Question:

What parameter of the crescents is used to assess the severity in crescentic glomerulonephritis?

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Severity in crescentic GN is graded by the percentage of glomeruli with crescents; over 50% defines RPGN.
Updated On: Jul 8, 2026
  • Size
  • Shape
  • Number
  • Pattern of distribution
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Know what a crescent is.
In crescentic glomerulonephritis, cells and fibrin fill Bowman's space and form a crescent shaped ring around the glomerular tuft. This crescent is the hallmark lesion seen on renal biopsy.

Step 2: Learn how severity is graded.
Pathologists grade the severity of crescentic glomerulonephritis by counting how many glomeruli in the biopsy sample show crescents, and stating this as a percentage of the total glomeruli examined.

Step 3: Apply the cut-off used in practice.
When more than 50% of the glomeruli in the sample carry crescents, the disease is labelled rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). A higher number of crescent bearing glomeruli means a worse prognosis and a stronger push toward early immunosuppressive treatment.

Step 4: Check why the other choices fail.
The size of a crescent, its shape, or whether crescents sit in a scattered or clustered pattern do not carry the same prognostic weight in standard grading. Renal pathology reports and treatment decisions in RPGN are built around the count, that is, the number and percentage of glomeruli affected.

Final Answer:
The number of glomeruli with crescents is the parameter used to grade severity in crescentic glomerulonephritis. \[ \boxed{\text{Number}} \]
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