Pathology Cheat Sheet
Read the Glomerular Pattern
Glomerular disease for NEET-PG: minimal change, FSGS, membranous PLA2R, post-strep humps, crescentic GN, IgA nephropathy, and Kimmelstiel-Wilson lesions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Read the Glomerular Pattern
Glomerular disease for NEET-PG: minimal change, FSGS, membranous PLA2R, post-strep humps, crescentic GN, IgA nephropathy, and Kimmelstiel-Wilson lesions.
The classification of glomerular disease, IgA nephropathy, and the glomerular manifestations of systemic disease.
High-yield lines
- Glomerular diseases present as nephritic or nephrotic syndromes depending on the pattern of injury.
- Minimal change disease is the most common nephrotic syndrome in children and shows podocyte foot process effacement on electron microscopy with a normal light microscope.
- Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is a common nephrotic cause in adults and shows segmental scarring.
- Membranous nephropathy shows diffuse basement membrane thickening with subepithelial spikes and is associated with anti-PLA2R antibodies.
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is nephritic with subepithelial humps and a granular immunofluorescence pattern.
- Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis shows crescents on biopsy and rapid loss of renal function.
- Goodpasture disease shows linear IgG deposition along the basement membrane from anti-GBM antibodies.
- IgA nephropathy is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide and shows mesangial IgA deposits.
- IgA nephropathy classically causes haematuria a day or two after an upper respiratory infection.
- Diabetic nephropathy shows nodular Kimmelstiel-Wilson lesions and basement membrane thickening.
- Lupus nephritis shows a full-house immunofluorescence pattern and wire-loop lesions.
- Amyloidosis deposits in the mesangium and shows Congo red apple-green birefringence.
Mapped competency codes
- PA28.5
- PA28.6
- PA28.7
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This summary maps to PA28-urinary-tract.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes nephrotic syndrome in children?
Minimal change disease, which shows a normal light microscope but podocyte foot process effacement on electron microscopy.
What are the features of IgA nephropathy?
It is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide, shows mesangial IgA deposits, and classically causes haematuria within a day or two of an upper respiratory infection.
What does membranous nephropathy show?
Diffuse basement membrane thickening with subepithelial spikes and subepithelial immune deposits, associated with anti-PLA2R antibodies in primary disease.
What is the histology of diabetic nephropathy?
Nodular glomerulosclerosis with Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodules and diffuse basement membrane thickening.
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