Membranous glomerulonephritis associated with eosinophilic lymphfolliculosis of the skin (Kimura's disease): report of a case and review of the literature

Abstract

A 48-year-old male, who had been suffering from eosinophilic lymphfolliculosis of the skin (Kimura's disease) for six years, developed the nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed immunopathological and electron microscopic changes characteristic of membranous glomerulonephritis. A review of the literature disclosed a high frequency of renal involvement in Kimura's disease. Out of 175 reported cases of the disease, 21 (12%) were found to have proteinuria including 13 who had the nephrotic syndrome. Some of the patients were noticed to have proteinuria before the onset of the skin lesions, suggesting the existence of common etiological factor(s) capable of inducing both skin and kidney lesions.