[Differentiation of the proteinuria by microelectrophoresis in continuous polyacrylamide-gradient gels (author's transl)].

It is possible to differentiate the proteinuria of glomerulonephritis by means of microelectrophoresis in polyacrylamide-gradient gels. The advantages of this method (quick, cheap, concentration of the urine not required) led to its introduction into clinical use. Upon separating the urinary proteins according to their molecular weight and form, four patterns of proteinuria may be differentiated: low molecular, intermediate and high molecular. Those forms of glomerulonephritis which show constant morphological and clinical findings (e.g. minimal proliferative glomerulonephritis, mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis with crescents) can be related to one of the four patterns of proteinuria, whereas the pattern of proteinuria in other forms of glomerulonephritis (e.g. (peri-)membranous glomerulonephritis, mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis) are dependent on the phase of the disease.