Poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis in a girl with renal cell carcinoma: possible pathophysiological association

The severity of the poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis is considered to be modulated by the immune response of each individual, although there had been few reports regarding specific factors. Renal cell carcinoma is a cancer frequently associated with paraneoplastic syndrome, characterized by fever, leukocytosis, elevated cytokines, and elevated hormone levels. All of these symptoms resolve after tumor resection. A girl with renal cell carcinoma developed renal failure rapidly, which resolved promptly right after nephrectomy for the carcinoma. She was diagnosed as having poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis according to the results of pathological and serological examinations. In addition, elevated serum interleukin-6 level before the surgery was detected. Six and a half years after the diagnosis, the patient's renal function was within normal range and she was tumor free. Because of the quick resolution of her renal dysfunction after the nephrectomy, paraneoplastic syndrome induced by renal cell carcinoma seemed to play a key role in the accentuation of poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis.

Automated summary

This case report describes a girl with renal cell carcinoma who developed rapid renal failure due to poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis, but promptly recovered after nephrectomy. Elevated serum interleukin-6 level before surgery was detected and the patient's renal function returned to normal six and a half years later. Renal cell carcinoma may have played a key role in accentuating the poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis.