World AIDS Day: a short look at HIV-associated nephropathy

Abstract

December 1 marks World AIDS Day, a global effort to increase awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS can cause various renal complications, including acute renal failure, HIV-associated nephropathy, comorbid chronic renal failure, thrombotic microangiopathy in some cases, and treatment-associated nephrotoxicity. HIV infection of kidney epithelial cells can also affect the glomerular filtration rate through glomerular and tubular injury, developing proteinuria, and direct viral infection. Collapsing glomerulopathy is the most characteristic lesion observed in AIDS-associated nephropathy, presenting as segmental or global collapse of glomerular tufts across with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of podocytes. This glomerulopathy is a variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis detected by mesangial hyperplasia and associated with mesangial matrix expansion and cellularity. As a result of this disease, the tubulointerstitial changes involve the infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages in the interstitial region. As the disease progresses, tubular atrophy and fibrosis become more severe. This study delves into the historical background of AIDS-associated nephropathy, emphasizing its importance in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: World AIDS Day, Glomerulosclerosis, Tubulointerstitial inflammation, Collapsing glomerulopathy, Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, AIDS-associated nephropathy, HIV-related kidney diseases