Glomerulonephritis

• most common: acute poststreptococcal infection
• develops 2 weeks after streptococcus infection ("strep throat")
• antibody-strep complex lodges in glomerular capillaries
  activates complement, triggers inflammatory response
• increased glomerular vascular permeability,
  protein, RBC's leak into filtrate
  if inflammation is severe, filtration of the urine through the kidney (GFR) decreases
  

Symptoms and Test results

• flank or back pain (swollen kidney)
• smoky-coloured urine (due to RBC's & protein)
  ­ serum urea and creatinine (decreased GFR)
• RENIN release - causes blood pressure increase
• facial edema
  water, Na+ retention
  decreased oncotic pressure (decreased plasma proteins)
• proteinuria, hematuria, RBC casts
• metabolic acidosis may occur

Treatment

• sodium, fluid, protein restriction
• glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation

• may result in acute renal failure (2%) or chronic disease (10%)