The recurrence of recurrent membranous glomerulopathy in a renal transplant recipient: case report and literature review.

We describe the first reported case of a renal transplant patient who had two consecutive recurrences of membranous glomerulopathy in his allografts. Both recurrences were detected 1 year posttransplant. The first transplanted kidney was a none of six antigen match and his second was a four of six antigen match. The patient required a second kidney transplantation within 2 years of detection of the first recurrence. The second allograft has functioned adequately for nearly 4 years after diagnosis. The case and literature review illustrate that membranous glomerulopathy can recur in both poorly and well-matched allografts, that recurrence does not always occur faster in the better-matched kidneys, that cyclosporine does not prevent recurrent disease, and that the course of recurrent membranous glomerulopathy is unpredictable.