Light chain cast nephropathy and acute renal failure associated with rifampin therapy. Renal disease akin to myeloma kidney.

Acute renal failure developed in a patient with a normal serum creatinine level, after treatment with rifampin was begun for tuberculosis. Renal biopsy revealed an obstructive nephropathy due to tubular casts. Immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence studies demonstrated the presence of heterogeneous light chains within these casts. This unique drug-induced renal disease is discussed with reference to the literature and to possible analogies with myeloma kidney.