There are various conditions that can cause glomerulonephritis. These include: Autoimmune disease . Glomerulonephritis may be caused by a specific immune system problem (autoimmune disease). One such example would be IgA nephropathy, where antibody (immunoglobulin A) deposits in the glomeruli, causing the glomeruli to swell. The exact mechanism of IgA nephropathy is not fully understood, and the disease can develop for years before it is detected. Primary glomerulonephritis affects the kidneys directly Secondary glomerulonephritis is generally due to bacterial infections (streptococcal throat infection), viral infections (HIV and hepatitis viruses’ infections), heart infections (bacterial endocarditis), cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure and abscesses. Lupus . Inflammation caused by lupus can affect different areas of your body, including your kidneys. Lupus results in serious kidney damage. Kidney failure is one of the main causes of death among those with lupus. Goodpasture's disease . This rare immunological lung disorder can mimic pneumonia. Goodpasture's syndrome results in bleeding in the lungs, as well as glomerulonephritis.