Membranous nephropathy

Overview

Membranous nephropathy is a disease in which the small blood vessels in the kidney (glomeruli), which filter wastes from the blood, become inflamed and thickened. As a result, proteins leak from the damaged blood vessels into the urine (proteinuria).

In mild cases, the disease often gets better on its own, without any treatment. As the level of protein leakage increases, so does the risk of long-lasting damage. There's no cure for the disease, but treatment can slow its progress.

Recent evidence suggests that in many people membranous nephropathy is an autoimmune disease — meaning your body's immune system attacks and injures your own tissues, in this case, the glomeruli.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for treatment of membranous nephropathy

• Experience. Mayo Clinic treats 150 to 200 people each year who have membranous nephropathy.
• Expertise. The large number of kidney specialists (nephrologists) at Mayo Clinic allows some doctors to specialize and become skilled at specific aspects of kidney medicine, including glomerular diseases such as membranous nephropathy. Kidney specialists are experts at kidney biopsies and have an outstanding track record for safety. Mayo pathologists are world experts in interpreting biopsies.
• Access to the latest knowledge. Mayo Clinic is on the forefront of testing antibodies that may be causing membranous nephropathy and new therapies to counteract these antibodies. By participating in clinical trials, you can get access to experimental treatments and help shape the course of future therapy for others.
• Teamwork. Kidney specialists work with hypertension, transplant and tissue analysis specialists to accurately diagnose your disease and develop the best treatment plan.
• Coordinated care. Mayo doctors work closely with your local doctor to coordinate treatment and follow-up care.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for kidney disorders by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., is ranked high performing for kidney disorders by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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