The changing pattern of glomerular disease in HIV and Hepatitis C co-infected patients in the era of HAART.

We describe the renal biopsy findings and renal outcome in 29 co-infected patients in the HAART era and compare them to findings in 14 historical controls reported from our institution in the pre-HAART era. Our present cohort was predominantly male and Black with the majority reporting a history of intravenous (i.v.) drug use. Renal biopsy findings included 16 patients with immune complex mediated glomerular disease and 14 patients with FSGS, of which only 3 had collapsing features and/or tubular microcysts typical of HIVAN. Five patients had other biopsy diagnoses not directly related to viral infection. Median renal survival in our cohort was 15.6 months - significantly better than the 1.7 months seen our pre-HAART cohort. The modern cohort's improved renal outcome occurred despite older patients, longer HIV infection and similar levels of renal insufficiency. Our data indicate a changing epidemiology and natural history of renal disease in the HAART era with less immune complex mediated glomerular disease and more non-collapsing FSGS of the usual type. The marked improvement is likely to be multifactorial, including use of antiretroviral and anti-HCV therapies, RAAS antagonists, earlier nephrology referral and generally improved medical care. PMID: 23320974 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Clinical Nephrology - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Clin Nephrol Source Type: research