Parvovirus glomerulonephritis in a patient with sickle cell disease

Abstract

A child with sickle cell disease developed glomerulonephritis 10 days following an aplastic crisis induced by human parvovirus B 19 infection. An initial kidney biopsy showed focal proliferative glomerulonephritis, and 1 year later was compatible with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. Renal tissue, tested by polymerase chain reaction, was positive for parvovirus, while the patient's blood was negative. For the first time a direct relationship has been demonstrated between parvovirus infection and glomerulonephritis.