For years, pathologists found no<unk> s when viewing kidney biopsy specimens under light microscopy, hence the name<unk> ." Sometimes, the mesangium may have expanded, but otherwise there is no injury to kidney tissue itself. Under immunofluorescence, there are no immunoglobulins or complement deposits bound to kidney tissue. With the advent of electron microscopy, the<unk> s now known as the hallmarks of the disease were discovered. These are diffuse loss of visceral epithelial cells' foot processes (i.e., podocyte effacement), vacuolation, and growth of microvilli on the visceral epithelial cells, allowing for excess protein loss in the urine.
Minimal change disease
IgA nephropathy
Mesoamerican nephropathy
Analgesic nephropathy
Cystic kidney disease
Balkan endemic nephropathy
Diabetic nephropathy
Sickle cell nephropathy