Is there a link between diabetic glomerular injury and crescent formation? A case report and literature review

Diagn Pathol. 2012 Apr 20:7:46. doi: 10.1186/1746-1596-7-46.

Abstract

Glomerular crescents are most commonly associated with rapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis; however, they also develop in response to a wide range of primary and secondary glomerular injuries. Since various kind of glomerulopathies occasionally overlay diabetic glomerular injuries, the presence of crescents in renal biopsy specimens of diabetics may have stimulated a search for etiologies other than diabetes. In this report, we describe an unusual case of diabetic glomerulosclerosis with peculiar extracapillary proliferation. Although such a relationship has so far been ignored in most of the literature, the etiological linkage between diabetic glomerulosclerosis and the development of crescents may not be exceptional. We have reviewed the previous literature and herein discuss the pathological implications of the development of crescents in patients with diabetic glomerulosclerosis.

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Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Biopsy
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / blood
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / drug therapy
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / pathology*
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / urine
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kidney Glomerulus / pathology*
  • Kidney Glomerulus / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Biomarkers