Morphology of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis in adults

: The authors followed the evolution of morphologic changes in adult patients with poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN). In all the patients the kidney biopsies repeated in the period of 2 to 5 years after the acute phase, showed certain histopathologic changes as follows: increased number of mesangial cells, increase of mesangial matrix with scattered axiation and lobulation, segmental thickening of Bowman's capsule, interstitial fibrosis along with preservation of capillary lumen and absence of changes in major blood vessels. According to severity of histopathologic changes, the patients were classified into 4 groups: moderate severe changes--2 patients, mild--15 patients, small--12 and minimal changes were seen in 5 patients. It was proved that after acute stage of PSGN, in which morphologic appearance was more or less typical but not pathognomonic as well, increased number of secretory active mesangial cells was kept, which lead to gradual increasing of mesangial matrix and in slowly evolutive process by the model of glomerulosclerosis lead to irreversible damage of glomerules and interstitial fibrosis.