A patient with hydatid disease (Echinococcosis) may develop a glomerulonephritis during the course of the disease. Early diagnosis with prompt therapy may minimize long-term renal damage.
Mechanisms include:
(1) deposition of hydatid antigen on the basement membrane with subsequent antibody bindng
(2) deposition of circulating immune complexes
Presentations:
(1) proteinuria, including the nephrotic syndrome
(2) hematuria
(3) renal failure
Forms of glomerular involvement:
(1) membranous
(2) IgA nephropathy
(3) mesangioproliferative or mesangiocapillary
(4) minimal change
Differential diagnosis:
(1) hydatid cyst involving the kidney
(2) other infections affecting the kidney
(3) tubulointerstitial nephritis
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