Fatal renal failure as the first manifestation of sarcoidosis diagnosed on necropsy in a young man: a case report

Renal sarcoidosis: approach to diagnosis and management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this article is to provide understanding of renal sarcoidosis, the different types of renal sarcoidosis, disease burden of renal involvement, and treatment options.

RECENT FINDINGS

The frequency of renal involvement seems to be underestimated, but renal sarcoidosis represents a relevant group of organ manifestations and significantly adds to the patient's morbidity. Because histopathological analysis of renal biopsy specimens can reveal various entities, a diagnostic workup is necessary in every patient with sarcoidosis.

SUMMARY

If systematically screened for renal manifestations are likely to occur in up to 25-30% of all sarcoidosis patients. The most common histological form of renal sarcoidosis is the granulomatous interstitial nephritis; however, granulomas can be absent. Furthermore, one can find various forms of secondary glomerulonephritis. In cases with dysregulated calcium homeostasis, nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis are commonly detectable kidney diseases. AA amyloidosis or renal masses because of granuloma formation are considered to be rare manifestations. In addition to glucocorticoids various immunosuppressive treatments such as tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors have proven to be effective based on case series.

Renal Angiomyolipoma With Sarcoid Granulomas: Report of a Unique Case

Angiomyolipoma is a mesenchymal neoplasm characterized by the coexpression of melanocytic and smooth muscle markers. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown etiology, which presents with characteristic nonnecrotizing granulomas and rarely involves the kidney. The coexistence of renal sarcoidosis with renal neoplasms is exceedingly rare and was reported only with renal cell carcinoma. Renal sarcoidosis associated with a nonepithelial renal neoplasm, such as an angiomyolipoma has never been reported. We present the first reported case of sarcoid granulomas in a renal angiomyolipoma, including morphologic and immunohistochemical features.

[Systemic sarcoidosis and membranous glomerulonephritis]

Renal involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and more often related to calcium metabolism disorders or granulomatous interstitial nephritis. Glomerulonephritis is exceptional. There may be a long latency period between the development of active sarcoidosis and glomerular involvement and inversely. We report a case membranous glomerulonephritis revealing systemic sarcoidosis.

Severe hypercalcemia and acute renal failure: an unusual presentation of sarcoidosis

Although hypercalcemia is a known metabolic complication of sarcoidosis, it is rarely a presenting manifestation. Long-standing hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria can cause nephrocalcinosis and chronic renal failure. Acute renal failure, although described, is also a rare presentation of patients with sarcoidosis. We describe two patients with sarcoidosis, who presented with severe hypercalcemia and worsening renal function. Parathyroid hormone levels were appropriately suppressed. This led to an extensive search for the cause of hypercalcemia. Finally, after a lymph node biopsy in both cases, a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was established, hypercalcemia resolved, and renal function improved in both cases after administration of prednisone.

Sarcoïdose et insuffisance rénale: à propos de deux cas

Renal involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and more often related to calcium metabolism disorders or granulomatous interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis is exceptional. The two cases of renal failure reported in this article illustrate the gravity of this complication, whose treatment remains difficult.