A Case of Henoch-Schonlein Nephritis Mimicking Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis in Histology

ABSTRACT

A girl aged 21 months with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) developed heavy proteinuria with hematuria 8 days after the appearance of purpuric rash, swelling and tenderness of both ankle joints. Her clinical and laboratory features demonstrated nephrotic and nephritic syndrome. The percutaneous renal biopsy revealed diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Unlike usual HSP nephritis, immunoglobulin A deposition was not detected in the mesangium or the capillary of the glomeruli. Instead, numerous subepithelial electron-dense deposits("humps") mimicking acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis were found.