Serologic evaluation of renal status.
Mechanisms of immunologic injury causing glomerulonephritis are based on immune complex or autoantibody deposition with activation of complement. Circulating immune complex disease can be diagnosed and monitored with improved assays for immune complexes, DNA antibodies, complement levels, and complement activation products. Etiologic auto-antibodies for the Goodpasture antigen, neutrophil enzymes, and ones directly promoting complement activation are now quantitated for more accurate serologic diagnosis. The spectrum of postinfectious glomerulonephritis also presents several new measurements for assessing clinical status. Diagnosis and monitoring of glomerulonephritis now entails panel testing for these humoral abnormalities that are useful to establish the etiology and treatment regimens.
McPherson
R A
RA
Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D003165:Complement System Proteins