Hepatitis B e antigen-associated membranous nephropathy.
A case of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated membranous nephropathy (MN) is presented in an 18-year-old Korean male, whose renal disease had begun 9 years previously. He was positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in the serum. By immunofluorescence, HBeAg staining was noted in glomerular deposits in association with IgG, C3 and Clq, while neither HBsAg nor HBcAg was found in the glomerular deposits. The presence of glomerular HBeAg staining by FITC-monoclonal anti-HBe F(ab')2 fragments has been reported before, but never in non-Japanese patients. The demonstration of HBeAg in both the glomerular deposits and serum in this case supports the causal relationship of HBeAg and HBV-associated MN.
Lee
H S
HS
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea.
Koh
H I
HI
D000328:Adult; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D003165:Complement System Proteins