Thin glomerular basement membrane disease

The term thin glomerular basement membrane disease (TBMD) refers to a condition characterised by thinning of the GBM at electron microscopy examination and, clinically, by isolated hematuria, frequently occurring in other family members, with no extra-renal manifestations. Progression towards chronic renal failure (CRF), although rare, has been reported and blood pressure is high in 30-35% of cases during follow-up. TBMD is generally considered different from Alport syndrome since immunohistological investigation does not show abnormalities of type IV collagen alpha chains in the GBM, as frequently observed in Alport patients; moreover, in familial cases, the disease is transmitted as autosomal dominant trait, rarely observed in Alport syndrome. Genetic studies suggest that TBMD is a heterogeneous disease, but some cases may be related to mutations of COL4A3/COL4A4 genes, thus belonging to the spectrum of type IV collagen diseases. TBMD may arise with other glomerular diseases, most frequently IgA nephropathy, and it remains to be established whether these cases are a casual occurrence or whether a thinner than normal GBM predisposes to immune complex deposition.