Glomerulonephritis, B monoclonal small lymphocytic lymphoma and mixed cryoglobulinemia

A novel association in the same patient with small lymphocytic lymphoma, type II cryoglobulinemia and glomerulonephritis is reported. This case is also characterized by a quite unusual sequence of glomerular alterations. A first renal biopsy showed severe endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis due to monocytic infiltration without any evidence of deposition of immune reactants. The immune deposits associated with type II cryoglobulinemia were only observed at a second renal biopsy performed five months later. This case shows that mononuclear cells can be responsible in and of themselves for severe glomerular damage, without deposition of immune material, and suggests that monocytic infiltration might be the first stage of type II cryoglobulinemia associated glomerulonephritis.