Wilms' tumor and glomerular disease. Occurrence with features of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and secondary focal, segmental glomerulosclerosis

Abstract

A case of bilateral Wilms' tumor occurred in which a renal biopsy performed for proteinuria showed features of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type 1 and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). A review of the literature for similar cases revealed 24 patients with Wilms' tumor associated with glomerular disease; MPGN was present in one of these cases and FSGS in six. In our patient, circulating immune complexes were detected in the serum and likely played a role in the pathogenesis of the MPGN; the FSGS may have resulted from hyperperfusion of the remaining glomeruli in a kidney that was largely replaced by Wilms' tumor.