Empyema and mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome

Two cases of empyema with nephrotic syndrome are described, a previously unreported association. In one case the nephrotic syndrome resolved with treatment of the empyema. Renal biopsy in both patients showed mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis and in one case there was evidence of activation of the alternative complement pathway, which is often associated with this histological type of glomerulonephritis. The association between glomerulonephritis and empyema is important because it represents a potentially reversible form of renal disease.