[Collapsing glomerulopathy and cytomegalovirus, what are the links?].

BACKGROUND: Collapsing glomerulopathy is a form of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis which occurs preferentially in black people. It causes severe nephrotic syndrome and quickly progresses towards end-stage renal failure. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 16-year-old black girl from Guadeloupe who was admitted for tetanus and edema in 1996. She had hypoparathyroidism, renal failure and a nephrotic syndrome as well as cytomegalovirus infection. Renal biopsy showed collapsing glomerulopathy. The renal function improved on glucocorticoid and ganciclovir therapy and her serum creatinine stabilized around 250 mumol/l for two years. DISCUSSION: Collapsing nephropathy is the cellular type of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. The main etiology is the human immunodeficiency virus. A viral infection may be involved in its pathogenesis. Other viruses could be linked with this nephropathy. This case report relates a case associated with a cytomegalovirus viruria. The clinical course might be related with the antiviral treatment.