Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in a tropical environment.

Electron microscopy of renal biopsy material from 50 patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis treated in a southern Indian hospital, showed a low prevalence of type 2 (dense deposit) disease. Eosinophilia was seen in more than one-third of the 41 patients with type 1 disease. Associated diseases and possible sources of chronic antigenaemia found in some patients included: streptococcal infection, Bancroftian filariasis, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, hepatitis B surface antigenaemia and lepromatous leprosy.