Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis

A 34-year-old woman with pulmonary and ganglionary sarcoidosis developed a nephritic syndrome. The renal biopsy demonstrated a type-1 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Clinical and histological remission of the renal disease following indomethacin treatment was associated with the remission of sarcoidosis. Prior reports have emphasized the association of a membranous glomerulonephritis with sarcoidosis. Temporal sequence of events and biological data suggest that hypocomplementemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis may be linked to sarcoidosis. The role of immune complexes in the pathogenesis of the 2 diseases is also discussed.