#4488 OLD BIOPSY IS ALWAYS GOLD, REVISING MEMBRANOPROLIFERATIVE GN DIAGNOSIS IN A RENAL TRANSPLANT PATIENT
Authors: Bashir Nihal , Abdullah Suhail , Chaaban Ahmad 
Published: June 2023

Background and Aims

MPGN resulting from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection typically shows granular deposition of immunoglobulin M (IgM), C3, and both kappa and lambda light chains. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) may or may not be present, and C1q is typically negative, the same pathology can be found in other viral infections. The recurrence rate post-transplantation is high, with 33% of immune-complex MPGN. Graft loss is even higher 65%, especially among patients with idiopathic MPGN. Treatment of a patient with significant proteinuria can be tricky, as no proven treatment is described yet, but plasmapheresis and induction with cyclophosphamide were described for heavy proteinuria &gt;3.5 g/day.

Method

79 year old female patient, known case of live unrelated renal transplantation in December 2013, primary renal disease is unknown. She had a history of equivocal hepatitis C virus antibodies, but Hepatitis C virus RNA was not detected. She is also known to have Type II Diabetes Mellitus and hypertension. The patient had baseline creatinine of 100-120 micromol/L. 24 hr urine protein was 0.8 g/Day but started rising quickly to reach a peak of 9.2 g/g seven months post-transplantation to nephrotic range proteinuria but her serum albumin level was always above 35 g/L. Serum protein electrophoresis showed no M band, a kappa/ Lambda ratio 1.21 within a normal range (0.260-1.65). Anti- nuclear antibody (ANA), P-ANCA, C-ANCA, and Double-stranded DNA all were negative. Complements were within normal range C3 1.39 g/L (0.79 -1.52), C4 0.44 g/L(0.17-0.57)m rheumatoid factor and Anti- citrullinated peptide antibodies were negative. Hepatitis b Virus surface antigen and core antibodies were not reactive, HIV screening was negative. Urine analysis showed RBCs but no RBC casts. Renal biopsy showed mild mesangial expansion and mild l increase in mesangial cells and matrix. Some glomeruli show increased lobulation with increase in mesangial cells and matrix with segmental endocapillary proliferation There is double contour of the glomerular basement membrane with scattered spikes and holes within the basement membrane seen best with silver stain. There is mild increase in the thickness of glomerular basement membrane. There is focal mild lymphocytic infiltration. Tubulitis is not seen in the examined material. One Focal area of mild interstitial fibrosis. Sampled blood vessels are unremarkable. The stain for C4d is negative. Immunofluorescence showed granular capillary wall immunoreactivity to IgM (+2), C4 (+1), C1q (+1), and Lambda light chain (+2). The glomeruli show no immunoreactivity to IgG, IgA, C3, Kappa and fibrin. The glomeruli show (+) staining for albumin. Tubular protein reabsorption droplets showed immunoreactivity for albumin, IgG, IgM, C3, kappa and lambda light chains. Electron microscopy showed many subendothelial, and mesangial electron-dense deposits. The patient was on maintenance immunosuppression medications inform of mycophenolic acid 720 mg, cyclosporine; 250mg BID, and Prednisolone 5 mg daily.Revisiting the new classification of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is challenging in this patient, since there is the dominance of IgM deposition by immunofluorescence and C4 but not C3 makes it challenging, the negative monoclonal band in serum electrophoresis and negative autoimmune workup excludes immune complex mediate MPGN, leave idiopathic MPGN a possibility, keeping in mind that hepatitis C virus infection was never confirmed. On the other hand, IF showed IgM with C4 subendothelial and mesangial dense deposits that excludes away the C4 glomerulopathy.

Results

Whether this is a recurrence of glomerular disease early on post-transplantation or denovo membranoproliferative disease, she responded well to the addition of losartan 100 mg daily, with a reduction of her urinary protein to less than 1 g/g. the patient never received treatment for the hepatitis C virus.

Conclusion

In our patient, it is difficult to conclude if the cause of MPGN is recurrence or denovo GN, especially with severe proteinuria that responded well to ACEi treatment. The pathological findings can be tricky.