AIDS, nephrotic-range proteinuria, and renal failure

A case of HIV associated cryptococcal nephritis: Ultrastructural findings and literature review

Acute renal failure in the setting of infection with human immunodeficiency virus can be due to various causes including pre-renal causes such as hypotension, sepsis, and nephrotoxic agents; thrombotic microangiopathy; or direct renal parenchymal infections by opportunistic organisms. We present a case of cryptococcal nephritis in a patient with systemic cryptococcosis and discuss the clinical findings as well as the histological, immunofluorescent, and transmission electron microscopy findings in the renal biopsy.

Spectrum of Clinical Presentations in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infected Patients with Renal Disease

HIV infection is a multiorgan disease with the kidney not spared. A variety of renal syndromes with varying clinical presentations has been reported amongst HIV infected patients. This study aims to highlight the spectrum of clinical presentations in HIV infected patients with renal disease. HIV infected patients presenting at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin City were the study population. A total of 383 patients were studied. Their biodata, clinical presentations and laboratory investigations including serum urea, creatinine and albumin, urine protein and creatinine were assessed. Their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and protein urine excretion were calculated using six equations of modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) and protein: creatinine ratio respectively. Patients were stratified according to their renal functions into normal, mild, moderate and severe renal function impairment. The data was analysed using statistical software program SPSS Vs 15.0. 53.3% of 383 patients screened had renal function impairment, 40.2% mild, 37.7% moderate and 22.2% severe impairment. Mean age was 35.6±8.3, 36.0±9.9 and 36.3±8.3 years for mild, moderate and severe renal function impairment (RFI) respectively. Easy fatigability was the commonest symptoms occurring in 47.5%, 30.0%, 37.5% and 22.5% of control, mild RFI, moderate RFI and severe RFI subjects respectively (p = 0.568). Oliguria, facial and body swelling occurred more in patients with RFI especially in patients with severe renal impairment. The difference is statistically significant (p = 0.046, 0.041, and 0.033 respectively). Pallor was the commonest clinical sign occurring in 32.5%, 50.0%, 35.0% and 62.5% of control and patients with mild, moderate, and severe RFI respectively; the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.459). Ascites, facial puffiness and pedal oedema were commoner in patients with RFI especially those with severe RFI. The differences were statistically significant. (p = 0.048, 0.019, and 0.008 respectively). In conclusion spectrum of clinical presentations in HIV patients with renal impairment are many but few are specific to these patients.

Plasma exchange for disseminated cryptococcosis

Acute renal failure is frequent in HIV-infected patients and may be related to HIV-associated nephropathy, drugs, or opportunistic infections. We report a peculiar case of disseminated cryptococcosis complicated by acute renal failure associated with obstruction of intrarenal capillaries by Cryptococus neoformans dead bodies and successfully treated with plasma exchanges.