[Nephrotic syndrome with microcellular projections into the thickened basement membrane].

A 47 year-old patient with an 8-year history of proteinuria was admitted to our hospital in 1989. His laboratory data were compatible with nephrotic syndrome: total serum protein 5.9g/dl (albumin 3.0g/dl), total serum cholesterol 280mg/dl and total urinary protein excretion 5.0g/day. Renal biopsy specimens contained 27 glomeruli associated with sclerosis and collapse of loops under light microscopical examination. In addition, mesangial proliferation and thickening of the basement membrane were visualized. With immunofluorescent study granular IgG deposits were detected in the peripheral region of the glomeruli. Staining for IgA, IgM, C3, Clq, light chain and Congo-red were all negative. On electron microscopy, microtubules apparently resembling cellular projections appeared to thicken the basement membrane. We are tempted to conclude that the current case is an atypical glomerulopathy accompanied by a glomerular microtubular-like structure.