Hepatitis B mediated glomerulonephritis in children.

Forty nine children with hepatitis B virus-mediated glomerulonephritis (GN) were observed during the last 11 years. Boys were more frequently affected than girls, the ratio being 38 : 11. Young infants (1 to 5 years of age) predominated in the group. The incidence of membranous form of glomerulonephritis was high (34 out of 44 kidney biopsy cases, 77%), the rest of patients showing mesangiocapillary GN-8 (18%) and mesangial proliferative GN-2 (5%). The disease proved to be self limiting. Immunosuppressive or indomethacin treatment did not modify the course and outcome of the disease. Liver disease in these patients often persisted after the resolution of glomerulonephritis.