Solid tumour and glomerulopathy

We retrospectively examined the prevalence of solid tumours in patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) followed in our regional renal unit between 1977 and 1994. We identified 17 cases of what was thought to be solid-tumour-related glomerulonephritis. Tumours and GN were diagnosed together in six cases, and within a year of each other in another four. In addition, there were seven other cases with a weaker temporal relationship (median duration between GN and cancer diagnosis, two and a half years) but which nonetheless could be tumour-related. In total, there were seven membranous GN, four mesangial proliferative GN, five crescentic GN and one case of focal segmental GN. Bronchogenic (6) and gastrointestinal carcinoma (CA) (5) were the commonest tumours encountered. Other tumours included breast CA (1), renal cell CA (1), prostatic CA (1), an epithelial thymoma and a leiomyosarcoma of the lung. All MGN and mesangial proliferative GN cases developed nephrotic range proteinuria, whereas all patients with rapidly progressive crescentic GN presented with acute renal failure. Four cases had received immunosuppressive therapy prior to tumour diagnosis. We discuss the validity of each case as tumour-related glomerulonephritis.