Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis
(APSGN)
Classic example of the acute nephritic syndrome
characterized by sudden onset of:
Gross hematuria
Edema
Hypertension, and
Renal insufficiency
2
nd
most common glomerular causes of gross
hematuria in children (1
st
IgA nephropathy) 6
•APSGN follows infection of the throat or
skin by certain “nephritogenic” strains of
group A β-hemolytic streptococci
–Throat (serotype 12) , cold weather months.
–skin (serotype 49) , warm weather months.
BUT
•APSGN is most commonly sporadic
•Epidemics of nephritis -reported
Etiology and epidemiology
PATHOLOGY
•Kidneys →symmetrically enlarged
•Light microscopy,
•All glomeruli appear enlarged & relatively bloodless
•Diffuse mesangial cell proliferation
•Increase mesangial matrix
•Polymorphonuclear leukocytes in glomeruli
•Crescents and interstitial inflammation
•These changes are not specific for
poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
8
(A) ultrastructural features of a normal glomerular capillary loop ,
(B)ultrastructural features of APSGN, Note the subepithelial hump
like dense deposits and endocapillary hypercellularity
A B
Neutrophils infiltration
PATHOLOGY
Immunofluorescence microscopy
Lumpy-bumpy deposits of immunoglobulin
complement on glomerular basement
membrane (GBM)
in the mesangium.
Electron microscopy
Electron-dense deposits, or "humps," on the
epithelial side of the GBM
EM glomerular capillary -APSGN showing
subepithelial dense deposits and
a neutrophil (N) marginated
Immune
complexes,
antigens
Activation of
Compliments
Recruitment of
leukocytes
GBM damage,
Blood ingredients
leakage
Hematuria
Proteinuria
RBC Casts
Proliferation
of MC and
EC
Blockage of renal
capillaries and
decreased GFR
Edema
hypertention
heart failure
encephalopathy
renal failure
Oliguria, sodium
and water
retention,
hypervolemia
Inflammation
mediates, Cytokines,
proliferative F.
Infection of
streptocacci
PATHOGENESIS
Although
•Morphologic studies &
•↓(C3) level
strongly suggest →mediated by
immune complexes
Questions still unsolved
•Precise mechanisms→ UNKNOWN
14
PATHOGENESIS
Clinical
Manifestations
15
General manifestations
•Age:
•most common in children aged 5-12 yr
•uncommon before the age of 3 yr.
•Sex: more common in boys than in girls,
(M:F 2 : 1)
•Antecedent infection:
•1-2 wk after pharyngitis
•3-6 wk after pyoderma
Typical manifestations
Severity of renal involvement varies
from asymptomatic microscopic
hematuria to oliguric acute renal failure
•Hematuria:
•Gross hematuria (30-50%),
•microscopic hematuria - more
common
•Edema (90%):
•Puffy face
•Ascites and
•Anasarca may occur
•Hypertension (75% ):
usually mild to moderate
Typical manifestations
•Oliguria and anuria :
•transient oliguria.
•Anuria is infrequent
•Proteinuria
–Many patients have significant
proteinuria
–<5% - frank nephrotic syndrome.
Typical manifestations
Subclinical, microscopic
hematuria may be four times
more common as overt acute
PSGN
Attention
Clinical course
–Spontaneous improvement begins within 1 wk
–Edema-- resolves in 5-10 days
–Hypertension-- normalize by 4-6 wk after onset
–Proteinuria -- normalize by 4-6 wk
•Acute phase resolves within 6-8 wk.
•Microscopic hematuria may persist 1-2 yr
INVESTIGATIONS
22
•Urinalysis
–demonstrates red blood cells (RBCs),
–RBC casts
–Proteinuria
–↑WBC
•CBC
–Mild normochromic anemia (due to hemodilution and
low-grade hemolysis)
23
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory Findings
•Activation of complements
–Serum C3 level, decrease (90%),
–return to normal within 4-8 wk
–Serum C4 levels -- typically normal
•Urea / creatinine ↑
•Blood chemistory
–Hyperkalemia
–hypocalcaemia
–hyponatremia
–Metabolic acidosis
Clinical diagnosis of APSGN likely
with:
1.Acute nephritic syndrome
2.Evidence of recent streptococcal
infection
–Positive throat culture
–Rising titer to streptococcal antigen(s)
3. Low C3 level 25
DIAGNOSIS
Antibodies to streptococcal
antigen(s)
•Anti-streptolysin O titer (ASOT) >333 TOD
Units
•COMMONLY elevated after a pharyngeal infection but
•RARELY increases after streptococcal skin infections.
•Anti deoxyribonuclease (DNase) B antibodies
(best single antibody titer to document cutaneous
streptococcal infection)
•Anti-hyaluronidase antibodies
•Anti-streptokinase antibodies
Renal biopsy
•Acute renal failure
•Nephrotic syndrome
•Absence of evidence of streptococcal
infection
•Normal complement levels
ALSO if
•Hematuria and proteinuria, diminished
renal function, and/or low C3 level
persist > 2 mo after onset
•Treatment of APSGN is largely that of
supportive care.
•Usually, patients undergo a
spontaneous diuresis within 7 to 10
days after the onset of their illness.
•Management is directed at treating the
acute effects of renal insufficiency and
hypertension
Therapeutic Principle
Treatment
Management is directed at
•Treat renal insufficiency
•Treat hypertension
•Antibiotic therapy
Diet
Protein, sodium and water intake
-ARF
Salt and water restriction -HTN
Treat renal insufficiency
Careful intake and output record
Daily weight measurement
Monitor & treat HTN
Water and sodium restriction
Protein restriction
Potassium and phosphate restriction
Adjust medication dosages
32
TREAT if any
Hyperkalemia
Hyponatremia
Seizures
Acidosis
Hypocalcemia
Antibiotics
Systemic antibiotic therapy to limit
spread of nephritogenic organisms
10-day course of systemic antibiotic
therapy with Penicillin OR
Single I.M Inj Benzathin Penicillin
NOTE: Antibiotic therapy does not affect
natural history of glomerulonephritis
Indications for dialysis
Volume overload with evidence of
hypertension and/or pulmonary edema
refractory to diuretic therapy
Persistent hyperkalemia
Severe metabolic acidosis unresponsive to
medical management
Neurologic symptoms (altered mental
status, seizures)
Blood urea nitrogen greater than 100–150
mg/dL
Calcium/phosphorus imbalance, with
hypocalcemic tetany.
Mortality
Can be avoided by appropriate
management of:
•Acute renal failure
•Cardiac failure
•Hypertension
37
Prevention ??
•Early systemic antibiotic therapy for
streptococcal throat and skin infections
does not eliminate the risk of
glomerulonephritis
•Family members of patients with acute
glomerulonephritis should be cultured
for group-A β-hemolytic streptococci and
treated if culture positive
38
IgA nephropathy
(IgAN)
•Recurrent painless gross hematuria.
•Preceded by (usually 1-3 days ) infections
(URTI , Ac GE).
•HTN & renal insufficiency --- uncommon
•C3 level ----- normal
•ASO or anti DNase B ---- not elevated