[immunohistologic findings of kidney biopsies in Wilson's disease]

12 patients with Wilson's disease were examined by means of renal biopsy. In 9 of these patients a slight (4 patients) or a strong proteinuria (5 patients) appeared during the therapy with D-penicillamine. A biopsy was performed in 3 patients before the beginning of the therapy with D-penicillamine. The patients with severe proteinuria showed the largest immunohistological changes (partly distinct immune complex nephritis with epimembranous IgG- and complement-(C3-) depositions -- electronoptically membranous glomerulonephritis. In rebiopsy after a stoppage of the medicament of 1 year only a slight tendency to improvement was to be recognized.