Unique microstructures and podocytic infolding in glomerular basement membrane associated with collagen diseases: a report of three cases.
Unique renal histopathological appearances, consisting of podocytic infolding and microstructures in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) were identified in the renal biopsies from three patients with collagen diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus nephritis, class II) and Sjögren's syndrome. In each case, the GBM contained microstructures, including microspheres and microtubular structures, accompanied by podocytic infolding into the GBM when examined by electron microscope. The size of the microstructures in the GBM ranged from 40 to 160 nm. Glomerular endothelial cells also seemed to be infolded in the GBM in a case with lupus nephritis. The response to glucocorticoid therapy was favorable in two cases. The cause of these morphological changes in the GBM might be associated with autoimmune disorders.
Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan. hitoshis@md.okayama-u.ac.jp
Hitoshi
H
Sugiyama
Mie
M
Maruyama
Hiroshi
H
Morinaga
Tatsuyuki
T
Inoue
Kei-Ichi
K
Takiue
Yoko
Y
Kikumoto
Masaru
M
Kinomura
Ken-Ei
KE
Sada
Shigeru
S
Akagi
Shinji
S
Kitamura
Yohei
Y
Maeshima
Hirofumi
H
Makino
D000328:Adult; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D050533:Glomerular Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D050199:Podocytes / Q000473:pathology*
D005938:Glucocorticoids