We present the case of a 73-year-old man who developed an acute, severe febrile illness with multiorgan dysfunction, featuring renal failure, nephrotic-range proteinuria, microhematuria, and a skin rash. Numerous erythrocyte casts were found on urine microscopy. Typically, the finding of urinary erythrocyte casts indicates the presence of an underlying glomerular inflammatory disease. However, on renal biopsy, only amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis and tubular injury were the predominant findings with no signs of glomerular or vascular inflammation. Photomicrographs of urinary sediment as well as renal biopsy histopathology of the presented case are shown. The unusual combination of findings, is then discussed in light of the existing literature on renal amyloidosis as well as erythrocyte casts in conditions other than glomerulonephritis.
Keywords: amyloidosis; erythrocyte casts; urinalysis; urinary sediment.