title: [Virus associated glomerulonephritis].
abstract: Virus associated glomerulonephritis is considered to be a para- or post-infectious autoimmune phenomena. The disease is mediated by immune complexes which usually contain the viral antigen. Virus associated glomerulonephritis due to chronic viral infection with hepatitis B or C virus, or with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) shows a typical histomorphological picture for each virus. Hepatitis B virus usually leads to a membranous glomerulonephritis, while hepatitis C virus is associated with a membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis due to cryoglobulins, and HIV is associated with a focal segmental sclerosing glomerulonephritis. Knowledge of the relationship between the primary viral infection and secondary glomerulonephritis is important, as a primary immunosuppressive therapy might lead to more severe viral disease. On the other hand, a primary reduction in the viral load due to antiviral therapy with immunostimulants or inhibitors of viral replication could lead to an amelioration of the secondary glomerulonephritis.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tillmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents