Hepatitis C virus RNA in kidney biopsies from infected patients with renaldiseases

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with several renal pa thologies, including membranoproliferative and membranous glomerulonephriti s. Although the presence of HCV proteins has been reported, there are no da ta concerning detection of the viral RNA in renal cells from HCV-infected p atients with kidney disease. In this report we analysed, by in situ hybridi zation, the presence of HCV RNA in renal biopsies from 10 patients who were positive for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and serum HCV RNA positive, and from four patients without HCV infection, with different renal disease. HCV RNA was detected in the renal biopsies from all of the 10 HCV-infected pat ients. Hybridization signals were detected in the tubular and capillary end othelial cells. No hybridization signals were found in the renal biopsies o f the four anti-HCV-negative patients. In conclusion, our results demonstra te that HCV RNA is common in kidney cells of patients with renal diseases w ho are infected with HCV. The presence of HCV RNA is not necessarily associ ated with a pathogenetic consequence.