Parvovirus glomerulonephritis in a patient with sickle cell disease

A child with sickle cell disease developed glomerulonephritis 10 days follo wing an aplastic crisis induced by human parvovirus B 19 infection. An init ial kidney biopsy showed focal proliferative glomerulonephritis, and 1 year later was compatible with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. Renal ti ssue, tested by polymerase chain reaction, was positive for parvovirus, whi le the patient's blood was negative. For the first time a direct relationsh ip has been demonstrated between parvovirus infection and glomerulonephriti s.