Kosin Med J.  2012 Dec;27(2):177-180. 10.7180/kmj.2012.27.2.177.

A Case of Glomerulonephritis Associated with Klinefelter' Syndrome

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medecine, Dae Dong Hospital, Busan, Korea. happy2639@hanmail.net
  • 2Department of Nephrology, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Gospel Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

Klinefelter' syndrome is a disorder of sexual differentiation in males, characterized by the presence of two or more X-chromosomes, hypogonadism, and lack of secondary sexual characteristics. The association between Klinefelter' syndrome and glomerulonephritis has been reported, while cases of glomerulonephritis associated with Klinefelter' syndrome are rare. We report the Korean case: a 31-year-old man with Klinefelter' syndrome who developed glomerulonephritis. The patient's urine analysis shows microscopic hematuria and the result of kidney biopsy was minimal change disease. The onset and course of his disease might have been influenced by the sex hormone imbalance.

Keyword

Glomerulonephritis; Klinefelter' syndrome; Minimal change disease

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Glomerulonephritis
Hematuria
Humans
Hypogonadism
Kidney
Male
Nephrosis, Lipoid
Sex Differentiation

Figure

  • Fig. 1 The patient's karyotype is compatible with Klinefelter' syndrome.

  • Fig. 2 Light microsccopic finding of kidney biopsy shows no definite abnormal finding except mild increase of mesangeal matrix (× 200, H & E staining).

  • Fig. 3 Electron microscopic finding of kidney biospy shows focal effacement of foot process.


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