Concept and Diagnostic Challenges of Renal-Limited Hemophagocytic Syndrome/Macrophage Activation Syndrome

Hemophagocytic syndrome/macrophage activation syndrome (HPS/MAS) is a serious clinical condition that frequently leads to multiple organ failure, including acute kidney injury (AKI). Although the pathogenesis of AKI is not yet fully understood, it is believed to result from uncontrolled activation of the immune system involving macrophages and cytotoxic lymphocytes. Renal histology in HPS/MAS often presents with characteristic foamy glomerular lesions (glomerular lipidosis) with massive macrophage infiltration, known as histiocytic glomerulopathy. In this review, we introduce the recently proposed concept of renal-limited HPS/MAS as a novel etiology of histiocytic glomerular lipidosis. Patients with renal-limited HPS/MAS often develop AKI but do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria for HPS/MAS because their systemic manifestations are less severe. Therefore, the diagnosis largely depends on characteristic histological findings, that is, diffuse and global glomerular accumulation of foamy macrophages and cytotoxic lymphocytes accompanied by the interaction of these cells as well as the exclusion of various differential diseases. Although there are no established therapeutic regimens, these patients receive various types of therapies, including high-dose glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, or anti-interleukin-1 drug, and generally achieve favorable outcomes. We summarized the concept, diagnostic challenges, and recent topics of this disease entity and discussed treatment options based on our own experiences.

Histiocytic Glomerulopathy With Noncrystalline Inclusion Associated With IgG-Kappa Plasma Cell Dyscrasia

The kidney pathology of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance varies greatly. In this report, we present a woman in her 20s with nephrotic syndrome and monoclonal immunoglobulin G kappa (serum and urine) without diabetes. She had a family history of nephrotic syndrome as well as hematologic and connective tissue disorders. A kidney biopsy showed nodular glomerulosclerosis, with the glomerular capillary full of histiocytes, which were strongly positive for kappa, not lambda. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that histiocytes had infiltrated the glomerular subendothelial space, and enlarged lysosomes of histiocytes contained kappa light chains, without apparent crystalline formation. Bone marrow examination was negative for malignancy; thus, we diagnosed this case as histiocytic glomerulopathy with noncrystalline inclusion associated with immunoglobulin G-kappa plasma cell dyscrasia. Hematologic treatment with bortezomib and daratumumab decreased her level of serum kappa chain and proteinuria. Two years after diagnosis, her kidney function remained normal, urinary protein level decreased to 1 g/d, and free light-chain ratio decreased to 3.1.

Hemophagocytic syndrome with histiocytic glomerulopathy associated with ovarian serous carcinoma

Histiocytic glomerulopathy, an entity characterized by glomerular infiltration by foamy histiocytes with endothelial injury, has recently been reported as a manifestation of hemophagocytic syndrome. We report a case of histiocytic glomerulopathy in a woman receiving chemotherapy for ovarian serous carcinoma with proteinuria in whom hemophagocytic syndrome was not clinically suspected.

Histiocytic and Nonhistiocytic Glomerular Lesions: Foam Cells and Their Mimickers

Numerous histiocytes are sometimes noted in glomeruli, giving rise to a foamy-appearing glomerulus. Foamy-appearing glomeruli may also be noted in conditions that do not contain numerous histiocytes. These disease entities are rare, have different underlying causes and pathophysiology, and can cause a diagnostic dilemma. We have observed this histiocytic/foamy glomerular change on the kidney biopsy specimen in 5 different disease entities: crystal-storing histiocytosis, histiocytic glomerulopathy associated with macrophage-activating syndrome, thrombotic microangiopathy, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency, and lipoprotein glomerulopathy. We describe and compare the kidney biopsy findings of these histiocytic and foamy-appearing entities. It is important to recognize the kidney biopsy findings of these rare conditions to correctly evaluate and identify the cause and manage these patients.