Remission of nephrotic syndrome after thalidomide therapy in a patient with Castleman's disease.

Abstract

Castleman's is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder secondary to lymphoid follicle hyperplasia and marked capillary proliferation with endothelial hyperplasia. This illness can be associated with glomerulonephritis (GN). Here, we report a case with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome secondary to proliferative mesangial glomerulonephritis in a patient with Castleman's disease, that was diagnosed several years before. Considering the involvement of IL-6 in Castleman's disease we treated the patient with thalidomide obtaining the remission of the nephrotic syndrome. Our experience suggests a possible role of thalidomide in the treatment of glomerular pathology when a role of IL-6 is hypothesized.

• Authors: M Adorati Menegato, M Fanni Canelles, E Tonutti, S Pizzolitto
• Journal: Clinical nephrology (Clin Nephrol) Vol. 61 Issue 5 Pg. 352-6 (May 2004) ISSN: 0301-0430 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 15182131 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Thalidomide

Topics

• Aged
• Biopsy
• Castleman Disease (complications)
• Female
• Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative (complications, drug therapy, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Kidney Glomerulus (pathology)
• Nephrotic Syndrome (drug therapy, etiology)
• Thalidomide (therapeutic use)