Glomerular injury in patients with neoplasia

Abstract

There is considerable circumstantial evidence relating neoplasia to glomerular injury. Recently, more convincing evidence has been derived from the demonstration of tumor-associated antigen or antibody to such antigen, in relation to glomerular basement membranes in four patients with glomerular injury and cancer. The most common form of glomerulopathy reported in patients with carcinoma has been membranous glomerulonephritis. However, increased mesangial cells and matrix have also been found in some patients with hematuria and progressive renal failure. In contrast, most patients with Hodgkin's disease and glomerulopathy have had the minimal lesion-type nephrotic syndrome, which has usually responded to successful treatment of the Hodgkin's disease. Glomerular abnormalities have also been reported with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, lymphosarcoma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, and benign tumors. When there is no apparent cause, proteinuria with or without hematuria or impaired renal function should suggest the possibility of associated neoplasia, particularly in elderly patients.