Histiocytic Glomerulopathy With Noncrystalline Inclusion Associated With IgG-Kappa Plasma Cell Dyscrasia

Kidney Med. 2023 Feb 15;5(5):100617. doi: 10.1016/j.xkme.2023.100617. eCollection 2023 May.

Abstract

The kidney pathology of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance varies greatly. In this report, we present a woman in her 20s with nephrotic syndrome and monoclonal immunoglobulin G kappa (serum and urine) without diabetes. She had a family history of nephrotic syndrome as well as hematologic and connective tissue disorders. A kidney biopsy showed nodular glomerulosclerosis, with the glomerular capillary full of histiocytes, which were strongly positive for kappa, not lambda. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that histiocytes had infiltrated the glomerular subendothelial space, and enlarged lysosomes of histiocytes contained kappa light chains, without apparent crystalline formation. Bone marrow examination was negative for malignancy; thus, we diagnosed this case as histiocytic glomerulopathy with noncrystalline inclusion associated with immunoglobulin G-kappa plasma cell dyscrasia. Hematologic treatment with bortezomib and daratumumab decreased her level of serum kappa chain and proteinuria. Two years after diagnosis, her kidney function remained normal, urinary protein level decreased to 1 g/d, and free light-chain ratio decreased to 3.1.

Keywords: Crystal-storing histiocytosis; histiocytic glomerulopathy; immunoelectron microscopy; lysosome indigestion/constipation; monoclonal gammopathy with renal significance (MGRS); noncrystalline storing histiocytosis; plasma cell dyscrasia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports