Korean J Nephrol.  1999 Mar;18(2):343-347.

A Case of Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome Presented with Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis pattern

• Kim JH
• Kim CS
• Oh DH
• Choi BR
• Doh JH
• Sohn HS
• Ahn KS
• Kim YJ

Abstract

Though the renal abnormality is usually accompanied in the patient with antiphospholipid syndrome, it is not frequent that the symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome are confined to kidney. We experienced a case of 40-year-old woman suffered from intermittently developed nephrotic range proteinuria combined with generalized edema during last 10 years. She had no past history of thrombosis, spontaneous abortion, or symptoms related to SLE. Laboratory findings revealed that she had nephrotic syndrome. Her antinuclear antibody was negative, but her serum antiphospholipid IgG antibody level was 32 GPL IU. In the renal biopsy specimen, half of the glomeruli showed global sclerosis and remaining glomeruli showed chronic thrombotic microangiopathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis without immune deposit. Combined therapy with steroid and aspirin improve the amount of proteinuria, and she is free from edema without deterioration of renal function during follow up. Though this case lacked the typical symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome, her glomerulonephritis presented with membranoproliferative pattern may be associated with it. We report this case with a review of literatures.

Keyword

primary antiphospholipid syndrome; nephrotic syndrome; thrombotic microangiopathy; membranoproliferative glomeru-lonephritis

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Spontaneous
Adult
Antibodies, Antinuclear
Antiphospholipid Syndrome*
Aspirin
Biopsy
Edema
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Kidney
Nephrotic Syndrome
Pregnancy
Proteinuria
Sclerosis
Thrombosis
Thrombotic Microangiopathies
Antibodies, Antinuclear
Aspirin
Immunoglobulin G