Clinical predictors of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance: a multicenter study in Japan.

BACKGROUND

Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) results in kidney injury despite not meeting the hematological malignancy criteria necessitating treatment. Although kidney biopsy is crucial for diagnosis, it is an invasive procedure. Therefore, identifying patient characteristics associated with MGRS could aid in informing the decision to perform a biopsy.

METHODS

This cross-sectional multicenter study included participants with monoclonal gammopathy (MG) who underwent kidney biopsy between 2018 and 2022. We excluded patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies requiring treatment or those with vasculitis. Patient factors associated with MGRS were evaluated using a logistic regression model. Additionally, we describe monoclonal protein-related kidney diseases associated with hematological malignancies.

RESULTS

A total of 2972 kidney biopsies were performed, of which 166 (5.6%) were associated with MG. Among these 166 patients, 57 had hematological malignancies. Of the remaining 98 patients, excluding those with vasculitis, 44 (45%) exhibited MGRS lesions. Among the MGRS cases, 71% had amyloid light-chain amyloidosis, whereas nephrosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy were more common in non-MGRS cases. Multivariate analysis revealed that the clinical predictors associated with MGRS lesions were the presence of proteinuria ≥ 1.5 g/gCr, an abnormal free light chain (FLC) ratio, and the absence of diabetes. In hematological malignancy cases, monoclonal protein-related kidney diseases were observed in 49% of the cases, with kidney histology frequently exhibiting cast nephropathy or light chain deposition disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with MG who underwent kidney biopsy, 45% were diagnosed with MGRS. Predictors of MGRS included proteinuria ≥ 1.5 g/gCr, an abnormal FLC ratio, and the absence of diabetes.