An unusual case of membranous nephropathy associated with an ovarian tumor

Pediatric Nephrology volume 26, pages2249–2251(2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Secondary membranous nephropathy (MN) associated with malignancy is not uncommon in adults, but it is rare in children. We report a 6-year-old girl who developed nephrotic-range proteinuria following diagnosis of a Sertoli–Leydig ovarian tumor. A renal biopsy was performed, which led to the diagnosis of MN. The patient maintained normal renal function and gradually showed improvement in proteinuria over several months without the use of corticosteroids or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Our case highlights the importance of performing screening urinalyses in children with tumors to recognize the presence of clinically significant, but potentially asymptomatic kidney disease.

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Author notes

  1. Ashton Chen

    Present address: Pediatric Nephrology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology–Oncology, Department of Pediatrics & Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Mark Vander Lugt & Linda M. McAllister-Lucas

  2. Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics & Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, F6865 Mott Hospital/SPC 5297, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5297, USA

    Ashton Chen & Neal B. Blatt

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Paul D. Killen

Authors
  1. Ashton Chen
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  2. Mark Vander Lugt
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  3. Linda M. McAllister-Lucas
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  4. Paul D. Killen
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  5. Neal B. Blatt
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Correspondence to Neal B. Blatt.

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Chen, A., Vander Lugt, M., McAllister-Lucas, L.M. et al. An unusual case of membranous nephropathy associated with an ovarian tumor. Pediatr Nephrol 26, 2249–2251 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-011-1994-7

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Keywords

  • Secondary membranous nephropathy
  • Proteinuria
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Sertoli–Leydig cell
  • Ovarian tumor