[Thymic disease associated with nephrotic syndrome: a new case with membranous nephropathy and literature review]

Rev Med Interne. 2015 Jul;36(7):487-90. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2014.07.001. Epub 2014 Aug 27.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: Malignant thymoma or thymic hyperplasia is associated with various autoimmune diseases. Renal disease has rarely been reported in this condition. We report a new case with improvement of renal disease after thymectomy.

Case report: A 77-year-old-women with nephritic syndrome was found to have associated thymic mass. Renal pathology showed membranous nephropathy. The thymic mass pathology showed a B2 type thymoma. After thymectomy the nephrotic syndrome improved.

Conclusion: Glomerulopathy can be secondary to an acquired thymic disease. Membranous nephropathy but also other glomerular diseases can be observed often presenting with nephritic syndrome. Despite the rarity of this association this clinical observation underlines that a thymoma should be searched in the presence of a glomerulopathy. The glomerulopathy can be improved by the treatment of the thymoma.

Keywords: Glomerulopathy; Glomérulonéphrite extra-membraneuse; Glomérulonéphrites; Malignant thymoma; Membranous nephropathy; Nephrotic syndrome; Paraneoplasic syndrome; Syndrome néphrotique; Syndrome para-thymique; Syndrome paranéoplasique; Thymome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / complications*
  • Humans
  • Kidney / pathology*
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / complications*
  • Thymectomy
  • Thymoma / complications*
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery