title: An unusual renal manifestation of chronic HBV infection.
abstract: Hepatitis B viral infection is usually a self-limiting disease in immunocompetent individuals. Chronic infection can be seen in up to 5% of infected patients. Renal manifestations of chronic HBV infection are usually glomerular. We describe here an uncommon presentation of a patient with chronic HBV infection with very high viral load and rapidly progressive renal failure. Renal biopsy showed features of tubulointerstitial nephritis and tubular epithelial inclusion bodies suggestive of HBV infection. Entecavir treatment slowed down the progression of his renal disease. Tubulointerstitial nephritis should be considered as a part of the differential diagnosis in patients with HBV infection. Early antiviral treatment may halt the progression of renal disease.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Hospital , Renal, Liverpool, Australia.
authors.forename: Ananthakrishnapuram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aravindan
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Hospital , Anatomical pathology, Liverpool, Australia.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Hospital , Anatomical pathology, Liverpool, Australia.
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Killingsworth
authors.affiliation: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital , Hepatology, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strasser
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Hospital , Renal, Liverpool, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suranyi
keywords: Entecavir; HBV infection; interstitial nephritis