Ultrastructure of Immune Deposits in Renal Glomeruli

Abstract

Immunofluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy are mutually complementary in the characterization of immune deposits in renal glomeruli. Deposits differ in [1] composition: various classes of immunoglobulins, components of complement, fibrinogen, and sometimes also specific antigens; [2] form: granular, nodular, linear; [3] location: mostly in the capillary wall (under the epithelium, under the endothelium, in the basement membrane) but sometimes also or predominantly in the mesangium; [4] ultrastructure: fine-grained, coarse-grained, "organized," virus-like. These features combine to form patterns that may be specific for particular glomerular diseases.