在美国，膜性肾病的患病率为每年近 2000 例。 与其他原发性肾小球疾病相反，自二十世纪八十年代以来，MN 的发病率保持恒定。[1]Haas M, Meehan SM, Karrison TG, et al. Changing etiologies of unexplained adult nephrotic syndrome: a comparison of renal biopsy findings from 1976-1979 and 1995-1997. Am J Kidney Dis. 1997;30:621-631.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9370176?tool=bestpractice.com 膜性肾病在全球范围内是肾病综合征最常见的病因之一，仅次于局灶性节段性肾小球硬化（最常见的病因）。[2]Swaminathan SL, Leung N, Lager DJ, et al. Changing incidence of glomerular disease in Olmsted County, Minnesota: a 30-year renal biopsy study. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2006;1:483-487.http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/1/3/483.full[3]Chen A, Frank R, Vento S, et al. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy in pediatric patients: presentation, response to therapy, and long-term outcome. BMC Nephrol. 2007;8:11.http://bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2369-8-11http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17683621?tool=bestpractice.com 该病影响各个年龄和种族的患者，但更常见于男性，最常于中年时确诊。发病高峰为四十至五十多岁。[4]Cattran DC. Idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis. Kidney Int. 2001;59:1983-1994.http://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538%2815%2947692-6/fulltext MN 在儿科人群中较为罕见，但一旦发生就十分严重。[3]Chen A, Frank R, Vento S, et al. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy in pediatric patients: presentation, response to therapy, and long-term outcome. BMC Nephrol. 2007;8:11.http://bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2369-8-11http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17683621?tool=bestpractice.com
