A Case of IgA Nephropathy Associated with Thin Basement Membrane Disease

Korean Journal of Nephrology 2010;29(1):120-124.

Kyung Min Lee, M.D.1, Joo Hyun Jang, M.D.1, Jin Kyung Kim, M.D.1, Sook Eui Oh, M.D.1 Dong Hun Lee, M.D.1, Young Ki Lee, M.D.1, Jung Woo Noh, M.D.1 and Eun Suk Nam, M.D2

Department of Internal Medicine¹
Hallym Kidney Research Institute, Department of Pathology2

증례 : 얇은 사구체 기저막병에 동반된 IgA 신병증 1예

이경민1, 장주현1, 김진경1, 오숙의1, 이동훈1, 이영기1, 노정우1, 남은숙2

한림대학교 의과대학 내과학교실 및 신장연구소1 , 병리학교실2

Abstract

IgA nephropathy and thin basement membrane disease are common glomerular diseases in persistent microscopic hematuria with or without proteinuria. However, these two conditions cannot be easily distinguished on the biochemical or urinary findings alone. Therefore, renal biopsy is required for correct identification of the two conditions in most cases. Recently, it has been reported that thinning of glomerular basement membrane is accompanied with precipitation of electron dense deposits in some patients with IgA nephropathy. We report a case of IgA nephropathy associated with thin basement membrane disease in a 19-year-old male with microscopic hematuria and mild proteinuria. After 2 years’ treatment with angiotensin II receptor blocker, the patient exhibited persistent microscopic hematuria but decreased proteinuria. Our finding concurs with the previous reports indicating that patients with both IgA nephropathy and thin basement membrane disease do not have different clinical features compared to those with IgA nephropathy alone. In addition, clinical outcome does not appear to be affected by thin basement membrane disease when these two conditions are combined.

Key Words: IgA glomerulonephritis, Glomerular basement membrane, Hematuria