Open AccessProteinuria in paediatric patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection
Author(s) -
Vania Giacomet,
Paola Anna Erba,
Francesca Di Nello,
Sonia Coletto,
Alessandra Viganò,
Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
world journal of clinical cases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.368
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2307-8960
DOI - 10.12998/wjcc.v1.i1.13
Subject(s) - medicine , atazanavir , proteinuria , indinavir , nephrotoxicity , asymptomatic , kidney disease , kidney , immunology , nephrosis , renal function , nephrotic syndrome , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , antiretroviral therapy , viral load
In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people kidney disease is as an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical features of kidney damage in HIV-infected patients range from asymptomatic microalbuminuria to nephrotic syndrome. The lack of specific clinical features despite the presence of heavy proteinuria may mask the renal involvement. Indeed, it is important in HIV patients to monitor renal function to early discover a possible kidney injury. After the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, mortality and morbidity associated to HIV-infection have shown a substantial reduction, although a variety of side effects for long-term use of highly active antiretroviral therapy, including renal toxicity, has emerged. Among more than 20 currently available antiretroviral agents, many of them can occasionally cause reversible or irreversible nephrotoxicity. At now, three antiretroviral agents, i.e., indinavir, atazanavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate have a well established association with direct nephrotoxicity. This review focuses on major causes of proteinuria and other pathological findings related to kidney disease in HIV-infected children and adolescents.