[Kidney involvement in light-chain deposition disease]

An overview concerning different types of kidney involvement associated with monoclonal gammapathy (MG) is given, focused on light-chain deposition disease (LCDD). Pathophysiologic basis of LCDD remains in the light-chain tissue deposition (resp. in tissue deposition of immunoglobulin's stable domain). This mechanism is typical for monoclonal immunoglobulin's overproduction as found in MG. Clinical picture of LCDD reflects multiorgan character of disorder, while renal lesions rank among the most frequent, serious and best documented ones. Clinical data referring to a group of six patients, treated in our nephrologic department are presented. Diagnosis of LCDD was established on basis of the renal biopsy finding. Renal functions were decreased at the time of diagnosis in all patients, whereas haemodialysis treatment was started in one patient. On conclusion therapeutic possibilities of LCDD are discussed, in which number symptomatic therapy of renal failure is combined with corticosteroids therapy and cytostatic therapy; prognosis of most patients remains serious.