Abstract
The glomerular changes of 188 consecutive autopsy cases with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were studied. The glomerular changes were classified as follows: Category I: membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN; 21 cases, 11.2%), 2) Category II: membranous nephropathy (MN; 5 cases, 2.7%), 3) Category III: mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesGN; 33 cases, 17.6%), 4) Category IV: mesangial thickening type without proliferative mesangial cell (MT; 44 cases, 23.4%), and 5) Category V: almost normal glomeruli (85 cases, 45.2%). Glomerulonephritis was defined as glomeruli with an increase in mesangial matrix or a thickening of the capillary walls in the glomeruli; categories I-IV corresponded to glomerulonephritis in this study. Multivariate analysis, using a multiple logistic model, indicated that glomerulonephritis with HCV infection was the most strongly correlated to the existence of esophagogastric varices. Abnormal urinalysis, that is transient or continuous microhematuria or proteinuria, was observed in only 23 (12.2%) cases. These results showed that in HCV-RNA positive patients with esophagogastric varices the possibility of glomerulonephritis should be considered.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
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Antigen-Antibody Complex / analysis
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Autopsy
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Blood Transfusion / statistics & numerical data
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Capillaries / pathology
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Comorbidity
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Complement System Proteins / analysis
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Esophageal and Gastric Varices / epidemiology
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Esophageal and Gastric Varices / etiology
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Female
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Glomerular Mesangium / blood supply
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Glomerular Mesangium / immunology
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Glomerular Mesangium / pathology
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Glomerulonephritis / epidemiology
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Glomerulonephritis / etiology*
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Glomerulonephritis / pathology
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Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / epidemiology
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Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / etiology
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Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / epidemiology
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Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / etiology
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Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / pathology
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Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
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Hepatitis C / complications*
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Hepatitis C / epidemiology
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Hepatitis C / virology
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Hepatitis C Antibodies / analysis
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Hepatitis C Antigens / analysis
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Hepatitis, Chronic / complications
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Hepatitis, Chronic / epidemiology
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Humans
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Immune Complex Diseases / epidemiology
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Immune Complex Diseases / etiology
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Immune Complex Diseases / immunology
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Japan / epidemiology
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Liver Cirrhosis / epidemiology
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Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
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Male
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Microscopy, Fluorescence
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Middle Aged
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Prevalence
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RNA, Viral / analysis
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Risk Factors
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Splenectomy / statistics & numerical data
Substances
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Antigen-Antibody Complex
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Hepatitis C Antibodies
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Hepatitis C Antigens
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RNA, Viral
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Complement System Proteins