IgM Variant of Proliferative Glomerulonephritis With Monoclonal Immunoglobulin Deposits: A Case Series

Abstract

Rationale & objective: Most deposits in proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits (PGNMID) are of the IgG class. The IgM variant (PGNMID-IgM) is very rare, and data are mostly derived from single case reports or cases associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. We describe the clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes among cases of PGNMID-IgM.

Study design: Case series.

Setting & participants: 23 PGNMID-IgM cases identified from kidney pathology archives. PGNMID-IgM was defined by glomerulonephritis with glomerular granular monotypic IgM deposits after excluding cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis and intracapillary monoclonal deposits disease.

Findings: Seventy-eight percent of the cases were male, they had a median age of 72 years, and they had presented with proteinuria (median, 3.1g/day), hematuria (91%), and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (median serum creatinine, 1.9mg/dL). Hypocomplementemia was present in 31% of cases. The underlying hematologic condition for all cases was monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS). Serum protein electrophoresis/serum immunofixation (SPEP/SIF) detected the nephropathic monoclonal immunoglobulin (MIg) in 27% of cases whereas matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) detected the nephropathic IgM in 4 of 7 tested patients. Kidney biopsy revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (83%) with nonorganized glomerular monotypic IgM (100%) and C3 deposition (96%), but C1q deposition was rare. Seventeen percent received symptomatic treatment alone, 17% received steroids alone, and 65% received other immunosuppressive therapy (mostly rituximab-based therapy). Follow-up (median, 40 months) was available for all patients. The median kidney and patient survivals were 44 and 158 months, respectively. Three patients underwent kidney transplantation, and all had recurrence, in 2 cases within a month.

Limitations: Small sample size, retrospective design, nonstandardized clinical management.

Conclusions: PGNMID-IgM mostly affects elderly men and is associated with MGRS with a low detection rate of the circulating nephropathic MIg on SPEP/SIF, which may be improved by MALDI-TOF. Kidney survival is guarded, with a high rate of early recurrence after transplant although overall survival is favorable. The pathogenesis remains unknown, but it likely involves local activation of alternative or lectin pathways of complement system by the monotypic IgM.

Plain-language summary: The IgM variant of proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits (PGNMID-IgM) is very rare, and data on its clinicopathologic and outcome characteristics are scanty. This study of 23 patients with PGNMID-IgM identified in the Mayo Clinic pathology archives revealed that most patients were elderly White males who presented with proteinuria, hematuria, and reduced kidney function. The underlying hematologic condition was monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance in all cases, and the detection rate of the circulating nephropathic monoclonal immunoglobulin with serum protein electrophoresis/serum immunofixation was low but was increased using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Pathologically, all cases exhibited nonorganized glomerular monotypic IgM, most with a membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis pattern. Outcome analysis revealed a guarded kidney survival (median, 44 months), a high rate of early recurrence after transplant, and favorable patient survival (158 months).

Keywords: IgM; MGRS; PGNMID; monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance; monotypic IgM deposits; proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits.