Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Pattern of Injury

Abstract

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is no longer a disease but a pattern of injury in various diseases. Characterized by electron-dense deposits, mesangial proliferation, and duplication of the glomerular basement membrane, MPGN was previously classified by findings seen by electron microscopy. However, recognizing complement dysfunction in relation to cases with the MPGN pattern of injury substantially changed our view of its pathogenesis. A new classification, including immune complex-mediated and complement-mediated MPGN, has become preferable and has been adopted by international guidelines. Despite these advancements, accurate diagnosis of MPGN remains a clinical challenge, given the pathological and clinical similarities between immune complex-mediated and complement-mediated MPGN. Additional testing, such as molecular and genetic testing, is often necessary. Here, we will summarize our current understanding of the MPGN pattern of injury from a pathology perspective as an introductory article in the following chapters.