The changing pattern of glomerular disease in HIV and hepatitis C co-infected patients in the era of HAART

Clin Nephrol. 2013 Apr;79(4):285-91. doi: 10.5414/CN107774.

Abstract

Previous reports have suggested a poor renal prognosis in patients with HIV and HCV co-infection with a preponderance of immune complex mediated glomerular disease on biopsy. Although the benefits of HAART on HIVAN are known, its impact on co-infected patients is unclear. We describe the renal biopsy findings and renal outcome in 29 co-infected patients in the HAART era and compare them to findings in 14 historical controls reported from our institution in the pre-HAART era. Our present cohort was predominantly male and Black with the majority reporting a history of intravenous (i.v.) drug use. Renal biopsy findings included 16 patients with immune complex mediated glomerular disease and 14 patients with FSGS, of which only 3 had collapsing features and/or tubular microcysts typical of HIVAN. Five patients had other biopsy diagnoses not directly related to viral infection. Median renal survival in our cohort was 15.6 months - significantly better than the 1.7 months seen our pre-HAART cohort. The modern cohort's improved renal outcome occurred despite older patients, longer HIV infection and similar levels of renal insufficiency. Our data indicate a changing epidemiology and natural history of renal disease in the HAART era with less immune complex mediated glomerular disease and more non-collapsing FSGS of the usual type. The marked improvement is likely to be multifactorial, including use of antiretroviral and anti-HCV therapies, RAAS antagonists, earlier nephrology referral and generally improved medical care.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / epidemiology*
  • AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / ethnology
  • AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / immunology
  • AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / mortality
  • AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / pathology
  • Adult
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex / analysis
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Baltimore / epidemiology
  • Biopsy
  • Black or African American
  • Coinfection*
  • Glomerulonephritis / epidemiology*
  • Glomerulonephritis / ethnology
  • Glomerulonephritis / immunology
  • Glomerulonephritis / mortality
  • Glomerulonephritis / pathology
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / epidemiology
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / pathology
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / epidemiology
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / pathology
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C / ethnology
  • Hepatitis C / mortality
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Kidney Glomerulus / immunology
  • Kidney Glomerulus / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Paris / epidemiology
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / ethnology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex