[Partial lipodystrophy (cephalothoracic type) with asymptomatic dense deposit disease (author's transl)]

We report a case of partial lipodystrophy (P.L.D.) of the cephalothoracic type associated with low C3 serum level. In spite of the absence of renal symptom a renal biopsy was performed which demonstrated dense deposits disease characterized by the lack of cellular proliferation and highly segmentary deposits similar to those observed in remission after renal transplantation for these disease. A review of the literature shows the frequent occurrence of this pathological association. In general P.L.D. and complement abnormalities are thought to precede nephropathy. However chronological relationship between the former and the later must be interpreted cautiously as our case shows that dense deposits disease can be associated with P.L.D. in the lack of clinical evidence of renal disorder.