Idiopathic membranous nephropathy in an elderly patient with diabetes mellitus type 2

We report an 85 years-old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus and both cl inical and biochemical nephrotic syndrome. The renal biopsy showed membrano us nephropathy at stage I-II. There was no evidence of malignancy. The pati ent was treated with steroids, and two months later the proteinuria had not improved. The objects under discussion are the factors that should lead to suspect the existence of glomerulonephritis, other than diabetic glomerulo sclerosis, suggesting the need for kidney biopsy. We also focus on the prog nostic and therapeutic relevance, as well as on the common pathogenic aspec ts.