Glomerulonephritis with Hodgkin's disease and herpes zoster

A patient who had been treated for Hodgkin's disease was infected with herpes zoster. Shortly thereafter, glomerulonephritis mediated by anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody occurred. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of circulating anti-GBM antibody, immunofluorescence, and elution. Results of immunofluorescence of a lymph node disclosed deposits of IgG on the vascular and stromal connective tissue, in a pattern similar to that seen when heterologous anti-GBM antibody reacted with the node. Because of the known nephritogenic potential of solid lymphoid tissues, this finding suggests a possible relationship between his tumor and his glomerular disease. The role of zoster infection remains undefined.