Rare presentation of kappa light chain proximal tubulopathy with fibrillar aggregates

Abstract

Abstract Introduction/Objective Patients with dysproteinemias may show a spectrum of renal alterations due to organized deposits of excess immunoglobulins, including primary amyloidosis, myeloma cast nephropathy, monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease, and light chain proximal tubulopathy (LCPT). Among the least common is LCPT, which shows ultrastructural cytoplasmic light chain inclusions with crystalline morphology or rarely fibrillar aggregates. We present the case of a patient with LCPT with fibrillar aggregates that is the only such case registered in our large academic surgical pathology electronic database. Our aim is to increase understanding and recognition of this rare variant. Methods/Case Report A 73-year-old man presented with 540 mg/day proteinuria, serum creatinine 5.73 mg/dL, platelets 178,000/cc, and 20% plasma cells in his bone marrow biopsy specimen. Kidney needle biopsy cores examined by light, fluorescent and transmission electron microscopy (EM) showed kappa light chain cast nephropathy and kappa LCPT with fibrillary aggregates, the latter requiring unmasking of kappa epitopes using pronase-treated paraffin sections. Congo red stain was negative. By EM, proximal tubules contained intracellular bundles of tightly aggregated fibrils with mean fibril diameter of 7.7 +/- 1.6 nm. Individual bundles were variably shaped as round, oval, spicular or irregular blobs. Fibrils were not seen in glomeruli. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) NA Conclusion This rare presentation of LCPT with fibrillar aggregates reinforces the utility of renal biopsy diagnosis that includes careful ultrastructural examination of renal tubules. In the absence of EM, the unique fibrillar organization of these cytoplasmic light chain aggregates would otherwise go unrecognized.