ABSTRACT
Hong Kong Med J 2009;15:57-60 | Number 1, February 2009
CASE REPORT
A rare cause of nephrotic syndrome: lipoprotein glomerulopathy
CY Cheung, Angel OK Chan, YH Chan, KC Lee, Gordon PT Chan, Gene TC Lau, CC Shek, KF Chau, CS Li
Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Lipoprotein glomerulopathy is a rare kidney disease in which lipoprotein thrombi are seen in the glomerular capillaries. Most of these patients are found in Japan and East Asian countries. The presenting symptoms include proteinuria, an abnormal plasma lipoprotein profile that resembles type III hyperlipoproteinaemia, and a marked increase in serum apolipoprotein E concentration. Previous studies have suggested that lipoprotein glomerulopathy might be related to APOE gene mutation. No effective therapeutic regimen has been established for lipoprotein glomerulopathy. We report the first case of biopsy-proven lipoprotein glomerulopathy in Hong Kong in a patient who presented with nephrotic syndrome and dyslipidaemia. DNA analysis revealed apolipoprotein E Kyoto together with a novel apolipoprotein E mutation, apolipoprotein E (Asp230Tyr) Hong Kong. There was significant improvement in the clinical parameters and resolution of symptoms after the introduction of statins. Further studies will be needed to clarify the role of apolipoprotein E Hong Kong and its interaction with apolipoprotein E Kyoto in the pathogenesis of lipoprotein glomerulopathy.
Key words: Apolipoproteins E; DNA mutational analysis; Hyperlipoproteinemias; Kidney glomerulus; Lipoproteins
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