Systemic Sarcoidosis Presenting with Renal Involvement Caused by Various Sarcoidosis-associated Pathophysiological Conditions

Intern Med. 2019 Mar 1;58(5):679-684. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1558-18. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Abstract

A 61-year-old man was diagnosed with sarcoidosis involving the lungs, eyes, parotid gland and extrathoracic lymph nodes complicated by chronic kidney injury and hypercalcemia. Kidney biopsy showed non-specific interstitial nephritis and nephrosclerosis. However, immunohistochemical staining of cell surface markers revealed a multinucleated giant macrophage surrounded by T-cells, suggesting granulomatous interstitial nephritis. Corticosteroid improved the kidney function, and reduced the serum levels of calcium and angiotensin-converting enzyme. Sarcoid nephropathy may be caused by the combination of several sarcoidosis-associated pathophysiological conditions and a comprehensive kidney examination should be performed to assess the type of injury when determining a treatment strategy.

Keywords: granulomatous interstitial nephritis; hypercalcemia; immunohistochemistry; nephrosclerosis; sarcoidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Calcium / blood
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / etiology
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / blood
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / drug therapy
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / etiology*
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / pathology
  • Nephrosclerosis / blood
  • Nephrosclerosis / etiology
  • Nephrosclerosis / pathology
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / blood
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Sarcoidosis / blood
  • Sarcoidosis / complications*
  • Sarcoidosis / drug therapy
  • Sarcoidosis / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Glucocorticoids
  • ACE protein, human
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • Calcium