Schistosomal glomerular disease (a review)

In this review paper schistosomal glomerulopathy is defined as an immune-complex disease. The disease appears in 12-15 per cent of the individuals with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Portal hypertension with collateral circulation helps the by pass of the hepatic clearance process and the parasite antigens can bind to antibodies in the circulation and be trapped in the renal glomerulus. Chronic membranousproliferative glomerulonephritis is the most commom lesion present and the nephrotic syndrome is the usual form of clinical presentation. The disease can be experimentally produced, and schistosomal antigens and antibodies, as well as complement, can be demonstrated in the glomerular lesions. Specific treatment of schistosomiasis does not seem to alter the clinical course of schistosomal nephropathy.

An outbreak of dengue virus at Rio de Janeiro - 1986

Dengue virus type 1 has been isolated in Aedes albopictus cell strain, from sera of patients living in the Nova Iguaçu county, by Rio de Janeiro. The clinical picture was characterized by fever, headache, retrobulbar pain, backache, pains in the muscles and the joints and prostration. Studies in paired sera confirmed the presence of recent infection by dengue virus type 1. The outbreak reached adjacent areas, including Rio de Janeiro city (May, 1986).