Glomerulonephritis emerging shortly after Puumala hantavirus infection: a report on 7 patients

Abstract

Aims: Nephropathia epidemica (NE) is mild type of hemorrhagic fever caused by Puumala (PUU) hantavirus. Renal biopsy typically shows acute tubulointerstitial nephritis and complete recovery is the usual outcome. We previously described 5 patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) after acute NE. We now report on 7 more patients who developed biopsy-confirmed glomerulonephritis (GN) during the convalescent phase of NE.

Material and methods: We present case histories of 7 patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria concomitant with hematuria after serologically verified NE.

Results: Renal biopsy specimens disclosed MPGN in 5 patients, membranous GN (MGN) in 1 and mesangial GN (MesGN) in 1. All patients achieved remission of nephrotic syndrome within a median time of 0.6 years (range 0.5 - 5.5 y). The median follow-up time was 1.7 years (0.7 - 15.6 y).

Conclusions: As a rare phenomenon, nephrotic syndrome may emerge during the convalescent phase of acute PUU hantavirus infection. In most cases the prognosis of GN caused by NE seems to be favorable.