Acute human immunodeficiency virus infection temporally associated with rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, and nephrosis.

A previously healthy 29-year-old homosexual man presented with a 4-day history of fever, malaise, sore throat, and bleeding gums. Rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, and nephrotic range proteinuria were also present. The patient was found to have acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection confirmed by the presence of HIV antigen in his serum and subsequent evolution of an HIV antibody profile typical of acute seroconversion. A kidney biopsy revealed acute tubular necrosis and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, with tubuloreticular inclusions. In the presence of otherwise unexplained acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis, or new onset nephrotic syndrome, acute HIV infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis.