Autopsy and Case Reports
https://www.autopsyandcasereports.org/article/doi/10.4322/acr.2021.328
Autopsy and Case Reports
Clinical Case Report

Multiple myeloma presenting as acute tubulointerstitial nephritis

Ying Long; Abed A. Aljamal; Hisham F. Bahmad; Niharika Yedla; Guillermo A. Herrera; Michael A. Schwartz; Ayman Layka

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Abstract

Background: Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) is a very rare paraneoplastic manifestation in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). It is an uncommon pattern of renal disease in such patients.

Case presentation: We report a case of an 82-year-old male who was admitted with acute kidney injury. Renal biopsy showed typical findings of light chain-associated ATIN with scattered inflammatory cells in the interstitium and associated active tubulitis. No other common manifestations of MM were present at the time of presentation, including hypercalcemia, hyperuricemia, proteinuria, bone pain or lytic bone lesions. Subsequent immunoassays revealed significant serum lambda light chain burden and Bence Jones protein in urine. Immunofluorescence demonstrated linear tubular basement membranes with positive staining for lambda light chain (3+). Electron microscopy (EM) further showed interstitial edema and inflammation. All the aforementioned findings are consistent with ATIN and supported the diagnosis of MM.

Conclusions: In conclusion, light chain-associated ATIN should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis. Henceforth, serum free light chains as well as serum and urine protein electrophoresis should be included in the workup of such patients.

Keywords

Case Reports, Multiple Myeloma, Nephritis, Interstitial, Microscopy, Electron

References

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Submitted date:
06/27/2021

Accepted date:
08/09/2021

Publication date:
09/23/2021

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