Primary Glomerular Diseases

Primary Glomerular Diseases

A variety of diseases can affect the glomerular capillaries, includ-ing acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, and nephrotic syndrome. In all of these disor-ders, the glomerular capillaries are primarily involved. Antigen– antibody complexes form in the blood and become trapped in the glomerular capillaries (the filtering portion of the kidney), induc-ing an inflammatory response. IgG, the major immunoglobulin (antibody) found in the blood, can be detected in the glomerular capillary walls. The major clinical manifestations of glomerular in-jury include proteinuria, hematuria, decreased glomerular filtration rate, and alterations in excretion of sodium (leading to edema and hypertension).