Nephrotic syndrome associated with metastatic melanoma: a case report

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) may occur after or concomitantly with malignancy. The use of immunosuppressive approaches in patients with cancer and NS is controversial, especially when the association between the pathologies is unclear. The aim of this study was to report the case of a patient with metastatic melanoma who developed NS and to examine the association between NS and neoplasia. A 56‐year‐old woman diagnosed with right hallux melanoma, removed by marginal resection with no sign of metastasis, developed NS after 6 months without the detection of another associated disease. The histological diagnosis was focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The patient was older than most patients with FSGS and was treated with immunosuppressive agents (prednisone and cyclosporine) concomitantly with melanoma treatment. Nephrotic syndrome was the first manifestation of metastatic melanoma recurrence in this patient. Proteinuria was controlled adequately after immunosuppression and melanoma treatment. Although NS has been associated with cancer, laboratory and histological markers correlating it with melanoma are needed.