An unusual case of anti-glomerular basement membrane disease presenting with nephrotic syndrome

• Published in: International urology and nephrology Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 1249 - 1253
• Main Authors: Okafor, Chidi C., Balogun, Rasheed A., Bourne, David T., Alhussain, Turki O., Abdel-Rahman, E. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease - diagnosis; Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease - pathology; Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease - therapy; Female; Hematuria - etiology; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nephrology; Nephrology – Case Report; Nephrotic Syndrome - etiology; Renal Dialysis; Urology; Nephrotic range; Basement membrane disease; Anti-glomerular; Proteinuria
• ISSN: 0301-1623; 1573-2584
• DOI: 10.1007/s11255-010-9862-0

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is a vasculitic disease characterized by acute kidney injury, oliguria, hematuria and proteinuria. Proteinuria is rarely in the nephrotic range. A case of anti-GBM disease with proteinuria of 22.5g/day is discussed. Immunofluorescence showed strong linear IgG deposits while electron microscopy showed widespread visceral epithelial cell foot cell process effacement. No electron dense immune complex-type deposits were identified. Pathology findings were not suggestive of simultaneous presentation of anti-GBM disease and other diseases associated with nephrotic range proteinuria. Anti-GBM disease should be considered in a comprehensive differential diagnosis of severe proteinuria.