Virological and immunological study of 20 patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy.

A virological and immunological study was carried out in 20 cases of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) belonging to two distinct geographical areas of a Romanian county. Cytopathogenic agents could be isolated in the BHK-21 cell line from 14 urine samples and from one kidney biopsy specimen. Sera from BEN patients gave autologous and heterologous neutralization reactions against several cytopathogenic agents, within the same or from the other geographical area. Humoral and cell-mediated immunity tests against standard antigens and one of the cytopathogenic agents revealed a general preservation of immune reactivity in BEN patients.