Summary
Six renal biopsies from patients with Systemic Lupus erythematosus were studied with the electron microscope. By light microscopy only mild endothelial and mesangial hipercellularity were present. Ultrastructurally the visceral epithelial cells were hypertrophic with microvilli formation, hypertrophy of diverse cytoplasmic organelles and fusion of the foot processes. Four cases had subepithelial deposits. All four cases were given high doses of steroids suggesting that these deposits are not affected by the treatment.
The basement membrane in all the cases had focal areas of thickening or nodularity. The endothelial cells showed proliferation. There was an increase in mesangial cells and matrix. In one case collagen fibers were present in the mesangial matrix.
The finding in a significant number of cases of subepithelial deposits not detected by light microscopy indicates the need of routine ultrastructural studies for the complete evaluation of Lupus nephritis.
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Part of this work was done under a Fellowship of the W. K. Kellog Foundation in the Department of Surgical Pathology, Washington University, School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
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Elsner, B. Ultrastructural lesions in kidneys with minimal involvement by systemic lupus erythematosus. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. 355, 19–28 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00549395
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00549395