Involvement of the renal function in patients with visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar)

Abstract

Evaluation of the renal involvement of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) aiming at verifying clinical and laboratorial repercussions of the renal implication on VL. Laboratory analysis was performed of blood and urine samples collected immediately after confirming diagnosis through the finding of Leishmania in bone marrow. Two (18.1%) patient presented complications associated with kala-azar. Five patients (45.4%) presented macroscopic hematuria and one case (N° 9) clinical manifestations compatible with an acute nephritis syndrome. Laboratorial data of urine exam showed: proteinuria in 10 (90.9%) patients, hematuria in 7 (63.6%) and leukocyturia in 6 (54.5%) cases. Nine (81.8%) patients presented high levels of microalbuminuria, characterizing glomerular lesion. The presence of proximal tubulopathy, measured through retinol binding protein observed in 5 (45.4%) cases. Conclusion: renal involvement was manifested in most subjects, contributing to the severity of the disease.