Simultaneous anti-glomerular basement membrane and membranous glomerulonephritis: case report and literature review

A 20-year-old male experienced a sore throat, fever, and lumbar pain. Examination revealed haematuria, proteinuria, and transiently impaired renal function. Renal biopsy revealed minor mesangial widening and small cellular crescents in 20% of the glomeruli under the light microscope, whereas immunofluorescence showed bright, linear staining of IgG along the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Ultrastructural analysis showed minute subepithelial deposits analogous to early membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN). Anti-GBM antibodies were detected in the patient's serum. These findings were suggestive of simultaneous anti-GBM and immune complex glomerulonephritis in a patient with a mild, reversible renal illness.