Fibrillary glomerulonephritis with splenic involvement: a detailed autopsy study

Ultrastruct Pathol. 2008 May-Jun;32(3):113-21. doi: 10.1080/01913120801937723.

Abstract

Fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) is characterized by the deposition of IgG-positive, randomly arranged, nonbranching, non-Congophilic fibrils in the glomeruli. The possibility of multiorgan involvement, as in amyloidosis, has been raised. The authors report the first detailed autopsy study on a patient with FGN, with thorough examination of the organs by electron microscopy, colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy, and immunofluorescence staining. Thin, wavy fibrils (extracellular matrix filaments) ranging from 6 to 17 nm were seen in all other organs, but only kidney and spleen showed the typical rigid, nonbranching fibrils of FGN with specific gold label. This study suggests that FGN is mainly a renal-limited disease with possible involvement of the spleen.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Autopsy
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Glomerulonephritis / complications*
  • Glomerulonephritis / pathology*
  • Glomerulonephritis / physiopathology
  • Gold Colloid
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / metabolism
  • Kidney Glomerulus / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Middle Aged
  • Splenic Diseases / complications*
  • Splenic Diseases / pathology*

Substances

  • Gold Colloid
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
  • Aurodye