Glomerulonephritis: a review based on 52 renal biopsies

The pathological findings in 52 renal biopsies are described, with emphasis on the changes seen in glomerulonephritis. There were 12 cases of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, eight of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis, and 10 of lipoid nephrosis. Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is subdivided into acute and persistent phases, and the latter is further defined as subacute, latent or chronic. The characteristic but not specific lesion of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is the development of mesangial scars. In lipoid nephrosis there are subendothelial deposits in the glomerulus. Membranous glomerulonephritis is characterized by massive heterogeneous deposits on the outside surface of the basement membrane. It is concluded that there are three well-defined types of glomerulonephritis, and although future studies may reveal interrelationships, the clinical and pathological evidence to date is sufficient to warrant their separate classification.