SOLID TUMOR AND GLOMERULOPATHY

We retrospectively examined the prevalence of solid tumours in patient s with glomeuulonephritis (GN) followed in our regional renal unit bet ween 1977 and 1994. We identified 17 cases of what was thought to be s olid-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 rel ationship (median duration between GN and cancer diagnosis, two and a half years) but which nonetheless could be tumour-related. In total, t here were seven membranous CN, four mesangial proliferative CN, five c rescentic CN and one case of focal segmental GN. Bronchogenic (6) and gastrointestinal carcinoma (CA) (5) were the commonest tumours encount ered. Other tumours included breast CA (1), renal cell CA (1), prostat ic CA (1), an epithelial thymoma and a leiomyosarcoma of the lung. All MCN and mesangial proliferative CN cases developed nephrotic range pr oteinuria, whereas all patients with rapidly progressive crescentic CN presented with acute renal failure. Four cases had received immunosup pressive therapy prior to tumour diagnosis. We discuss the validity of each case as tumour-related glomerulonephritis.