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Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Type II
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Copyright 2005
NORD is grateful to Richard JH Smith, Sterba Hearing Research Professor and Director of Molecular Otolaryngology at the University of Iowa, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Type II
- dense deposit disease
- MPGN type II
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II (MPGN2) is one of three related types of a disease of the tiny filtering mechanism (glomeruli) of the kidney. The disease is probably autoimmune, although just what triggers the immune system to generate an autoimmune response is not known.
The glomeruli are the part of the internal kidney structures where the blood flows through very small capillaries and is filtered through membranes to form urine. When this disease is present, deposits of immune materials spread through the membranes leading to a thickening of the capillary walls, and therefore disrupting the kidney function.
Levels of some blood proteins related to the immune system (blood "complements") are altered in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. In particular, levels of some specific complement proteins are very low in the blood. This condition is referred to as “hypocomplementemia”. In addition, blood may be found in the urine (hematuria), as well as proteins not normally found in urine samples (proteinuria).
Damage to the glomeruli is progressive, leading in most cases to kidney failure and to long-term kidney dialysis or to kidney transplantation.
Organizations related to Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Type II
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- Kidneeds
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
200 First Street, S.W.
Cedar Rapids IA 52404
Phone #: N/A
800 #: --
e-mail: kidneedsMPGN@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/kidneeds
- National Kidney Foundation
30 East 33rd Street
New York NY 10016
Phone #: 212-889-2210
800 #: 800-622-9010
e-mail: info@kidney.org
Home page: http://www.kidney.org
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