A report of three cases of patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis with IgM-positive plasma cells, treatment, and serum-IgM as a sensitive marker for relapse

Background: Tubulointerstitial nephritis with IgM-positive plasma cells (IgMPC-TIN) is a newer disease about which there are many unclear points. Glucocorticoid therapy is effective in many cases of IgMPC-TIN; however, relapse during glucocorticoid tapering has been reported. Relapse and its treatment are poorly defined.

Case presentation: Case 1 was a 61-year-old man with renal dysfunction and proteinuria. Tubulointerstitial nephritis and IgM-positive plasma cells were observed in a renal biopsy. He was diagnosed with IgMPC-TIN accompanied by Fanconi syndrome and distal renal tubular acidosis (d-RTA). Prednisolone (PSL; 30 mg daily, 0.45 mg/kg/day) treatment was highly effective, and PSL was gradually tapered and discontinued after 1 year. However, 1 month after PSL discontinuation, therapeutic markers were elevated. Therefore, PSL (10 mg daily, 0.15 mg/kg/day) was administered, and the markers indicated improvement. Case 2 was a 43-year-old woman referred for renal dysfunction and proteinuria. Laboratory data revealed that she had primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), d-RTA, and Fanconi syndrome. A renal biopsy showed accumulation of IgM-positive plasma cells in the tubulointerstitium without any glomerular changes. A diagnosis of IgMPC-TIN was made and the patient was started on PSL (35 mg daily, 0.6 mg/kg/day). Therapeutic markers decreased immediately and PSL was discontinued after 1 year. Three months later, the proteinuria and Fanconi syndrome worsened. PSL treatment was restarted (20 mg daily, 0.35 mg/kg/day) and markers indicated improvement. Case 3 was a 45-year-old woman with renal dysfunction and proteinuria. Tubulointerstitial nephritis and IgM-positive plasma cells were observed in a renal biopsy. The patient had PBC, Sjögren syndrome, d-RTA, and Fanconi syndrome, and the diagnosis of IgMPC-TIN was made. The patient was started on PSL (30 mg daily, 0.4 mg/kg/day) and disease markers decreased immediately. However, when PSL was tapered to 15 mg daily (0.2 mg/kg/day), the patient's serum IgM levels increased; therefore, we maintained the PSL at 15 mg daily (0.2 mg/kg/day).

Conclusion: We report three cases of relapsed IgMPC-TIN associated with reduction or discontinuation of glucocorticoid therapy. In these cases, elevation of serum IgM preceded that of other markers such as urinary β₂-microglobulin, proteinuria, and glycosuria. We recommend monitoring serum IgM levels while tapering glucocorticoids; a maintenance dose of glucocorticoid should be considered if relapse is suspected or anticipated.