membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

mem·bra·no·pro·lif·er·a·tive glomerulonephritis mem-'brā-nō-prə-'lif-ər-ət-iv- n a slowly progressive chronic glomerulonephritis characterized by proliferation of mesangial cells and irregular thickening of glomerular capillary walls and narrowing of the capillary lumina

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a chronic glomerulonephritis characterized by mesangial cell proliferation and irregular thickening of the glomerular capillary wall. There are two subtypes: Type I is marked by subendothelial electron-dense deposits and classical complement pathway activation, and Type II (called also dense deposit disease) is marked by heavy electron-dense deposits in the glomerular basement membrane and alternative complement pathway activation involving C3 nephritic factor. Both types occur in older children and young adults and follow a slowly progressive course with irregular remissions ultimately resulting in renal failure. Called also chronic hypocomplementemic g., lobular or lobulonodular g., and mesangiocapillary g.

Type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis; immunofluorescence demonstrates immunoreactivity for C3 along capillary loops.