Renal glomerular changes associated with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Renal glomerular changes associated with 79 liver cirrhosis cases were studied by light and electron microscopy, and immunofluorescent methods. The glomerular changes were classified as follows: 1) Mixed membranous and proliferative glomerulonephritis type having subepithelial, subendothelial, mesangial and paramesangial deposits (37 cases), 2) membranous glomerulonephropathy type (6 cases), 3) IgA nephropathy type (3 cases), and 4) glomerulosclerosis types (5 cases). Clinically, the patients with marked renal glomerular changes and proteinuria, hematuria, and retention by the PSP test. It was suggested that the essential renal glomerular changes in liver cirrhosis was immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis and that glomerular sclerosis was merely a secondary change to glomerulonephritis.