Skip to main content

Horseshoe kidney with PLA2R-positive membranous nephropathy

Abstract

Background

Horseshoe kidney (HSK) is a common congenital defect of the urinary system. The most common complications are urinary tract infection, urinary stones, and hydronephrosis. HSK can be combined with glomerular diseases, but the diagnosis rate of renal biopsy is low due to structural abnormalities. There are only a few reports on HSK with glomerular disease. Here, we have reported a case of PLA2R-positive membranous nephropathy occurring in a patient with HSK.

Case presentation

After admission to the hospital due to oedema of both the lower extremities, the patient was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome due to abnormal 24-h urine protein (7540 mg) and blood albumin (25 g/L) levels. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed HSK. The patient’s brother had a history of end-stage renal disease due to nephrotic syndrome. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with PLA2R-positive stage II membranous nephropathy through renal biopsy under abdominal ultrasonography guidance. He was administered adequate prednisone and cyclophosphamide, and after 6 months of treatment, urinary protein excretion levels significantly decreased.

Conclusion

The risk and difficulty of renal biopsy in patients with HSK are increased due to structural abnormalities; however, renal biopsy can be accomplished through precise positioning with abdominal ultrasonography. In the literature, 20 cases of HSK with glomerular disease have been reported thus far. Because of the small number of cases, estimating the incidence rate of glomerular diseases in HSK is impossible, and the correlation between HSK and renal pathology cannot be stated. Further studies should be conducted and cases should be accumulated to elucidate this phenomenon.

Peer Review reports

Background

Horseshoe kidney (HSK) is the most common congenital renal fusion malformation that can be diagnosed using imaging techniques such as B-ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) [1]. Patients with HSK can be diagnosed with glomerular disease, and because of the characteristics of the structure of HSK, the risk and difficulty of renal biopsy are relatively high, resulting in fewer pathological results of HSK combined with glomerular disease [2]. This is a case report of HSK complicated by PLA2R-positive membranous nephropathy diagnosed through renal biopsy.

Case presentation

A 48-year-old male patient was admitted at our hospital because of oedema of both the lower limbs for 1 week. He had no history of hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and drug allergy. The patient’s elder brother was diagnosed with nephropathy in 2008, but he did not undergo renal biopsy. In 2015, the patient was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and was initiated on haemodialysis.

Physical examination on admission showed a blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg, pulse of 85/min, and temperature of 36.5 °C. Abnormalities in the heart, lungs, and abdomen were not observed, but severe oedema on both the lower limbs was noted. Laboratory tests revealed the following results: urine test rendering (++++) proteinuria, (++) haematuria, erythrocyte count of 0–2 cells/high-power field, haemoglobin level of 125 g/dL, total protein level of 45 g/L, serum albumin level of 25 g/L, serum creatinine level of 75 μmol/L, total cholesterol level of 7.8 mmol/L, triglyceride level of 2.5 mmol/L, and serum immunoglobulin and complement levels (C3 and C4) within the normal range. Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies, and immune deficiency virus antibodies were all negative. The patient’s blood coagulation function was normal. The 24-h urine protein level was 7540 mg. The PLA2R antibody level was 10RU/mL (≤14RU/ml , FICA). Abdominal ultrasonography revealed the presence of HSK (the two kidneys were narrow in shape, the inner structure of the kidney was clear, the urinary collection system was not expanded, and the two kidneys were extremely connected to the front of the abdominal aortic artery and were horseshoe shaped; Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

B-mode ultrasonography. A The ultrasound probe is placed on the midline of the upper abdomen of the umbilical cord. B The ultrasound probe is placed on the right abdomen. C The ultrasound probe is placed on the left abdomen

Before the procedure, the patient and his family members signed the informed consent form after being informed of the significance and risks of renal biopsy. Renal biopsy was performed by experienced doctors under ultrasonography guidance at the left renal lower pole using a standard needle biopsy gun. No postoperative complications were observed.

The renal pathological results are shown in Fig. 2. Based on the pathological results of renal puncture, PLA2R-positive membranous nephropathy was diagnosed.

Fig. 2
figure 2

A Light micrograph (PASM stain, ×400): The arrow shows basement membrane thickening, nail structure formation; B Immunofluorescent stain (× 200): immunoglobulin G4 deposition (3+) in fine granular deposits along the capillary loops. C Immunofluorescent stain (× 200): PLA2R (+). (D) Electron microscope (× 3000): The arrow shows the electron dense substance was deposited in the subepithelial and basement membranes of glomerular capillary loops, some spikes

The patient was treated with anticoagulants, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, hypolipidaemics, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide (CTX). Prednisolone treatment was initiated at 60 mg for 4 weeks and then gradually tapered. CTX was withdrawn after a cumulative dose of 10 g. Proteinuria declined gradually and disappeared over 4 weeks, and oedema disappeared.

After 6 months of treatment, the patient’s 24-h urinary protein level decreased to 110 mg, and the creatinine and albumin levels normalized.

Discussion and conclusions

Most scholars believe that HSK is an abnormal rotation of the two kidneys during embryonic development [3]. Its incidence rate is approximately 1/600–1/400 [4]. Currently, the diagnosis of HSK is mainly based on abdominal ultrasonography, spiral CT, and nuclear magnetic resonance [5].

Patients with HSK can often have various complications, such as hydronephrosis, urinary calculi, urinary tract infection, other structure-related complications, renal tumours [6, 7], and glomerular disease. Most researchers think that the simultaneous occurrence of HSK and glomerular disease may be a coincidence, but some researchers believe that the abnormal anatomical structure of HSK may be the cause of glomerular disease, which is more likely to lead to long-term chronic repeated stimulation, resulting in antigen–antibody immune complex deposition and renal amyloidosis [8]. However, there is insufficient evidence to elucidate their inevitable causal relationship.

To further clarify the incidence, renal biopsy, pathology, and treatment results of HSK with glomerular disease, case reports and related literature on HSK with glomerular disease were searched, and a total of 20 cases were reviewed (Table 1).

Table 1 Domestic and foreign case reports of patients with horseshoe kidney with glomerular disease

Eighteen cases who underwent renal biopsy were diagnosed with membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis(MPGN), renal amyloidosis, Henoch–Schonlein purpuranephritis (HSPN), lupus nephritis (LN), membranous nephropathy (MN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN), minimal change disease (MCD), and immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).Two patients who did not undergo renal biopsy were considered to have LN or primary nephrotic syndrome. Our patient with HSK was diagnosed with PLA2R-positive membranous nephropathy through renal biopsy. His elder brother had a history of kidney disease, but not HSK. We believe that this patient may have had familial membranous nephropathy. However, it was difficult to diagnose familial membranous nephropathy owing to insufficient evidence because the patient’s brother did not undergo renal biopsy and the patient did not want to undergo gene testing for familial membranous nephropathy. In the existing literature, there were 4 cases on HSK complicated by membranous nephropathy. But there was no detection of PLA2R antibodies. In this case, the serum level for PLA2R-antibodies was low, and PLA2R was positive in pathology. There was no evidence to prove the relationship between serum PLA2R-antibodies level and horseshoe kidney.

In the litterature the treatment of these patients included glucocorticoids, CTX, and leflunomide. Three of the 20 patients had no treatment-related data. One patient underwent dialysis. The urine protein levels of other patients decreased to varying degrees. In the present case, the patient’s urine protein level was negative by treatment. Combined with the literature, the prognosis of patients with HSK complicated with glomerular disease is mainly related to renal pathology. Therefore, renal biopsy should be performed for subsequent treatment and prognosis, even if the risk of renal biopsy in patients with HSK is high.

The blood supply in HSK varies greatly, and the relationship between the isthmus and blood vessels is complex and variable. These anatomical and vascular abnormalities in HSK make renal biopsy difficult [15]. Before the procedure, patients with HSK need to be carefully evaluated through abdominal ultrasonography, and if necessary, abdominal computed tomography angiography should be performed. In the litterature, the upper part of the left/right kidney was preferred for renal biopsy. The reason may be that 90% of the renal fusion in HSK occurs in the inferior pole, and very few of them occur in the upper pole [4]. In the present case, the middle and lower poles of the left kidney were chosen as the sites of renal biopsy to avoid puncturing the renal upper pole, but fewer glomeruli in the renal specimens were obtained. In our analysis, the small number of glomeruli may be related to the puncture technique and angle, but the abnormal structure of HSK cannot be ruled out.

According to the current case report, it is impossible to confirm the relationship between HSK and glomerular disease, and statistical analysis is needed if further cases are accumulated. However, according to the preliminary analysis, the actual incidence of HSK complicated by glomerular disease may be higher than that reported in the literature, the pathological type is close to the simple pathological type of glomerular disease, and the prognosis is mainly related to the glomerular disease itself. Therefore, when patients with HSK develop glomerular disease, renal biopsy is recommended.

Availability of data and materials

All data related to this case report are within the manuscript.

Abbreviations

CR:

Complete remission

CT:

Computed tomography

CTA:

Computer tomography angiography

CTX:

Cyclophosphamide

FSGS:

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

FICA:

Fluorescence immunochromatography

HPF:

High power field

HSK:

Horseshoe kidney

HSPN:

Henoch-Schoenlein purpura nephritis

IgAN:

IgA nephropathy

LEF:

Leflunomide

LN:

Lupus nephritis

MCD:

Minimal change disease

MMF:

Mycophenolate mofetil

MN:

Membranous nephropathy

MP:

Methylprednisolone

MPGN:

Membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis

MsPGN:

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis

PLA2R:

Phospholipase A2 receptor

References

  1. Muttarak M, Sriburi T. Congenital renal anomalies detected in adulthood. Biomed Imaging Interv J. 2012;8(1):e7.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Glodny B, Petersen J, Hofmann KJ, Schenk C, Herwig R, Trieb T, et al. Kidney fusion anomalies revisited: clinical and radiological analysis of 209 cases of crossed fused ectopia and horseshoe kidney. BJU Int. 2009;103(2):224–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hashimura M. Oyama N: [horseshoe kidney associated with ejaculation disorder after laparoscopic Heminephrectomy : a case report]. Hinyokika Kiyo. 2020;66(10):343–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Alagozlu H, Candan F, Gultekin F, Bulut E, Elagoz S. Horseshoe kidney and nephrotic syndrome due to idiopathic membranous nephropathy. Intern Med. 2001;40(12):1259–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Alamer A. Renal cell carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney: radiology and pathology correlation. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2013;3:12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Natsis K, Piagkou M, Skotsimara A, Protogerou V, Tsitouridis I, Skandalakis P. Horseshoe kidney: a review of anatomy and pathology. Surg Radiol Anat. 2014;36(6):517–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Shen HL, Yang PQ, Du LD, Lu WC, Tian Y. Horseshoe kidney with retrocaval ureter: one case report. Chin Med J. 2012;125(3):543–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kayatas M, Urun Y. Two cases with horseshoe kidney in association with nephrotic syndrome: is there a causal relationship between two conditions? Ren Fail. 2007;29(4):517–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen A, Ko WS. Horseshoe kidney and membranous glomerulonephropathy. Nephron. 1990;54(3):283–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Fujimoto S, Hirayama N, Uchida T, Iemura F, Yamamoto Y, Eto T, et al. Horseshoe kidney and membranous glomerulonephritis with cold activation of complement. Intern Med. 1992;31(5):625–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Abson C, Jones M, Palmer A, Persey M, Gabriel R. Horseshoe kidney, focal and sclerosing glomerulonephritis and primary hypothyroidism. Nephron. 1991;58(1):124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Rivera F, Caparros G, Vozmediano C, Bennouna M, Anaya S. Sanchez de la Nieta MD, Garcia Rojo M, Blanco J: ["horseshoe kidney", renal adenocarcinoma and nephrotic syndrome]. Nefrologia. 2010;30(5):596–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hu P, Jin M, Xie Y, Chen P, Zhang X, Yin Z, et al. Immunoglobulin a nephropathy in horseshoe kidney: case reports and literature review. Nephrology (Carlton). 2014;19(10):605–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Chaabouni Y, Guesmi R, Hentati Y, Kammoun K, Hmida MB, Mnif Z, et al. Minimal change disease in horseshoe kidney. Pan Afr Med J. 2017;26:243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Taghavi K, Kirkpatrick J, Mirjalili SA. The horseshoe kidney: surgical anatomy and embryology. J Pediatr Urol. 2016;12(5):275–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the patient for providing permission to share his information.

Funding

This research was supported by the Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi (Grant No.2019 L0681, 2019 L0661, 2020 L0394), Mainly used for the cost of testing and article publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

YZ conceived and planned the report. SS, XY and WW1 wrote the manuscript and carried out the experiment. HG, XZ, XH and LZ collected data and patient follow-up. WP performed B-ultrasound examination for patient. WZ and WW2 performed renal biopsy. WW1 corresponding to Wen-Feng Wang and WW2 corresponding to Wen-Bin Wen. All authors provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis, and manuscript. The author(s) read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi-Qiang Zhang.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the Changzhi Medical College and the followed protocol was consistent with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Patient was asked to sign an informed consent statement for the consent study.

Consent for publication

Written informed consent for publication was obtained from all participants. Copy of the consent form is available for review and can be provided on request.

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shi, SS., Yang, XZ., Zhang, XY. et al. Horseshoe kidney with PLA2R-positive membranous nephropathy. BMC Nephrol 22, 277 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-021-02488-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-021-02488-7

Keywords