Immune-complex disease with unilateral renal vein thrombosis.

: The sequence of events in the relationship between membranous nephropathy and renal vein thrombosis is controversial. We postulate that occasionally, the thrombosis may precede the nephropathy and that release of autologous antigens from renal tissue damaged by occlusion of the vein may incite an autologous immune-complex disease. In a case of membranous nephropathy associated with renal vein thrombosis, renal tubular epithelial antigen (RTE) was localized in the glomerulus, along with the host immunoglobulins and complement components. Cryoproteins isolated from the serum contained RTE and anti-RTE. In addition, immunoglobulin eluted from the diseased glomeruli showed antibody activity to RTE. The membranous nephropathy was demonstrated to be secondary to an autologous immune-complex nephritis. Although the sequence of events is inconclusive, it is possible that the renal vein thrombosis preceded and was involved in the etiopathogenesis of the autologous immune-deposit nephropathy.