title: Reversible renal failure caused by a microsporidian infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of renal failure associated with microsporidian infection in an HIV-seropositive patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, England, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  An HIV-seropositive patient presented febrile with abdominal pain who developed renal failure. Renal biopsy and urinalysis showed infection with a microsporidian of the genus Encephalitozoon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment with albendazole (400 mg) twice daily was associated with disappearance of infection from the urine, clinical improvement and return of renal function virtually to normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-seropositive individuals with renal failure should have urine screened for microsporidia. The administration of albendazole in such cases may reverse renal failure.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Unit, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Aarons
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Woodrow
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hollister
authors.forename: E U
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Canning
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Gazzard
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016819:Encephalitozoon / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine; D015766:Albendazole