[A case of bronchiectasis due to light chain deposition disease]

Rev Mal Respir. 2019 Apr;36(4):538-542. doi: 10.1016/j.rmr.2018.11.008. Epub 2019 Jan 24.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: The natural history of orphan lung diseases is often unclear. We report the long-term follow-up of a case of bronchiectasis due to pulmonary non amyloid light chain deposition disease (LCDD).

Case report: A 50-year-old woman who was a smoker, was diagnosed with diffuse thin walled bronchiectasis of uncertain origin after presenting with a respiratory tract infection. Ten years later, the combination of bronchiectasis, the appearance of pulmonary cysts and the identification of increased kappa free light chains evoked the diagnosis of pulmonary LCDD. The diagnosis was confirmed by lung biopsy. No immunoproliferative disorder was identified. During the 12 years follow-up, dyspnea worsened progressively and bronchiectasis and lung cysts extended leading to multicystic lung disease. Pulmonary function tests did not show any ventilatory defect but a small decrease in carbon monoxide transfer factor occurred.

Conclusion: We describe the evolution of a rare presentation of isolated pulmonary LCDD, characterized by cystic diffuse atypical bronchiectasis with thin walls, associated with progressive cystic destruction of the lung parenchyma. The possibility of pulmonary LCDD should be considered in cases of atypical bronchiectasis of unknown etiology.

Keywords: Bronchectasies; Bronchiectasis; Immunoglobulines kappa; Kappa-immunoglobulin light chain; Kystes pulmonaires; Light chain deposition disease; Maladie à dépôts de chaînes légères; Non amyloïdes; Non-amyloid; Pulmonary cysts.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bronchiectasis / diagnosis
  • Bronchiectasis / etiology*
  • Bronchiectasis / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / complications*
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / diagnosis
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraproteinemias / complications*
  • Paraproteinemias / diagnosis
  • Paraproteinemias / pathology
  • Smokers

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains