Is stage II membranous nephropathy serious?

Membranous nephropathy is a glomerular disease characterized by diffuse deposition of immune complexes under the epithelial cells of glomerulus, thickening of glomerular basement membrane and formation of "spikes". The membranous nephropathy was divided into 5 stages by electron microscope examination. Stage Ⅱ membranous nephropathy was characterized by obvious thickening of the basement membrane of the lower glomerulus, a large number of orderly granular electron dense deposits under the epithelial cells, prominent basement membrane materials between the dense deposits, i.e. spikes under light microscope, and extensive fusion of the foot processes of the epithelial cells.

Membranous nephropathy is the most common histopathological type of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults. about 1/3 of idiopathic membranous nephropathy can be spontaneously relieved, about 1/3 of patients progress to end-stage renal disease, and about 1/3 of patients progress slowly.

Factors for poor prognosis of membranous nephropathy: Elderly, male, persistent hypertension, persistent hyperlipidemia, hypoproteinemia, decreased renal function at diagnosis, proteinuria within persistent nephrotic syndrome, severe glomerulosclerosis with renal interstitial fibrosis, etc.