Neoplasia and glomerular injury

Abstract

In this review we provide an update of the published work on this issue and attempt to answer three questions which remain relevant today. How strong is the association between specific glomerular lesions, such as, membranous glomerulonephritis and carcinoma, and minimal change disease and lymphoproliferative disorders? To what extent should patients presenting with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome by evaluated for occult malignancy? What is known of the pathogenesis of glomerular injury in patients with cancer, and to what extent can the glomerular disease be attributed to immune responses to tumor-related antigens or to a defect in immune regulation in these patients?