[Pathohistologic and ultrastructural features of drug-induced membranous glomerulonephritis]

Nephrobiopsies of 20 patients with drug-induced membranous glomerulonephritis were studied. Renal injury was produced by diuretics (7 patients), gold salts (6), penicillamine (4), captopril (3). Drug-induced membranous glomerulonephritis in contrast to idiopathic one ran a benign course after proper therapy based on discontinuation of the drug. Main pathomorphological features of secondary membranous glomerulonephritis that help to differentiate it from the primary one were established: absence of total injury of the glomeruli, hypercellularity of the damaged glomeruli, pathomorphological changes only of the part of the capillary loops, presence of both subepithelial and mesangial deposits.