[Membranous glomerulonephritis and renal vein thrombosis (author's transl)]

A report on 3 autopsy cases is given, in 2 of them a combination of membranous glomerulonephritis (mGn) and bilateral renal vein thrombosis was detected, while the third case showed a combination of mGn and large pulmonary thrombembolism being in organisation. In semithin sections characteristic spikes were seen on the external surface of the glomerular basement membrane. An immunecomplex nephritis (type:transmembranous glomerulopathy) was observed in both kidneys examined by immunofluorescence technique. The pathogenetic correlations between mGn and renal vein thrombosis are unclear so far; the two main conceptions found in the literature are discussed. The knowledge of a combination between mGn and renal vein thrombosis has practical value. The findings of mGn in a renal biopsy specimen should the clinican cause to think of the possibility of renal vein thrombosis. On the other hand a renal vein thrombosis is an indication for the renal biopsy. A mGn can only be excluded by applying modern morphological methods, i.e. semithin section technique, immunohistology and/or electron microscopy.