Autoantibodies and Kidney Diseases

Abstract

Autoimmune damage to the kidneys which can be triggered by various autoantibodies may cause a range of nephropathies. These autoantibodies may target specific renal structures like the glomerular basement membrane, resulting in primary diseases like anti-GBM disease, or they may be part of a systemic immune process such as vasculitis or systemic lupus erythematosus. There are also some other less common but serious systemic autoimmune conditions like antiphospholipid syndrome, which mainly causes thromboses via autoantibodies, may affect the kidneys, and causes devastating complications. The evolving medical literature gives us more insight into even rarer autoimmune conditions affecting the renal system like cryoglobulinemic vasculitis or immunoglobulin G4-related disease. Although seen relatively rare in the pediatric population, autoantibody-related kidney damage may cause important morbidity, end-stage renal disease, and mortality. Recognition of these rare but important conditions is of paramount importance to make a correct diagnosis and introduce prompt treatment.