Long Term Outcomes in Monoclonal Gammopathy of Renal Significance (MGRS)
Authors: Khera Akhil , Kimberger Katja , Panitsas Fotios , Winearls Chris , Quinn John , Stern Simon , Rabin Neil , Alchi Bassam , Roberts Ian , Haynes Richard , Ramasamy Karthik 
Published: November 2019

Background: MGRS is a heterogeneous group of pathologic renal conditions attributed to a clonal plasma cell disorder, without classical features of myeloma. However, there is a need to distinguish MGRS from MGUS and unrelated renal abnormality as the clonal protein in MGRS plays a direct role in kidney damage and requires treatment of the underlying clone. Outcomes in patients with diagnosis of cast nephropathy and renal amyloidosis have been previously reported. But long-term outcomes of MGRS patients with other renal histologies remain unclear. Also data on whether the level of tumour burden in the marrow and type of treatment for MGRS influence long-term outcomes is lacking. This analysis was conducted to study long term outcomes in renal biopsy proven (non cast nephropathy & AL Amyloid) MGRS patients.

Aims: This multi-centre retrospective study was set up to analyse clinical outcomes in renal biopsy proven MGRS patients. Long-term haematological and renal outcomes were analysed. Correlation between tumour burden, type of treatment applied and level of response obtained was also analysed.

Methods: Thirty-seven MGRS patients were retrospectively audited across 3 centres in the United Kingdom and 1 centre in the Republic of Ireland between 2004 and 2016. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had a confirmed diagnosis of MGRS by renal biopsy. Patients with cast nephropathy and renal AL Amyloidosis were excluded. Renal survival was defined as the time until renal replacement therapy was required or failure to come off the renal replacement therapy commenced at diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the time of MGRS diagnosis until death from any cause.

Results: Median age at diagnosis was 68 years and median follow-up was 33.5 months (range, 0.7-141.7 months). There were 29 male patients and 8 female patients. 20/25 patients had hypertension at the time of diagnosis (records unavailable for 12 patients). Majority of patients were kappa light chain restricted 85% vs 15% lambda LC restricted. Renal histology showed: 65% Light Chain Deposition Disease, 8% Mixed Heavy and Light Chain Deposition Disease, 1 % Proliferative Glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG, 11% Light Chain Tubulopathy, 6% Cryoglobulunemia, 3% Immunotactoid Glomerulonephritis. Renal survival for the whole cohort was 74% and overall survival was 84%. At the time of renal biopsy, 43% of patients had >10% plasma cells versus 46% of patients with <10% plasma cells. Renal survival was comparable between these cohorts with 74% renal survival in patients with >10% plasma cells versus 70 % in <10% plasma cells (P = 0.87). OS was better in patients with <10% plasma cells 94 % versus 75% in patients with >10% plasma cells, not statistically significant (P = 0.14).

Chemotherapy treatment was administered in 24 patients (65%) for their MGRS versus 13 patients (35%) who had no treatment for their PC clone. Of the 24 patients who had treatment: 20 had Bortezomib-based therapy (VEL), 6 had Thalidomide-based therapy, 4 had Lenalidomide and 4 had stem cell transplant. Patients who received VEL treatment for PC clone had a renal survival of 84 % versus 63% in patients who did not have VEL treatment (P = 0.45). OS in patients who received VEL was 95 % versus 72 % in patients who did not receive VEL treatment (P= 0.1). Good haematological response (≥VGPR) in 11/37 patients achieved and renal survival in these patients was significantly better at 90 % versus 61 % in patients who had <VGPR (P = 0.05) Figure 1. ). OS was also improved at 91 % versus 82 % in patients who had <VGPR (P = 0.53). Two out of four patients were able to come off renal replacement therapy after being treated with Bortezomib and achieving a complete haematological response.

Conclusion: We report long-term outcomes in a large cohort of MGRS patients: 74% renal survival and 84% overall survival at a median of 33 months follow up. For the first time, we show treatment for the PC clone shows better outcomes; with patients treated with VEL therapy significantly improved renal survival. Patients with higher tumour burden have a non-significant reduction in overall survival. Overall, the results of this study show better OS in MGRS patients when compared with outcomes previously reported in cast nephropathy and renal AL amyloid.

Figure 1 Figure 1.

Disclosures

Ramasamy: Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding.