Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Glomerulonephritis Complicated by Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is characterized by the rapid deterioration of the renal function associated with crescent formation on renal biopsies. This report describes a case of RPGN caused by anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis in an elderly man with severe thrombocytopenia and a platelet count of L4×104/µL. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) were implicated in the severe decrease in platelets. This report also discusses the pathological background and clinical management of TMA and HIT among patients with anti-GBM glomerulonephritis. © 2012, The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. All rights reserved.