A Case of Glomerulonephritis Associated with Klinefelter' Syndrome

Article information

Kosin Med J. 2012;27(2):177-180

Publication date (electronic) : 2012 December 27

doi : https://doi.org/10.7180/kmj.2012.27.2.177

Jin Hyuk Cho ¹, Yeoung Sin Sin ¹, Eun Hee Sim ¹, Min Gyu Park ¹, Dong Heo ¹, Hak Rim ²

¹Department of Internal Medecine, Dae Dong Hospital, Busan, Korea.

²Department of Nephrology, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Gospel Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Corresponding Author: Jin Hyuck Cho, Department of internal medecine, Dae Dong Hospital, Myeongnyun-dong, Dongnae-gu, Busan 607-711, Korea. TEL: +82-10-5334-7508, FAX: +82-51-553-7575, happy2639@hanmail.net

Received 2012 June 14; Revised 2012 July 25; Accepted 2012 August 05.

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.

Keywords: Glomerulonephritis; Klinefelter' syndrome; Minimal change disease

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Article information Continued

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.