LEPROSY NEPHROPATHY: A REVIEW OF CLINICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Geraldo Bezerra da Silva Junior, Elizabeth De Francesco Daher, Roberto da Justa Pires NETO, Eanes Delgado Barros Pereira, Gdayllon Cavalcante Meneses, Sônia Maria Holanda Almeida Araújo, Elvino José Guardão Barros
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2015
• Subjects: Leprosy; Hansen disease; Kidney dysfunction; Chronic kidney disease; Glomerulonephritis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652015000100002; https://doaj.org/article/03fda65f7c684a658e8b3c5658b5e8bd

Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, highly incapacitating, and with systemic involvement in some cases. Renal involvement has been reported in all forms of the disease, and it is more frequent in multibacillary forms. The clinical presentation is variable and is determined by the host immunologic system reaction to the bacilli. During the course of the disease there are the so called reactional states, in which the immune system reacts against the bacilli, exacerbating the clinical manifestations. Different renal lesions have been described in leprosy, including acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, secondary amyloidosis and pyelonephritis. The exact mechanism that leads to glomerulonephritis in leprosy is not completely understood. Leprosy treatment includes rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine. Prednisone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to control acute immunological episodes.