[Recurrence of intramembraneous glomerulonephritis in 2 consecutive kidney transplantations]

A case of dense intramembranous deposit disease, partial lipodystrophy, hypocomplementemia, and nephritic factor-like activity in the serum is presented. Recurrence of underlying renal disease was noted in two consecutive renal allografts. The first transplant was lost 7 months after implantation, chronic renal rejection being an additional cause of graft failure. A favourable clinical course, however, was observed after the second renal transplantation. 22 months after surgery, the patient was fully rehabilitated and transplant function only slightly reduced despite electron microscopic evidence of typical dense intramembranous deposit lesions. Low C3-serum complement and normal C4-serum complement levels were constant findings throughout observation time. The case supports the assumption that patients with dense intramembranous deposit disease should not be excluded from renal transplantation As shown in the literature, maintenance of satisfactory graft function is usually obtained for a long period of time despite recurrence of original disease.