IgA nephropathy and hepatitis B virus. IgA nephropathy unrelated to hepatitis B surface antigenemia.
The incidence and pathogenetic role of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were evaluated in patients with IgA nephropathy. Among 130 consecutive patients with IgA nephropathy, HBs antigenemia was detected in 4 patients (3.1%). Serum antibody to hepatitis B core antigen was positive in these 4 patients indicating that they were persistent carriers of hepatitis B virus. Serum hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was detected in 1 patient, and antibody to HBeAg was positive in the other 3 patients. The incidence of HBs antigenemia was not significantly higher than the 2.0% of the general population. An immunofluorescent study in the renal tissues from the 4 IgA-nephritic patients with HBs antigenemia did not demonstrate HBsAg or HBeAg in the glomeruli. These findings suggest that HBsAg appears to play no role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
H
H
Iida
K
K
Izumino
M
M
Asaka
M
M
Fujita
M
M
Takata
S
S
Sasayama
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000209:etiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens