What are the two main categories of causes for glomerular injury?

The two main categories of causes for glomerular injury are inflammation and permeability alteration. Inflammation refers to various immune-mediated processes that lead to injury of glomerular structures, often seen in conditions like glomerulonephritis. An example of this is the infiltration of immune cells in response to antigens that can damage the glomerular filtration barrier, leading to changes in the glomerulus and resulting in clinical consequences such as proteinuria or hematuria.

Permeability alteration, on the other hand, refers to changes in the glomerular filtration barrier that affect its ability to prevent the passage of large or charged molecules. This alteration contributes to glomerular diseases where protein, blood cells, or other substances are abnormally filtered, indicating a pathological change.

Recognizing these two categories assists healthcare professionals in diagnosing the underlying mechanisms of glomerular injury, allowing for more targeted treatment approaches and management of renal diseases.