C3 glomerulonephritis: clinicopathological findings, complement abnormalities, glomerular proteomic profile, treatment, and follow-up

Abstract

C3 Glomerulonephritis (C3GN) is a recently described disorder that typically results from abnormalities in the alternative pathway of complement. Here, we describe the clinical features, kidney biopsy findings, alternative pathway abnormalities, glomerular proteomic profile, and follow-up in 12 cases of C3GN. This disorder equally affected all ages, both genders, and typically presented with hematuria and proteinuria. In both the short and long term, renal function remained stable in the majority of patients with native kidney disease. In two patients, C3GN recurred within one year of transplantation and resulted in a decline in allograft function. Kidney biopsy mainly showed a membranoproliferative pattern; although both mesangial proliferative and diffuse endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis were noted. Alternative pathway abnormalities were heterogeneous; both acquired and genetic. The most common acquired abnormality was the presence of C3 nephritic factors, while the most common genetic finding was the presence of H402 and V62 alleles of Factor H. In addition to these risk factors, other abnormalities included Factor H auto-antibodies and mutations in CFH, CFI and CFHR genes. Laser dissection and mass spectrometry of glomeruli from patients with C3GN showed accumulation of alternative pathway and terminal complement complex proteins. Thus, C3GN results from diverse abnormalities of the alternative complement pathway leading to subsequent glomerular injury.