What is a urine dipstick test? A urine dipstick test is an example of a ‘screening test’. This means it is relatively non-specific test that looks for groups of diseases – rather than specific diseases themselves. It may give the doctor more information on what further tests are required, even if it cannot make a […]
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What is rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis? Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is one of the 7 types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN). They are all ‘autoimmune diseases’ where the immune (defence) system attacks normal tissue in the kidney (including the glomeruli). Why and how they occur is unclear. RPGN is not caused by a single disease. It has
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What is post-infectious glomerulonephritis? Post-infectious glomerulonephritis (PIGN) is one of the 7 types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN). They are all ‘autoimmune diseases’ where the immune (defence) system attacks normal tissue in the kidney (including the glomeruli). Why and how they occur is unclear. So. What is post-infectious glomerulonephritis? PIGN normally develops rapidly, and (classically) follows
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What is mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis? Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN) is one of the 7 types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) but one of the least common types. They are all ‘autoimmune diseases’ where the immune (defence) system attacks normal tissue in the kidney (including the glomerulus). Why and how they occur is unclear. MCGN is also known as
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What is membranous nephropathy (MN)? Membranous nephropathy (MN) is one of the 7 types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN). They are all ‘autoimmune diseases’ where the immune (defence) system attacks normal tissue in the kidney (including the glomerulus). Why and how they occur is unclear. MN is called membranous nephropathy as immune complexes (antigen–antibody combination) are
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What is minimal change disease (MCD)? Minimal change disease is one of the 7 types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN). They are all ‘autoimmune diseases’, where the immune (defence) system attacks normal tissue in the kidney (including the glomerulus). Why and how they occur is unclear. MCD is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in
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What is focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)? Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is one of the 7 types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN). They are all ‘autoimmune diseases’ where the immune (defence) system attacks normal tissue in the kidney (including the glomerulus). Why and how they occur is unclear. FSGS affects both children and adults. The phrase ‘sclerosis’
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What is renal vasculitis? Renal vasculitis is a group of rare autoimmune diseases that involve inflammation of the blood vessels (that is what vasculitis means) in the kidneys. These conditions are characterised by the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking the blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to inflammation and damage to the renal tissue. Types
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What is lupus nephritis? Lupus nephritis is a kidney disorder that occurs as a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly referred to as ‘lupus’. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs in the body. It can affect most organs including the skin (as rashes), joints,
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What’s the difference between nephrologists and urologists? Both are hospital based doctors who are experts on kidney disease. There is some overlap in their work. But there are quite a few differences as well. Nephrologists Nephrologists are not surgeons and don’t do operations. They experts in the medical (i.e. non surgical) treatment of kidney diseases,
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