Leprosy and glomerulonephritis: case report and review of the literature

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is a common form of glomerulonephritis and frequently is associated with chronic infections. Leprosy, one of the most common infections worldwide, was found in conjunction with MPGN, type I, in a patient. Serological abnormalities typical of MPGN, improvement in renal function with therapy of acute complications of leprosy, and long-term renal improvement with antileprosy therapy all occurred in this patient. Others have found that MPGN is found in 11% to 43% of leprosy patients undergoing renal biopsy. Serological abnormalities typical of MPGN frequently are found in patients with lepromatous leprosy. The associations of MPGN and leprosy, and the susceptibility of the glomerulonephritis to therapy, should be emphasized.