IgA antiglomerular basement membrane disease associated with bronchial carcinoma and monoclonal gammopathy

Am J Kidney Dis. 1999 Feb;33(2):E3. doi: 10.1016/s0272-6386(99)70324-0.

Abstract

Antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is characterized by a linear deposition of immunoglobulins along the glomerular basement membrane. A 67-year-old man with a recently discovered monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) presented with microscopic hematuria, nephrotic-range proteinuria, and rapidly deteriorating renal function after a pneumonia. Renal histology showed a crescentic glomerulonephritis; immunohistology showed intense linear staining of the GBM with immunoglobulin A (IgA) and moderate linear staining with kappa and lambda light chains. Screening for systemic disease, including diabetes mellitus, lupus erythematodes disseminatus, cryoglobulinemia, was negative. Serological tests for detection of anti-GBM antibodies were positive for IgA class and negative for IgG. Further examination indicated a bronchial carcinoma T2N2M0. This clinical report adds new information to the spectrum of anti-GBM disease and suggests that neoplasia may be associated with unusual exposure of and/or immune response to epitopes in the GBM.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease / complications*
  • Basement Membrane / chemistry
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / complications*
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / complications
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Glomerulonephritis / complications
  • Glomerulonephritis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis*
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Male
  • Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / complications*
  • Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia / complications
  • Serologic Tests

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A