Glomerulonephritis after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine

Renal complications after vaccination with hepatitis B recombinant vaccine are rare; very few cases are reported without a histopathologic definition. We describe a case of glomerulonephritis in a 12-year-old girl, beginning after the inoculation of hepatitis B vaccine. The immunohistochemical examination of her renal biopsy, with the use of monoclonal antibodies, shows the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen in renal tissue. After 2 years chronic glomerulonephritis persisted and was treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. After 3 years of follow-up, the renal disease was in remission, and treatment was stopped.