[Glomerulonephritis]

Glomerulonephritides represent a heterogenous group of diseases with different pathophysiology. A definitive diagnosis requires a renal biopsy. The differentiation between a primary or secondary glomerulonephritis is of major clinical relevance, because most secondary forms resolve once the primary cause is treated properly. Assessing the individual prognosis of a patient is of central importance in choosing the best therapeutic regimen. By optimizing the so-called supportive therapy with the control of blood pressure, reduction of proteinuria, cessation of smoking and dietary measures the loss of kidney function can often be slowed down or even stopped. The most common types of glomerulonephritis in Western Europe comprise IgA-nephropathy, membranous glomerulonephritis and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN).