DEFINITION : C3 glomerulopathy is a recently defined entity that encompasses a group of kidney diseases caused by abnormal control of complement activation with deposition of complement component C3 in glomeruli leading to variable glomerular inflammation.

TYPES:  It is important to understand that,  C3 glomerulopathy involves a spectrum of disorders. 

1. DENSE DEPOSIT DISEASES

2. C3 GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

3. RARE CONDITIONS SUCH AS Complement factor H -R5 deficiency

4. OTHERS – Genetic variants in the C3, CFB, CFH, CFI and CFHR1–CFHR5 genes are potentially causal; both rare and common variants can coexist and are associated with susceptibility to disease.

Complement Factor H is isajor negative regular of alternative complement pathway.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF C3 GLOMERULOPATHY

1. Post- infectious glomerulonephritis- 30 % have C3 deposits alone. Hence clinical history can differentiate between the two.

2. Para-protein associated glomerulonephritis. Complement dysregulation may be caused due to paraproteins. Hence differentiation based on renal biopsy and Immunofluorescence alone is not possible.

3. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

4. Cresentic glomerulonephritis.

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