Nephrotic syndrome associated with metastatic melanoma: a case report

Abstract

Paraneoplastic syndrome is defined by clinical manifestations that are not related directly to the tumor burden, metastasis, or invasion, but are the results of tumor cell secretions such as cytokines, tumor antigens, hormones, and growth factors. 1,2 These substances can damage the kidneys, generating paraneoplastic glomerulopathy. The prevalence of cancer in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) is 11-13%; it is greater in patients aged >50 years and in men. 3 The tumors most commonly associated with this type of paraneoplastic syndrome are carcinomas, mainly pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and of hematopoietic origin (e.g., Hodgkin's lymphoma). Among the most common paraneoplastic glomerulopathies are membranous glomerulonephritis (GN), GN with minimal injury, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranoproliferative GN