An Unusual Case of Nephrotic Range Proteinuria in a Short-Standing Type 1 Diabetic Patient with Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND

Lupus podocytopathy (LP) is a non-immune complex-mediated glomerular lesion in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), characterized by the diffuse effacement of podocyte processes without immune complex deposition or with only mesangial immune complex deposition. LP is a rare cause of nephrotic syndrome in SLE patients with implications for prognosis and treatment.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with a medical history of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who presented with lower limb edema, dyspnea, hypercholesterolemia, with nephrotic range proteinuria, without acute kidney injury, and laboratory findings compatible with auto-immune hemolytic anemia. They had negative infectious serology, positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), and an eye fundus examination showing diabetic retinopathy. A biopsy was performed to define the etiology of the renal involvement, which was compatible with LP. Following immuno-suppressive and antiproteinuric therapy, the patient evolved with the complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Lupus podocytopathy is an infrequent anatomopathological entity, so this case is presented as the first reported in Peru, and a literature review is made.