ASSOCIATION OF THIN GLOMERULAR-BASEMENT-MEMBRANE WITH OTHER GLOMERULOPATHIES

Association of thin glomerular basement membrane with other glomerulop athies. In the present study we assessed the prevalence of thin glomer ular basement membrane (TGBM) in a large group of native kidney biopsi es done for evaluation of renal disease. TGBM was present in 54 of 107 8 biopsies (5%). In 12 of 54 biopsies (24%), TGBM was the only abnorma lity present. In the remaining biopsies TGBM was associated with other pathologic diagnoses. The overall prevalence of TGBM in this series i s comparable to previous population studies. TGBM is significantly mor e common in patients with IgA nephropathy and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Compared to control patients, individuals with TGB M were more likely to have a history of familial hematuria (14% vs. 43 %, P = 0.02). Furthermore, examination of urinary sediments in first d egree relatives of patients with TGBM demonstrated microscopic hematur ia in 92% of families and, in those families, hematuria was present in 47 +/- 6% of relatives. In contrast, hematuria was discovered in 38% of families of control patients, affecting 25 +/- 5% of relatives. In conclusion, the presence of TGBM in a kidney biopsy is highly predicta ble for the presence of familial microscopic hematuria, even in patien ts in whom TGBM is associated with another glomerulopathy. The present data also indicate that patients with TGBM nephropathy often have con comitant IgA nephropathy and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephriti s.