Causes of Acute Glomerulonephritis
Causes of Acute Glomerulonephritis
Causes of Acute Glomerulonephritis
Acute glomerulonephritis refers to a specific set of renal diseases in which an immunologic mechanism
triggers inflammation and proliferation of glomerular tissue. Glomerulonephritis (GN) is the term
generally reserved for the variety of renal diseases in which inflammation of the glomerulus,
manifested by proliferation of cellular elements, is secondary to an immunologic mechanism. Each
kidney is composed of about 1 million microscopic filtering "screens" known as glomeruli that
selectively remove uremic waste products. Chronic glomerulonephritis can develop over a period of
10-20 years and is most often associated with other systemic disease, including diabetes, malaria,
hepatitis, or systemic lupus erythematosus. It can be acute, which means it occurs suddenly, or chronic,
meaning symptoms develop gradually and continue over a number of years. It may be asymptomatic ,
or present with hematuria and/or proteinuria (blood resp. protein in the urine ).
Acute nephritic syndrome is a group of disorders that cause inflammation of the internal kidney
structures (specifically, the glomeruli). There are many recognised types, divided in acute, subacute or
chronic glomerulonephritis. Causes are infectious (bacterial, viral or parasitic pathogens), autoimmune
or paraneoplastic. Acute nephritic syndrome is the clinical correlate of acute glomerular inflammation.
Most forms of AGN are mediated by an immunologic process. Acute glomerulonephritis is an
inflammation of the glomeruli, bundles of tiny vessels inside the kidneys. Chronic glomerulonephritis
can develop over a period of 10-20 years. The effect of these variables on the outcome of the disease is
studied here.The inflammation is immunologically mediated with immune deposits in the glomerulus.
Onset of symptoms is usually acute. The unfavorable prognosis of the disease is due to early mortality
and a rapidly progressive clinical course.
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