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Identical twins with idiopathic membranous nephropathy

  • Case Report
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Abstract

The pathogenesis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy is associated with autoantibodies, most often against the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and with genetic factors, especially those involving human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy is not a typical inherited Mendelian disorder. Reports of idiopathic membranous nephropathy in twins are rare. Herein, we report on two twin sisters diagnosed with PLA2R-associated idiopathic membranous nephropathy. We identified the HLA-DRB1*0301, HLA-DRB1*1501, and HLA-DQB1*0602 alleles in the twin sisters, which were reported as independent risk alleles for idiopathic membranous nephropathy in the Asian population. This case report provides novel evidence for the role of predisposing HLA alleles in the pathogenesis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

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Funding

Support by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number: 81470916) and Sichuan Province Key Technology R&D Program (Grant number: 2018SZ0122).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxue ally 37#, Wuhou District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China

    Tian Tao & Zhangxue Hu

  2. Clinical Transfusion Research Center, Institute of Blood Transfusion, CAMS & PUMC, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Jue Wang

  3. Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu city, Sichuan Province, China

    Song Lei

Authors
  1. Tian Tao
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  2. Jue Wang
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  3. Song Lei
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  4. Zhangxue Hu
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Contributions

TT and ZH were the physicians diagnosing and treating the patients in this report. JW was responsible for detection of human leukocyte antigen risk alleles. Song Lei was responsible for the pathologic results by electron microscopy. All authors participated in discussions about the manuscript and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Zhangxue Hu.

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Tao, T., Wang, J., Lei, S. et al. Identical twins with idiopathic membranous nephropathy. J Nephrol 34, 597–601 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40620-020-00770-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40620-020-00770-9

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