Ultrastructural calcification of glomerular immune complexes.
We report a previously undescribed ultrastructural calcification of glomerular immune complex depositions in a patient with lupus nephritis. Such processes give rise to a distinctive ultrastructural calcified microspheriol in electron-dense immune deposits, and were associated with hypercalcemia and nephrocalcinosis. The cause of hypercalcemia in this patient was uncertain, but related to a granulomatous inflammation and abscess of the breast. Whereas ultrastructural microcalcification was associated with hypercalcemia, its distribution in the segmental glomerular lesions suggests that an inflammatory process was contributory. The clinical follow-up indicates that the microcalcifications of immune complexes have not affected the outcome of nephritis and renal function.
Lai
F M
FM
Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
To
K F
KF
Wang
A
A
Choi
P C
PC
Cheng
J S
JS
Chew
E C
EC
D000293:Adolescent; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex