Immunohistologic findings in the glomerular crescents in various renal diseases

Renal tissues from 37 patients with glomerulopathies involving glomerular crescents were investigated using an immunofluorescence technique. Immunohistologic findings revealed two kinds of crescents, those with fibrinogen deposits (active), and those without (inactive). The degree of IgG deposition in glomeruli with active crescents was much higher than in glomeruli with inactive crescents in acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) and chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). Active crescents were observed only in biopsy specimens taken within three months after the onset of acute glomerulonephritis or the acute exacerbation of chronic glomerulonephritis. These findings suggest that in AGN and CGN active crescents occur in an earlier stage of glomerular lesions and a more active stage in the immunological process than inactive crescents. The significance of active crescents in SLE, diabetic nephropathy and nephropathy associated with rheumatic arthritis was not evaluated due to the small number of patients.