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Management of patients with membranous nephropathy

2011; Oxford University Press; Volume: 27; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/ndt/gfr371

1460-2385

Julia M. Hofstra, Jack F.M. Wetzels,

Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common causeof the nephrotic syndrome in Europe, with an incidence of5–10/million/year in adults [1]. Although MN can occur sec-ondary to infections, systemic diseases, use of drugs or ma-lignancies, in most patients n o underlying cause is identified[idiopathic membranous nephr opathy (iMN)]. Recent studieshave identified antibodies against the M-type PLA2-receptor,an antigen present on podocytes, in 70% of patients withiMN, thus establishing iMN as an autoimmune disease [ 2].These findings were supported by a genome wide associationstudy that found an association between PLA2R and iMN [ 3].In this comment, we describe the management of pa-tients with MN (Figure 1).