title: Late development of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with glomerular "fingerprint" deposits.
abstract: Two patients presenting with nephrotic syndrome but without evidence of collagen vascular disease had organized glomerular immune deposits with a "fingerprint" pattern. This finding has been previously associated with lupus nephritis and, in our institution, has been seen in 6% of the biopsy specimens from patients with lupus nephritis. Clinical signs and symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus in these two patients did not develop until 2 and 5 years later, respectively. The cases of these patients suggest that glomerular deposits with a fingerprint pattern may be a specific marker for lupus erythematosus even when overt clinical features of this disease are lacking. Patients with this finding on renal biopsy should have an extended follow-up for possible development of lupus erythematosus.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000473:pathology*; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors