Recurrent idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis.

This study reports the clinical and pathological findings in a patient with recurrent membranous glomerulonephritis following transplantation of an HLA-identical kidney. Such a recurrence has been previously reported only once, although membranous glomerulonephritis is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. This case confirms that membranous glomerulonephritis may occasionally recur following renal transplantation and demonstrates that immunofluorescence and electron microscopic studies may be necessary to distinguish recurrent, membranous glomerulonephritis from the membranous changes frequently seen with chronic rejection. In light of the apparent low incidence of recurrent membranous glomerulonephritis, renal transplantation remains an excellent therapeutic option in this disease.