Vascular C3 deposits on renal biopsy in pediatric patients with hematuria

Isolated deposition of the third component of complement (C3) in the renal arterioles has been noted on biopsy specimens in patients with hematuria. This entity is of little known significance and reports of this finding in pediatric patients with hematuria are rare. We reviewed the clinical histori...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, West) West), 2000-08, Vol.14 (8-9), p.797-801
Main Authors: SHETH, R. D, HAWKINS, E. P, BREWER, E. D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age
Arterioles - pathology
Basement Membrane - pathology
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsy
Child
Child, Preschool
Complement C3 - analysis
Family medical history
Female
Glomerulonephritis
Hematuria
Hematuria - genetics
Hematuria - pathology
Hematuria - physiopathology
Hospitals
Humans
Kidney - blood supply
Kidney - pathology
Kidney diseases
Kidney Glomerulus - blood supply
Kidney Glomerulus - pathology
Male
Medical sciences
Microscopy
Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases
Nephropathies. Renovascular diseases. Renal failure
Pathology
Patients
Pediatrics
Retrospective Studies
Urine
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Summary:Isolated deposition of the third component of complement (C3) in the renal arterioles has been noted on biopsy specimens in patients with hematuria. This entity is of little known significance and reports of this finding in pediatric patients with hematuria are rare. We reviewed the clinical histories and biopsies of 17 children with hematuria and vascular C3 deposition on biopsy at Texas Children's Hospital over an 14-year period. The mean age of presentation was 10.8 (range 4.5-16.6) years with a male preponderance (71%). Family history for hematuria was positive in 6 of 17 patients (35%). Light microscopy was normal or showed only minor abnormalities. Immunofluorescence was negative for IgA and IgG in all patients. Seven patients (41.1%) were noted to have diffuse or focally thin basement membranes on electron microscopy in addition to positive C3 immunofluorescence. The mean follow-up time was 23.8 months, during which 2 of 17 patients (12%) developed worsening proteinuria. The etiopathogenesis of this condition remains unclear, but an underlying immunological process cannot be ruled out. It is possible that this condition represents a stage of an acute glomerulonephritis. Clinical follow-up of these patients is warranted, as the long-term prognosis remains unclear.
ISSN:0931-041X
1432-198X
DOI:10.1007/s004679900286