Peri-hilar rupture of Bowman's capsule in crescentic glomerulonephritis

Crescents are an important structure in many forms of glomerulonephritis and a major cause of destruction of the renal corpuscle. There has been considerable discussion of the cellular content of crescents and of the role of breaks in the glomerular capillary basement membranes. Less attention has been given to abnormalities of Bowman's capsule. We present 2 cases of anti-gbm nephritis showing unusual breaks in Bowman's capsule with a peri-hilar distribution. The mechanisms leading to the rupture of Bowman's capsule are reviewed, as are the possible effect of capsular ruptures on the crescentic cell content.