Corticosteroid therapy in a Chinese patient with nephropathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection

KM Wong, YL Liu, KC Lee, KT Leung, CY Cheung, YH Chan, MP Lee, KS Choi, KF Chau, PCK Li, CS Li
Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

A 52-year-old man with 6 years’ history of human immunodeficiency virus infection who was receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy presented with acute renal failure and nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed features consistent with nephropathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Treatment consisted of intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisolone. The patient’s renal function improved, although proteinuria persisted. Human immunodeficiency virus–associated nephropathy is very rare in Asian populations and is more common among blacks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of nephropathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection occurring in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Med J 2004;10:201-5

Key words: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Adrenal cortex hormones; AIDS-associated nephropathy; Chinese; Kidney failure, acute