Rare diseases · Sign or symptom
Diffuse mesangial sclerosis
HP:0001967
What it means
Thickening and scarring (sclerosis) of the mesangium (a structure in the glomerulus). The sclerosis affects a large portion of the mesangium across multiple glomeruli. Histologic features include an increase in the mesangial matrix, thickened glomerular basement membrane, tubular casts, and interstitial inflammation. Diffuse mesangial sclerosis presents with nephrotic syndrome at birth or within the first year of life. Glomeruli are small and condensed in appearance, with early lesions showing increased loose mesangial collagen that progress to sclerosis with dense collagen without hypercellularity. Podocytes do not show hyperplasia but may be immature and cobblestone-like. Electron microscopy shows extensive foot process effacement without deposits, but increased collagen within mesangial areas.
Rare diseases that can present with this3
The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.
Part of the broader category
Also called: Diffuse mesangial sclerosis glomerulopathy · Mesangial sclerosis
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Start free with EleplanThis page uses the Human Phenotype Ontology (2026-06-23) — Human Phenotype Ontology Consortium, hpo.jax.org. Disease associations from Orphanet (INSERM), CC BY 4.0. Content is educational and is not medical advice.