# Heavy Chain Deposition Disease in Monoclonal Gammopathy of Renal Significance: A Prodrome of Multiple Myeloma Case and Literature Review

**Authors:** Sahana Gnanasampanthan, Vasileios P Samelis, Candice Roufosse, Andreas Kousios

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.85740 · Cureus · 2025-06-10

## TL;DR

This paper presents a case of a kidney disease linked to abnormal immunoglobulin deposits, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and multidisciplinary care.

## Contribution

The paper adds a rare clinical case of HCDD within MGRS and emphasizes the importance of timely biopsy for diagnosis.

## Key findings

- The patient was diagnosed with HCDD through biopsy after initial tests failed to identify the cause.
- Close follow-up and collaboration among specialists were essential for managing the patient's condition.
- Therapeutic strategies for HCDD remain poorly defined due to limited clinical data.

## Abstract

Monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD) is a complication of plasma cell dyscrasias, resulting in abnormal immunoglobulin deposition along basement membranes. We describe a case of a 60-year-old male with a complex hospital admission, presenting with critical illness accompanied by acute kidney injury, nephrotic syndrome and moderately elevated serum free light chain (SFLC) ratio, on a background of well-controlled diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. There was no clear aetiology for his presentation following preliminary examination and investigations, which led to a biopsy diagnosis of heavy chain deposition disease (HCDD) in the context of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS). We explore the importance of understanding the disease course to allow timely biopsy diagnosis and treatment initiation. Our patient required very close follow-up and a wide multi-disciplinary approach, including haematologists, nephrologists and histopathologists, to guide management in a disease for which therapeutic strategies are poorly defined due to limited clinical trial data.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** acute kidney injury (MONDO:0002492), nephrotic syndrome (MONDO:0005377), chronic kidney disease (MONDO:0005300), heavy chain deposition disease (MONDO:0019728), multiple myeloma (MONDO:0009693)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** hypertension (MESH:D006973), MIDD (MESH:D000079822), diabetes (MESH:D003920), HCDD (MESH:D006362), Multiple Myeloma (MESH:D009101), critical illness (MESH:D016638), acute kidney injury (MESH:D058186), nephrotic syndrome (MESH:D009404), chronic kidney disease (MESH:D051436), MGRS (MESH:D008998), plasma cell dyscrasias (MESH:D010265)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12246656/full.md

## References

12 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12246656/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12246656