title: HCV associated glomerulopathy in Egyptian patients: clinicopathological analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egypt has reached an epidemic proportion and is associated with many extra hepatic manifestations; Glomerulonephritis (GN) is one of the most consequences of HCV infection often resulting in end stage renal disease in some cases. Detection of viral genome or particles within the kidney biopsies from HCV-infected patients has proven to be difficult. Histological characterization of renal lesions still represents a major challenge. The aim of our work was to describe the histological pattern of HCV-associated nephropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty Patients--out of 233--presented to Mansoura Urology and Nephrology clinic with manifestations of glomerular disease were screened for HCV antibodies by a 3rd generation ELISA test. Those tested positive for HCV antibodies were confirmed by PCR for HCV-RNA and subjected to more detailed clinical, biochemical and histological study. Kidney biopsies and in appropriate cases liver biopsies were examined by LM and electron microscopy (EM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological study of renal biopsies revealed membranoproliferative (MPGN) type 1 to be the most common lesion encountered (54%), followed by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (24%), mesangioproliferative GN (18%), membranous nephropathy (MN) (4%) in that order. EM examinations of renal biopsies were successful in identifying HCV like particles in frozen renal tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV-associated glomerulopathy is a distinct category of glomerulonephritis. Results of LM showed some peculiar features. In addition, we were successful in location and detection of HCV particles in renal tissues by EM.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Department, Mansoura Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt. asabry20@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabry
authors.forename: Amgd
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: E-Agroudy
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sheashaa
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Husseini
authors.forename: Nohir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohamed Taha
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elbaz
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral