Glomerulonephritis

Abstract

• Cause: deposition or in situ formation of antigen-antibody complexes in the basement membranes of glomerular capillaries in the kidneys.

• Signs: often no clinical signs until very advanced. Proteinuria leads to hypoalbuminemia and sometimes to subcutaneous edema, eg of the distal limbs. Severe glomerular loss may eventually lead to signs of acute or chronic renal failure, eg polydipsia/polyuria, inappetence, vomiting.

• Diagnosis: urine analysis, serum chemistry profile, histopathologic examination of a kidney biopsy.

• Treatment: detect and eliminate the underlying source of antigen, if at all possible. Special diet, low-dose aspirin, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, +/- immunosuppressant/immunomodulator therapy.

• Prognosis: very variable. Some cases progress rapidly despite therapy, others remain stable for prolonged periods. If complicated by thromboembolism (eg pulmonary or caudal aortic), prognosis is poor.