What is Menbranous Nephropathy?
Membranous Nephropathy (MEM-bruh-nus nuh-FROP-uh-thee) or MN is characterized by a thickening of the filtering barrier in the kidney called the glomerular basement membrane. glomcap
MN is caused by the build- up of immune complexes within the kidney. Immune Complexes a
re made when a person’s antibodies attack something they consider foreign to the body (an antigen) like an infection or virus.
antibody + an antigen = an immune complex
These immune complexes are normally eliminated while still in the circulatory system, but in MN they they accumulate in glomerular basement membrane. The inflamed membrane does not work normally and allows large amounts of protein through the barrier and into the urine (proteinuria) causing signs and symptoms known as Nephrotic Syndrome. MN is one of the most common causes of Nephrotic Syndrome.