The Spectrum of Kidney Biopsy Findings in HIV-infected Patients

Abstract

Renal impairment during human immunodifficience virus (HIV) infection is a frequent occurrence, attributed to the infection itself or sometimes to antiretroviral therapy. It is a major factor in morbidity and mortality. The impact of renal histology on treatment choices highlights the importance of histological diagnosis in HIV-positive patients with renal impairment. This was a retrospective descriptive study carried out in the nephrology department of the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca between January 2019 and December 2022 on renal biopsy punctures performed in HIV-infected patients. Our study included 19 patients who met the above criteria. Histological findings were dominated by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (42.1%) and extramembranous glomerulonephritis (36.8%). Tubulointerstitial nephritis was observed in three patients and one patient had IgA nephropathy. The incidence of renal impairment in HIV infection is increasing. These patients should be systematically screened for potentially reversible nephropathy if treatment is initiated in time. This highlights the importance of close collaboration between nephrologists and infectious diseases specialists in the management and follow-up of these patients.