Classification
Type 1
Type 2 - 'dense deposit disease'
Type 3
- Accounts for 90% of cases
- Subendothelial immune deposits of electron dense material resulting in a 'tram-track' appearance
- Cause: cryoglobulinaemia, hepatitis C
Type 2 - 'dense deposit disease'
- Causes: partial lipodystrophy (patients classically have a loss of subcutaneous tissue from their face), factor H deficiency
- Reduced serum complement
- C3b nephritic factor (an antibody against C3bBb) found in 70%
Type 3
- Causes: hepatitis B and C
Clinical features
May present as nephrotic syndrome, haematuria or proteinuria
Management
- Steroids may be effective