Paraneoplastic glomerulopathy

Abstract

Paraneoplastic syndrome can be defined as a collection of signs and symptoms that are related to the presence of a tumor, but not directly attributable to mass effect or direct invasion. Paraneoplastic syndromes result from factors synthesized by the tumor or by the immune system in response to the tumor, including cytokines, hormones, tumor antigens, or antibodies. Paraneoplastic glomerulopathy is a term that refers to paraneoplastic syndromes that specifically involve the glomerulus. The topic of paraneoplastic glomerulopathy can be divided into (1) entities most commonly related to dysproteinemia and multiple myeloma, such as light chain amyloidosis and light chain deposition disease; (2) membranous glomerulopathy in the setting of solid organ tumors; and (3) a variety of less frequent associations of glomerular disease with carcinomas and hematolymphoid malignancies, including minimal change disease, IgA nephropathy, thrombotic microangiopathy, and amyloidosis.