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Filarial Nephropathy – A Rare Presentation of Nephrotic Syndrome with Acute Kidney Injury


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1 Department of Nephrology, Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre, New Marine Lines, Mumbai, India
     

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We present a case report of a 56-year-old male who presented with nephrotic syndrome and rapidly progressive renal failure. Kidney biopsy was done after 2 sessions of hemodialysis and it showed microfilariae in the glomerular capillaries with an acute tubular injury. The patient responded very well with a 2-week course of Diethylcarbamazine. A high index of suspicion and diligent screening of the kidney biopsy sections for filarial nephropathy is indispensable in endemic areas and would help in avoiding empirical immunosuppression.

Keywords

Microfilariae, Nephrotic Syndrome, Acute Kidney Injury.
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  • Filarial Nephropathy – A Rare Presentation of Nephrotic Syndrome with Acute Kidney Injury

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Authors

Sachin Nikam
Department of Nephrology, Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre, New Marine Lines, Mumbai, India
Hardik Shah
Department of Nephrology, Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre, New Marine Lines, Mumbai, India
Dilip Kirpalani
Department of Nephrology, Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre, New Marine Lines, Mumbai, India
Ashok Kirpalani
Department of Nephrology, Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre, New Marine Lines, Mumbai, India

Abstract


We present a case report of a 56-year-old male who presented with nephrotic syndrome and rapidly progressive renal failure. Kidney biopsy was done after 2 sessions of hemodialysis and it showed microfilariae in the glomerular capillaries with an acute tubular injury. The patient responded very well with a 2-week course of Diethylcarbamazine. A high index of suspicion and diligent screening of the kidney biopsy sections for filarial nephropathy is indispensable in endemic areas and would help in avoiding empirical immunosuppression.

Keywords


Microfilariae, Nephrotic Syndrome, Acute Kidney Injury.

References