present?

A

Nephritis

Haematuria and haemoptysis

28
Q

What causes the haemoptysis in anti-GBM?

A

A CxR will show infiltrates

29
Q

How is anti-GBM diagnosed?

A

Anti-GBM antibodies in serum and kidney will be detected

30
Q

Treatment for anti-GBM?

A

Agressive immunosuppression - steroids, plasma exchange, cyclophophamide

31
Q

How is crescentic GN managed?

A

Same as anti-GBM

Immunosupression

32
Q

Name some ways to immunosupress.

A
Steroids
Cyclophosphamide
Plasma exchange
B-cell therapy 
Complement inhibitors
33
Q

Crescentic prognosis?

A

Good if treated early

34
Q

Summarise proliferative GN.

A

Presents with nephritic syndrome
Blood on dipstix with variable proteinuria
Can cause rapid decline in renal function –> dialysis
Early diagnosis and treatment = good prognosis

35
Q

What actually is the main difference between proliferative and non-p?

A

P - Excessive numbers of cells in glomeruli. These include infiltrating leucocytes

Non-P = Glomeruli look normal or have some areas of scarring. Normal no. of cells

36
Q

Name again the types on non-p GN?

A

Minimal change
Membranous
Focal and sentimental
Membranoproliferative (not sure again if this is P or NP)

37
Q

How do we generally manage nephrotic syndrome?

A

Treat oedema via loop diuretics/salt and fluid restriction

Treat hypertension - RAAS blockade

Treat hyperlipidaemia - statins

Reduce risk of thrombosis - Heparin/Warfarin

Reduce risk of infection - pnumonococcal vaccines

38
Q

What is the commonest cause of nephrotic syndrome in children?

A

Minimal change GN

39
Q

Describe the onset of minimal change GN.

A

Sudden onset of oedema within days

40
Q

Treatment for minimal change GN?

A

Steroids - prednisolone until remission is achieved then slowly taper off

2/3rds of patients relapse so treat this with a further steroid course

Any further relapses trat with cyclophosphamide

41
Q

Minimal change prognosis?

A

Despite replases prognosis is good and risk of ESRD is low

Steroid toxicity risk is high depending on exposure

42
Q

Describe focal and segmental GN.

A

Is not a single disease but a syndrome with multiple causes

Can be 1y - idiopathic - or have a 2y cause

Presents with nephrotic syndrome

High chance of progression to ESRD

43
Q

What does the pathology show for focal segmental GN?

A

Reveals focal and segmental sclerosis with distinctive patterns

44
Q

Is steroids a good treatment for FS GN?

A

No as it is generally resistant to steroids

45
Q

Treatment for FSGN?

A

General measures to handle symptoms - hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, oedmea, and anti-coagulants

Trail steroid treatment - even if it partially works it still improves prognosis

Could try cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin etc

46
Q

What is the commonest cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults?

A

Membranous nephropathy

47
Q

What causes the majority of membranous GN cases?

A

Occur in isolation - idiopathic

48
Q

What are the serological markers for membranous GN?

A

Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody

Thrombospondin type 1 domain containing 7A

49
Q

2y causes of membranous GN?

A

Malignancy
SLE
Rheumatoid arthritis
Drugs - NSAIDs, gold, penicillamine

50
Q

Treatment for membranous GN?

A

General measures for ~6 months

Immunosuppression if symptomatic nephrotic syndrome - rising proteinuria/deteriorating renal function

Cyclophosphamide and steroids, alternate months for 6 months

Cyclosporin

Rituximab - b-cell therapy

51
Q

Prognosis of membranous GN?

A

Resolves in 1/3 of patients
Prognosis good if treatment controls the proteinuria

BUT

~25% end up on dialysis in 10 years and it can reoccur even after transplantation

52
Q

Summarize the key points for non-proliferative GN.

A

Presents as nephrotic syndrome
Renal biopsy is a key investigation
ID the cause and treat it if 2y
General measures to control symptoms are important in all cases
Specific treatment should be tailored to the type of GN