[Subclinical glomerulonephritis with dense deposits in the course of partial lipodystrophy (author's transl)].

In a young woman with partial lipodystrophy accompanied by hypocomplementemia related to circulating C3NF activity, renal biopsy revealed dense deposits in the basement membranes of the glomerular capillaries without any evidence of urinary syndrome. This early form was not revealed by light microscopy and was confirmed only by ultrastructural examination. The morphological characteristics are similar to those occurring in renal grafts. The authors point out that subclinical forms of glomerulonephritis must be considered in cases of lipodystrophy and hypocomplementemia.