The frequency of hepatitis B surface antigen in membranous nephropathy in black and white South Africans.

A series of 244 renal biopsy specimens obtained from patients with glomerulonephritis included 21 from patients with membranous nephropathy (MN). Of these patients 14 (10,7%) were Black, 1 was Indian and 6 were White (5,5%). It is suggested that the high frequency of MN in Black patients may be associated with the high carrier rate (7 - 10%) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Black population. Twenty of the 21 renal specimens were investigated for deposits of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. HBsAg deposits were found in 13 of the specimens obtained from Black patients, in the specimen obtained from the Indian patient and in 1 of the 6 specimens obtained from White patients. HBV appears to be an important aetiological factor in MN in Black South African patients.