Abstract
We report a 17-year-old Saudi girl who presented with nephrotic syndrome at the age of 7 years. A renal biopsy revealed a mildly proliferative immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis, which on ultrastructural examination revealed prominent thickening of the capillary basement membranes, along with marked splitting and lamellation of lamina densa resembling those seen in Alport syndrome. These changes were even more pronounced in renal biopsies performed 1 and 3 years later, respectively. Thorough clinical evaluations and follow-up of more than 10 years failed to reveal any evidence of Alport syndrome. Review of the literature revealed four similar cases reported previously. Diffuse and prominent Alport-like glomerular changes may rarely be seen in patients with nephrotic syndrome in the absence of Alport syndrome. Pathogenesis of these changes, however, remains to be understood.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 25 August 1999 / Revised: 12 January 2000 / Accepted: 19 January 2000
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Akhtar, M., Al-Sabban, E. Alport-like glomerular changes in a patient with nephrotic syndrome: report of a case. Pediatr Nephrol 14, 973–975 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004670050055
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004670050055