Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis | |
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Micrograph of glomerulus in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with increased mesangial matrix and increased mesangial cellularity. Kidney biopsy. PAS stain. | |
Classification and external resources | |
Specialty | urology |
ICD-10 | N00-N08 with .5 and .6 suffix |
ICD-9-CM | 581.2, 582.2, 583.2 |
OMIM | 609814 305800 |
DiseasesDB | 34457 |
MedlinePlus | 000475 |
eMedicine | med/887 |
MeSH | D015432 |
GeneReviews |
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis ("MPGN"), also known as mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis, is a type of glomerulonephritis caused by deposits in the kidney glomerular mesangium and basement membrane (GBM) thickening, activating complement and damaging the glomeruli.
MPGN accounts for approximately 4% of primary renal causes of nephrotic syndrome in children and 7% in adults.
It should not be confused with membranous glomerulonephritis, a condition in which the basement membrane is thickened, but the mesangium is not.
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis involves deposits at the intraglomerular mesangium.
It is also the main hepatitis C associated nephropathy.
The histomorphologic differential diagnosis includes transplant glomerulopathy and thrombotic microangiopathies.
The GBM is rebuilt on top of the deposits, causing a "tram tracking" appearance under the microscope. Mesangial cellularity is increased.
There are three types of MPGN, but this classification is becoming obsolete as the causes of this pattern are becoming understood.
Type I the most common by far, is caused by immune complexes depositing in the kidney. It is characterised by subendothelial and mesangial immune deposits.
It is believed to be associated with the classical complement pathway.
The preferred name is "dense deposit disease". Most cases of dense deposit disease do not show a membranoproliferative pattern, A 2012 review considers DDD to be in a continuum with C3 glomerulonephritis, one reason the use of type I to type III classification system is falling out of favour.