Association of IgA Nephropathy with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue: – Case Report and Review of Literature

A 32-year-old habitual tobacco chewer was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. He was initiated on chemo-radiation therapy. After completing 23 cycles of radiation and four cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, he presented with acute nephritic syndrome. Renal biopsy showed IgA nephropathy and acute tubular injury. With supportive care, renal function stabilised with a reduction in proteinuria. We wish to highlight the poorly understood association between mucosal malignancies and IgA nephropathy. It is also interesting to note the peculiar temporal profile of glomerular involvement in our patient, where the onset of the glomerulonephritis was after the initiation of chemo-radiotherapy. This is unlike what has been described earlier.