The occurrence of malignant disease in adult nephrotic syndrome

The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of malignant disease (MD) in adult patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Eighty-eight consecutive patients (38 females; 50 males; mean age 47 years; range 15-86) seen in a renal clinic in a 13-year period with NS were studied. Eight of the patients had or developed MD. One patient had MD (medullary thyroid carcinoma) and NS diagnosed concomitantly and two patients had MD (both malignant lymphoma) diagnosed 19 and 21 months after the diagnosis of NS, respectively. In conclusion, only few patients in a renal clinic at debut of NS do have a simultaneous MD. Furthermore, their risk of developing such a disease is at worst only slightly raised.