Childhood type polymyositis and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

A 21-year-old women developed rapid muscle weakness and quickly deteriorating renal function. Pathological findings revealed prominent vasculitis in the muscle and crescentic glomerulonephritis. Combined steroid and heparin treatments could not prevent the development of the renal lesion, but the muscle involvement had soon improved. Although the pathogenesis remains unclear, immune complexes may be involved in this renal lesion.