[Value of immunofluorescence in the diagnosis of kidney diseases]

In the diagnostics of renal diseases the direct immunofluorescence has become a necessary morphological method for proving immunopathological glomerular, tubulo-interstitial or vascular processes. On the basis of characteristic patterns of findings glomerulonephritides and tubulo-interstitial nephritides may be differed by antibodies of basal membranes as well as glomerulonephritides, tubulo-interstitial nephritides and vasculitides by deposition of circulating or locally developed immune complexes. Apart from immunopathogenetic characteristics localization, intensity and expansion as well as immunochemical peculiarities of depositions of immune complexes are of importance for further characterization. As an indirect method the immunofluorescence is suitable for proving circulating antibodies against renal constituents.