Acute myelomonocytic leukemia associated with nephrotic syndrome. A case report with immunological studies

A patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AML) developed nephrotic syndrome. The renal biopsy showed focal glomerulosclerosis by light microscopy. Electron microscopy and immunofluorescence revealed electrondense deposits, IgG and C'3 in the glomerular mesangium. A 21S circulating immune complex (CIC) present in the patient's serum and the renal biopsy eluate contained immunochemically identical materials. The isolated antibodies from the 21S CIC and the eluate showed restricted reactivity against autologous AML cells. Immunodiffusion studies demonstrated common antigenicity between the 21S CIC antigen, the eluted antigen and between autologous AML cell membrane antigens.