Clinicopathologic features of collagen III glomerulopathy / 中华病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features of collagen III glomerulopathy and its cause, pathogenesis and prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five cases of collagen III glomerulopathy that collected from 2005 to 2014 were observed by renal biopsy. The morphologic characteristics were studied by light microscopy, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical and electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The glomerular mesangium became expansion but no hypercellularity, basement membrane appeared thickened. The glomeruli showed collagen type III deposit by immunohistochemistry method, and collagen fibers increased by electron microscopy. The patients often show serious proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome and renal function damage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Collagen III glomerulopathy is an idiopathic glomerular disease, characterized by massive accumulation of collagen type III within the glomerular mesangial areas and basement membrane. Collagen III glomerulopathy is extremely rare. The etiology and pathogenesis may relate to the abnormality of collagen III gene. There is no specific treatment for it and its prognosis is poor.</p>