title: Immunotactoid glomerulopathy with fingerprint immune deposits. A variant of lupus nephritis?
abstract: Immunotactoid glomerulopathy is a distinct clinico-pathological entity which has recently been defined. The term immunotactoid refers to highly organized immune depositions appearing as rod-like microtubular structures in ultrastructural examination. We describe a patient with mixed connective tissue disease who demonstrates characteristic features of immunotactoid glomerulopathy. The diagnosis was made after excluding amyloidosis, cryoglobulinaemia and lupus nephritis. In addition to immunotactoid microtubules, ultrastructural examination also demonstrated presence of fingerprint depositions which were intimately mixed with immunotactoid structures. Fingerprint deposits have been described in lupus nephritis and cryoglobulin-related nephropathy, but rarely in other glomerulonephritis. These unique findings in our patient may suggest a previously unsuspected relationship between the syndrome of immunotactoid glomerulopathy and systemic lupus erythematosus.
authors.affiliation: Chinese University, Hong-Kong.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology