title: [Glomerulonephritis secondary to ventriculo-atrial shunts].
abstract: The authors report the case of a 45 year old man who had undergone a ventriculo-atrial CSF shunt procedure 5 years previously for normal pressure hydrocephalus and who had several unexplained episodes of infection over a 12 months period and has now developed a mixed nephrotic syndrome associated with a septicaemia. Corynebacterium commensale and Staphylococcus epidermis were isolated from the valve culture. Ablation of the valve resulted in clinical cure with minimal functional renal sequellae. The initial renal biopsy showed type I proliferative glomerulonephritis with subendothelial deposits of complement and immunoglobulins, which did not completely regress after 3 months' evolution. The serum complement fractions suggested activation of the alternate pathway and the possible pathogenic role of circulating immune complexes.
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000601:surgery; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins
vernacular_title: Glomérulonéphrites secondaires aux dérivations ventriculo-atriales.