title: Type III membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis: long-term clinical and morphologic evaluation.
abstract: Seventeen patients with Type III membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) have been followed for more than two years; 16 were treated with alternate day prednisone. Clinical deterioration correlated with nephrotic syndrome (NS) at diagnosis: 3 of 7 patients with NS at diagnosis developed end-stage disease. Serial biopsies in the others showed progressive disease in one, improvement in one and no change in two. Of 10 patients without NS at diagnosis, 6 have improved clinically, 2 are unchanged and 2 are worse. In serial biopsies, 6 showed improved morphology and 4 were unchanged. The results indicate that Type III MPGN will stabilize or improve in most treated patients. The absence of ultrastructural transition of a Type III glomerular lesion to another type and the presence of distinctive immunofluorescent findings and complement abnormalities confirm that Type III is a unique form of MPGN.
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011414:Properdin / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011414:Properdin; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D011241:Prednisone