Munazza Choudary, Atika Masood, Shahzad Latif, Ah Nagi.
Morphological Patterns of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Associated Nephropathy in Lahore.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;13(2):240-5.

Background: Hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) is a hepacivirus. Hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) infection has been connected with numerous renal morph ologies, including especially membranoproliferative and membranous glomerulonephritis. Affected patients present with microscopic/gross haematuria and or proteinuria. Methods: Both children and adults were included in this study and a total of 132 consecutive patients of nephritic and nephrotic syndrome were studied. After initial investigations and con sidering the inclusion criteria, 30 (22.7%) cases were selected for this specific study. All cases were serum antigen positive for HCV. Results: Amongst these 30 biopsies, 25 (83.33%) were males and only 5 (16.66%) were females. After analysis it was found that the least age at biopsy was 16 years and supreme was 55 years, mean +/- S.D of age was 36.53 +/-12.42. Amongst the 30 patients , 12 (40%) presented with microscopical haematuria and macroscopical haematuria was found in 7(23.3%) patients. Length for hematuria was 01-12 months with mean +/- S.D of 2g/day proteinuria. Length for proteinuria was 1-16 months with mean +/- S.D of 4.78 +/-3.43. Jaundice was not known in any patient. Out of 30 biopsies 6 (20%) were identified as membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis , 4 (13.3%) each were of diffuse proliferative nephritis, and end stage renal disease, 3 (10%) were focal mes angial proliferative nephritis. Diffuse mesangial proliferative nephritisand focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were also similar in percentage i.e. 3 (10%). Amyloidosis was confirmed by applying congo red stain and was 4 (13.3%), remaining 2 (6.7%) each were of diabetic nephropathy, and membranous glomerulopathy. Conclusion: HCV can cause glomerulopathy and is related with a large spectrum of nephropathies. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is a more common morphological pattern associated with HCV .

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