Polyclonal immunoglobulin G deposition disease: a unique entity

Abstract

We report a unique case of tubular polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) deposition disease (PIDD) superimposed on diabetic nephropathy in an 84-year-old man presenting with subacute renal failure and proteinuria. The deposits were located exclusively between the tubular epithelial cells and the tubular basement membranes (TBMs) and stained intensely with antisera to IgG heavy chain and both kappa and lambda light chains. Electron microscopy revealed large predominantly extracellular electron-dense deposits with a distinctive curvilinear substructure. The associated light microscopic findings of tubular simplification with features of acute tubular necrosis implicate this tubulopathy as the cause of the acute renal failure. This appears to represent a unique entity that does not fit into any previously described category of renal tubular immune complex or immunoglobulin deposition disease.