Pierson syndrome in an adolescent girl with nephrotic range proteinuria but a normal GFR

Pierson syndrome, caused by mutations in the LAMB2 gene, was originally described as a combination of microcoria and congenital nephrotic syndrome, rapidly progressing to end-stage renal failure.

We report a minor variant of Pierson syndrome in a teenage girl with severe myopia since early infancy and proteinuria first detected at age 6. At the age of 11 she was found to carry a unique homozygous non-truncating LAMB2 mutation in exon 2: c.T240G (p.S80R). Renal biopsy revealed mild diffuse mesangial sclerosis and residual expression of laminin β2. Today at age 14, on treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, she continues to have nephrotic range proteinuria, but a normal glomerular filtration rate.

LAMB2 mutations should be considered in all patients with glomerular proteinuria and abnormal ocular phenotype, irrespective of age and disease severity.