Human leucocyte antigen-associated anti-glomerular basement membrane disease in siblings

Abstract

We report a case of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease in association with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 15:01. A 71-year-old woman presented with oligoanuric acute kidney injury accompanied by high titre anti-GBM antibodies. Renal biopsy revealed a severe crescentic glomerulonephritis. Her brother had presented 6 years earlier with oligoanuric acute kidney injury. He was dual positive for MPO ANCA and anti-GBM antibodies. Renal biopsy was not performed. Both had an absence of pulmonary involvement. Tissue typing confirmed both were heterozygous for HLA DRB1 15:01 and DRB1 04:03.