Updates on the Diagnosis and Management of Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis

Abstract

Fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) is a rare kidney disease typically affecting individuals in middle age, frequently presenting with advanced renal failure, proteinuria, and hypertension. FGN can be associated with autoimmune diseases, hepatitis C infection, and malignancies. Its exact pathogenesis remains elusive, and the exact role of DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 9 is yet to be determined. On renal biopsy, FGN exhibits distinctive Congo-red-negative, nonbranching fibrils, approximately 20 nm in diameter. DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 9 immunohistochemical staining has become a gold standard for diagnosis. Atypical variants exist, including congophilic, monotypic, and crescentic FGN, highlighting the disease's heterogeneity. Treatment with immunosuppression, including rituximab, has shown variable success, with no standard therapy established. FGN often leads to end-stage kidney disease, with a median progression time of 2-4 years postdiagnosis. Kidney transplantation is a viable option for FGN-related end-stage kidney disease, but recurrence in transplanted kidneys is not rare.