Primary mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis complicated with renal tubular acidosis： a case report

Abstract

Renal tubular acidosis is an tubule-interstitial disease, which is a rare cause of hypokalemia in clinical practice. At present, primary mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis complicated with renal tubular acidosis have been rarely reported. In this article, one 34-year old male patient with recurrent polyuria and limb weakness for 10 years, followed by 1 day as chief complaint, was reported. He developed nocturia and hypokalemia 10 years ago, with negative urinary protein and normal blood albumin and estimation of glomerular filtration rate （eGFR）. Five years ago, he developed lower limb edema and positive urinary protein. Kidney biopsy showed primary mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. The symptoms of lower limb edema and hypokalemia recurred 1 day. Urinary acidification function test indicated renal tubular acidosis. Potassium supplement, diuresis and hormone therapy were given to effectively relieve the condition. The diagnosis and treatment of this case suggest that primary mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis can be complicated with renal tubular acidosis. Attention should be paid to avoiding missed diagnosis. Interventions for renal tubular acidosis combined with timely hormone therapy yield high clinical efficacy.

Keywords

• |primary mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis|renal tubular acidosis|hypokalemia|edema