Which Part of the Kidney is Damaged in Amyloid Nephropathy

Amyloid nephropathy is kidney damage caused by the deposition of large amount of amyloid fiber in the kidneys. This is correct but not specific. It is the diagnosis based on traditional tests and exams and it is from the perspective of histology. From the current diagnostic method and from the perspective of cytology, the damaged part is the epithelial cells of the glomerular capillaries.

Primary or secondary factors (including various inflammations such as tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, multiple myeloma, rhemmatoid arthritis, etc) will cause the deposition of fibrin in the glomerular capillary loops and mesangial areas resulting in immune mediated damages of the epithelial cells and damages of their normal functions.

Under normal circumstances, the epithelial cells can synthesize negative charges and they have both functions of charge barrier and mechanical barrier. Therefore the protein and other large molecular substances can not pass through the glomerular filtration membrane. In case of amyloid nephropathy, the deposition of fibrin damages the charge barrier of the epithelia cells and the protein is leaked into the urine and patients will have a series of clinical manifestations and discomforts including edema, proteinuria, progressive loss of kidney functions, etc.

The direct cause of amyloid nephropathy is the formation of fibrin and its deposition in the epithelial cells and mesangial area of the glomerular capillaries and the root cause is the weakened immunity.

As for the treatment for amyloid nephropathy, weather it is western therapy or Chinese therapy, it should have the following functions of dilating blood vessels, anti-coagulation, anti-inflammation and degradation of extracellular matrix which aim at inhibiting extreme immune inflammatory reactions, repairing damaged glomerular epithelial cells, blocking the process of renal fibrosis and improving immunity.

So long as the damaged renal part is repaired, the normal functions can be recovered and the clinical symptoms will disappear and its recurrent rate is much lowered compared with traditional hormones and immunosuppressant therapies.