Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in Takayasu's arteritis.

The occurrence of glomerulonephritis (GN) in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is rare. We describe a 28-year-old man with TA who presented with mesangial proliferative GN and subsequently developed membranoproliferative GN with nephrotic syndrome and deterioration of the renal function. The former is the most common type of GN complicating TA, while the latter has not been adequately reported in association with this disease. Although the mechanisms for the initiation and progression of these glomerular injuries are not clear, the present case suggests that a wider spectrum of GN can be seen in patients with TA and that cases of TA with urinary abnormalities should be followed carefully.