Alport syndrome is a hereditary, progressive disease in which characteristic changes occur in the glomerular basement membrane. Similar abnormalities in the glomerular basement membrane can also be seen in thin basement membrane disease. However, in Alport syndrome, these abnormalities can progress to end-stage renal disease in youth, necessitating dialysis. It is therefore essential to distinguish between the two. As described by Dr. Okada, “The two are generally differentiated by conventional immunostaining and TEM and now also by genetic testing, but the results are sometimes inconclusive, and there is a strong possibility that LVSEM will be useful in this regard.”
Dr. Yamanaka also points out the significance of obtaining 3D information, noting that “When you observe a sample through a light microscope, you are observing a sample that is 3 μm or in some cases 5 μm thick, but with an LVSEM, you can see a 3D image of the sample in its full thickness and ascertain aspects that you couldn’t see before in 2D observation. Our real world is spatially 3D, and when you observe it in two dimensions, you are observing a world of lower dimension. When you see the 3D images for some cases, the differences from what you saw before in 2D are recognized clearly.
