The Prevalence and Management of Pauci-Immune Glomerulonephritis and Vasculitis in Western Countries

Pauci-immune glomerulonephritis is the most common cause of aggressive glomerulonephritis and occurs as a renal-limited disease or as a component of systemic necrotizing small-vessel vasculitis. It is characterized by paucity of staining for immunoglobulins, by immunofluorescence along with fibrinoid necrosis and crescent formation by light microscopy, while the vast majority of patients have anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in their circulation, which also participate in the pathogenesis of the disease.