A rare case of late-onset immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome confused with IgA vasculitis nephropathy

A 3-year-old boy initially presented with purpura-like rashes and nephrotic syndrome, suspected to be IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN). The suggestion of kidney biopsy was rejected. Although the patient responded well to glucocorticoids, they later developed recurrent proteinuria, refractory diarrhea, and subsequent metabolic acidosis. Kidney biopsy showed membranous nephropathy with positive semaphorin 3B expression, indicative of other kidney diseases rather than IgAVN. Although his kidney responded well to glucocorticoid combined with cyclosporine A treatment regimen, enteropathy and severe food allergy still progressed afterwards as evidenced by villous atrophy on gastrointestinal endoscopy examination. Whole exome sequencing identified a heterozygous missense variant in exon 11 of FOXP3 : c.1121 T > G, confirming the diagnosis of immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome. The case expanded the phenotypic spectrum of IPEX syndrome, suggesting high phenotypic heterogeneity despite similar genotypes. It also put emphasis on the significance of kidney biopsy to differentiate IgA vasculitis nephropathy from other immune disorders.