Focal glomerular sclerosis in pre-eclampsia.

Renal biopsy specimens of 16 patients with massive proteinuria, which developed during pregnancy and had lasted as late as one month after delivery, but disappeared within 15 months were studied. Four of them disclosed focal segmental hyalinosis, sclerosis, markedly swollen and foamy endocapillary cells, and ballooning of the involved tufts. Double contour of the capillary walls, predominance of epithelial cells as well as swelling of endocapillary cells known in pre-eclampsia were also observed. Electron and immunofluorescence microscopies revealed subendothelial deposition of IgM, C3 and rather weak fibrinogen-related antigens. These results indicate that focal glomerular sclerosis may develop during pre-eclamptic pregnancy, but may follow a non-progressive clinical course after delivery.