The pathogenetic role of Staphylococcus aureus in primary human glomerulonephritis

Antibody levels to a cell product of Staphylococcus aureus, antistaphylolysin antibody (AStaL), were determined in the sera of 185 patients with various renal diseases using the hemolysis inhibition test. Detection of Staphylococcus aureus antigen in renal biopsy specimens was performed by the immunofluorescent technique. Elevated AStaL values were observed in eleven patients. In four of them, Staphylococcus aureus antigen was clearly detected in the glomerular mesangial area associated with deposits of immunoglobulins and complement. Most of these patients showed marked elevation of AStaL values with low serum complement levels and had diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis. These results suggest that Staphylococcus aureus may act as a specific antigen and play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary human glomerulonephritis.