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Membranous nephropathy - Symptom

Alternative Names

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

Symptoms:

Symptoms often begin slowly over time, and may include:

Signs and tests:

A physical exam may show swelling (edema).

A urinalysis may reveal protein in the urine or blood in the urine. Glomerular filtration rate (the "speed" of blood purification) is usually nearly normal.

Other tests may be done to see how well the kidneys are working. These include:

  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
  • Creatinine - blood
  • Creatinine clearance

Albumin levels in the blood may be low. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be high.

Kidney biopsy confirms the diagnosis of membranous nephropathy.

The following tests can help determine the cause of membranous nephropathy:

  • Antinuclear antibodies test
  • Anti-double-strand DNA, if the antinuclear antibodies test is positive
  • Blood tests to check for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphillis
  • Complement levels
  • Cryoglobulin test
  • Reviewed last on: 8/13/2009
  • Parul Patel, MD, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology and Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

In: Brenner BM, ed. Brenner: Brenner and Rector's the Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 30.

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