Korean J Nephrol.  1997 Jun;16(2):274-280.

The Clinicopathological Characteristics of Thin Glomerular Basement Membrane Nephropathy

• Shin YT
• Oh SM
• Kim JH
• Hwang PJ
• Na KR
• Kim JS
• Bin KT
• Kim SS
• Lee KW
• Suh KS

Abstract

Thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy, also called benign recurrent hematuria, is characterized by diffuse thinning of the glomerular basement membrane and by hematuria. The present study was based on a retrospective review of 366 native kidney biopsies performed at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 1993 to November 1996. Fifteen of these cases satisfied the criteria for definition of thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy, placing the incidence of the disease at 4.0%. The criteria for definition of the disease are 1) normal findings by light microscopy, 2) no deposits by immunofluorescent microscopy, and 3) diffuse thinning of the glomerular basement membrane by electronmicroscopy. The studied patients had a mean age of 35.8 years (range from 14 to 59) and included 12 females and 3 males. A positive family history was present in one case. All pateints were normotensive and had hematuria (four cases showed gross hematuria). Seven patients had mild proteinuria, but two patients showed proteinuria of nephrotic range. The serum creatinine level was within normal limits except one. Abnormalities were not observed in immunoglobulins, complement component, serologic tests (RA, ASO) and HBsAg. Renal biopsy findings by light and immunofluoroscent microscopy did not reveal any abnormalities but diffuse thinning of the glomerular basement membrane (range from 154 to 279nm) was observed by electronmicroscopy. With the above results, patients with idiopathic renal hematuria with normal renal function and normal blood pressure, thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy should be considered.

Keyword

Thin Glomerular; Basement; Membrane; Nephrophath

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Blood Pressure
Chungcheongnam-do
Complement System Proteins
Creatinine
Female
Glomerular Basement Membrane*
Hematuria
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Incidence
Kidney
Male
Membranes
Microscopy
Proteinuria
Retrospective Studies
Serologic Tests
Complement System Proteins
Creatinine
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Immunoglobulins