Nephrotic syndrome associated with adenocarcinoma of the breast

Although the nephrotic syndrome has been reported in association with a wide variety of neoplastic diseases, it has only rarely been noted as a complication of breast carcinoma. We describe a patient who presented with the nephrotic syndrome and who was subsequently found to have carcinoma of the breast. The findings on renal biopsy were indicative of membranous nephropathy with positive immunofluorescent staining for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the third component of complement (C3). The nephrotic syndrome completely resolved following successful treatment of the cancer. We have now followed this patient for over two years and there has been no recurrence of tumor or the nephrotic syndrome.