Double glomerulopathies or two-faced janus? A challenging case in the COVID-19 era

Giuliana Papalia; Simona Barbuto; Anita Campus; Gisella Vischini

doi:10.1007/s40620-022-01351-8

Double glomerulopathies or two-faced janus? A challenging case in the COVID-19 era

J Nephrol. 2023 Jan;36(1):225-228. doi: 10.1007/s40620-022-01351-8. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Authors

Giuliana Papalia¹, Simona Barbuto¹, Anita Campus², Gisella Vischini¹

Affiliations

¹ Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
² Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy. anita.campus@studio.unibo.it.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 very often causes kidney involvement through various mechanisms including: acute tubular injury, virus cell invasion, vascular damage due to hypercoagulability and finally dysregulation of the immune system. Even though there are no pathognomonic morphologic features that can rule out or confirm direct damage by SARS-CoV-2, the latest literature suggests that there may be some association. SARS-CoV-2 infection represents a poor prognostic factor, regardless of pulmonary involvement. We report a challenging case with complex renal biopsy findings suggestive of collapsing glomerulopathy and focal proliferative IgA-dominant glomerulonephritis in a patient affected by active hepatitis C virus (HCV), SARS-CoV-2 infection and personal history of cocaine abuse.

Keywords: Collapsing; Glomerulopathy; HCV; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / complications
Glomerulonephritis* / diagnosis
Glomerulonephritis* / pathology
Humans
Kidney / pathology
Kidney Diseases* / pathology
SARS-CoV-2