Courtesy of Dr. KW Chan and Dr. G. Chan, Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital
This electron microscopy photo was from a patient with Alport’s syndrome. There is irregular thickening of the glomerular basement membrane as well as splitting and basket-weave appearance of lamina densa (arrow).
Alport’s syndrome is caused by mutations in the Type IV collagen of the basement membrane. The mode of inheritance is usually X-linked recessive. Patients commonly present with renal failure and hearing impairment during their teenage years.