• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Membranous nephropathy

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Membranous nephropathy is a kidney disorder resulting in disruption of kidney function because of inflammation of the glomerulus and changes in the glomerular basement membrane.

Alternative Names:

Membranous glomerulonephritis; Membranous GN; Extramembranous glomerulonephritis; Glomerulonephritis - membranous

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The glomeruli are the inner structures of the kidney that include small capillaries surrounded by membranes through which the blood is filtered to form urine. Membranous nephropathy is caused by thickening of the capillary wall of the glomerular basement membrane (the deepest membrane) by immune complexes. The cause is not known.

It is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome , which is the most common presentation of the disease. It may also appear as asymptomatic excretion of protein in the urine . Glomerular filtration rate (the "speed" of blood purification) is usually nearly normal, and examination of sediment in the urine may be unremarkable or may show oval fat bodies, and hyaline, granular, and fatty casts .

Membranous nephropathy may be a primary renal disease of uncertain origin, or it may be associated with other conditions. Risks include systemic disorders such as Hepatitis B , malaria , malignant solid tumors, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma , systemic lupus erythematosus , syphilis , and others. Risks also include exposure to substances or medications, including gold, mercury , penicillamine, trimethadione, skin-lightening creams, and others.

The disorder occurs in approximately 2 out of 10,000 people. It may occur at any age but is more common after age 40.

• Review Date: 9/13/2005
• Reviewed By: Robert Mushnick, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, SUNY Downstate Health Center, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.