[Shunt Glomerulonephritis: Clinical and Histopathological Manifestations]

Overview

Journal Can Med Assoc J

Specialty General Medicine

Date 1979 Mar 3

PMID 436034

Citations 2

Authors

C Caron

C Luneau

M H Gervais

G E Plante

G Sanchez

G Blain

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In patients with cerebrospinal fluid internal shunts, immune complex glomerulonephritis sometimes develops. Of two new cases the first was classic, while the second was in an adult who had had a ventriculoatril shunt for 8 years; furthermore, the patient had acute renal failure and is the first to have been reported to have Peptococcus septicemia. Shunt glomerulonephritis is characterized by the following: (a) its occurrence following, most often, Staphylococcus albus infection in a patient who usually has a ventriculoatrial shunt; (b) transitory improvement of the symptoms by antibiotherapy only; and (c) full recovery if the prosthesis is removed. Laboratory studies show a low serum concentration of the C3 component of complement, the presence of cryoglobulins and a positive rheumatoid factor test. These abnormalities are reversible with removal of the prosthesis. Optical microscopy of a renal biopsy specimen in the two cases showed cellular proliferation of the glomerular tuft, electron microscopy demonstrated subepithelial deposits and immunofluorescent studies revealed intramembranous and intramesangial immune complexes. These features are similar to those observed in experimental nephritis induced in animals by foreign protein.

Citing Articles

Shunt nephritis associated with Propionibacterium acnes.

Setz U, Frank U, Anding K, Garbe A, Daschner F Infection. 1994; 22(2):99-101.

PMID: 8070938 DOI: 10.1007/BF01739014.

Role of serological tests in the diagnosis of immune complex disease in infection of ventriculoatrial shunts for hydrocephalus.

Bayston R, Rodgers J Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1994; 13(5):417-20.

PMID: 8070457 DOI: 10.1007/BF01972001.

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