Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type 2 associated with familial partial lipodystrophy (Dunnigan-Kobberling syndrome).

The lipodystrophies are a heterogeneous group of disorders of adipose tissue associated with insulin resistance. The sporadic form of partial lipodystrophy, characterised by fat loss from the face and upper body, is associated with complement abnormalities and mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type 2 (MCGN II) and the conditions are thought to have a shared autoimmune aetiology. We present the first case of the rare familial form of partial lipodystrophy, caused by a mutation in the LMNA gene, associated with MCGN II. This suggests that partial lipodystrophy of both the sporadic and familial subtypes may predispose to this condition and that the observed renal and complement abnormalities may be secondary to other factors associated with lipodystrophy. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel