[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [General pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/) › [Kidney](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/areas/kidney/) › Glomerular diseases: comparison table

# Glomerular diseases: comparison table

- Topic

One table for the main glomerular diseases, with what the biopsy shows at each level.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Key points

- Children with nephrotic syndrome: minimal change disease first.
- Adults with nephrotic syndrome: membranous nephropathy and FSGS lead.
- Commonest glomerulonephritis worldwide: IgA nephropathy.
- Low complement: postinfectious GN, lupus, MPGN and C3 glomerulopathy.
- Diabetes is the commonest cause of chronic kidney disease from glomerular injury.

## 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](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/post-streptococcal-glomerulonephritis/) | Nephritic, child, weeks after infection | Diffuse endocapillary proliferation, neutrophils | Granular IgG and C3 | Subepithelial humps |
| [Crescentic GN](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/rapidly-progressive-glomerulonephritis/) | Rapidly progressive | Crescents in most glomeruli | Linear, granular or almost none | Ruptured GBM; deposits by type |
| [IgA nephropathy](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/iga-nephropathy/) | Recurrent hematuria after mucosal infection | Mesangial proliferation | Mesangial IgA (with C3) | Mesangial deposits |
| [Minimal change disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/minimal-change-disease/) | Nephrotic, child | Normal | Negative | Diffuse foot process effacement |
| [FSGS](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/focal-segmental-glomerulosclerosis/) | Nephrotic or proteinuria, adult | Segmental scars in some glomeruli | Nonspecific IgM and C3 in scars | Effacement; podocyte detachment |
| [Membranous nephropathy](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/membranous-nephropathy/) | Nephrotic, adult | Thick capillary walls, spikes on silver | Granular IgG and C3 along walls | Subepithelial deposits |
| [MPGN, immune-complex type](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/membranoproliferative-glomerulonephritis/) | Nephrotic and nephritic | Lobular, hypercellular, double contours | IgG, C3, often C1q | Subendothelial deposits |
| [Diabetic nephropathy](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/diabetic-kidney-disease/) | 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.

## Memory aid

Children: minimal; adults: membranes and scars; hematuria after a cold: IgA; weeks after the throat: the humps.

## 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.

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[More Pathology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pathology)

## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- [Immunohistochemistry: the principle and the markers to know](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/immunohistochemistry-the-principle-and-the-markers-to-know/)

## Connections

## Related 6

- [Clinical syndromes of kidney disease](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/clinical-syndromes-of-kidney-disease/)
- [Patterns of glomerular injury](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/patterns-of-glomerular-injury/)
- [Postinfectious glomerulonephritis](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/postinfectious-glomerulonephritis/)
- [Minimal change disease](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/minimal-change-disease/)
- [Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/focal-segmental-glomerulosclerosis/)
- [Membranous nephropathy: PLA2R, subepithelial deposits and spikes](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/membranous-nephropathy-pla2r-subepithelial-deposits-and-spikes/)

## Related conditions 11

- [Nephrotic syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/nephrotic-syndrome/)
- [Minimal change disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/minimal-change-disease/)
- [Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/focal-segmental-glomerulosclerosis/)
- [Membranous nephropathy](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/membranous-nephropathy/)
- [IgA nephropathy](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/iga-nephropathy/)
- [Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/membranoproliferative-glomerulonephritis/)
- [Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/post-streptococcal-glomerulonephritis/)
- [Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM, ANCA)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/rapidly-progressive-glomerulonephritis/)
- [Lupus nephritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/lupus-nephritis/)
- [Diabetic kidney disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/diabetic-kidney-disease/)
- [Alport syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/alport-syndrome/)

[← All of general pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/)

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](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000490.htm) (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2025); [Glomerulonephritis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000484.htm) (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2025).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/glomerular-diseases-comparison-table/