Shunt nephritis progressing to chronic renal failure.
Shunt nephritis is an immune-complex mediated glomerular disease associated with chronically infected ventriculo-jugular shunts for hydrocephalus. In general, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy result in marked improvement or disappearance of the concomitant urinary and renal functional abnormalities. We describe, a child in whom the diagnosis and treatment were delayed until she presented with irreversible renal insufficiency. We conclude that shunt nephritis is not an innocuous condition and that a high level of suspicion must be maintained by those caring for children with ventriculo-jugular shunts.
D000293:Adolescent; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007601:Jugular Veins; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology*
D003176:Complement C3; D007075:Immunoglobulin M