[Small-cell lung cancer and rapidly fatal nephritic syndrome]

Nephrotic syndrome due to membranous glomerulonephritis is observed in 1 to 3% of patients with lung cancer. The nephrotic syndrome usually precedes the discovery of the causal tumor, but diagnosis can be concomitant or during the disease course. We describe a case of small-cell carcinoma of the lung without metastases revealed by a paraneoplastic nephrotic syndrome. Complete remission of the tumor was achieved with chemotherapy and radiotherapy with resolution of the nephrotic syndrome, but tumor progression occurred together with rapidly fatal renal failure. In this case, and the review of the literature, illustrate the association between paraneoplastic nephrotic syndrome and lung cancer, as well as the disease course and prognosis of the lung cancer and the accompanying glomerulopathy.