Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis associated with rifampicin therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis

Two months after commencing continuous treatment with rifampicin, isoniazid, streptomycin and pyrazinamide for pulmonary tuberculosis a patient developed a nephrotic syndrome, acute nonoliguric renal failure and evidence of intravascular hemolysis. Renal biopsy revealed a severe crescentic nephritis with mild interstitial changes. The use of rifampicin has been associated with various renal abnormalities and this report documents the occurrence of a rapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis presenting as nephrotic syndrome in a patient receiving continuous treatment with rifampicin.