A nephrotic syndrome of tropical origin: case report and short review of the aetiology

We present a case of nephrotic syndrome in a 38-year-old man of Ivorian origin. In the search of the cause of his illness an infection with Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae) was diagnosed by serology and by microscopy of a Giemsa thin blood smear which revealed rare gametocytes of P. malariae. Prote...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActa Clinica Belgica Vol. 69; no. 5; pp. 379 - 381
Main Authors Halleux, D., Moerman, F., Gavage, P., Carpentier, M., Van Esbroeck, M., Craenen, S., Firre, E., Moonen, M., Warling, X., Masset, C., Radermacher, L.
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published Taylor & Francis 01.10.2014
Subjects
Eosinophilia
Imported malaria
Nephrotic syndrome
Travel history
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Summary:We present a case of nephrotic syndrome in a 38-year-old man of Ivorian origin. In the search of the cause of his illness an infection with Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae) was diagnosed by serology and by microscopy of a Giemsa thin blood smear which revealed rare gametocytes of P. malariae. Proteinuria significantly diminished within three months after antimalarial treatment. Antibodies against Schistosoma were detected as well. Examination of kidney biopsy revealed a discrete mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. This case highlights that a thorough history-taking may be essential and that infectious diseases should be included in the differential diagnostic thinking process when a nephrotic syndrome is diagnosed.
ISSN:1784-3286
2295-3337
DOI:10.1179/2295333714Y.0000000057