Proliferative glomerulonephritis and its characteristic features

Glomerulonephritis is a diffuse bilateral inflammation of the kidneys in which renal glomeruli are affected. This disease was first described by Dr. Bright in 1880, causing the disease to be called "Bright's disease."

The concept of renal glomeruli and their disease

Blood flows into the kidneys through the renal artery, which then is distributed inside the kidney into the smallest vessels that enter the renal glomerulus.

In the renal glomeruli, the blood flow slows down, the liquid part of the blood flows with dissolved organic substances and electrolytes into the renal glomerulus.

Seepage occurs through a thin membrane that envelops the renal glomerulus. From the glomerulus, the remaining plasma with cellular elements is excreted through the renal vein. In the capsule of the renal glomerulus, there remains a filtered part of the blood that does not contain cellular elements. This is the primary urine.

Glomerulonephritis is accompanied by:

• Proteinuria( protein content in the urine).In this case, the amount of protein in the urine may be insignificant or, conversely, massive.
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• Hematuria( the appearance of red blood cells in the urine).It can be micro- and macroscopic.
• Acute or chronic renal failure.

The disease is manifested by these typical signs, which are based on the increased permeability of the glomerular membrane. In glomeruli there is a decrease in the rate of filtration, which leads to renal failure.

Proteinuria and hematuria may be combined with renal insufficiency, but may be isolated signs of the disease. In this case, if all of the above clinical manifestations are obvious, thus forming a nephrotic syndrome, then the diagnosis of "glomerulonephritis" is beyond doubt.

With this syndrome, one can speak of proliferative glomerulonephritis when there is a proliferation, an increase in glomeruli( proliferation).The cavity of the capsule is filled with enlarged and tightly adjacent capillary loops. Their lumen is narrowed, sometimes thrombosed. There is hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the membrane cells covering the capsule of the renal glomerulus.

Proliferative intracapillary glomerulonephritis is a pathological type of disease in which endothelium proliferates and expansion of mesangium with proliferation of cell elements in it is noted.

Proliferative extracapillary glomerulonephritis is a type of glomerulonephritis in which proliferation of the endothelium of the glomerular capillaries and interstitial space occurs simultaneously with the proliferation and expansion of the glomerulus membrane in the form of semilunar formations that fill the lumen of the capsule. In this case, the formation of exudate and the appearance of filaments of fibrin( protein) between the cellular elements.

Clinical picture of proliferative glomerulonephritis

The following symptoms are typical for the disease:

• swelling on the legs and face;
• urine is the color of "meat slops";
• thirst;
• rapid fatigue, weakness;
• discomfort in the heart, palpitations;
• back pain;
• headaches, hypertension.

Patients are noted pallor of the skin, flabbiness, a decrease in turgor. The skin acquires a dirty yellow color, becomes dry, has a smell of ammonia. The same smell is seen from the mouth. The tongue is dry, sometimes covered with a brown coating.

When diagnosing proliferative glomerulonephritis, other kidney diseases that have a characteristic symptom complex should be excluded. In this case, along with examination of the patient and mandatory laboratory methods of research, the most reliable method of diagnosing this disease is a kidney biopsy.

Treatment of proliferative glomerulonephritis

1. Stationary. Integrated. Mandatory appointment of a special diet number 7.
2. Assign glucocorticoids( prednisolone, hydrocortisone).
3. Cytostatics( cyclophosphamide, imarant) are used.
4. Obligatory anticoagulants( heparin).
5. Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal preparations( ibuprofen).
6. Preparations of the aminocholine series( delagil).
7. Antihistamines and antiallergic drugs( tavegil, suprastin, dimedrol).
8. Diuretics( Lasix, Furosemide).Also used medicinal herbs( bear ears, bearberry, corn stigmas).
9. Hypotensive( raunatin, adelphane).
10. Sanatorium treatment is recommended for use in dry, hot countries.