Nephritis - Whole blood and components

Essential information

Includes

• Glomerulonephritis
• IgA nephropathy (Berger disease)
• Acute tubular interstitial nephritis
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
• Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease (Goodpasture syndrome)
• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s granulomatosis)
• Nephritic syndrome
• Nephrotic syndrome

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

1. Has nephritis
2. Has nephrotic syndrome
3. Has nephritic syndrome
4. Under investigation, treatment or specialist follow-up
5. Has any renal impairment
6. Has haematuria or proteinuria
7. Has hypertension due to renal disease
8. Has any other associated cardiovascular disease

Discretionary

If the nephritis has fully resolved and the donor is well, and:

1. Has normal renal function, and
2. Does not have haematuria or proteinuria, and
3. Does not have hypertension due to renal disease, and
4. Does not have any other associated cardiovascular disease, and
5. Is not requiring any treatment, and
6. Is eligible following completion of any treatment (e.g. steroid therapy), and
7. Is discharged from specialist follow-up, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

• Autoimmune disease
• Monoclonal antibody therapy and other biological modalities
• Steroid therapy

Additional information

Nephritis can be self-limiting, e.g. a single episode of glomerulonephritis secondary to an infection or reaction to medication, with complete recovery. However, care must be taken to determine the cause and to exclude any systemic underlying or associated conditions (e.g. autoimmune disease, vasculitis) that would affect eligibility and/or preclude donation.

Nephritides invariably cause some proteinuria and can acutely progress to nephritic syndrome with haematuria and hypertension, or to nephrotic syndrome with significant protein loss into the urine. Persisting effects on renal integrity and function such as proteinuria, haematuria and hypertension, and/or the need for continuing medication precludes donation. This will usually indicate that the condition has become chronic with full resolution unlikely; some will progress to end stage renal failure.

If there is uncertainty about the diagnosis or underlying cause, seek advice from a Designated Clinical Support Officer.

Reason for change:

New entry incorporating ‘Acute nephritis’ and ‘Chronic nephritis’ sections of the former ‘Kidney and bladder disease’ entry.

Version:

Kidney and bladder disease

Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 81 (11 August 2026)