Filarial chyluria associated glomerulonephritis and therapeutic considerations in the chyluric patient

Two patients with chyluria who were successfully treated by surgical disconnection of the lymphatics from the renal pelvis are reported. One patient also had an associated glomerulonephritis, possibly secondary to filariasis. Although glomerulonephritis associated with filariasis has been reported previously the details of renal biopsies in man have included only light microscopic findings. In this patient immunofluorescent and electron microscopic studies showed mesangial deposits of immunoglobulins and complement which suggests that glomerulonephritis in patients with filariasis may be an immune complex type.