COLLAGEN NEPHRITIS

Fibrillar collagen in the glomeruli is considered specific of the nail -patella syndrome. A new nephropathy with diffuse intraglomerular depo sition of type III collagen without nail and skeletal abnormalities ha s been described. We report the case of a 26-year-old woman who presen ted persistent proteinuria, hematuria, deafness without nail and skele tal abnormalities. The renal biopsy showed focal and segmental glomeru losclerosis by light microscopy. The electron microscopy revealed the presence of massive fibrillar collagen within the mesangial matriz and the basement membrane. This is the first patient reported in our coun try. We emphasize the usefulness of electron microscopy in the study o f glomerular diseases.