Association of vasculitic glomerulonephritis with membranous nephropathy: a report of 10 cases

Abstract

Background: The concomitant occurrence of a vasculitic glomerulonephritis and membranous nephropathy in the same patient is unusual. We report data on 10 patients with this unusual combination.

Methods: Ten patients (nine males/one female; median age 63.5 years, range 30-70 years) presented between 1981 and 1995 with: acute renal failure (n = 3), nephrotic syndrome (n = 4), non-nephrotic range proteinuria and renal insufficiency (n = 3). The median serum creatinine at presentation was 296 mumol/l (range 65-1749 mumol/l). One patient had a vasculitic transformation from membranous nephropathy 5 years after the original presentation, coincident with an acute deterioration of renal function requiring dialysis; in all other patients the two glomerular disorders were seen together at presentation. Treatment was with oral prednisolone and cyclophosphamide (eight patients), of whom one also had plasma exchange; and oral prednisolone and azathioprine (one patient). Specific immunosuppressive treatment was withheld in one patient with histological evidence of chronic renal damage. Sera from four patients out of nine tested were positive for ANCA.

Results: After a median follow-up of 3.5 years (range 2 months-10 years), renal function had improved in three patients and remained stable in two. Two patients required renal replacement therapy. Three patients had died: one was ANCA-negative and died of a systemic vasculitis, and the other two died of sepsis.

Conclusion: Membranous nephropathy complicated by a vasculitic glomerulonephritis: (1) has a more aggressive clinical course than membranous nephropathy alone, (2) appears to have an association with ANCA, (3) should be considered in those patients with an accelerated decline in renal function, and (4) may respond to treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.