Focal glomerulosclerosis in renal allografts: association with the nephrotic syndrome and chronic rejection

R. B. Ettenger, E. T. Heuser, M. H. Malekzadeh, A. J. Pennisi, C. H. Uittenbogaart and R. N. Fine

Focal segmental and/or global sclerotic glomerular lesions with hyalinosis were noted in three allografts in association with the nephrotic syndrome (NS) and chronic rejection (CR). Similar lesions were absent in eight allografts with CR without NS. Previous reports have stressed the presence of this lesion in allografts with recurrence of the disease entity "idiopathic nephrotic syndrome with focal glomerulosclerosis". Both clinical and pathologic evidence suggest that recurrence was not a factor in the pathogenesis of the lesion in the three allografts with CR and NS. The presence of these lesions in failing allografts may represent the result of CR with associated NS rather than recurrence of the disease entity.