Britannica AI Icon

subacute glomerulonephritis

pathology

Quick Summary

Subacute glomerulonephritis is a stage of Bright disease, also known as nephritis, which is an inflammation of the kidney's glomeruli and nephrons. The glomeruli are clusters of capillaries where waste products are filtered from the blood to produce urine.12

In subacute glomerulonephritis, the kidneys become enlarged with a smooth, pale surface. This paleness is due to restricted blood flow and fat accumulation. Bowman's capsules fill with cells, red blood cells, and mineral crystals, leading to the degeneration of nephron tubules. A significant amount of blood protein is lost in the urine, and red blood cells become damaged, potentially causing anemia. This condition can arise after acute attacks or independently, and treatment often involves managing blood pressure and diet.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.