Table 1.

Comparison of EM features of early MN and MCD

Early MN	MCD
Subepithelial electron-dense (immune complex) deposits Podocyte foot process effacement mainly in areas overlying the subepithelial deposits Subendothelial and/or mesangial deposits if secondary MN, e.g., membranous lupus nephritis [12] TRIs in endothelial cells in membranous lupus nephritis [12]	No electron-dense deposits Complete or nearly complete podocyte foot process effacement Often microvillous transformation in podocyte cell bodies

EM, electron microscopy; TRIs, tubuloreticular inclusions; MCD, minimal change disease; MN, membranous nephropathy.