Cyclosporin A-sensitive nephrotic syndrome preceding Hodgkin's disease by 32 months

A 20-year-old man developed a massive nephrotic syndrome, rapidly complicated by pulmonary embolism and septicemia. Two renal biopsies taken 3 months apart showed minimal change glomerulonephritis. Treatment with prednisolone 1.5 mg/kg/day failed to induce a sustained remission, then monotherapy with cyclosporin A (CsA, 5 mg/kg/day) was started. Complete remission was obtained after 15 weeks. CsA was gradually tapered to 3 mg/kg/day. Twenty-two months after starting CsA, a routine examination disclosed a right sub-clavicular lymph node, of which histological examination showed a class 4 large cell Hodgkin's lymphoma. CsA was abruptly withdrawn and a polychemotherapy resulted in lymphoma remission after four courses. Ten months later, Hodgkin's disease is currently in remission and there is no relapse of proteinuria.