Glomerulonephritis Types

Question 1

List the 4 nephrotic types

Answer 1

minimal change
FSGS
Membrano-proliferative
Membranous

Question 2

Describe Iga nephropathy

Answer 2

IgA Nephropathy
• This is the most common cause of primary glomerulonephritis.
• Peak age present in their 20s
• IgA deposition leads to complement pathway activation and release or pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• Histology shows IgA deposition and glomerular mesangial proliferation.

Question 3

describe crescenteric GN

Answer 3

• Present with acute illness but responds well to treatment.
• Cell proliferation which forms a crescent shape.
• GBM breaks leading to blood being able to leak out into the urine.
• Patients will usually rapidly progress to renal failure.
• Often secondary to Good pasture syndrome

Question 4

describe Good Pasture syndrome

Answer 4

• Anti-GBM antibodies attack the glomerulus and pulmonary basement membranes.
• This causes glomerulonephritis and pulmonary haemorrhage.
• In exams, patient will present with haemoptysis and acute kidney failure.

Question 5

Describe post strep GN

Answer 5

• Typically <30
• 1-3 weeks after streptococcal infection
• They develop nephritic syndrome and will make a full recovery.
• Damage to podocytes from complexes causing pro-inflammatory state.

Question 6

describe minimal change

Answer 6

• Most commonly seen in children.
• The glomerulus becomes damaged allowing protein to leave through the kidney.
• There is effacement of the podocytes there is loss of the negative charge so proteins can leak through.
• The effacement cannot be seen on light microscopy.

Question 7

describe FSGS

Answer 7

• Only some glomerulus affected and only a segment of the glomerulus is affected hence the name.
• Podocytes become damaged and form scarring or sclerosis.
• Can be primary (idiopathic) or secondary to sickle cell, HIV and heroin abuse.

Question 8

describe membrano-proliferative

Answer 8

• Immune deposits in the sub-endothelium leading to inflammation and damaging to the basement membrane.
• This causes proliferation of the mesangial cells.

Question 9

describe glomerulonephritis

Answer 9

• Most common type of glomerulonephritis
• Usually peak in 20s and 60s
• Histology shows ‘IgG and complement deposits on the basement membrane’.
• 70% idiopathic
• Can be secondary to malignancy, RA and drugs (NSAIDs).