Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis-like findings for TAFRO syndrome, associated with an anterior mediastinal tumor: A case report

Rationale TAFRO syndrome is a systemic inflammatory disease proposed recently from Japan. The cause of TAFRO syndrome is unclear. Moreover, the disease characteristics and kidney pathology are yet unknown well and there are few cases. Herein, we report a patient with TAFRO syndrome and present the features of the renal histopathology. Patient Concerns A 55-year-old woman presented to our hospital with the main complaint of subacute dyspnoea. Diagnosis Physical findings included a low-grade fever and generalised oedema. A blood test showed anaemia, coagulation abnormalities, hypoproteinaemia, impaired renal function, proteinuria, and elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6). Chest and abdominal computed tomography showed an anterior mediastinal mass and multiple enlarged lymph nodes. Interventions Nephrotic syndrome secondary to a malignant mediastinal tumour was suspected; therefore, the patient underwent resection of the anterior mediastinal mass. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen showed lymphocytic proliferation without signs of malignancy. These findings were compatible with hyaline vascular type Castleman disease (CD), and with the associated multiple lymph nodes enlargement, the patient was initially diagnosed with multicenteric CD. Outcomes After resection of the whole tumour, all the clinical symptoms improved. However, after resection 6 months passed, the patient developed thrombocytopenia, ...
Source: Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Research Article: Clinical Case Report Source Type: research