Current Concepts on Anti-Phospholipase A2 Receptor Antibody in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

The most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults is idiopathic membranous nephropathy, which is an antibody-mediated autoimmune glomerular disease. Membranous glomerulopathy can be secondary to autoimmune diseases, various infections, drugs and malignancies. In idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), disease can be developed due to the binding of a circulating antibody to an antigen that is presented on podocytes. However, in secondary forms of membranous nephropathy, the subepithelial deposits may arose from deposition of circulating immune complexes along the capillary walls or from binding of antibodies to antigens that are originated from the tumor and were implanted in the basement membrane.