Hepatitis virus and kidney.

Abstract

Hepatitis A, B and C viruses are major causes of viral hepatitis in human. These infectious agents not only damage liver parenchyma but can also affect renal parenchyma. Hepatitis A virus could produce acute renal failure in a similar fashion to hepatorenal syndrome. Several lines of evidence have shown that chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients could develop immune complex glomerulopathy. There are convincing data which incriminate hepatitis C virus as the proximate aetiology of certain forms of glomerulonephritis. In post-renal transplanted patients, hepatitis B and C virus could cause increased morbidity and mortality from chronic viral hepatitis. Whether renal transplantation should be performed, either as a donor or as a recipient, in subjects infected with hepatitis B or C virus, is still an issue of controversy.