Changes

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

The term glomerulonephritis refers to '''primary inflammation of the glomeruli'''. Glomeruli might also suffer damage secondary to tubular disease or pyelonephritis.

The term glomerulonephritis refers to '''primary inflammation of the glomeruli'''. Glomeruli might also suffer damage secondary to tubular disease or pyelonephritis.

'''Hereditary/familial aetiology''':  

'''Hereditary/familial aetiology''':  

 

:dogs: Samoyed, Elkhound and Doberman (expressed as renal failure in 4-14 months)

dogs: Samoyed, Elkhound and Doberman (expressed as renal failure in 4-14 months)

:sheep: Finnish Landrace Sheep

 

sheep: Finnish Landrace Sheep

'''Viral''':  

'''Viral''':  

 

:dogs: [[Infectious Canine Hepatitis]]

dogs: [[Viruses#Adenoviridae|Infectious Canine Hepatitis]]

:cats: [[Feline Infectious Peritonitis|Feline Infectious Peritonitis]], [[Feline Leukaemia Virus]]

 

:ox: [[Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus|Bovine Viral Diarrhoea]]

cats: [[Feline Infectious Peritonitis|Feline Infectious Peritonitis]], [[Viruses#Retroviridae|Feline Leukaemia]]

:pig: [[Classical Swine Fever|Classical Swine Fever]]

 

ox: [[Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus|Bovine Viral Diarrhoea]]

 

pig: [[Classical Swine Fever|Classical Swine Fever]]

'''Bacterial''':

'''Bacterial''':

 

:Pyometra and endocarditis

Pyometra and endocarditis

'''Autoimmune diseases'''

'''Autoimmune diseases'''

==Clinical Signs and Pathology==

 

==Clinical signs and Pathology==

Animals with idiopathic glomerulonephritis (>50% of cases) usually have '''signs of renal disease''', whereas secondary glomerulonephritis is often a relatively minor part of a '''more serious disease'''.

Animals with idiopathic glomerulonephritis (>50% of cases) usually have '''signs of renal disease''', whereas secondary glomerulonephritis is often a relatively minor part of a '''more serious disease'''.

'''Gross pathology''': acute cases have swollen, tense kidneys with pinpoint red dots in the cortex representing individual glomeruli. Chronic cases have shrunken, pitted kidneys with a granular appearance.

'''Gross pathology''': acute cases have swollen, tense kidneys with pinpoint red dots in the cortex representing individual glomeruli. Chronic cases have shrunken, pitted kidneys with a granular appearance.

'''Histopathology''': ''Membranous glomerulonephritis'': diffuse and even thickening of the basement membrane

'''Histopathology''':

 

:''Membranous glomerulonephritis'': diffuse and even thickening of the basement membrane

''Membranoproliferative'': thickening of the basement membrane and proliferation of the mesangial cells and the parietal epithelium (crescent formation) with adhesions between the vascular tuft and Bowman's capsule.

:''Membranoproliferative'': thickening of the basement membrane and proliferation of the mesangial cells and the parietal epithelium (crescent formation) with adhesions between the vascular tuft and Bowman's capsule.

The glomerulus becomes '''progressively obliterated''', accompanied by periglomerular fibrosis. Reduction in blood supply to the nephron also causes damage to the tubules and provokes an '''interstitial nephritis''' in the later stages.

The glomerulus becomes '''progressively obliterated''', accompanied by periglomerular fibrosis. Reduction in blood supply to the nephron also causes damage to the tubules and provokes an '''interstitial nephritis''' in the later stages.

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

Diagnosis of the condition is by '''renal biopsy''' in the live animal, or '''histopathology''' of the kidney at post-mortem examination

Diagnosis of the condition is by '''renal biopsy''' in the live animal, or '''histopathology''' of the kidney at post-mortem examination.

A careful search should be made for an '''inciting disease process'''. Abdominal and thoracic radiographs, ultrasonography, and specialized serologic tests can rule out various inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic diseases. In dogs this includes tests for SLE (eg, antinuclear antibody titre) and appropriate antigen or antibody screening tests for other infectious agents; in cats, tests for infection with FeLV, FIV, FIP and SLE should be included.

A careful search should be made for an '''inciting disease process'''. Abdominal and thoracic radiographs, ultrasonography, and specialized serologic tests can rule out various inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic diseases. In dogs, this includes tests for [[SLE]] (eg, antinuclear antibody titre) and appropriate antigen or antibody screening tests for other infectious agents; in cats, tests for infection with [[FeLV]], [[FIV]], [[FIP]] and [[SLE]] should be included.

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

If a '''cause''' for immune-complex disease can be identified it should be treated.

If a '''cause''' for immune-complex disease can be identified it should be treated.

If the '''nephrotic syndrome''' is manifest, it should be treated with diuretics and through dietary salt restriction.

If the '''nephrotic syndrome''' is manifested, it should be treated with diuretics and through dietary salt restriction.

'''Antithrombotics''' may have to be considered in those animals with a very low albumin.

'''Antithrombotics''' may have to be considered in those animals with a very low albumin.

'''Prognosis''' for animals with glomerulonephritis is '''poor''', with a mean survival time of 87 days in dogs.

'''Prognosis''' for animals with glomerulonephritis is '''poor''', with a mean survival time of 87 days in dogs.

==References==

==References==

Kahn, C. (2005) '''Merck Veterinary Manual''' ''Merck and Co''

Kahn, C. (2005) '''Merck Veterinary Manual''' ''Merck and Co''

Smythe, B. (2009) '''Urogenital System, urinary tract pathology''' ''Royal Veterinary College student notes''

Smythe, B. (2009) '''Urogenital System, urinary tract pathology''' ''Royal Veterinary College student notes''

[[Category:Glomerular Disease]]

[[Category:Glomerular Disease]]

[[Category:To Do - Urinary]]

[[Category:Urological Diseases - Dog]]

[[Category:To Do - Manson]]

[[Category:Urological Diseases - Cat]]

[[Category:To Do - Helen]]

[[category:Urological Diseases - Cattle]]

[[Category:To Do - Review]]

[[Category:Urological Diseases - Horse]]

[[Category:Expert Review]]