Non-Familial Thin Basement Membrane Disease with an Unique Ultrastructural Feature: Report of a Case

Abstract

We described a case of non-familial thin basement membrane disease from an 8 year old girl who presented with recurrent gross hematuria without familial background of renal disease. Ultrastructurally, the glomerular changes were identical with those of benign familial hematuria, being characterized by uniform and marked thinning/attenuation of lamina densa with focal gap formation. The relative diagnostic specificity of the findings and the possibility of sporadic and non-familial occurrence were discussed.