Renal biopsy in Schistosoma-Salmonella associated nephrotic syndrome

Percutaneous needle biopsy of the kidney on eight nephrotic patients with Schistosoma mansoni and chronic Salmonella paratyphi A infection showed diffuse proliferative glomerular change in all biopsies. Capillary basement membrane was normal. Diffuse granular deposits were detected in the glomerular mesangial cells by direct staining with fluorescein labelled anti-IgG anti-IgM. No fluorescence was obtained with rabbit anti-Salmonella paratyphi A. After treatment with ampicillin and niridazole, a reduction of cellular proliferation and mesangial matrix expansion was observed. Simultaneously following treatment there occurred a dramatic clinical improvement with cessation of proteinuria and a return of plasma protein levels and serum complement (C3) to normal values.