Diagnosis of Membranous Nephropathy

Diagnosis of Membranous Nephropathy

An introduction of Membranous Nephropathy

Membranous Nephropathy is a disease in which the filtering cells of the kidneys called as glomerulus, become inflamed and damaged. The inflammation causes problems with kidney function. In pathology, Membranous Nephropathy is characterized by deposition of immune complex on glomerular basement membrane. Proteinuria is the common resulting symptom of the disease. In mild cases, the disease can get remitted without any treatment. As the level of protein in urine is increasing, risks of permanent renal damage also increase. In as many as 40 clinical cases, the disease ultimately results in kidney failure. Early screening tests and active treatment is the key in improving the prognosis.

How is Membranous Nephropathy diagnosed?

Tests to detect the cause of the disease:

﹡Antinuclear antibodies test

﹡Anti-double-strand DNA, if the antinuclear antibody test is positive

﹡Blood tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis

﹡Complement tests

﹡Cryoglobulin test

A kidney biopsy will confirm the pathological diagnosis of Membranous Nephropathy. A session of kidney tissue is removed for microscopic observation.

Urinalysis will detect whether there is an excess proteins or red blood cells in urine. Testing for microalbuminuria will find slight elevation of albumin in urine.

Tests to confirm how well the kidneys are functioning include the follows:

﹡Serum creatinine

﹡Blood urea nitrogen

﹡Glomerular filtration rate

﹡Cystatin C

Other tests:

﹡Testing for blood lipids

﹡Testing for serum proteins
Clinical diagnosis of membranous nephropathy will  be made after evaluation by doctors based on laboratory results. If you are troubled by the disease, you will need to learn about your lab values so as to be clear of your condition.