What is the long term outlook for patients with GN?

GN may be a temporary and reversible condition, or it may get worse. Progressive GN may lead to chronic/advanced kidney failure. Those patients who have only blood in the urine with no significant urine protein usually have a better outcome. However, those patients with excessive amount of urine protein or if the kidney biopsy shows significant damage to the kidney at the time of diagnosis, they are more likely to develop kidney failure with time. The time it takes for GN to cause kidney failure is usually many years.

As most of them are asymptomatic and patients feel well, many are not aware they have GN or may have defaulted treatment in their early stages. The opportunity to control the illness is then missed as mild case without treatment can progress to a more serious stage with all the associated kidney failure complications. Remember, the whole process usually occurs over a long period of time, thus follow up and compliance with treatment are essential in preventing kidney failure.

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Expert Author:

Dr Roger Tan, Consultant Nephrologist