Glomerular diseases: comparison table
- Topic
One table for the main glomerular diseases, with what the biopsy shows at each level.
What it is
Glomerular diseases are told apart by putting together the clinical syndrome and three views of the biopsy. Some are primary to the kidney; others are the kidney's share of a systemic disease such as lupus, diabetes, vasculitis or a plasma cell disorder, which must always be looked for.
Main glomerular diseases
| Disease | Presentation | Light microscopy | Immunofluorescence | Electron microscopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postinfectious GN | Nephritic, child, weeks after infection | Diffuse endocapillary proliferation, neutrophils | Granular IgG and C3 | Subepithelial humps |
| Crescentic GN | Rapidly progressive | Crescents in most glomeruli | Linear, granular or almost none | Ruptured GBM; deposits by type |
| IgA nephropathy | Recurrent hematuria after mucosal infection | Mesangial proliferation | Mesangial IgA (with C3) | Mesangial deposits |
| Minimal change disease | Nephrotic, child | Normal | Negative | Diffuse foot process effacement |
| FSGS | Nephrotic or proteinuria, adult | Segmental scars in some glomeruli | Nonspecific IgM and C3 in scars | Effacement; podocyte detachment |
| Membranous nephropathy | Nephrotic, adult | Thick capillary walls, spikes on silver | Granular IgG and C3 along walls | Subepithelial deposits |
| MPGN, immune-complex type | Nephrotic and nephritic | Lobular, hypercellular, double contours | IgG, C3, often C1q | Subendothelial deposits |
| Diabetic nephropathy | Proteinuria, slow loss of GFR | Mesangial sclerosis, nodules, hyaline arterioles | Linear IgG and albumin, not immune | Thick GBM |
Clinical notes
- Ask about lupus, hepatitis B and C, HIV, diabetes, drugs, infections and cancer in every patient with glomerular disease.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which glomerular disease has a normal light microscopy?
Minimal change disease; electron microscopy shows effaced foot processes.
Hematuria a day or two after a sore throat: which disease?
IgA nephropathy; postinfectious glomerulonephritis appears one to several weeks after the infection.
Which disease shows spikes on a silver stain?
Membranous nephropathy: new basement membrane grows between the subepithelial deposits.
Elsewhere in DurgiPedia
Connections
Educational content on the mechanisms of disease; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Nephrotic syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2025); Glomerulonephritis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2025).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.