An unusual variant of membranous nephropathy with abundant crescent formation and recurrence in the transplanted kidney.

Abstract

A patient with what initially appeared to be a typical membranous nephropathy had a progressive course to renal failure, nephrectomy, and transplantation. The nephrectomy specimen revealed abundant glomerular crescents and capsular synechiae. Post-transplantation the patient again developed a membranous nephropathy with florid crescents. Radioimmunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence tests failed to reveal anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody in the serum or kidney. It appears that there is a form of membranous nephropathy with crescent formation, unrelated to anti-GBM antibody, which has the capacity to recur after transplantation.