Page Contents
- 1 WHAT IS IT?
- 2 WHAT CAUSES IT?
- 3 WHY IS IT CONCERNING MEDICALLY?
- 4 WHAT IS THE INTIAL PRESENTATION?
- 5 WHAT ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY?
- 6 WHAT ARE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAM?
- 7 CLINICAL WORKUP: SERUM STUDIES
- 8 CLINICAL WORKUP: IMAGING
- 9 CLINICAL WORKUP: OTHER
- 10 HOW DO WE NARROW THE DIFFERENTIAL?
- 11 WHAT IS OUR THRESHOLD FOR DIAGNOSING THIS CONDITION?
- 12 PATIENT MANAGMENT: SYMPTOM RELEIF
- 13 PATIENT MANAGEMENT: DISEASE TREATMENT
- 14 PATIENT MANAGEMENT: PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES
- 15 COULD THIS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?
- 16 ARCHIVE OF STANDARDIZED EXAM QUESTIONS
WHAT IS IT?
Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis (RPGN)/Crescentic Glomerulonephritis refers to a specific syndrome of the kidney that is characterized by a rapid loss of renal function in the setting of the formation of glomerular crescents. RPGN is NOT a specific disease, but rather is a common syndrome shared by various underlying conditions as the result of damage to the kidney.
WHAT CAUSES IT?
RPGN is associated with the following underlying conditions:
- Goodpasture syndrome
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Granulomatous polyangitis
- Microscopic polyarteritis
All of these conditions cause a common phenomenon to occur in the kidneys: namely they are responsible for the formation of crescents in the glomeruli of the kidney. These crescents consist of parietal cells, monocytes, and macrophages that have migrated into Bowman’s space. There is also abundant fibrin between the cellular layers of the crescents (and fibrin is an essential step in crescent formation.
WHY IS IT CONCERNING MEDICALLY?
The formation of these crescents eventually is followed by their sclerosis. Sclerotic crescents obliterate the Bowman’s space, and as a result, impede glomerular function (compromising the kidneys). The damage caused by RPGN is rapid and irreversible.
WHAT IS THE INTIAL PRESENTATION?
Patient Chief Complaints:
Detected Medical Problems:
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY?
Risk Factors:
Medical History:
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAM?
Vital Signs:
Other:
CLINICAL WORKUP: SERUM STUDIES
CLINICAL WORKUP: IMAGING
CLINICAL WORKUP: OTHER
HOW DO WE NARROW THE DIFFERENTIAL?
Conditions that present similarly and how to exclude them:
WHAT IS OUR THRESHOLD FOR DIAGNOSING THIS CONDITION?
PATIENT MANAGMENT: SYMPTOM RELEIF
PATIENT MANAGEMENT: DISEASE TREATMENT
PATIENT MANAGEMENT: PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES
COULD THIS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?
ARCHIVE OF STANDARDIZED EXAM QUESTIONS
This archive compiles standardized exam questions that relate to this topic.
Page Updated: 04.05.2017