[Morphologic classification of glomerulonephritis revisited]

The use of a wide spectrum of monoclonal antibodies allowed us to distinguish two groups of glomerulopathies: inflammatory (glomerulonephritis) and non-inflammatory. Glomerulus infiltration with inflammatory cells, glomerulus cell proliferation, heterogeneous composition and localization of the immune complex depositions even within one morphological form are characteristic of inflammatory glomerulopathies. A proliferative reaction is practically absent in non-inflammatory glomerulopathies, localization and deposits composition within one morphological form is homogeneous, the appearance of non-immune deposits containing only fibrin or low-density lipoproteins is typical. Specific podocyte marker, antigen of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is practically absent at early stages of non-inflammatory glomerulopathies.