Glomerular Diseases

Diseases and conditionsKidney diseases and conditionsGlomerular diseases

Last updated: February 19, 2026

Medically reviewed by: NKF Patient Education Team

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Glomerular diseases are a group of kidney disorders that damage the glomeruli. Learn about glomerular diseases, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Table of Contents

Audio Summary of Glomerular Diseases

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This audio summary was created with AI, using the National Kidney Foundation content as the exclusive source. NKF clinical experts have reviewed it for accuracy.

About Glomerular Diseases

Glomerular diseases are a group of kidney disorders that damage the tiny filtering units in the kidney (glomeruli).

Specifically, glomerular diseases involve damage to glomeruli. Your kidneys may be small, but they perform many vital functions that help maintain your overall health, including filtering waste and excess fluids from your blood. Your kidneys have about one million tiny filter units called nephrons. Each nephron has a glomerulus, so that means there are over one million of them too. More than one glomerulus are called glomeruli. Glomeruli work like strainers used in cooking. While blood moves through them, they let waste and extra water pass into the nephrons to make urine. At the same time, they hold back the protein and blood that your body needs. Many diseases affect kidney function by attacking the glomeruli. When the glomeruli become damaged and cannot do their job, it is called glomerular disease. 

There are two main groups of glomerular diseases. Glomerulonephritis happens when the kidneys' blood filters (glomeruli) become inflamed and scarred. Glomerulosclerosis happens when there is damage to the glomeruli caused by hardening and scarring of blood vessels.

Signs and Symptoms

Many people living with a glomerular disease may not have any symptoms until the more advanced stages of the disease develop. Also, symptoms will depend on the type of glomerular disease.

Generally, one or more of the following can be a sign or symptom of a glomerular disease:

Blood in the urine (hematuria)

Hematuria can have many causes, such as other diseases and infection. With a glomerular disease, tiny filtering units in the kidney (glomeruli) become damaged and leak red blood cells, which appear in the urine and can change its color. With hematuria, the urine color may look pink, red, or brown. Sometimes the color is not changed at all (microscopic hematuria) and only discovered with lab testing.

Foamy urine from protein in the urine (proteinuria)

Proteinuria happens when too much protein leaks into the urine, causing the urine to look foamy and/or cloudy. It is caused by damage to the glomeruli. Severe cases of proteinuria is called nephrotic syndrome, where symptoms in other parts of the body may occur.

Swelling (edema)

This usually happens around the hands, feet, and ankles. There can also be puffiness around the eyes. Kidney disease can lead to a build-up of fluid, causing swelling, or edema.

Less urine made (oliguria)

Edema can happen when a glomerular disease becomes more advanced. The kidneys make less urine, so people visit the bathroom fewer times and pass less urine (or oliguria) during bathroom visits.

Fatigue and reduced alertness

With a glomerular disease, the kidney’s reduced ability to remove wastes from the blood causes wastes to accumulate in the blood. These wastes can affect the brain, and cause a person to feel more tired than usual, or to have problems concentrating.

Not all people will have these symptoms the same way. Also, a glomerular disease can have other symptoms not listed above. It is important to be aware of these symptoms. Contact a healthcare professional if you or a family member has these symptoms or notices a sudden change in symptoms.

Causes

Glomerular diseases include many conditions with different causes or triggers. It can be caused when parts of the immune system damage glomeruli, tiny filtering units within the kidneys. Usually, the immune system protects the body from invaders, like viruses, bacteria, and other germs. Sometimes, the immune system may become overactive, or may have other problems that lead to kidney damage. There are several possible reasons for this. Sometimes it’s related to changes in your genes (variants). In other cases, it may be triggered by certain infections or other immune problems. Environmental factors can also add to risk. These factors contribute to kidney damage.

Types

There are many different glomerular diseases. The following is a partial list.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis

ANCA vasculitis is a group of diseases that cause inflammation in blood vessels that can damage multiple organs, including the kidneys. The lungs, heart and nerves can also be affected.

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS)

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare and complex disease that often causes kidney failure and is life-threatening. In aHUS, a part of the immune system called the complement system becomes overactive, which leads to blood clots. These clots prevent blood flow and damage various organs, especially the kidneys. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent long-term kidney damage and other complications.

Complement 3 glomerulopathy (C3G)

C3G is a rare kidney disease caused by a part of the immune system (the complement system) damaging the kidneys. Complement 3 is a blood protein with a role in immunity and the disease.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

FSGS is a type of glomerular disease and describes scarring (sclerosis) in the kidney. “Focal” means it affects some areas but not all; "segmental" means only parts of each glomerulus are scarred. FSGS has different causes. Primary FSGS happens on its own without a known or obvious cause. Secondary FSGS can be caused by another disease, drug or other known underlying cause.

Goodpasture Syndrome

Goodpasture Syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease affecting the kidneys and lungs. Researchers found a link between Goodpasture syndrome and some types of human leukocyte antigen (HLA), a group of proteins with a role in the immune response.

Immune-complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN)

IC-MPGN is a rare kidney disease caused by the immune system damaging the kidneys. It can be caused or triggered by certain long-term infections (such as hepatitis C ), autoimmune diseases (such as lupus), or some types of cancer. In some cases, the cause of MPGN cannot be found. This is known as primary or idiopathic MPGN.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN)

IgAN is a type of kidney disease where antibodies build up in the kidneys and cause damage to the glomeruli. Antibodies are a type of protein made by the immune system to protect against things like bacteria and viruses. IgA is the specific type of antibody involved, the full name being “immunoglobulin A.”

Lupus nephritis

Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), often called lupus. SLE (lupus) is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body. In lupus, the immune system makes proteins called autoantibodies, which attack tissues and organs in the body, including the kidneys.

Minimal change disease (MCD)

MCD is a disease where there is damage to the glomeruli. The disease gets its name because the damage cannot be seen under a regular microscope. It can only be seen under a very powerful microscope called an electron microscope. It is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in children. MCD has different causes. Primary MCD happens on its own. Secondary MCD can be caused by another disease, drug or other known underlying cause.

Membranous nephropathy (MN)

MN is a disease where there is damage to the glomeruli. MN has different causes. Secondary MN can be caused by another disease, drug or other known cause. Primary MN is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body. In primary MN, the immune system makes proteins called autoantibodies, which attack the kidneys. An autoantibody called anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R) is thought to have a role in primary MN. Anti-THSD7A (thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A) and anti-NELL1 (neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein) may also play a role in primary MN.

Complications

Complications can vary depending on the type of glomerular disease. However, over time, a glomerular disease can stop your kidneys from getting rid of wastes in your blood. When this goes on for a long time, waste builds up in your blood, and you may have chronic kidney disease. This can progress to kidney failure. A glomerular disease can also lead to heart disease, depending on the disease and how advanced it is.

Some people with glomerular disease have nephrotic syndrome (also called nephrosis). Nephrotic syndrome happens when your kidneys lose large amounts of protein in your urine (proteinuria) and causes extra fluids and salt build up in your body. This causes you to have swelling (edema), high blood pressure, and higher levels of cholesterol.

Diagnosis

Generally, a diagnosis can include any combination of symptoms, blood and urine tests, a kidney biopsy, genetic testing, and antibody testing.

A urinalysis is a test that checks your urine for signs of health issues.

An eGFR, or estimated glomerular filtration rate, is a blood test that shows how well your kidneys are filtering, or removing, wastes form your blood.

A urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) is a urine test that checks for high protein (albumin) in the urine, which is a sign of kidney damage.

A urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) may also be used. This test is similar to the UACR test, which measures albumin. Instead of measuring only the amount of albumin in your urine, it measures all the different proteins that may be present.

A kidney biopsy is a procedure where a tiny piece of your kidney is surgically removed with a special needle, and looked at under special microscopes. These microscopes reveal patterns of damage that can help identify a disease. In many glomerular diseases, a kidney biopsy is required to definitively confirm a diagnosis of a certain glomerular disease.

Genetic testing may also be used if a disease has a known genetic cause. The test uses a sample of blood or saliva. Samples are sent to a lab, which determines whether they contain to any gene variants, or changes, that have known links to a specific disease. Genetic testing can be ordered by a physician or genetic counselor. A genetic counselor is a healthcare professional with special training in genetics and genetic diseases. They can help answer questions about the test and its results

Antibody (serology) testing may also be used to check for specific proteins (antibodies) your immune system makes to fight infections like viruses or bacteria, or to detect autoimmune conditions. Antibody testing can be used to detect a certain infection, such as flu or COVID. With glomerular disease, an antibody test may be used to detect certain autoantibodies linked with a certain disease.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the type of glomerular disease you have. Your healthcare team will work with you to create a treatment plan to help prevent kidney disease or keep it from getting worse. Certain nutrition and lifestyle recommendations and medicines may be involved. Most people with glomerular disease will likely need to lower their intake of sodium. Be sure to keep up with medical visits.

Depending on the glomerular disease, ACE inhibitors or ARBs may be used. These are blood pressure medications used to reduce protein loss and control blood pressure. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs are medications used to calm (or suppress) your immune system and stop it from attacking the filtering units in the kidney (glomeruli). Immunosuppressive drugs are also used by people who received a kidney transplant. They help lower the body’s natural response to fight the new kidney. 

Other medications have also become available for certain diseases such as C3G, IgAN, aHUS, and lupus, Check with your healthcare team about new treatments and if they might be right for you.so check with your healthcare team about new treatments and if they might be right for you. New medications for different diseases are being researched, so you can ask your healthcare team if any clinical trials are available and if they might be right for you.

A glomerular disease can also lead to kidney failure, which requires a kidney transplant or dialysis to stay alive.

It is important to pay attention to signs and symptoms and let your healthcare team know as early as possible when you notice them. Treating conditions that can cause glomerular disease may help prevent it from getting worse and slow down the damage to your kidneys.

Preparing for your appointment

Questions to ask 

  • Am I at risk for a glomerular disease? 
  • Is my kidney disease considered a glomerular disease?
  • What was my most recent uPCR or uACR result? If my last result was not at goal, what can I do to make it lower?
  • What is my risk of developing kidney failure because of my glomerular disease?
  • What lifestyle changes do you suggest I make to help prevent complications?
  • Are there any changes I need to make with my diet? Can a dietitian help me with my diet?
  • Do I have to make any changes with my medications?
  • What symptoms should I watch for that might indicate my condition is worsening?

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This content is provided for informational use only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for the medical advice of a healthcare professional.
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