An update on proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits in pediatric patients

Abstract

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits (PGNMID) was first described by Nasr et al. in 2004 with a subsequent study composed of a larger patient cohort a few years later [1,2]. Although more commonly occurring in older adults, PGNMID has since been reported in a wide range of age groups including children [3-5]. PGNMID is categorized as a monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS), and is additionally included in the recently expanded concept of monoclonal gammopathy of clinical significance (MGCS), which encompasses disorders of any organ system related to underlying plasma cell or B-cell clones [6]; however, most patients with PGNMID do not show evidence of a circulating monoclonal protein or clonal plasma cell proliferation, and monoclonal gammopathy has not been reported in any pediatric patients with the disease. Herein we briefly discuss the clinical and histopathologic features of PGNMID, as well as advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical course of the disease.