Acute Glomerulonephritis: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

6/29/15, 9:49 AM

Acute Glomerulonephritis
Author: Malvinder S Parmar, MB, MS; Chief Editor: Vecihi Batuman, MD more...
Updated: Dec 12, 2014

Background
Acute glomerulonephritis (GN) comprises a specific set of renal diseases in which an immunologic mechanism
triggers inflammation and proliferation of glomerular tissue that can result in damage to the basement membrane,
mesangium, or capillary endothelium. Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is the archetype of
acute GN. Acute nephritic syndrome is the most serious and potentially devastating form of the various renal
syndromes.
Hippocrates originally described the natural history of acute GN, writing of back pain and hematuria followed by
oliguria or anuria. Richard Bright described acute GN clinically in 1827, which led to the eponymic designation
Bright disease. With the development of the microscope, Langhans was later able to describe these
pathophysiologic glomerular changes.
Acute GN is defined as the sudden onset of hematuria, proteinuria, and red blood cell (RBC) casts. This clinical
picture is often accompanied by hypertension, edema, azotemia (ie, decreased glomerular filtration rate [GFR]),
and renal salt and water retention. Acute GN can be due to a primary renal disease or to a systemic disease. Most
original research focuses on acute PSGN.
Treatment of PSGN is mainly supportive, because there is no specific therapy for renal disease. When acute GN is
associated with chronic infections, the underlying infections must be treated. This article addresses the aspects of
GN that are relevant to its acute management.
Go to Emergent Management of Acute Gldmerulonephritis and Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis for
complete information on these topics.

Pathophysiology
Glomerular lesions in acute GN are the result of glomerular deposition or in situ formation of immune complexes.
On gross appearance, the kidneys may be enlarged up to 50%. Histopathologic changes include swelling of the
glomerular tufts and infiltration with polymorphonucleocytes (see Histologic Findings). Immunofluorescence
reveals deposition of immunoglobulins and complement.
Except in PSGN, the exact triggers for the formation of the immune complexes are unclear. In PSGN, involvement
of derivatives of streptococcal proteins has been reported. A streptococcal neuraminidase may alter host
immunoglobulin G (IgG). IgG combines with host antibodies. IgG/anti-IgG immune complexes are formed and then
collect in the glomeruli. In addition, elevations of antibody titers to other antigens, such as antistreptolysin O or
antihyaluronidase, DNAase-B, and streptokinase, provide evidence of a recent streptococcal infection.

Structural and functional changes

Acute GN involves both structural changes and functional changes.
Structurally, cellular proliferation leads to an increase in the number of cells in the glomerular tuft because of the
proliferation of endothelial, mesangial,[1] and epithelial cells. The proliferation may be endocapillary (ie, within the
confines of the glomerular capillary tufts) or extracapillary (ie, in the Bowman space involving the epithelial cells).
In extracapillary proliferation, proliferation of parietal epithelial cells leads to the formation of crescents, a feature
characteristic of certain forms of rapidly progressive GN.
Leukocyte proliferation is indicated by the presence of neutrophils and monocytes within the glomerular capillary
lumen and often accompanies cellular proliferation.
Glomerular basement membrane thickening appears as thickening of capillary walls on light microscopy. On
electron microscopy, this may appear as the result of thickening of basement membrane proper (eg, diabetes) or
deposition of electron-dense material, either on the endothelial or epithelial side of the basement membrane.
Electron-dense deposits can be subendothelial, subepithelial, intramembranous, or mesangial, and they
correspond to an area of immune complex deposition.
Hyalinization or sclerosis indicates irreversible injury.
These structural changes can be focal, diffuse or segmental, or global.
Functional changes include proteinuria, hematuria, reduction in GFR (ie, oligoanuria), and active urine sediment
with RBCs and RBC casts. The decreased GFR and avid distal nephron salt and water retention result in
expansion of intravascular volume, edema, and, frequently, systemic hypertension.

Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
Streptococcal M-protein was previously believed to be responsible for PSGN, but the studies on which this belief
was based have been discounted. Nephritis-associated streptococcal cationic protease and its zymogen precursor
(nephritis-associated plasmin receptor [NAPlr]) have been identified as a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
dehydrogenase that functions as a plasmin(ogen) receptor.
Immunofluorescence staining of renal biopsy tissues with anti-NAPlr antibody revealed glomerular NAPlr
deposition in early-phase acute PSGN, and glomerular plasmin activity was almost identical to NAPlr deposition in
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Acute Glomerulonephritis: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

6/29/15, 9:49 AM

renal biopsy tissues of acute PSGN patients. These data suggest that NAPlr may contribute to the pathogenesis of
acute PSGN by maintaining plasmin activity.[2]
Antibody levels to nephritis-associated protease (NAPR) are elevated in streptococcal infections (group A, C, and
G) associated with GN but are not elevated in streptococcal infections without GN, whereas anti-streptolysin-O
titers are elevated in both circumstances. These antibodies to NAPR persist for years and perhaps are protective
against further episodes of PSGN. In a study in adults, the two most frequently identified infectious agents were
streptococci (27.9%) and staphylococci (24.4%).[3]
Go to Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis for complete information on this topic.

Etiology
The causal factors that underlie acute GN can be broadly divided into infectious and noninfectious groups.

Infectious
The most common infectious cause of acute GN is infection by Streptococcus species (ie, group A, betahemolytic). Two types have been described, involving different serotypes:
Serotype 12 - Poststreptococcal nephritis due to an upper respiratory infection, occurring primarily in the
winter months
Serotype 49 - Poststreptococcal nephritis due to a skin infection, usually observed in the summer and fall
and more prevalent in southern regions of the United States
PSGN usually develops 1-3 weeks after acute infection with specific nephritogenic strains of group A betahemolytic streptococcus. The incidence of GN is approximately 5-10% in persons with pharyngitis and 25% in
those with skin infections.
Nonstreptococcal postinfectious GN may also result from infection by other bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi.
Bacteria besides group A streptococci that can cause acute GN include diplococci, other streptococci,
staphylococci, and mycobacteria. Salmonella typhosa, Brucella suis, Treponema pallidum, Corynebacterium bovis,
and actinobacilli have also been identified.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), coxsackievirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus (HBV),[4] rubella, rickettsiae
(as in scrub typhus), and mumps virus are accepted as viral causes only if it can be documented that a recent
group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection did not occur. Acute GN has been documented as a rare
complication of hepatitis A.[5]
Attributing glomerulonephritis to a parasitic or fungal etiology requires the exclusion of a streptococcal infection.
Identified organisms include Coccidioides immitis and the following parasites: Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium
falciparum, Schistosoma mansoni, Toxoplasma gondii, filariasis, trichinosis, and trypanosomes.

Noninfectious
Noninfectious causes of acute GN may be divided into primary renal diseases, systemic diseases, and
miscellaneous conditions or agents.
Multisystem systemic diseases that can cause acute GN include the following:
Vasculitis (eg, granulomatosis with polyangiitis [Wegener granulomatosis]) - This causes glomerulonephritis
that combines upper and lower granulomatous nephritides).
Collagen-vascular diseases (eg, systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]) This causes glomerulonephritis
through renal deposition of immune complexes).
Hypersensitivity vasculitis This encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders featuring small vessel
and skin disease.
Cryoglobulinemia This causes abnormal quantities of cryoglobulin in plasma that result in repeated
episodes of widespread purpura and cutaneous ulcerations upon crystallization.
Polyarteritis nodosa - This causes nephritis from a vasculitis involving the renal arteries.
Henoch-Schnlein purpura This causes a generalized vasculitis resulting in glomerulonephritis.
Goodpasture syndrome This causes circulating antibodies to type IV collagen and often results in a
rapidly progressive oliguric renal failure (weeks to months).
Primary renal diseases that can cause acute GN include the following:
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis ( MPGN) - This is due to the expansion and proliferation of
mesangial cells as a consequence of the deposition of complements. Type I refers to the granular
deposition of C3; type II refers to an irregular process.
Berger disease (IgG-immunoglobulin A [IgA] nephropathy) - This causes GN as a result of diffuse
mesangial deposition of IgA and IgG.
Pure mesangial proliferative GN [1]
Idiopathic rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis - This form of GN is characterized by the presence of
glomerular crescents. Three types have been distinguished: Type I is an antiglomerular basement
membrane disease, type II is mediated by immune complexes, and type III is identified by antineutrophil
cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA).
Miscellaneous noninfectious causes of acute GN include the following:
Guillain-Barr syndrome
Irradiation of Wilms tumor
Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine
Serum sickness
Epidermal growth factor receptor activation, [6] and possibly its inhibition by cetuximab [7]

Epidemiology
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United States statistics

GN represents 10-15% of glomerular diseases. Variable incidence has been reported, in part because of the
subclinical nature of the disease in more than half the affected population. Despite sporadic outbreaks, the
incidence of PSGN has fallen over the past few decades. Factors responsible for this decline may include better
health care delivery and improved socioeconomic conditions.
GN comprises 25-30% of all cases of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). About one fourth of patients present with
acute nephritic syndrome. Most cases that progress do so relatively quickly, and end-stage renal failure may occur
within weeks or months of the onset of acute nephritic syndrome. Asymptomatic episodes of PSGN exceed
symptomatic episodes by a ratio of 3-4:1.

International statistics
Worldwide, Berger disease is the most common cause of GN.
With some exceptions, the incidence of PSGN has fallen in most Western countries. PSGN remains much more
common in regions such as Africa, the Caribbean, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and South
America. In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the incidence of acute GN in children aged 3-16 years was 15.5 cases per year,
with a male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1; the current incidence is not much different.[8]
Geographic and seasonal variations in the prevalence of PSGN are more marked for pharyngeally associated GN
than for cutaneously associated disease.[8, 9, 10]

Age-, sex-, and race-related demographics

Postinfectious GN can occur at any age but usually develops in children. Most cases occur in patients aged 5-15
years; only 10% occur in patients older than 40 years. Outbreaks of PSGN are common in children aged 6-10
years. Acute nephritis may occur at any age, including infancy.
Acute GN predominantly affects males (2:1 male-to-female ratio). Postinfectious GN has no predilection for any
racial or ethnic group. A higher incidence (related to poor hygiene) may be observed in some socioeconomic
groups.

Prognosis
Most epidemic cases follow a course ending in complete patient recovery (as many as 100%). The mortality of
acute GN in the most commonly affected age group, pediatric patients, has been reported at 0-7%.
Sporadic cases of acute nephritis often progress to a chronic form. This progression occurs in as many as 30% of
adult patients and 10% of pediatric patients. GN is the most common cause of chronic renal failure (25%).
In PSGN, the long-term prognosis generally is good. More than 98% of individuals are asymptomatic after 5 years,
with chronic renal failure reported 1-3% of the time.
Within a week or so of onset, most patients with PSGN begin to experience spontaneous resolution of fluid
retention and hypertension. C3 levels may normalize within 8 weeks after the first sign of PSGN. Proteinuria may
persist for 6 months and microscopic hematuria for up to 1 year after onset of nephritis.
Eventually, all urinary abnormalities should disappear, hypertension should subside, and renal function should
return to normal. In adults with PSGN, full recovery of renal function can be expected in just over half of patients,
and prognosis is dismal in patients with underlying diabetic glomerulosclerosis. Few patients with acute nephritis
develop rapidly progressive renal failure.
Approximately 15% of patients at 3 years and 2% of patients at 7-10 years may have persistent mild proteinuria.
Long-term prognosis is not necessarily benign. Some patients may develop hypertension, proteinuria, and renal
insufficiency as long as 10-40 years after the initial illness. Immunity to type M protein is type-specific, long-lasting,
and protective. Repeated episodes of PSGN are therefore unusual.
The prognosis for nonstreptococcal postinfectious GN depends on the underlying agent, which must be identified
and addressed. Generally, the prognosis is worse in patients with heavy proteinuria, severe hypertension, and
significant elevations of creatinine level. Nephritis associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) and chronic infections usually resolves after treatment of the infection.
Other causes of acute GN have outcomes varying from complete recovery to complete renal failure. The prognosis
depends on the underlying disease and the overall health of the patient. The occurrence of cardiopulmonary or
neurologic complications worsens the prognosis.
Murakami and colleagues examined the clinical characteristics and pathological patterns of postinfectious
glomerulonephritis in 72 HIV-infected patients. The most common infectious agent was Staphylococcus. During a
median of 17 months of follow-up, pathological patterns had no significant effects on renal outcomes. Mortality
occurred in 14 patients overall, and mortality rates were significantly elevated among the 28 patients with healed
postinfectious glomerulonephritis.[11]
In a retrospective study of 101 patients with severe lupus and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and 200
lupus patient controls who were followed for a median of 4 years, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis was
associated with poorer treatment response, atrophy and fibrosis, severe renal manifestations, serious sclerotic and
crescentic glomeruli lesions, severe tubulointerstitial inflammation, and prominent leukocyte infiltration. Serum
creatinine levels and the proportion of crescents were the most important predictors of developing end-stage renal
disease.[12]

Patient Education
Counsel patients about the need for the following measures:
Salt restriction during the acute phase to control edema and volume-related hypertension
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Blood pressure monitoring at periodic intervals

Ongoing long-term monitoring of patients with persistent urinary abnormalities and elevated blood pressure
Consideration of protein restriction and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (in patients who
show evidence of persistent abnormalities or in those who develop late evidence of progressive disease)
Early antibiotic treatment of close contacts
For patient education resources, see the Kidneys and Urinary System Center, as well as Blood in the Urine.

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author
Malvinder S Parmar, MB, MS FRCP(C), FACP, FASN, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine,
Northern Ontario School of Medicine; Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa Faculty
of Medicine; Consulting Physician, Timmins and District Hospital, Ontario, Canada
Malvinder S Parmar, MB, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians,
American Society of Nephrology, Canadian Medical Association, Ontario Medical Association, Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Specialty Editor Board
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference
Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment.
Ajay K Singh, MB, MRCP, MBA Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director of Dialysis,
Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Director, Brigham/Falkner Dialysis Unit, Faulkner Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Chief Editor
Vecihi Batuman, MD FACP, FASN, Huberwald Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology-Hypertension,
Tulane University School of Medicine; Chief, Renal Section, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
Vecihi Batuman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American
Society of Hypertension, American Society of Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Additional Contributors
Chike Magnus Nzerue, MD, FACP Professor of Medicine, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Meharry Medical
College
Chike Magnus Nzerue, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the
Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of
Internal Medicine, American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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