GAUCHERS-DISEASE AND MESANGIOCAPILLARY GLOMERULONEPHRITIS IN CHILDHOOD - A COINCIDENCE

A 6-year-old boy, presenting with a nephritic syndrome, was diagnosed as suffering from Gaucher's disease (GD) and mesangiocapillary glomeru lonephritis (MCGN). GD was suspected because of aseptic necrosis of th e femoral heads on X-ray and later confirmed by bone marrow aspiration and a lack of glucocerebrosidase activity in white blood cells; MCGN was documented on renal biopsy. The child was treated with prednisone, dipyridamole and aspirin, and recovered completely clinically. A seco nd biopsy was not performed. The connection between these two rare dis eases, and between nephritis and GD in general, is discussed.