Type II Cryoglobulinemic Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Caused by Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma

Intern Med. 2023;62(13):1983-1988. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0756-22. Epub 2023 Jul 1.

Abstract

A 67-year-old man complained of lower limb edema with a purpuric skin rash. Laboratory tests revealed proteinuria, elevated serum creatinine levels, and low serum albumin levels. The patient was also positive for cryoglobulin in serum, immunoglobulin (Ig) M gammopathy, hypocomplementemia, and rheumatoid factor. He was negative for anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies. A pathological analysis of the renal tissue revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, common histological features of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV), and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma invasion. Although hematologic malignancy is a rare cause of type II CV, these clinical findings suggest that mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT) lymphoma may have been the cause in the present case.

Keywords: bendamustine; membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis; mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma; rituximab; type II cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cryoglobulinemia* / complications
  • Cryoglobulinemia* / diagnosis
  • Glomerulonephritis* / complications
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative* / complications
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* / complications
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* / diagnosis
  • Male