Journal Article

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with syphilis involvement and possible Hepatitis B virus contribution: a case report

Zhang, Jiqiang, Chen, Weidong, Li, Tiekun, Pan, Yan, Liu, Lei, Zhao, Ruiping

2025

Overview

Background Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, presents with a wide range of clinical manifestations. As the global rate of syphilis infection continues to rise, so does the incidence of syphilis-associated nephritis. Characterized by diverse clinical and pathological features, the disease shows a good response to penicillin treatment. This article presents the case of a 46-year-old Chinese male patient exhibiting edema, hematuria, proteinuria, and a tendency towards rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). The patient was diagnosed with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), with syphilis being a likely etiology and co-infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV). He was treated with benzathine penicillin for three weeks, followed by low-dose glucocorticoids and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for subsequent treatment, leading to a significant improvement in his condition. Conclusion Highlighting the significance of syphilis as a cause of nephritis and emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment can greatly alleviate the patient’s condition. Additionally, the role of Hepatitis B virus as a contributing factor in the development of nephritis should not be overlooked. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adefovir dipivoxil / Antibodies / Antigens / Bacterial infections / Biopsy / Care and treatment / Case Report / Coinfection / Control / Corticosteroids / Creatinine / Development and progression / Diagnosis / Disease transmission / Dosage and administration / Edema / Glomerulonephritis / Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative - complications / Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative - diagnosis / Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative - drug therapy / Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative - etiology / Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use / Health aspects / Hematuria / Hepatitis B / Hepatitis B - complications / Hepatitis B - diagnosis / Hepatitis B virus / Humans / Hyperplasia / Identification and classification / Immunoglobulins / Infection / Infections / Internal Medicine / Kidney diseases / Liver / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis / Microscopy / Middle Aged / Mycophenolate mofetil / Mycophenolic acid / Mycophenolic Acid - therapeutic use / Nephrology / Pathology / Patients / Penicillin / Penicillin G benzathine / Prevention / Proteins / Proteinuria / Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis / Sexually transmitted diseases / STD / Syphilis / Syphilis - complications / Syphilis - diagnosis / Syphilis - drug therapy / Telmisartan / Ultrasonic imaging / Urine / Viruses