Immunoglobulin A nephropathy in a patient with IgG kappa light-chain myeloma

Paraproteins can cause a variable set of pathologic changes in the kidney. The introduction of novel anti-plasma cell agents capable of reversing renal failure have revolutionized the management of paraprotein-mediated kidney injury. Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) has been shown to be involved in the development of human glomerulonephritis (GN). Inhibitors of NF-kB may provide potential agents for treatment of immune complex GN. In this paper, we report a patient with IgA nephropathy and IgG kappa myeloma, who responded dramatically to chemotherapy targeted toward myeloma. Our findings support the idea that drugs modulating NF-kB may add another dimension to the management of IgA nephropathy.