A case report of breast cancer and membranous nephropathy with positive anti phospholipase A2 receptor antibodies

Abstract Background Testing for antibodies against podocyte phospholipase A2 receptor-1 (PLA2R) allows clinicians to accurately identify primary membranous nephropathy (MN). Secondary MN is associated with a spectrum of pathology including solid organ malignancy. PLA2R positivity in these patients occurs, although no case of PLA2R-positive MN has been definitively linked to cancer. Case presentation We describe a case of biopsy-proven PLA2R-positive MN, in whom invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast was discovered. The patient underwent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy (including cyclophosphamide) and went into a sustained complete remission of her nephrotic syndrome. Discussion and conclusions Case series have reported PLA2R positivity in patients with solid organ malignancy associated MN. Our case is unusual as it is a breast malignancy, and the patients nephrotic syndrome and anti-PLA2Rab titres improved with treatment of the cancer. Here we report, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of oestrogen receptor-2 positive breast cancer associated with PLA2R positive MN in a young lady that was treated successfully by treating the malignancy