Membranous nephropathy: A ten-year journey of discoveries

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Over the last decade important research discoveries have revealed that most “idiopathic” cases are caused by autoantibodies to podocyte antigens including phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type 1 domain containing 7A (THSD7A). In this review, we will discuss the histopathology of primary MN, recent revelations regarding pathogenesis, and ancillary tests.