Nodular glomerulosclerosis in a non-diabetic patient: case report and review of literature.

We report a unusual case of idiopathic nodular glomerulosclerosis mimicking changes that develop in diabetic nephropathy. A 66-year-old non-diabetic female developed nephrotic range proteinuria and the work up was unremarkable. Light and electron microscopy showed mesangial expansion with Kimmelsteil-Wilson nodules and diffuse glomerular basement membrane thickening without any electron dense deposits. Diabetes mellitus was excluded by repeated clinical and laboratory investigations. Forty two similar cases have been reported. Exact etiology for the development of non-diabetic glomerulosclerosis is unclear. But, hypertension, smoking, obesity, intermittent hyperglycemia predating the diagnosis of diabetes possibly explain the development of nodular glomerulosclerosis in these patients. Long-term follow-up to screen for the delayed onset of diabetes or its complications may be worthwhile.