What happens to the kidneys in AGN?

In acute glomerulonephritis (AGN), the kidneys become clogged with antigen-antibody complexes, which is a key pathological process that leads to the disease. In AGN, the immune response to infections or other triggers results in the formation of these complexes. When these complexes lodge in the glomeruli, they cause inflammation and damage to the kidney structures, particularly the filtering units.

This accumulation of complexes leads to a variety of symptoms, including reduced kidney function and possibly hematuria (blood in urine) and proteinuria (protein in urine). The inflammation can also alter normal filtration processes, subsequently affecting fluid balance and contributing to conditions like hypertension and edema.

Understanding this mechanism highlights the importance of the immune response in AGN and why monitoring kidney function is crucial in affected patients. The other choices do not accurately reflect the underlying causes and effects related to the kidneys during acute glomerulonephritis.