Type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in an HIV-infected individual without hepatitis C co-infection

Type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is an uncommon manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated renal disease in patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We describe a case of Type I MPGN in an HIV-positive diabetic man with nephrotic-range proteinuria and renal insufficiency who was not co-infected with HCV. Tubuloreticular inclusions were present but there was no evidence for either cryoglobulinemia or cryoglobulin deposits in the kidney. This finding suggests that Type I MPGN may represent a reaction of the kidney to HIV independent of the effects of HCV co-infection. Clinical suspicion must be maintained for Type I MPGN in all HIV infected patients presenting with significant proteinuria regardless of HCV infection status.