Minimal-change nephrotic syndrome associated with malignant mesothelioma.

A 68-year-old man presented with nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed minimal-change glomerular disease. The proteinuria did not respond to treatment with prednisone and cyclophosphamide. On further workup, the patient was found to have a malignant mesothelioma of the pleura. The proteinuria then improved during treatment with doxorubicin hydrochloride and dacarbazine, without noticeable improvement in the tumor. This case suggests an association between mesothelioma and minimal-change glomerular disease with nephrotic syndrome, previously unreported to our knowledge. Our review revealed only ten previous cases of minimal-change glomerular disease associated with carcinoma.