Glomerulitis in Typhoid Fever

Abstract

Renal biopsies were done on three unselected patients with typhoid fever. There was no clinical evidence of renal disease, except for mild and transient proteinuria in two patients; renal function was normal in all. Immune complex glomerulitis, with deposition of immunoglobulins and C3 globulin, was seen in all patients. Salmonella Vi antigen was also found in the glomerular capillary wall, suggesting the direct role of Salmonella typhi in the pathogenesis of the glomerular lesion. A repeat renal biopsy in one patient showed rapid resolution of the lesion. The occurrence of immune complex glomerulitis with typhoid fever may be frequent but overlooked because of the lack of clinical manifestations.