Renal & Urology

Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is a pattern of glomerular injury that may present with haematuria, proteinuria, oedema, hypertension or acute kidney injury; active urine sediment with rapidly worsening renal function needs urgent nephrology assessment.

Definition

Glomerulonephritis is a group of glomerular diseases causing haematuria, proteinuria, reduced filtration, oedema or hypertension through immune, inflammatory or related injury.

First principles

Glomerular injury leaks blood and protein

Inflammation or structural damage to the glomerular filtration barrier allows red cells and protein to enter the urine. The balance between inflammatory capillary-wall injury and podocyte/barrier injury produces a nephritic picture, a nephrotic picture or a mixed syndrome.

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