Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody-mediated glomerulonephritis due to glue sniffing

1987

A 16-year-old girl developed rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and renal failure. The disease was associated with high titres of antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies in serum, linear deposits of immunoglobulin G and diffuse epithelial crescents on renal biopsy. Past history revealed heavy smoking and deliberate sniffing of Pattex glue, a mixture of hydrocarbons which possibly may affect the structure of glomerular basement membrane. After treatment by repeated plasmapheresis and drug immunosuppression autoantibodies disappeared from serum but renal function was not influenced. Renal damage is a potential hazard for glue sniffing adolescents.