Acute renal failure due to IgM-lambda glomerular thrombi and MPGN-like lesions in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T-Cell lymphoma

Am J Kidney Dis. 2006 Jul;48(1):e3-9. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2006.03.084.

Abstract

A 70-year-old man with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma developed acute renal failure. Laboratory data showed decreased levels of serum C3, C4, and CH50, elevated immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, and the presence of cryoglobulinemia (IgM-lambda). Renal biopsy showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis-like lesions with azan-red-stained thrombi in the glomerular capillary lumen. Immunofluorescence showed that IgM-lambda stained strongly in the glomerular capillary lumen, equal to the azan-red-stained thrombi, whereas C3 and C4 staining was negative. Electron microscopy showed electron-dense deposits in the subendothelial space and glomerular thrombi lacking fine fibrillar structure. These findings suggest that cryoglobulin, which consists of monoclonal IgM-lambda, induced glomerular thrombi and acute renal failure in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury
  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / complications*
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Kidney Glomerulus / pathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / complications*
  • Male
  • Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Thrombosis / immunology*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin M