IDIOPATHIC MEMBRANOUS NEPHROPATHY IN IDENTICAL-TWINS

Familial idiopathic membranous nephropathy is rarely reported, despite the striking immunogenetic association of the disease with certain HL A antigens. This report describes a pair of identical male twins who c ontemporaneously developed idiopathic membranous nephropathy. HLA typi ng was carried out in the twins and in almost all members of their fam ily. Interestingly, HLA antigens that have been reported to be associa ted with idiopathic membranous nephropathy, especially DR(3), were fou nd not only in the twins, but in the other family members as well. Due to similarities between Heymann nephritis and human membranous nephro pathy, we performed a search for anti-brush border and antipodocyte an tibodies, The inability to detect these antibodies suggests that they were probably not involved in the pathogenesis of these cases. (C) 199 7 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.