Description

🧠 What is Glomerulonephritis? Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the glomeruli, leading to impaired kidney function. It can be acute (sudden onset) or chronic (gradual damage over time) and is often immune-mediated. 🧬 Causes & Classification 🔹 Primary GN (originates in the kidneys) Minimal Change Disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) Membranous Nephropathy IgA Nephropathy (Berger’s disease) Membranoproliferative GN (MPGN) 🔸 Secondary GN (due to systemic disease) Post-streptococcal GN Lupus Nephritis (SLE) Goodpasture's syndrome ANCA-associated vasculitis (e.g., granulomatosis with polyangiitis) Diabetic nephropathy (though not classically inflammatory) ⚠️ Symptoms Symptoms depend on severity and whether it’s acute or chronic, but commonly include: Nephritic Syndrome (inflammatory) Hematuria (blood in urine) Proteinuria (mild to moderate) Edema (especially periorbital) Hypertension Oliguria (low urine output) RBC casts in urine Nephrotic Syndrome (non-inflammatory but glomerular damage) Heavy proteinuria (>3.5 g/day) Hypoalbuminemia Severe edema Hyperlipidemia/lipiduria 🧪 Diagnosis Urinalysis: Protein, blood, casts Blood tests: Creatinine, BUN, GFR Complement levels: (low C3/C4 in some forms like lupus or post-strep GN) Autoantibodies: ANA (for lupus) Anti-dsDNA ANCA Anti-GBM Kidney biopsy: Essential for definitive diagnosis 💊 Treatment Depends on the cause and severity: For acute GN: Treat the underlying infection (e.g., antibiotics for post-strep GN) Manage blood pressure and fluid balance Short course of corticosteroids if immune-mediated For chronic or autoimmune GN: Immunosuppressive therapy: Steroids, cyclophosphamide, rituximab, mycophenolate ACE inhibitors or ARBs: Reduce proteinuria and control BP Dialysis or transplant: If kidney failure occurs ⏱️ Prognosis Acute GN can resolve completely or progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD) Chronic GN often leads to gradual decline in kidney function, possibly leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) 📌 Quick Comparison: Nephritic vs Nephrotic Syndrome Feature Nephritic Syndrome Nephrotic Syndrome Proteinuria <3.5 g/day >3.5 g/day Hematuria Common (with RBC casts) Rare Edema Mild to moderate Severe Blood pressure Often elevated Normal or elevated Lipids Normal Elevated (lipiduria) Common causes Post-strep GN, IgA, vasculitis MCD, FSGS, Membranous nephropathy

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