title: A simultaneous occurrence of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and fibrillary glomerulonephritis: a case report.
abstract: Fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FibGN) is a rare cause of progressive renal dysfunction, often leading to dialysis within a few years. A 60-year-old woman presented with a 2 month history of right-sided retro-orbital pain and recent diplopia. Laboratory testing revealed an altered renal function with increased serum creatinine and mild proteinuria. MRI of the brain revealed the presence of a soft tissue mass on the right cavernous sinus compatible with the diagnosis of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS). Renal biopsy showed a pattern compatible with fibrillary glomerulonephritis. For this reason steroid therapy was initiated at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day and adjusted according to the clinical course. Neurological symptoms regressed shortly after the beginning of therapy and renal function and proteinuria remained stable for the 3 years following the withdrawal of steroid therapy. Percutaneous renal biopsy was again performed and confirmed the previous diagnosis of FibGN in association with other glomerular-lesion-like mesangial widening, thickening of capillary walls and severe arterio-arteriolosclerosis. This case report describes what is believed to first report of the association of FibGN and THS, which both responded to steroid therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gigante
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Visentini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiorilli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barbano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Renzulli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borghesi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cianci
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D020333:Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome / Q000150:complications*