Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis or MPGN is a type of glomerulonephritis caused by immune complexes depositing in the kidney glomerular mesangium and basement membrane (GBM), activating complement and damaging the glomeruli. The GBM is rebuilt ontop of the deposits, causing a "tram-tracking" appearance under the microscope.

Type

There are three types of MPGN.

• The most common by far is Type I, described above.
• Type II (dense deposit disease) is very similar, except the material deposited is not immune complexes and is not yet known.
• Type III is very rare, it is characterized by a mixture of subepithelial deposits and the typical pathological findings of Type I disease.