Anti‑phospholipase A2 receptor antibody in idiopathic membranous nephropathy: New concepts

Membranous glomerulopathy is a major glomerulonephritis that often causes nephrotic range proteinuria in adults. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) has been found of having an immune etiologic basis. Various data such as kidney biopsy findings on light microscopy, immunofluorescence staining for granular immunoglobulin G (mainly IgG4) and C3 deposition along the glomerular basement membrane, electron‑dense deposits of immune complexes in the sub‑epithelial glomerular basement membrane and the association with complement activation products and disease activity all reiterated that immune dysfunction underlies the disease. Glomerulopathy of membranous can also be secondary to some infections, an autoimmune diseases, drugs and various malignancies. In iMN, disease can be developed due to the binding of a circulating antibody to an antigen that is presented on podocytes. Currently, various therapeutic modalities are available; however, some patients with iMN may experience spontaneous remission.