Simultaneous occurrence of IgG4-related Tubulointerstitial nephritis and colon adenocarcinoma with hepatic metastasis: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Understanding the uncommon association of IgG4-related disease with other disorders is essential for the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of patients. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only few reports of patients with IgG4-related kidney disease coexisting with metastasis of malignancy. Here, we report a rare case of simultaneous occurring IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis and colon adenocarcinoma with hepatic metastasis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old Chinese man presented with dysuria and was initially diagnosed as benign prostatic hyperplasia for one year. He was admitted to the hospital for surgery. After admission, the renal function tests revealed a rapid increase of serum creatinine from 291.0 μmol/L to 415 μmol/L. The hemoglobin level was 89 g/L. Fecal occult blood testing was positive. Urinalysis revealed mild proteinuria. The serum IgG4 level was 13.9 g/L. The abdominal imaging examination revealed multiple solid nodules in the liver. The gastrointestinal endoscopy combined with the biopsy revealed colon adenocarcinoma. Kidney biopsy showed massive IgG4-positive plasma cells and storiform fibrosis infiltration in the tubulointerstitial area, thus establishing the diagnosis of IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis. Corticosteroid therapy was initiated, and subsequently, the renal function dramatically improved without the diminution of the liver nodules. The liver biopsy was performed and a diagnosis of metastatic colon adenocarcinoma was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: We here reported a rare case of simultaneous occurring of IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis, colon adenocarcinoma with hepatic metastasis. The case highlights the importance of screening for malignancy in patients with IgG4-related disease, and the nature of the mass in other organs of patients with coexisting IgG4-related disease and malignancy should be carefully checked.