Korean J Med.  2007 Oct;73(4):438-442.

A case of minimal change nephrotic syndrome with polycythemia vera

• Han DH
• Cho S
• Kim SR
• Kim YY
• Kang GH
• Yim SW
• Kim JH

Abstract

The cause of secondary polycythemia is known to be renal diseases such as renal tumors, renal cysts, hydronephrosis, renal artery stenosis, renal transplantation and Bartter's syndrome. Yet this disease rarely reported in conjunction with nephrotic syndrome, nephrosclerosis, pyelonephritis or chronic glomerulonephritis. There are only rare reports of glomerulonephritis with polycythemia vera. We report here on a case of a minimal change nephrotic syndrome with polycythemia vera. A 60-year-old man visited our hospital due to his elevated hemoglobin level and proteinuria and his elevated neuron specific enolase. The blood hemoglobin level was 22.4 g/dL. The blood level of neuron specific enolase was 36.7 ng/mL. The bone marrow aspirate showed hypercellularity and panmyelosis. Electron microscopy showed diffuse effacement of the epithelial foot processes and microvillous transformation of the foot processes. Treatment was done by performing phlebotomy and administering hydroxyurea. There was decreased urinary protein and normalization of the hemoglobin level following treatment with phlebotomy and hydroxyurea.

Keyword

Proteinuria; Hemoglobin

MeSH Terms

Bartter Syndrome
Bone Marrow
Foot
Glomerulonephritis
Humans
Hydronephrosis
Hydroxyurea
Kidney Transplantation
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Nephrosclerosis
Nephrosis, Lipoid*
Nephrotic Syndrome
Phlebotomy
Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
Polycythemia Vera*
Polycythemia*
Proteinuria
Pyelonephritis
Renal Artery Obstruction
Hydroxyurea
Phosphopyruvate Hydratase