Hepatitis-Associated Glomerulonephritis

Viral hepatitis can be associated with extrahepatic manifestations, including kidney injury, mainly glomerulonephritis (GN). The physiopathology of GN is of particular interest because some immune responses, triggered by viral infections, can harm the glomerulus, either via deposition of immune complexes, auto-immune phenomena, or through cytopathogenic effects. This chapter describes the epidemiology of hepatitis A-, B-, C-, and E-associated GN; the clinical and biological presentations; the histological patterns; and management regimens. Few cases of hepatitis A- or hepatitis E-associated GN have been reported. Cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is the most common type of GN diagnosed in patients infected by the hepatitis C virus. Patients infected by hepatitis B mainly develop membranous nephritis. Viral clearance using antiviral therapies, when available, is necessary to improve kidney outcomes.