[Nephrologic emergency or bland course? Why glomerulonephritis should be checked out].

Glomerulonephritis frequently takes an asymptomatic course, and may lead on to chronic renal insufficiency. If clinical signs of glomerulonephritis are present, the syndrome must be characterized by means of a comprehensive diagnostic work-up. The definitive diagnosis can be established only on the basis of a renal biopsy, which also permits an assessment of the prognosis.