Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis: a case report

Abstract Introduction Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by the formation of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. Clinically significant renal involvement is rare in sarcoidosis. It most commonly manifests as chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis and n...

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Main Authors: K. Graňák, M. Vnučák, P. Kleinová, T. Blichová, A. Kollár, I. Dedinská
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Medical Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05042-3
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author K. Graňák
M. Vnučák
P. Kleinová
T. Blichová
A. Kollár
I. Dedinská
author_facet K. Graňák
M. Vnučák
P. Kleinová
T. Blichová
A. Kollár
I. Dedinská
author_sort K. Graňák
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by the formation of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. Clinically significant renal involvement is rare in sarcoidosis. It most commonly manifests as chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis and nephrocalcinosis with nephrolithiasis. Further, glomerular involvement is observed sporadically, mainly membranous glomerulopathy or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Case presentation We describe the clinical case of a 49-year-old patient of Caucasian ethnicity with a history of sarcoidosis of the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes who was hospitalized for acute kidney injury, hypercalcemia, hypoxemic respiratory insufficiency, general weakness, weight loss, and fever. Conservative treatment was not successful, and therefore early initiation of renal function replacement in the form of intermittent hemodialysis was necessary. During differential diagnosis process, we found nephrotic range proteinuria with microscopic hematuria; autoantibody panel was completely negative. Histologically, a unique constellation of renal lesions in the form of severe chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis combined with diffuse sclerosing crescentic glomerulonephritis was confirmed. Computed tomography scan of the lungs revealed recurrence of sarcoidosis, and a secondary finding was subpleurally localized primary calcified tuberculous infection. Treatment with corticosteroids was initiated in collaboration with a pulmonologist, with rapid improvement in the patient’s extrarenal clinical condition. Conclusion Sarcoidosis needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis even though it is a very rare type of renal involvement.
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spelling doaj-art-53d0212965f342b386a2f65fc35d66b42025-01-26T12:35:34ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472025-01-011911510.1186/s13256-025-05042-3Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis: a case reportK. Graňák0M. Vnučák1P. Kleinová2T. Blichová3A. Kollár4I. Dedinská5Transplant-Nephrology Department, Transplantation Center, University Hospital MartinTransplant-Nephrology Department, Transplantation Center, University Hospital MartinTransplant-Nephrology Department, Transplantation Center, University Hospital MartinTransplant-Nephrology Department, Transplantation Center, University Hospital MartinTransplant-Nephrology Department, Transplantation Center, University Hospital MartinTransplant-Nephrology Department, Transplantation Center, University Hospital MartinAbstract Introduction Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by the formation of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. Clinically significant renal involvement is rare in sarcoidosis. It most commonly manifests as chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis and nephrocalcinosis with nephrolithiasis. Further, glomerular involvement is observed sporadically, mainly membranous glomerulopathy or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Case presentation We describe the clinical case of a 49-year-old patient of Caucasian ethnicity with a history of sarcoidosis of the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes who was hospitalized for acute kidney injury, hypercalcemia, hypoxemic respiratory insufficiency, general weakness, weight loss, and fever. Conservative treatment was not successful, and therefore early initiation of renal function replacement in the form of intermittent hemodialysis was necessary. During differential diagnosis process, we found nephrotic range proteinuria with microscopic hematuria; autoantibody panel was completely negative. Histologically, a unique constellation of renal lesions in the form of severe chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis combined with diffuse sclerosing crescentic glomerulonephritis was confirmed. Computed tomography scan of the lungs revealed recurrence of sarcoidosis, and a secondary finding was subpleurally localized primary calcified tuberculous infection. Treatment with corticosteroids was initiated in collaboration with a pulmonologist, with rapid improvement in the patient’s extrarenal clinical condition. Conclusion Sarcoidosis needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis even though it is a very rare type of renal involvement.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05042-3Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritisSarcoidosisCrescentic glomerulonephritis
spellingShingle K. Graňák
M. Vnučák
P. Kleinová
T. Blichová
A. Kollár
I. Dedinská
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
Sarcoidosis
Crescentic glomerulonephritis
title Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis: a case report
title_full Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis: a case report
title_fullStr Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis: a case report
title_short Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis: a case report
title_sort rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as an unusual type of renal involvement in sarcoidosis a case report
topic Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
Sarcoidosis
Crescentic glomerulonephritis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05042-3
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