Membranous nephropathy represents the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adult patients. In 85% of cases the disease is classified as idiopathic membranous nephropathy, and in the remainder 15 % as secondary membranous nephropathy (systemic lupus erythematosus, infections, drugs, tumors, inorganics salts). Treatment of secondary membranous nephropathy is guided by therapy of the origina...

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy is still the most common glomerular disease associated with nephrotic syndrome. The greater the proteinuria, the greater the long-term risk for renal failure. In addition, patients who have membranous nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome have significant morbidity and mortality, in particular related to thromboembolic and cardiovascular complications. There is n...

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of the nephrotic syndrome in Europe, with an incidence of 5–10/million/year in adults [1]. Although MN can occur secondary to infections, systemic diseases, use of drugs or malignancies, in most patients no underlying cause is identified [idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN)]. Recent studies have identified antibodies against the M-type PL...

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Phospholipase A2 receptor, is normally expressed in podocyte membrane. In fact the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein related to the C-type animal lectin family such as the mannose receptor. PLA2R regulates a number of biological responses produced by secretory phospholipase A2s (sPLA2s). De...

Podocytes are highly differentiated, postmitotic cells, whose function is largely based on their complex cytoarchitecture. The differentiation of podocytes coincides with progressive expression of maturity markers, including WT-1, CALLA, C3b receptor, GLEPP-1, podocalyxin, and synaptopodin. In collapsing forms of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), including idiopathic FSGS and HIV-assoc...

Idiopathic membranous glomerulonephropathy is a well defined clinical and pathological entity (Cluck et al, 1973). It is postulated to be an immune-complex disease. There seems to be some variation in the life expectancy in this group of patients, nonetheless most agree that slow progression to renal failure is usual. Evolution of membranous nephropathy to a rapidly progressive crescentic glome...

Spontaneous remission is a well known characteristic of idiopathic membranous nephropathy, but contemporary studies describing predictors of remission and long-term outcomes are lacking. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of 328 patients with nephrotic syndrome resulting from idiopathic membranous nephropathy that initially received conservative therapy. Spontaneous remissio...

Just over 50 years ago, the late David Jones1 iden­ tified (using the periodic acid–Schiff and meth­ enamine silver stains) the unique glomerular pathologic features of membranous nephropathy, thus distinguishing it from other causes of “ne­ phrotic glomerulonephritis.” Subsequent immuno­ fluorescence and electron­microscopical studies established that membranous nephropathy was also characteri...