[Cytomegalovirus disease in immunosuppressed patients with necrotizing pauci-immune glomerulonephritis]

Renal involvement due to necrotizing pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (PIGN) associated with small vessel vasculitis requires the use of immunosuppressive. Associated side effects include an increased risk of infectious processes, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease; therefore, there are no recommendations on its management in the various clinical practice guidelines (CPG).

To study the incidence of CMV disease and its determinants.

Patients with histological diagnosis of necrotizing pauci-immune glomerulonephritis in the last 10 years, who were determined the viral load of CMV, analyzing the determinants of its occurrence.

Forty-four biopsies were performed during the study period. Eleven patients (25%) developed CMV disease; all had received immunosuppressive treatment. Four (30.8%) died during admission. The determinants of CMV disease were age (for every 10 years OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.0-8.9, p = 0.012), and plasma albumin (for each g/L OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-1.0, p = 0.012).

The incidence of CMV disease in immunocompromised patients due to PIGN is high, with high mortality. It would be necessary to include strategies in the CPGs to prevent it.