Membranous nephropathy after a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections are known to cause kidney injury, including acute tubular injury and collapsing glomerulopathy.
• The spectrum of kidney diseases associated with SARS-CoV-2 continues to expand, necessitating further investigation into rare presentations.

Observation:

• A rare case of membranous nephropathy developed in an elderly male patient one month after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• The patient presented with nephrotic syndrome and rapidly progressive kidney dysfunction.
• Phospholipase A2 receptor antibodies were detected, indicating an autoimmune component.

Findings:

• The patient received rituximab treatment for SARS-CoV-2-associated membranous nephropathy.
• Proteinuria was successfully controlled following rituximab therapy.
• This case adds to the literature on rare kidney manifestations post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Implications:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection can trigger uncommon glomerular diseases, such as membranous nephropathy.
• Early diagnosis and targeted immunosuppressive therapy, like rituximab, may be effective in managing these rare conditions.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 to diverse kidney pathologies and to establish optimal treatment guidelines.