MONOCLONAL HEAVY-CHAIN (IMMUNOGLOBULIN G(3)) DEPOSITION DISEASE - REPORT OF A CASE

Seven cases of nonamyloid heavy chain (gamma chain) deposition disease have been previously reported. We describe one case of a 79-year-old woman presenting with proteinuria and microscopic hematuria whose rena l biopsy showed nodular glomerulosclerosis with deposition of gamma(3) heavy chains and complement in the glomeruli and tubular basement mem branes with no associated light chain deposition. The patient did not have multiple myeloma. This case is unique in that in all previously r eported cases of heavy chain deposition disease the gamma chain subtyp e has been either gamma, or gamma(4). (C) 1996 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.