Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with subendothelial deposits (type 1) associated with hepatitis G virus infection in a renal transplant recipient.
BACKGROUND
Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a well-known etiology for membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) with subendothelial deposits (MPGN type 1).


METHODS
The newly discovered hepatitis G virus (HGV) is currently under active investigation. We report the first case of de novo MPGN type 1 associated with HGV infection in a young male renal transplant recipient who manifested glomerulonephritis (GN) with proteinuria 7 years after transplant, and whose original disease was chronic obstructive pyelonephritis secondary to nephrolithiasis.


RESULTS
Serum markers for HBV and HCV infections were negative. HGV infection was detected by specific double-nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in sera (positive HGV viremia) 2.5 years after renal transplantation. By specific in situ RT-PCR, the presence of the HGV genome was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in the kidney biopsy (glomeruli and tubules), but not in the liver.


CONCLUSIONS
This report adds new information on the role of HGV infection in the occurrence of de novo GN (MPGN type 1) in renal transplantation.
Berthoux
P
P
Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Department, North University Hospital, Saint-Etienne, France. berthoux@univ.st-etienne.fr
Laurent
B
B
Cecillon
S
S
Berthoux
F
F
D000328:Adult; D018067:Flaviviridae; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors