Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome associated with Kimura's disease

Kimura's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by tumor-like lesions in the soft tissue and lymph nodes of head and neck area or parotid gland. It has a high frequency of an association with nephrotic syndrome. Reported cases of nephrotic syndrome and Kimura's disease were mostly from adult patients with only 5 children mentioned. This study reports the case of a 15-year-old-boy who manifested with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome for 4 years. Pathological examination of the kidney revealed mild mesangial proliferation. Subsequently, he developed a soft-tissue mass in the parotid gland area. Histopathological investigation of the mass revealed eosinophilic infiltration together with plasma cells and mast cells which is a main characteristic of Kimura's disease. The patient, however, continued to have nephrotic-range proteinuria after removing the subcutaneous mass. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.