Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis: immune deposit disease.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Light, immunofluorescent, and electron microscopy of the kidney was carried out in 16 children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Discrete deposits of beta1C and / or gamma G globulin were present within and along the epithelial surface of the glomerular basement membrane during the acute disease. By electron and thin section microscopy, these immune deposits were shown as dense masses on the epithelial side of the basement membrane. This type of deposition of gamma G and beta1C globulins is distinctive and does not occur in other glomerular diseases. Experimental evidence suggests that these deposits are antigen-antibody complexes. In 3 of 10 patients streptococcal cell antigen was also present in the glomerulus. Serial biopsy of 4 patients after recovery from the acute disease and up to 9 months after onset showed marked decreases or disappearance of the gamma G and beta1C globulin deposition. Immunofluorescent studies of kidney biopsies from 14 patients 10 years after acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis showed minimal abnormality in 3 and none in the others.