crescentic glomerulonephritis
Pronunciation: kres-SEN-tik
Aggressive form of glomerulonephritis characterized by crescent formation in Bowman's space, typically presenting as rapidly progressive kidney failure.
Full Definition
Crescentic glomerulonephritis is a severe form of glomerular disease characterized by the formation of cellular crescents in more than 50% of glomeruli, composed of proliferating epithelial cells and infiltrating macrophages within Bowman's space. In pediatric patients, this condition typically presents as rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with declining kidney function over days to weeks. Common causes include anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (Goodpasture syndrome), ANCA-associated vasculitis, and post-infectious glomerulonephritis. Clinical presentation usually includes hematuria, proteinuria, hypertension, and oliguria. The condition requires urgent diagnosis and treatment, often with immunosuppressive therapy including corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents, as delay can result in irreversible kidney damage.
Usage
Usage note: Specify the percentage of glomeruli with crescents when reporting; >50% crescents defines the entity.
In Context
- "Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis with crescents in 75% of glomeruli." — Pathology report
- "The patient's crescentic glomerulonephritis was treated with pulse methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide." — Treatment protocol note