Renal & UrologyPending review

Glomerulonephritis

Immune-mediated inflammation of the glomerulus that damages the filtration barrier in a pattern-specific way, producing either a nephritic picture of blood and inflammation or a nephrotic picture of protein leak, depending on where and how the immune injury occurs.

In a nutshell

Immune injury to the glomerulus produces either a nephritic pattern (cellular inflammation causing haematuria, hypertension and oliguria) or a nephrotic pattern (podocyte injury causing heavy proteinuria), depending on the site and type of damage. Crescent formation causes rapid, potentially irreversible loss of function and is a nephrological emergency needing urgent immunosuppression.

Classic presentation

Visible or non-visible haematuria with hypertension and oedema, sometimes following a preceding throat or skin infection, with dysmorphic red cells and casts on urine microscopy.

Key points

Nephritic disease (blood, inflammation, hypertension) and nephrotic disease (heavy protein loss) are two ends of a spectrum determined by the pattern of glomerular injury, not separate organs of disease.

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Educational content pending clinical review. Not medical advice.