[Morphological changes in the kidney glomeruli in gout]

Kidney biopsies from 18 patients with primary gout were studied. Glomerular changes were found in all cases along with alterations in tubuli and vessels and stromal sclerosis. They were characterized by local thickening of basal membranes of capillaries, increase in the mesangial matrix, focal or diffuse proliferation of mesangial and endothelial cells of various degree of severity. Proliferation and activation of endothelial cells, mesangiocytes, podocytes, signs of podocyte damage, were found electron-microscopically. Subendothelial lucid zones were observed in the basal membrane, possibly at the site of uric acid deposits. The above described alterations resemble those in focal mesangio-capillary or mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.