Viruses and collapsing glomerulopathy: a brief critical review

BACKGROUND: Collapsing glomerulopathy may occur in an idiopathic (primary) form and in association with a wide spectrum of infectious and inflammatory conditions and medications. The association of collapsing glomerulopathy with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection is well established; less certain is the association with other viral infections. METHODS: We searched PubMed for articles in all languages that addressed glomerulopathies associated with parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and simian virus 40 (SV40). RESULTS: Case reports and small-case series link infection with these common viruses and glomerular injury. The evidence for a pathogenic role is generally stronger for glomerulonephritis than for collapsing glomerulopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence linking collapsing glomerulopathy with CMV is relatively strong but not yet conclusive, while the evidence for a pathogenic role for EBV and parvovirus B19 is weaker.