Hydrocarbon exposure and glomerulonephritis.

An occupational survey was completed on 87 patients with end-stage renal failure to determine their exposure to hydrocarbon based compounds. 59% of patients with renal failure due to glomerulonphritis had significant contact with hydrocarbons compared with 25% of patients with renal failure due to other causes (P < 0.01). 81% of patients with glomerulonephritis were male and of these 64% had significant hydrocarbon exposure compared with 35% of an age matched control group of male hospital in-patients with no renal pathology. Occupational exposure to hydrocarbons may account for the male predominance in patients with glomerulonephritis.