Familial lobular glomerulopathy: first case report in Asia
Sato, H.; Matsubara, M.; Marumo, R.; Soma, J.; Kurosawa, K.; Taguma, Y.; Saito, T.
American Journal of Kidney Diseases the Official Journal of the National Kidney Foundation 31(6): E3
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0272-6386 PMID: 10074583 Document Number: 488650
A 23-year-old male Japanese student presented a unique lobular glomerulopathy characterized by mesangial and subendothelial expansion with numerous periodic acid-Schiff-positive deposits. Electron microscopy showed massive fine granular deposits with a homogeneous distribution. Fibrillar or microtubular structures were not demonstrated. Fibronectin was positive on immunostaining, as was immunoglobulin G and fibrinogen. Familial study revealed that the patient's grandfather, two aunts, and one cousin on his father's side had developed end-stage renal failure. Clinicopathologic features of this patient are identical with those of familial lobular glomerulopathy, which has been previously described by several investigators. Seven of the previously reported families were white and resided in the United States or in European countries. This is the first report of an Asian case, and indicates that this disease universally occurs independently of racial specificity.